Sports With Walter Moore

 
 

Johnson Leaves SSU For Colorado

Savannah State University wide receivers coach BJ Johnson has resigned his position on the Tigers football staff and has joined the coaching staff at the University of Colorado as a defensive graduate assistant.

Johnson spent one season with the Tigers and helped SSU to their first winning season since 1998.

In a run oriented offense, Savannah State had 38 receptions for 584 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The 27-year old Greenville, South Carolina native played his college ball at Georgia Southern where he finished his career with 92 receptions for 1,377 yards and six touchdowns. After leaving the Eagles, he signed a undrafted rookie free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers before a partial tear forced the team to place him on injured reserve.

Johnson is the second SSU coach to leave following the season. During the Christmas holidays, offensive line coach Manrey Saint-Amour took a job as a offensive graduate assistant at Florida State.

 
 

Lamarche Honored By Black College Nines

Fifty-seven HBCU baseball players have been named to the 2020 Black College Nines’ Elite Teams Shortened Season Individual Awards List along with selections for Player, Pitcher, Freshman and Coach of the Year honors as well as a Sports Information, Sportsmanship and Dedication honor to the head coach(s) for their outstanding support, commitment and devotion to college baseball. First and second team selections were made in both the Large School Division (made up of NCAA Division I schools) and Small School Division (made up of NCAA Division II as well as schools in both the NAIA and USCAA). Selections were made based upon short season statistical information, mid-season reports including research provided by both coaching staffs and their sports information directors. Player, Pitcher and Coach of the Year awards were voted upon by Black College Nines and members of the national media.

 
 

Among those honored was Savannah State’s Luis Lamarche who was named second team third baseman in the Small School Division.

In 14 games, the Miami, Florida native batted .372 in 43 at bats. Lamatche had 16 hits, 11 RBI, 10 runs, seven doubles and five walks.

SSU Mourn Former Athletes Goodman, Kelly and McDaniel

The Savannah State family is mourning the loss of former athletes Ronald Goodman, Charles Kelly and Lindsey McDaniel.

Goodman, 66, died on April 7, Kelly, 69, passed on April 8 and McDaniel, 86, made his transition on April 19.

Goodman played offensive tackle for Savannah State football team from 1972-76. Originally from Atlanta, the former member of the Georgia State Patrol was living in Conyers at the time of his death. He was a member of the SSU Downtown Atlanta Alumni Chapter

Kelly grew up in Chatham County and graduated Tompkins High. Kelly attended Savannah State for a year before being drafted into the military. While at SSU, he was a member of the men’s basketball team that won the 1970 SIAC title. He was ordained as a minister in 2005 at Central Baptist Church, retired from the City of Savannah in 2008 and inducted into the Woodville-Tompkins Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.

Lindsay McDaniel
Lindsay McDaniel

McDaniel was living in Cartersville, Georgia at the time of his death. He was a former educator and high school coach who won a state title in basketball at Stephens High and a region championship at Sumerhill High. A 2019 inductee into the Calhoun Sports Hall of Fame, his bio stated that McDaniel was a four-year letterman in basketball, football and track and field at SSU. In track and field, he achieved an undefeated record in each the 100m, 200m and 400m races for four straight years. A Army veteran, McDaniel was a retired Calhoun City Councilman.

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