November, 1997
Tuskegee, AL - Football started at Tuskegee University in 1894 on New Year's Day, a 10 - 0 loss to Atlanta University. Records indicate that a student, Clarence Matthews, coached the team.
One hundred and four years later, the Tuskegee University Golden Tigers have scored their 500th victory, more wins than any other historically black college or university. The celebrated victory came Thanksgiving Day against arch rival Alabama State, 21 - 16, in the 74th annual Turkey Day Football Classic, the nation's oldest football classic among historically black colleges.
The University's "first" in football wins is but another of the pioneering achievements to which Tuskegee lays claim in higher education, among them: Alabama’s first and oldest baccalaureate program in nursing; second in the nation and first in Alabama in graduating African-American engineers; first in the nation in producing African-American foresters; first in the nation and the only historically black college or university offering the doctorate degree in veterinary medicine; and more African-Americans who have gone on to become general officers in the Armed Services have matriculated at Tuskegee University than at any other college or university, including the service academies.
"Our emphasis has always been on excellence," said Dr. Benjamin F. Payton, Tuskegee University's president, after the 500th football victory. "We insist on excellence in athletics as well as in the classroom, in our research labs, and in our community outreach programs."
"What an accomplishment for an institution that started as an industrial Institute to go on and produce the first African-American winner of the coveted National Book Award in the late Ralph Ellison; the highest ranking veterinarian in all the Uniformed Services, the nation’s first African-American four-star general in Daniel "Chappie" James; and now the most football wins among historically black colleges and Universities.
"We are as proud of this achievement as we are of our others and applaud Coach Rick Comegy, his staff and our players for making it happen."
Interestingly, Tuskegee University’s first football win ever, its 251st win and its 500th football victory were all against Alabama State: 37 - 0 against Alabama State in 1901, 16 - 0 against the Hornets in 1950, and the 500th win, a 21 - 16 victory over the ‘Bama State Hornets this season.
There have been 16 coaches in the 104 years of football at Tuskegee University. James B. Washington was the first staff coach in 1894, and Rick Comegy is the current coach and in his second season at the helm of the Tuskegee football team. The University’s prominence in football came under the leadership of the legendary Cleveland Leigh Abbott who spent 32 seasons as athletic director, track and field and football coach at Tuskegee University.
Between his arrival in 1923 and 1954, Abbott’s teams established an awesome 202 - 95 - 27 gridiron record. Abbott was a graduate of South Dakota State College. In his 32 years at Tuskegee University, Abbott won 6 National Football Championships, 12 SIAC Conference Championships, and had 6 undefeated seasons.
The Tuskegee-Abbott record includes a 46 game winning streak without a loss (1923 - 28), an 82 - 1 - 1 record between 1923 - 31, and a 26 game win streak without a loss or tie (1925 - 27). In addition to the 12 SIAC football championships recorded under the leadership of Coach Abbott, the Tuskegee Tigers also have four additional conference championship to their credit - 1970, '74, '87, and '91.
Abbott was at the helm when the Tuskegee Tigers won the 100th and 200th games in 1927 and 1941 respectively; the late Whitney Van Cleve coached the Tigers to their 300th victory in 1962; the late Haywood Scissum was the coach in 1977 when the Tigers scored their 400th victory; and Rick Comegy led the Tigers to their 500th victory this season.
The University’s overall record in 104 years of football: 500- 314 -52. The win over Alabama State Thanksgiving Day makes Tuskegee University only the sixth school in NCAA Division II to win 500 games. Tuskegee leads Alabama State in the series overall 50 - 30 with 4 ties, and Tuskegee University leads in the Turkey Day Classic 38 - 28 - 3.
The Golden Tigers scored first in the Turkey Day Classic, a four-yard run by Andre Dawson, and never trailed. They led the Hornets 14 - 0 at the half. Grant Mitchell connected with Sean Cornelius for a 6-pointer late in the second quarter. Luke Bell kicked both of the first half PAT. Andrew Price completed the Tuskegee scoring when he grabbed a blocked punt and raced 71 yards for a touchdown to nail down Tuskegee University’s 21 - 16 triumph. "Bama" State scored a safety and two touchdowns in the third and fourth quarters.
In number of football wins, Tuskegee University is followed by Florida A&M, 453; Southern University, 446; Tennessee State, 438; Virginia State and Virginia Union, 436; Hampton University, 427; Howard University, 415; Grambling University, 408; and South Carolina State, 386.
Front Page |
Newsroom Index |