The Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference is proud to announce Tuskegee University as the Football Champions for the 2008 season. Tuskegee secures their 27th SIAC title after completing back to back undefeated seasons and a continual 26 game winning streak. The defending HBCU National Champions have all but wrapped up another HBCU National Championship while acquiring the coveted SIAC title for the third consecutive season.

Tuskegee began their 2008 campaign garnishing a 15 game winning streak and have not faltered, extending the streak to 26 games and tying an 81 year old record. Their dominating defensive and big play ability offense paved the way to the undefeated season. Tuskegee leads the conference in 9 of 33 statistical categories and is in the ranked 5th in the NCAA in scoring offense. Their offense averaged 39.1 points per game and allowed just 18.3 points per game. Tuskegee scored no less than 20 points in any game this season and scored over 40 points four times this season including 52 and 55 points vs. Kentucky State and Lane respectively.

The offense for Tuskegee was led by two time SIAC MVP and Offensive Player of the Year, Jacary Atkinson. Atkinson is 10th in the Nation in passing efficiency and led the SIAC in passing yards (2,444), passing touchdowns (23), completion percentage (57.0) and was fourth in the conference in rushing with 724 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The defense was led by Clifton Sanders and Jarvis DeVaughn. Sanders had 62 total tackles and DeVaughn had 1 interception (returned it for a touchdown), 39 tackles and 9 sacks. The stout defense for the Golden Tigers allowed just 116 yards rushing and 179 yards passing per game.

Head Coach Willie Slater has been nominated for the Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year award. His success since being named coach at Tuskegee in 2006 has been tremendous. Slater’s record as a head coach currently stands at 32-2. He has won 26 consecutive games, three SIAC titles, two Pioneer Bowls, one HBCU National Championship, and was named the SIAC Coach of the Year in 2007 and again in 2008.

The 2008 Tuskegee team had nine players named to the All Conference team including four on the first team and five on the second team.

Tuskegee will be in action one more time this season, as they attempt to break the winning streak record of 26 games, on Thanksgiving Day when they take on their arch rival Alabama State in the Turkey Day Classic. Visit www.tuskegee.com for more information.

Tuskegee will be honored for the championship on December 5, 2008 in Columbia, SC at the Embassy Suites Columbia at the SIAC Football Awards Luncheon.

This entry was posted on Friday, November 21st, 2008 at 5:47 pm and is filed under Football, SIAC News, Tuskegee. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.