Change is coming to the Tennessee State University football program. After 11 years, Tennessee State announced that it would cut ties with its head football coach Rod Reed.
“After thoroughly evaluating the state of the TSU Football program, we’ve decided that it was time to make a change in leadership,” Tennessee State University Athletic Director Mikki Allen said.
In an effort to shift direction, the university has hired Eddie George to take over the school's football program. While George is new to coaching at the historically Black university, he is not new to the game of football. As a student at Ohio State University, George set the school's rushing record and won the 1995 Heisman Trophy. After graduating from Ohio State University, George spent nine seasons in the NFL, including eight with the Tennessee Titans. George won the 1996 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award and appeared in four Pro Bowls. In 2004, he walked away from the game of football and began covering the NFL as an analyst. He also worked with former Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen to advance physical fitness initiatives. Now, he will walk just a few blocks away from Nissan Stadium and lead the Tigers at Hale Stadium.
George is the latest NFL great to join an HBCU football program. Last year, two-time Super Bowl Champion Deion Sanders joined Jackson State University as a head football coach. In his first year, Sanders has earned a record of 3-3 through six games. Away from the field, he has put together the best recruiting class in school history and landed a partnership with PepsiCo. for the entire Southwestern Athletic Conference.
Tennessee State University is currently in the midst of their spring schedule and George will join the program this fall. The university is expected to formally introduce George as the team's head coach later this month.
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