Savannah, Ga. -- When the Savannah State University football team's buses drove from Tiger Arena to T.A. Wright Stadium on Saturday, the first person off the lead bus was Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Shannon Sharpe.
 
Players and coaches, all dressed in black sweatsuits, fanned out on both sides behind the former Savannah State star, creating an intimidating wall. They were stoic. Their game faces were on.
 
Sharpe, wearing the gold blazer that was given to him during his recent enshrinement in Canton, Ohio, led the way as the Tigers walked toward the stadium. SSU's cheerleaders cheered, the band played music and boosters, fans and alumni applauded and took photographs.
 
It was the first Tiger Walk in SSU's history, and who better to lead the way than Sharpe? The Glennville High School graduate played for Savannah State from 1986-89 before going on to play 14 seasons in the NFL. He won three Super Bowl championships (two with the Denver Broncos, one with the Baltimore Ravens) and played in eight Pro Bowls.
Sharpe, a CBS Sports Analyst, returned to SSU to help the Tigers celebrate the induction of six new members to the SSU Athletic Hall of Fame. He spoke at the induction banquet Friday night.
 
Saturday morning, Sharpe ate breakfast with the football team.
 
“Shannon Sharpe was unbelievable this morning,” SSU head coach Steve Davenport said. “He connected with those kids and the things they're going through. He was able to relate to them and reach them by telling them about his experiences. It was unbelievable.”
 
Sharpe, was the guest of honor at a luncheon and met in the afternoon with local media during a news conference at Tiger Arena. He also was honored by SSU interim president Cheryl Dozier during a pregame ceremony, and he conducted the coin toss before kickoff.
 
“It's unbelievable, driving around campus and seeing all of the upgrades that they've made,” said Sharpe, who was inducted into SSU's Athletic Hall of Fame last year and whose number was retired in 2009. “I got to see some of my old instructors and my old teammates, some familiar faces. I don't get back often, but it's always nice when I do come back. I love what they've done with the campus.”
 
Sharpe led the 1988 and 1989 Tigers to a combined 15-4 record, including a school-best 8-1 record in 1989. He was the 1989 Co-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year and All-SIAC First Team Offense as a split end. Sharpe was the second SSU player selected to the Kodak Small College All-America team.
 
Sharpe, who lives in Atlanta and works in New York, returned to Savannah for the induction of six new members into the SSU Athletic Hall of Fame, including his former coach, Bill Davis, and quarterback, Richard Basil.
 
Sharpe said he hopes to return more frequently to SSU if his schedule allows.
 
“It's difficult this time of year but, obviously, because I played football, it would be nice if I could come back more during this time of year,” he said. “But my schedule, having to work, having to be in New York, makes it very difficult. But, obviously, once the season's over with, I'll get an opportunity to come back and I'd like to.”
 
Sharpe took time throughout the weekend to pose for photographs and sign autographs for fans. Kemine Steptore, a 7-year-old Isle of Hope second-grade student and football player for the Savannah Falcons, posed for a photograph with Sharpe.
 
Steptore's mother, Lakeena Williams, won tickets from a local radio station to attend the SSU Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, an autograph session with Sharpe and the football game.
 
“I knew he would be very excited to actually meet an NFL player,” she said.
Williams said her son is going to print out his photo with Sharpe and tack it to his bedroom wall.
 
“And put it on Facebook,” he said, smiling.