They credited Savannah State University with helping them to become champions in life.
Richard Basil (football), Carl Crump (men's basketball), Phyllis Oliver Mattox (women's tennis) and Kim Jones Walton (women's basketball) shared inspirational stories Friday night about the impact SSU made on their lives. They were among six new members inducted into the SSU Athletic Hall of Fame during a banquet at Tiger Arena.
 
William R. “Bill” Davis (football) and Russell Ellington (men's basketball), who touched the lives of numerous people, particularly students, were inducted posthumously.
Shannon Sharpe, recently inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, also was recognized for his accomplishments.
 
“To hear our hall of fame inductees come back and talk about how much they still love this institution, I mean, that is so phenomenal. They inspire me,” SSU interim president Cheryl D. Dozier said.
 
Sharpe, a CBS Sports Analyst who was inducted into the SSU Athletic Hall of Fame last year, talked about how his former teammates with the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens would joke about him being a seventh-round draft pick from a small NCAA Division II school (now Division I).
 
“I walk proud, saying I'm from Savannah State,” said Sharpe, who wore the gold blazer that was given to him during his enshrinement in Canton, Ohio. “Even when my teammates said I went to college in a strip mall, even when they said I got my degree online, I said, 'Which one (said that)? The guy from Ohio State or the guy from Notre Dame who's backing me up?'”
 
The crowd erupted with laughter and applause. Sharpe and Basil, who call themselves “Bill's boys,” a tribute to Davis, whom they said was like a second father to them, led the 1988 and 1989 Tigers to a combined 15-4 record, including a school-best 8-1 record in 1989.
 
Sharpe, a Glennville High School graduate, was the 1989 Co-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year and All-SIAC First Team Offense as a split end for Savannah State. He was the second SSU player selected to the Kodak Small College All-America team.
 
Basil, the quarterback, graduated from Demopolis (Ala.) High School and transferred to Savannah State from East Central Community College. In two years (1988 and '89), Basil threw for 3,645 yards and 44 touchdowns. Sharpe was his favorite target. Basil also ran for 990 yards and 18 touchdowns. In 1988, Basil was the SIAC Offensive Player of the Year. In 1989, Basil led Division II in passing percentage (.569).
 
“Savannah State has molded me into who I am today,” said Basil, who was an SSU football assistant coach for nine seasons and the head coach for two and a half years (2003-05). “It's given me a great education. I've met some wonderful people. I've had some marvelous mentors.”
 
Davis, who died in 2002, coached Savannah State football teams from 1986-92 and 2000-01. He has won more games (52) than any other Savannah State coach. Davis was named the National Coach of the Year by the Sheridan Broadcasting Network in 1989. He was the SIAC Coach of the Year in 1986 and 1988. He guided Savannah State to its only Division II playoff appearance in 1992.
 
Davis' son, William R. Davis Jr., accepted his father's award. He said that growing up, he always felt like he had hundreds of brothers because he and his sister had to share their father with football players. Sharpe and Basil both reminded him that they still consider him their brother and will always love his father.
 
“When you speak of Bill, it's not about winning games. It's got nothing to do with football,” Basil said. “It's about being a man, being a respected person and going out and doing right in society. Bill equated everything in life to football. Football is like the game of life. That man taught life lessons.”
 
Mattox, a breast cancer survivor, played tennis at Savannah State from 1994-98. She was a four-time All-SIAC player and helped the Tigers win SIAC championships in 1996 and 1997.
 
A Warner Robins native, Mattox was undefeated in 1997 and was named the SIAC Player of the Year.
 
Mattox fought back tears and paused before asking all of the children in her family, and in the families of her relatives and friends, to stand up.
 
“I dream big for them,” she said. “And I want them to see the opportunities that they have. Savannah State gave opportunities to me. And I stand here strong, proud and being inducted into a hall of fame. So I want them to see that, and to know that you can get anywhere from here, and that you need to go get it.”
 
Ellington, who died in 2007, coached men's basketball at Savannah State from 1976-85. He has the most wins (148) in SSU's history.
 
Ellington guided the Tigers to SIAC championships in 1979, 1980 and 1981. His 1979 team reached the Division III South Regional quarterfinals and missed advancing to the semifinals after a one-point loss.
 
Betty Ellington accepted her husband's award. She said he deeply loved Savannah State, where he also served as athletics director from 1982-85.
 
Ellington also coached Beach High School (1962-76, 2006-07), Savannah Tech (1993-96) and the Harlem Globetrotters (1985-93).
 
Crump, a Virgin Islands native, played men's basketball at Savannah State from 1965-69. He averaged 25.6 points per game and is among the school's all-time leading scorers. Crump led the Tigers in scoring, assists and free-throw shooting for four consecutive seasons.
 
Crump helped Savannah State win Southeastern Athletic Conference championships in 1965 and 1966, and he was selected All-SEAC in 1965 and 1966.
 
“I was not just a number here at Savannah State University,” Crump said. “My professors took that personal touch and gave me the advice that I needed and gave me the kindness that I needed.”
 
Crump, a retired educator and basketball coach who lives in the Bronx, N.Y., also credited Savannah State for influencing more than his career.
 
“Savannah State gave me a lot more than just an education,” Crump said. “Savannah State gave me my wife, Denise. I met her right here at Savannah State University. She's been my rock. She's been with me for over 42 years. She doesn't like me to say this, but she was a campus queen. And she's still my queen.”
 
Walton, an Atlanta native, played women's basketball at Savannah State from 1983-87. She averaged 11.2 points and 10.3 rebounds as a freshman. As a sophomore, she averaged 13.5 points and 11.1 rebounds.
 
“She was a rebounding demon,” said Charles Elmore, chair of the SSU Athletic Hall of Fame Committee.
 
Walton averaged 10.6 points and 14.4 rebounds as a junior and was selected All-America and All-SIAC. She led the conference in rebounds.
 
During her senior season, Walton averaged 13.9 points and 15 rebounds per game. She finished her career with 1,127 points and 1,170 rebounds.
 
“This is really, really, really special,” Walton said. “It's an honor just to be associated with this induction class.”
 
SSU, affectionately called “the little university by the sea,” is making big waves as a first-year member of the MEAC.
 
Earlier Friday, Sterling Steward Jr. was introduced as the Tigers' new athletics director during a news conference at Tiger Arena. He attended the hall of fame ceremony.
“A few days ago, when I was offered this position, I thought, 'Wow! Today is the most powerful day of my professional career. I'm honored,'” Steward said. “And tonight, this celebration, this ceremony, dwarfed all of that.” 
 
 
 
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