Football | 2/17/2020 6:51:00 PM

[Click here for the full 2020 Spring Football Roster]
[Click here for the full 2020 Spring Football Schedule]

SAVANNAH, Ga. – The scoreboard at Theodore A. Wright Stadium read "Tigers vs. 2020" Monday morning. 

On the field, the Savannah State football squad, in shorts with no pads, opened the 2020 spring practice season with an eye towards their second season of competition within the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and the crown that awaits their efforts. 

Savannah State football had an historic 2019 season with the program's best finish since 1998, a resounding 7-3 overall record.  The Tigers dominated their new conference, going 5-0 against SIAC opponents during their first regular season of competition. 

During their highly successful recruiting season this year, the Tigers penned over 30 new recruits, mostly from the Lowcountry, in an effort to ensure another marquee year in 2020. But it all starts with spring practice. 

"The biggest thing is getting better at the basics," Quinn said after practice on Monday. "You can guru it, make it real fancy, but getting better at the basics, blocking, tackling and effort to the ball is our focus.  

"As a group collectively, just moving forward and working hard and working together and getting better at the small things. We feel like we're closing the talent gap with the other teams. We understand that we're not as talented as a bunch of the teams in the league. We just got to continue to work hard." 

Monday opened a 15-date practice schedule that culminates on March 11 with the annual Blue & Orange Scrimmage. For the first two practices, the team will have no contact and workout in shorts. On Feb. 21, the Tigers will strap on full pads and have contact without tackling. The Tigers go to full pads with full contact on Feb. 24. 

Near 80 players have been cleared to practice this spring for Savannah State. With the big recruiting class coming in this summer and fall, the Tigers are looking to field a 110-man roster for the 2020 season with over 50 of those players harvested from local high-schools. 

The Blue & Orange game is a chance for the coaches, fans and alumni to get a glimpse at what the 2020 Tigers will look like. Quinn is looking for specific things during the game that will impact the program's game plan for the fall. 

 "The biggest thing for us in the spring game is seeing how guys compete in a very competitive environment," Quinn said. "We have a couple of quarterbacks who haven't played much—Mason Wood, who is in competition for the starting job, will get some playing time. To get those guys in a live situation and see how they react is critical. And just the experience. The more you do something, the better you get at it."