College Sports Established
1877
Location
Jackson, Mississippi
College Name
Jackson State University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division I
1958 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1958 - Present / Southwestern Athletic Conference
Nickname
Tigers - Jackson State Tigers are one of the most beloved teams in college sports, and their nickname has a long and storied history. The Jackson State University athletic program began in 1915 when it was known as the Natchez Institute. Students then called themselves "The Fighting Tigers," which eventually became the official school mascot.
In 1924, legendary football coach Eddie Robinson took over at Jackson State and renamed them "The Tiger Cubs." He felt this name better reflected his team's tenacity on the field - they were small but mighty! In 1950, after much success under Coach Robinson's leadership, including four conference championships between 1945-1950, he changed their moniker again to “Tigers” – a name now synonymous with excellence within college athletics circles.
Today’s fans know exactly what it means to hear “Go Tigers!” It symbolizes strength and determination on any playing field or court - qualities needed by all athletes striving for greatness. With its rich history rooted firmly in tradition since 1915, there is no doubt why so many people have such an affinity towards this iconic university mascot: The Jackson State Tigers!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1971
- 1978
- 1979
- 1997
- 2020
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Legendary Head Coach W.C Gorden
The most successful era for the Tigers was during the 1970s when they were led by legendary head coach W.C Gorden who guided them to seven SWAC championships between 1971 and 1979 as well as four consecutive Black College National Championships from 1972 to 1975 which included an undefeated season in 1973 where they outscored opponents 438-77 on their way ... -
SWAC Tournament Win
The Tigers have appeared in the NCAA Division I Tournament three times, and the NCAA Division II Tournament five times. They are the only team to ever forfeit a game in Division II tournament history. The Tigers were the first team to win the SWAC Tournament, in 1978. -
Kelvin Orlando Moor From Jackson State Baseball Team
Kelvin Orlando Moore (September 26, 1957 – November 9, 2014) was a Major League Baseball first baseman. He played parts of three seasons in the major leagues, from 1981 until 1983, for the Oakland Athletics. He attended Leroy High School and Jackson State University, where he was drafted in the sixth round of the 1978 MLB draft. He died on ... -
NCAA Division I tournament First Appearence
The Tigers have appeared in the NCAA Division I Tournament three times. Their combined record is 0–3. Of the SWAC teams who have appeared in the Division I tournament, they are the only team to have never played an opening round game. They appeared in 1997, 2000 and 2007 tournament. -
Tigers Football Coach Deion Sanders
On September 21, 2020, Deion Sanders became the 21st head coach of the Jackson State Tigers, a team in the second level of NCAA football, the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), that represents the historically black (HBCU) Jackson State University. In his first season in spring 2021, abbreviated and delayed from its normally intended fall 2020 schedule due to ...
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History of the Tigers
Jackson State Tigers is one of history's most successful NCAA athletic programs. The program has been consistently competitive since its inception in 1974 and boasts an impressive list of accomplishments, including multiple conference championships and appearances in the NCAA tournament. Jackson State's men's basketball team is especially noteworthy, having reached the Sweet Sixteen three times (1980-81, 1981-82, and 1982-83) under legendary coach Bob Hopkins.
The Jackson State Tigers football program has also enjoyed great success over the years. The team won five Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) titles between 1975–86 and made six Division I FCS playoff appearances between 1985–2003. In addition to these successes on the gridiron, Jackson State has also crowned champions at both national track & field events—the Penn Relays Carnival from 1980–84, as well as winning four consecutive indoor track & field championships from 1986 to 1989!
In recent years, Jackson State Athletics has continued its tradition of excellence with numerous SWAC Championships across various sports, such as baseball (2014), softball (2015), women’s soccer(2017), and men’s basketball(2018). With such a rich history full of memorable moments for fans all around Mississippi, it’s no wonder why so many people are proud supporters or alumni associated with this storied university!
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