Shannon Sharpe, Class of ’91, returned to campus Nov. 6 to a warm and festive welcome by students, faculty and staff who packed Tiger Arena for a glimpse of the SSU alumnus and Pro football hall of famer. On campus for the live taping of ESPN’s First Take, Sharpe joined Stephen A. Smith and host Molly Qerim as they kicked off back-to-back live roadshows at two HBCUs - Savannah State and Winston-Salem State, Smith’s alma mater.
Regarded as one of the greatest National Football League’s
(NFL) tight ends of all time, Sharpe spent 14 seasons in the NFL, primarily
with the Denver Broncos and became the first NFL tight end to amass more than
10,000 receiving yards.
A cheering crowd of students, faculty, staff and
special guests descended on Tiger Arena to witness the 2-hour live taping of
the weekday sports debate show. The event allowed Sharpe to reconnect with his
alma mater and rekindle relationships with a former professor, a coach and
connect with current students.
“If somebody would have
told me, when I stepped on [the] Savannah State Campus, that I would one day
return to my alma mater in this capacity, I would have laughed,” Sharpe said. “This
is incredible, and to be able to come back this way means so much to me and I
am so very excited.”
Sharpe joined the SSU Tigers squad in 1986 after a
standout career at Glenville High School in Georgia. On Monday, Sharpe embraced his former SSU English professor Dr. Joan Maynor and his high
school football coach William Hall. Also joining him at the taping were several of his former SSU
teammates, his brother, NFL standout Sterling Sharpe, and his sister Libby.
Following the taping, Sharpe remained in the Arena for countless selfies with students and conversations with media and others.
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