The Ohio Valley Conference turned 75 this year, and in commemoration of that milestone, the conference named its anniversary football team.
Included on the team are 10 members of Tennessee State football.
Bennie Anderson, running back (1996-98)
Anderson was a four-year letterman, starting 43 of the 45 games he appeared in during his TSU career. He earned first-team All-OVC honors in both his junior and senior campaigns. Anderson was a 1999 first-team Black College All-America selection as a senior.
Charles Anthony, running back (2001-04)
By the time Anthony concluded his time at TSU, he had left as the school’s all-time leading rusher, shattering the previous mark by over 2,000 yards. He gained 5,057 yards on 910 carries as a Tiger and led the OVC in rushing in 2003 and 2004. He would be named a two-time All-American by five publications, including the Associated Press. He also earned the OVC Football Offensive Player of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year in 2004.
Anthony Bass, linebacker (2011-14)
Bass was a 2013 All-OVC First Team performer and the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year. He also was named an All-American by a variety of outlets, among them being the Associate Press. Appearing in all 12 contests, including 10 starts, Bass recorded 36 total tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks, and an interception as he was named to the All-OVC First Team for the second time.
Kadeem Edwards, offensive lineman (2009-13)
Edwards was a two-time All-OVC performer, named to the second team in 2011 and making the first team in 2012. In 2013, he was named an All-American for the second consecutive season. That same year, Edwards was named the Tigers’ offensive MVP and made this third straight all-conference team.
Rico Council, defensive back (2007-11)
Council was an All-OVC Second Team performer, finishing his TSU career second all-time in tackles with 209.
Randy Fuller, defensive back (1990-93)
The former All-American led the Tigers with five interceptions in 1990. Fuller finished at TSU as the third leading tackler (309) in program history.
Micheal German, quarterback (2011-14)
German was the 2011 OVC Freshman of the Year, a 2011 OVC All-Newcomer Team member, and a Jerry Rice Award finalist. He finished his career as the all-time leader in passing yards (8,664), career completions (615), and attempts (1,145) and was third in touchdown passes with 65.
Anthony Pleasant, defensive lineman (1987-89)
Pleasant was a three-year letterman for the Tigers. In 1988, he led the team with 12 sacks, tied for the 4th most in a season in TSU history. He also led the team with 14 tackles for loss and was named to the All-OVC team. In 1989, he again led the team with seven sacks and was named to the All-America team by the AP, Don Hansen’s Football Gazette, NFL Draft Report, and the Sheridan Poll.
Chris Rowland, wide receiver/return specialist (2016-19)
As a true freshman, Rowland led the nation in combined return yards with 1,103. That same season he also set the school records in kickoff returns (42) and kickoff return yards (965). Rowland, a three-time All-OVC performer, set school records in 2019 with his 104 receptions and 1,437 yards and also led the nation in per-game receiving yards with 119.8.
Javarris Williams, running back (2005-08)
Javarris Williams’ name is all over the TSU rushing record books. Williams has three of the 10 most prolific rushing seasons in TSU history. The 16 touchdowns he ran for in 2008, 12 in 2007, and 11 in 2006 are ranked second, tied for sixth, and tied for eighth for highest single-season marks in Tennessee State history. The 4,329 yards WIlliams ran for ranks only behind Charles Anthony in school history.
Dominique Rogers-Cromartie, defensive back (2004-07)
The former two-time All-American appeared in 44 games, starting in 39 for the Tigers. A three-time All-OVC member, he picked off 11 passes, which ties him for the third-most in TSU history. Rogers-Cromartie is the Tigers’ all-time leader in interception return yardage with 281. His six interceptions in 2007 are tied for the third-highest number in program history. He returned 39 kickoffs for 859 yards and blocked eight kicks.
1999 OVC Champions reunion pic.twitter.com/1meLVVGvMA
— L.C.COLE (@Cole2Coach) September 1, 2019
L.C. Cole, coach
L.C. Cole was the 18th football coach in Tennessee State history. Cole compiled a 28-18 record in his four seasons with the Tigers. He led them to back-to-back OVC championships in 1998 and 1999, which were the only seasons Tennessee State football claimed the conference crown.
