Stillman College is bringing football back to Tuscaloosa, restoring a program that had been dormant for years.
“Football has a special place in the history and spirit of Stillman College,” President Dr. Yolanda W. Page said in a statement. “As we celebrate 150 years of educating students and transforming lives, we are also looking boldly toward the next 150 years.”
Page said football’s return is about more than putting a team on the field each fall. It is also about building connections between current students, former Tigers and the community that has supported the college through the years.
“The return of football is an opportunity to strengthen the student experience, reconnect generations of Stillman alumni, and create new energy and opportunities for our campus and the Tuscaloosa community,” she said.
Stillman dropped football in 2015.
For Stillman, the revival of Tiger football represents a broader investment in campus life.
The college expects the program to support student recruitment and enrollment growth while also creating more opportunities for student-athletes. Football Saturdays could also provide a boost for the marching band, cheerleaders, student organizations and the game-day traditions that help shape a college atmosphere.
Joe Hampton, chair of the Stillman College Board of Trustees, said trustees view the decision as an investment in the institution’s long-term health.
“The return of football represents an investment in the vitality of our institution and an opportunity to strengthen enrollment, student life, alumni engagement, and our connection to the broader community,” Hampton said. “As Stillman celebrates 150 years, we believe this is the right time to restore a tradition that means so much to generations of Stillman alumni while building a program positioned for long-term success.”
Football returns to Stillman College with greater purpose
Stillman officials said the new version of Tiger football will be built around more than wins and losses.
The previous program produced memorable moments on the field, but the college also emphasized its impact in developing young men through scholarship, discipline, leadership and service. In restarting the program, Stillman plans to maintain that focus while building a model centered on academic success, student-athlete development, competitive excellence and fiscal responsibility.
“This is about much more than what happens on Saturday afternoons,” said Terrance Whittle, Stillman’s director of athletics. “We have an opportunity to build a football program that reflects the values of Stillman College and develops students academically, athletically, and personally.”
