Tennessee State celebrates an abundance of tradition over the course of homecoming week. Whether there are students in the Gentry Center for a concert, alumni in the Hole for the pep rally or Nashville on Jefferson Street watching the parade pass by, one week in October is meant for all Tigers, past, present and future to come together to celebrate the tradition of the great Tennessee State.
A tradition many watch, but may not know the history behind is the tradition of the robe bearers.
Not long after the confetti from the parade has fallen and the floats are dismantled, Mister and Miss TSU, as well as their court, dress themselves in gowns and tuxedos for the annual coronation held in Kean Hall.
Two members often overlooked in the process are the robe bearers, tasked to robe the newly crowned Mister and Miss TSU. The robe bearers have historically been a Tigerbelle and Flying Tigers, members of the women's and men's track and field teams. The tradition began in 1966 when Tigerbelle Marcella Daniels was the first student-athlete to be crowned Miss TSU. Daniels and her coach, the late Ed Temple, decided another Tigerbelle should robe her.
Since the coronation of 1966, a Tigerbelle has robed Miss TSU. Once the position of Mr. TSU was added, the university recruited a Flying Tiger to join the Tigerbelle in robbing the leaders of TSU's royal court.
Flying Tiger Michael Johnson made history becoming the first Mr. TSU who was also a member of the track and field team in 2013. His teammate Tamarron Key crowned him.
This year, seniors
Jalyn Bowen and Michael Thompson served as the Tigerbelle and Flying Tiger to robe the 2020-21 Mr. and Miss TSU, Naton Smith, Jr. and Mariah Rhodes.
"It was an honor to continue the tradition and be a part of something memorable while representing my team," said Bowen. "Because of my leadership and dedication shown over the course of four years here, I am able to serve as Ms. Tigerbelle and represent the university and my team in all capacities and be a good example for my teammates."
