Strahan steps up for TSU football program with 'donation of new helmets'

Texas Southern University’s football team will be donning new helmets thanks to a large donation from one of its famous alumni – NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan. 

Strahan starred on the grid iron for Tigers and went on to a stellar professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants. Kevin Granger, the university’s vice president of intercollegiate athletics, took to Twitter to publicly acknowledge the donation. 

"The Department of Athletics and the Tiger football program is elated to receive this donation from Michael Strahan,” he wrote on the social media platform, cited by ABC 13. 

According to ABC 13, the Riddell Speedflex helmets are the company’s best helmet and top helmet, according to safety test results from the NFL and NFLPLA. 

"I want to send a huge shout out and thank you to Michael Strahan for taking care of his alma mater with the donation of the new helmets," TSU head football coach Clarence McKinney said in a tweet cited by ABC 13. 

According to ABC 13, the new helmets feature the school’s maroon primary color with gray face masks. The Tigers’ athletics logo decal is emblazoned on one side and the player’s number is included on the other side of the helmet. TSU planned on debuting the helmets during Homecoming 2021 when the Tigers faced North American University, according to the school’s website. 

“From one TSU alum to another, I want to thank him personally for his generosity and support of our football program,” Granger added in his tweet. 

According to HBCU Gameday, Strahan was an All-American during his TSU career, and was selected by the Giants in the 1993 NFL Draft. During his career in the Big Apple, he was on a Super Bowl-winning squad. 

HBCU Gameday also noted that after ending his career with 141.5 sacks, Strahan parlayed that success into a television career, first as an NFL analyst and later as co-host of Good Morning America. In 2014, he was enshrined in the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio according to the museum's website. 

Strahan has stepped up to help his alma mater before, according to HBCU, teaming up with X Tech Pads to provide top-of-the-line shoulder pads to the Tigers. He also has made donations to the Jackson State University program, coached by fellow Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.