1973 Tennessee State Tigers football team

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1973 Tennessee State Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
1973 record10–0
Head coach
Home stadiumHale Stadium
Seasons
← 1972
1974 →
1973 NCAA Division II independents football records
  • v
  • t
 Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Tennessee State   –   10 – 0 – 0
No. 9 Hawaii   –   9 – 2 – 0
Nebraska–Omaha   –   7 – 2 – 1
Trinity (TX)   –   8 – 3 – 0
UNLV   –   8 – 3 – 0
No. 13 Delaware ^   –   8 – 4 – 0
Central Michigan   –   7 – 4 – 0
Nevada   –   7 – 4 – 0
Western Illinois   –   7 – 4 – 0
Milwaukee   –   6 – 4 – 1
Eastern Michigan   –   6 – 4 – 0
American International   –   5 – 4 – 0
Akron   –   6 – 5 – 0
Central State (OH)   –   6 – 5 – 0
Wayne State (MI)   –   5 – 5 – 0
Drexel   –   4 – 4 – 0
Bucknell   –   3 – 4 – 2
Northeast Louisiana   –   3 – 5 – 2
Santa Clara   –   4 – 6 – 0
Youngstown State   –   4 – 6 – 0
Arkansas–Pine Bluff   –   3 – 5 – 1
Chattanooga   –   4 – 7 – 0
Indiana State   –   4 – 7 – 0
Northeastern   –   3 – 6 – 0
Northern Michigan   –   2 – 7 – 1
Eastern Illinois   –   2 – 9 – 0
Portland State   –   1 – 10 – 0
  • ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant
Rankings from Associated Press poll

The 1973 Tennessee State Tigers football team represented Tennessee State University as an independent during the 1973 NCAA Division II football season. In their 11th season under head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled a 10–0 record and outscored all opponents by a total of 333 to 87. The team was also recognized as the 1973 black college national champion and was ranked No. 1 in the final 1973 NCAA College Division football rankings issued by both the Associated Press and the United Press International.[1]

Tennessee State did not compete in the playoffs "because five of its starters would not be eligible to play."[2] The players in question had sat out their freshmen year ("redshirt") and then played four seasons;[2] under NCAA rules at the time, such players were not eligible for postseason play as fifth-year seniors.

Schedule[]

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 8vs. Middle Tennessee State
W 23–022,000[3][4]
September 15at Alabama A&MNormal, ALW 54–21
September 22at Texas SouthernNo. 3Houston, TXW 23–20
October 6 No. 2 GramblingNo. 7
W 19–13
October 13at Virginia StateNo. 2Petersburg, VAW 24–6
October 20Florida A&MNo. 2
  • Hale Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
W 45–0
October 27at SouthernNo. 1Baton Rouge, LAW 21–6
November 3ChattanoogaNo. 1
W 44–711,524[5]
November 10Central State (OH)No. 1
  • Hale Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
W 45–7
November 17Alabama StateNo. 1
  • Hale Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
W 35–7
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References[]

  1. ^ "Tennessee State Yearly Results (1970-1974)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Finocchiaro, Ray (November 15, 1973). "5 Ineligible So Tennessee State Quits Playoff". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. Retrieved February 28, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ {{cite news |last=Hanna |first=Jeff |title=TSU Defenders Blank Blue Raiders |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94467143/the-tennessean/ |newspaper=The Tennessean |location=[[Nashville, Tennessee] |date=September 9, 1973 |page=1D |access-date=February 7, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com open access }}
  4. ^ {{cite news |last=Hanna |first=Jeff |title=TSU Defenders (continued) |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/94467374/the-tennessean/ |newspaper=The Tennessean |location=[[Nashville, Tennessee] |date=September 9, 1973 |page=7D |access-date=February 7, 2022 |via=Newspapers.com open access }}
  5. ^ "Bryant, TSU feast on UT–Chattanooga". The Tennessean. November 4, 1973. Retrieved September 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
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