1965 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team

The 1965 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1965 NCAA College Division football season. In their third season under head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled a 9–0–1 record, won the MAA championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 333 to 108. The team was also recognized as the 1965 black college national champion and was ranked No. 5 in the final 1965 NCAA College Division football rankings issued by the Associated Press and No. 12 in the final poll issued by the United Press International.[1]

1965 Tennessee A&I Tigers football
ConferenceMidwest Athletic Association
Record9–0–1 (– MAA)
Head coach
Home stadiumHale Stadium

On December 11, Tennessee A&I played in the 1965 Grantland Rice Bowl against Ball State. It the first college football game in Tennessee between an all-black team and a predominantly white team.[2]

Key players included quarterback Eldridge Dickey, fullback Bill Tucker, halfback Noland Smith, wide receiver Willie Walker, split end Johnnie Robinson, middle guard/tackle James Carter, defensive lineman Franklin McRae, and defensive backs Alvin Coleman and Leon Moore. Coach Merritt described Carter as "the best lineman I've ever coached."[3]

Schedule
DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 25North Carolina A&T
W 42–12[4]
October 2at Texas Southern
W 32–710,000[5]
October 9Grambling
  • Hale Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
W 40–78,000–24,000[6][7][8]
October 23Florida A&M
  • Hale Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
W 45–616,500[9]
October 30at SouthernNo. 9
W 40–3618,000[10]
November 6at Morris BrownNo. 6Atlanta, GAW 24–0[11]
November 13at Lincoln (MO)No. 7
W 31–65,600[12]
November 20at Kentucky StateNo. 7Frankfort, KYW 19–83,500[13]
November 25Central StatedaggerNo. 5
  • Hale Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
W 46–129,000[3]
December 11vs. Ball StateNo. 5
T 14–1412,000[2]
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[14]

References
  1. "Tennessee State Yearly Results (1965-1969)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  2. "Ball State, A&I Battle To Tie". The Jackson Sun. December 12, 1965. p. 3A – via Newspapers.com.
  3. "A&I Romps, Awaits Bowl Decision". The Nashville Tennessean. November 26, 1965. p. 43 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. "Tenn. State, Kentucky Show Power In Gridiron Wins: Dickey Paces Tenn. Romp Of A&T Aggies". The Pittsburgh Courier. October 2, 1965. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. "Tennessee State Hands Texas Southern First Loss". The Pittsburgh Courier. October 9, 1965. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "A&I Wins, 40-7; Dickey Shines". The Nashville Tennessean. October 10, 1965. p. 7E – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "Tenn. A&I Beats Grambling 40-0". The Pittsburgh Courier. October 16, 1965. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. "Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Grambling)". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  9. "Dickey, Defense Doom to A&M 45-6". The Nashville Tennessean. October 24, 1965. p. 7E – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Title-Hungry Tenn. State Blasts Tough Southern U. Jaguars, 40-36". The Pittsburgh Courier. November 6, 1965. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Tenn. Keeps Rolling, Bombs M-B, 24-0". The Pittsburgh Courier. November 13, 1965. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Tennessee State Clips Lincoln". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 14, 1965. p. 5C – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Tennessee State 19, Kentucky State 8". The Courier-Journal. November 21, 1965. p. B8 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "1965 Tennessee State University Football Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
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