1973 Tennessee State Tigers football team

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]

1973 Tennessee State Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record10–0
Head coach
Home stadiumHale Stadium
1973 NCAA Division II independents football records
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW 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
Western Carolina   –  6 –3 –1
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

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
W 23–022,000–27,000[3][4]
September 15at Alabama A&M
W 54–2118,000[5]
September 22at Texas SouthernNo. 3
W 23–2015,500[6]
October 6 No. 2 GramblingNo. 7
W 19–1316,000–16,500[7][8]
October 13at Virginia StateNo. 2
W 24–615,000[9]
October 20Florida A&MNo. 2
W 45–027,000[10]
October 27at SouthernNo. 1
W 21–620,000[11]
November 3ChattanoogaNo. 1
W 44–711,524[12]
November 10Central State (OH)No. 1
  • Hale Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
W 45–711,700[13]
November 17Alabama StateNo. 1
  • Hale Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
W 35–710,000[14]
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[15]

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. 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. Hanna, Jeff (September 9, 1973). "TSU Defenders Blank Blue Raiders". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. p. 1D. Retrieved February 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  4. Hanna, Jeff (September 9, 1973). "TSU Defenders (continued)". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. p. 7D. Retrieved February 7, 2022 – via Newspapers.com open access.
  5. "TSU romps 54–21 after Gilliam talk". The Tennessean. September 16, 1973. Retrieved April 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. "TSU in squeaker". The Tennessean. September 23, 1973. Retrieved April 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. "College-Division Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  8. "Scripting perfest for Merritt, TSU". The Tennessean. October 7, 1973. Retrieved April 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. "Tigers' late surge fells Trojans, 24–6". Richmond Times-Dispatch. October 14, 1973. Retrieved April 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. "Florida A&M falls, 45–0". Fort Lauderdale News. October 21, 1973. Retrieved April 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. "Southern falls, 21–6". Daily World. October 28, 1973. Retrieved April 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. "Bryant, TSU feast on UT–Chattanooga". The Tennessean. November 4, 1973. Retrieved September 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. "Marauders falls to number one". Dayton Daily News. November 11, 1973. Retrieved April 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. "Tenn. State pounds Alabama St". The Montgomery Advertiser. November 18, 1973. Retrieved April 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. "Final 1973 Cumulative Football Statistics Report". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved December 11, 2022.
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