1981 Tennessee State Tigers football team

American college football season February 2024 February 2026 1981 Tennessee State Tigers football Independent 9–3 John Merritt 19th Hale StadiumDudley Field NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal L 25–26 vs. South Carolina State The 1981 Tennessee State Tigers football team were an American college football team. They represented Tennessee State University as an independent during the 1981 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 19th-year head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled a record of 9–3 and were defeated by South Carolina State in the NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal. Schedule 1981 NCAA Division I-AA NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee September 12 l y Jackson State Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium Jackson, MS 23–31 https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-taylor-leads-jsu-past-ten/129332732/ The Clarion-Ledger Taylor leads JSU past Tenn. State September 13, 1981 February 29, 2024 Newspapers.com September 19 w y Southern Illinois McAndrew Stadium Carbondale, IL 17–14 12,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-last-second-kick/142416529/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Last-second kick beats Southern Illinois, 17–14 September 20, 1981 February 29, 2024 Newspapers.com September 26 w Texas Southern Hale Stadium Nashville, TN 48–25 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-tigers-crush-texans/126110357/ The Tennessean Tigers crush Texans September 27, 1981 February 29, 2024 Newspapers.com October 3 w y 1981 Alabama State Hornets Alabama State Legion Field Birmingham, AL 21–20 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dothan-eagle-alabama-st-loses-first/142416792/ The Dothan Eagle Alabama St. loses first October 4, 1981 February 29, 2024 Newspapers.com October 10 w Grambling State Dudley Field Nashville, TN 14–10 34,386 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121138304/tsu-wins-defensive-struggle/ The Tennessean TSU wins defensive struggle October 11, 1981 February 29, 2024 Newspapers.com October 17 w y Louisville Fairgrounds Stadium Louisville, KY 42–30 28,136 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-courier-journal-it-comes-to-pass-te/142417233/ The Courier-Journal It comes to pass: Tennessee State strafes U of L 42–30 October 18, 1981 February 29, 2024 Newspapers.com October 24 w Nicholls State Dudley Field Nashville, TN 49–11 7,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-tsu-plugs-nicholls-st/142417535/ The Tennessean TSU 'plugs' Nicholls St. October 25, 1981 February 29, 2024 Newspapers.com October 31 w y T–7 Southern BREC Memorial Stadium Baton Rouge, LA 28–18 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-tennessee-state-do/130326280/ The Commercial Appeal Tennessee State downs Southern November 1, 1981 February 29, 2024 Newspapers.com November 7 w 5 1981 Central State Marauders Central State (OH) Hale Stadium Nashville, TN 43–0 6,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-tsu-torpedoes-central-sta/142418007/ The Tennessean TSU torpedoes Central State November 8, 1981 February 29, 2024 Newspapers.com November 14 l y 5 Chattanooga Chamberlain Field Chattanooga, TN 9–28 12,003 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107793464/utc-topples-tennessee-state/ The Tennessean UTC topples Tennessee State November 15, 1981 February 29, 2024 Newspapers.com November 21 w y 7 North Carolina A&T Aggie Stadium Greensboro, NC 27–18 https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record-aggies-fall-despite-late/142418414/ Greensboro News and Record Aggies fall despite late rally November 22, 1981 February 29, 2024 Newspapers.com December 5 l y 6 South Carolina State 3 State College Stadium Orangeburg, SC NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 25–26 OT 12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122410469/tsu-loses-2625-in-overtime/ The Tennessean TSU loses 26–25 in overtime December 6, 1981 February 29, 2024 Newspapers.com References Tennessee State Category:Tennessee State Tigers football seasons Tennessee State Tigers football Category:1980s in Nashville, Tennessee Tennessee State