1966 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1966 Tennessee A&I Tigers football Midwestern Conference Midwestern 10–0 2–0 John Merritt 4th Hale Stadium Black college national championMidwestern Conference champion Grantland Rice Bowl W 34–7 vs. 1966 Muskingum Fighting Muskies Muskingum The 1966 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwestern Conference during the 1966 NCAA College Division football season. In their fourth season under head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled a perfect 10–0 record, won the Midwestern Conference championship, shut out five of ten opponents, defeated 1966 Muskingum Fighting Muskies Muskingum in the 1966 Grantland Rice Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 410 to 51.The Official National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Guide 1967 https://archive.org/details/official-collegiate-football-guide-1967-c/page/n30/mode/1up 77th Phoenix, Arizona College Athletics Publishing Service 1967 29 December 28, 2024 Internet Archive The Tigers compiled a 24-game unbeaten streak that encompassed the 1965 and 1966 seasons. The team was also recognized as the 1966 black college national champion and was ranked No. 2 in the final small college rankings issued by the Associated Press and No. 3 in the final poll issued by the United Press International. The team's No. 2 ranking was the highest achieved by a black college team to that point in time. The Pittsburgh Courier called the 1966 Tennessee A&I team as "the finest force yet produced by Negro college football."Tenn. State Wins No. 2 (AP) No. 3 (UPI) The Pittsburgh Courier December 17, 1966 15 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40249838/tenn_state_wins_no_2_ap_no_3_upi/ Newspapers.com On October 22, the Tigers became the first team to defeat the Florida A&M Rattlers in Bragg Memorial Stadium and the first team to shut out the Rattlers in 16 years. Three Tennessee A&I players were selected as first team players on the Pittsburgh Courier's 1966 All-America team: quarterback Eldridge Dickey, fullback Bill Tucker, and defensive tackle Claude Humphrey.Talent Galore on 41st All America Team: Juniors Dominate Annual Selections The Pittsburgh Courier December 24, 1966 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40250253/talent_galore_on_41st_all_america_team/ Newspapers.com Other key players included halfback Noland Smith and split end Johnnie Robinson. Schedule 1966 small college AP y y y September 24 at North Carolina A&T<ncg> World War Memorial Stadium Greensboro, NC W 55-0 A&I Romps 55-0; Streak Now At 15 The Nashville Tennessean September 25, 1966 7E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40256240/ai_romps_550_streak_now_at_15/ Newspapers.com October 1 Texas Southern<ncg> Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 52-0 7,720 A&I Romps Over Texans; Dickey Stars October 2, 1966 2E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40256327/ai_romps_over_texans_dickey_stars/ Newspapers.com October 8 at Grambling<ncg> 10 Grambling Stadium Grambling, LA W 31-23 Down 16 Points, A&I Roars Back The Nashville Tennessean October 9, 1966 7E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40256880/down_16_points_ai_roar_back/ Newspapers.com October 22 at Florida A&M<ncg> 10 Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL W 29-0 State Socks Rattler 29-0 Tallahassee Democrat October 23, 1966 2C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40251097/state_socks_rattler_290/ Newspapers.com October 29 Southern<ncg> 6 Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 31-9 A&I Roars 31-9 The Nashville Tennessean October 30, 1966 6D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40256405/ai_roars_319/ Newspapers.com November 5 1966 Morris Brown Wolverines Morris Brown<ncg> 4 Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 28-0 2,260 A&I Downs Morris Brown The Nashville Tennessean November 6, 1966 5E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40256458/ai_downs_morris_brown/ Newspapers.com November 12 vs 1966 Lincoln Lions Lincoln (MO) 4 Busch Memorial Stadium St. Louis, MO (Gateway Classic) W 28-6 3,000 Tenn. State Downs Lincoln St. Louis Post-Dispatch November 13, 1966 2F https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40250901/tenn_state_downs_lincoln/ Newspapers.com November 19 at 1966 Allen Yellow Jackets Allen<ncg> 2 Columbia, SC W 39-6 Tennessee A&I Rolls, 39-6 The Nashville Tennessean November 20, 1966 9E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40256511/tennessee_ai_rolls_396/ Newspapers.com November 24 1966 Kentucky State Thorobreds Kentucky State<hc> 2 Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 83-0 11,000 A&I Wins 'Grudge' Game 83-0 The Nashville Tennessean November 25, 1966 34 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40256645/ai_wins_grudge_game_830/ Newspapers.comTenn. State Rips Ky. State, 83-0 The Pittsburgh Courier December 3, 1966 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40256728/tenn_state_rips_ky_state_830/ Newspapers.com December 10 vs No. 7 1966 Muskingum Fighting Muskies Muskingum<ncg> 2 Horace Jones Field Murfreesboro, TN (Grantland Rice Bowl) W 34-7 < 7,000 Tennessee A&I Routs Muskingum 34-7 The Daily News Journal December 11, 1966 4 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40250464/tennessee_ai_routs_muskingum_347/ Newspapers.com Tennessee State Media Guide 2019 https://tsutigers.com/documents/2020/10/7/2019FootballMediaGuide.pdf Tennessee State University Athletics 117 May 7, 2026 References Tennessee AandI Category:Tennessee State Tigers football seasons Category:Black college football national champions Category:Midwest Athletic Association football champion seasons Category:College football undefeated seasons Tennessee AandI Tigers football Category:20th century in Nashville, Tennessee