1971 Tennessee State Tigers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1971 Tennessee State Tigers football Independent 9–1 John Merritt 9th Hale StadiumDudley Field Black college football national champion Grantland Rice Bowl W 26–23 vs. McNeese State The 1971 Tennessee State Tigers football team represented Tennessee State University as an independent during the 1971 NCAA College Division football season. In their ninth season under head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled a 9–1 record, defeated McNeese State in the Grantland Rice Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 403 to 151. The team was also recognized as the 1971 black college national champion and was ranked No. 5 in the final small college rankings issued by the Associated Press and No. 14 in the final poll issued by the United Press International.Tennessee State Yearly Results (1970-1974) College Football Data Warehouse December 8, 2019 http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/t/tennessee_state/1970-1974_yearly_results.php https://web.archive.org/web/20150906145001/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/active/t/tennessee_state/1970-1974_yearly_results.php dead September 6, 2015 Schedule 1971 small college AP y y y September 25 vs. Alcorn A&M Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN W 18–7 17,006 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-big-blue-splashes/130080973/ Big Blue splashes past Alcorn hurdle The Commercial Appeal September 26, 1971 August 15, 2023 Newspapers.com October 2 at Texas Southern 10 Rice Stadium Houston, TX L 23–28 20,000 Texas Southern Tops TSU https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114456486/the-tennessean/ The Nashville Tennessean Nashville, Tennessee October 3, 1971 3C December 11, 2022 Newspapers.com October 9 No. 3 Grambling Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 41–35 18,000–25,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121634858/big-blue-tips-grambling/ The Tennessean Big Blue tips Grambling October 10, 1971 March 25, 2023 Newspapers.com Final 1971 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Grambling) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/261/stats/12713 National Collegiate Athletic Association August 16, 2023 October 16 vs Prairie View 9 Cotton Bowl Dallas, TX W 42–20 15,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-tsu-rambles-4220/130084461/ TSU rambles, 42–20 The Nashville Tennessean October 17, 1971 August 15, 2023 Newspapers.com October 23 Florida A&M 9 Dudley Field Nashville, TN W 50–8 32,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-tennessee-state-sh/142831310/ The Commercial Appeal Tennessee State shows force October 24, 1971 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com October 30 at Southern 7 University Stadium Baton Rouge, LA W 27–16 19,451 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-southern-fifth-tsu-victim/130089072/ Southern fifth TSU victim The Nashville Tennessean October 31, 1971 August 15, 2023 Newspapers.com November 6 at 1971 Morris Brown Wolverines Morris Brown 7 Herndon Stadium Atlanta, GA W 61–7 15,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-m-brown-outcla/142831472/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution M. Brown outclassed by Tenn. State November 7, 1971 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com November 13 1971 Wisconsin–Superior Yellowjackets Wisconsin–Superior 6 Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 54–7 9,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-tigers-ravage-jackets-54/142831785/ The Nashville Tennessean Tigers ravage Jackets 54–7 November 14, 1971 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com November 20 1971 Central State Marauders Central State (OH) 4 Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 61–0 8,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-tigers-impressive-for/142831901/ Dayton Daily News Tigers impressive for bowl boys November 21, 1971 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com December 11 vs No. 2 McNeese State 5 BREC Memorial Stadium Baton Rouge, LA (Grantland Rice Bowl) W 26–23 15,271 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/17073733/tsu_denies_mcneese_an_undefeated_season/ TSU Denies McNeese An Undefeated Season Roger Brandt Daily World Opelousas, Louisiana newspapers.com December 12, 1971 February 12, 2017 Final 1971 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Tennessee State) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/691/stats/12713 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 11, 2022 References Tennessee State Category:Tennessee State Tigers football seasons Category:Black college football national champions Category:Grantland Rice Bowl champion seasons Tennessee State Tigers football Category:1970s in Nashville, Tennessee