1954 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1954 Tennessee A&I Tigers football Midwest Athletic Association MWAA 10–1 4–0 Henry Kean 4th Hale Stadium Black college national co-championMWAA champion National Classic L 6–19 vs. North Carolina College The 1954 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MWAA) during the 1954 college football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach Henry Kean, the Tigers compiled a 10–1 record, won the MWAA championship, lost to 1954 North Carolina Central Eagles North Carolina Central in the National Classic, and outscored all opponents by a total of 330 to 70. The team was selected by the "Pigskin Huddle" as the 1954 black college national champion.Luix Virgil Overbea December 25, 1954 Pigskin Huddle https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oJwlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pfUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3028%2C3421943 The Afro-American 16 The Pittsburgh Courier selected the Tigers as black college national co-champion in a five-way tie with four other teams.Five Teams Claim Nat'l Grid Crown After Gala Season The Pittsburgh Courier December 25, 1954 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40010785/five_teams_claim_natl_grid_crown_after/ Newspapers.com Coach Kean suffered a double heart attack following the team's December 4 game with North Carolina Central.Coach Kean resting after heart attack The Afro-American December 25, 1954 9 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=oJwlAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pfUFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3028%2C3421943 He did not return as the team's coach and died one year later in December 1955. Schedule Central y y y September 18 vs 1954 Lincoln Blue Tigers Lincoln (MO) Melrose Stadium Memphis, TN W 33-13 8,500 Tennessee A&I Wins Bluff City Classic, 33-13 The Commercial Appeal September 19, 1954 III-6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114485283/tennessee-ai-wins-bluff-city-classic/ Newspapers.com September 25 at 1954 Virginia State Trojans Virginia State<ncg> Rogers Stadium Ettrick, VA W 18-0 3,500 Tennessee State Tops Virginia State, 18-0 Richmond Times-Dispatch September 26, 1954 4D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114486154/tennessee-state-tops-virginia-state/ Newspapers.com October 1 Langston<ncg> Nashville, TN W 14-0 Tennessee A&I Whips Langston The Nashville Tennessean October 3, 1954 9C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114482258/tennessee-ai-whips-langston/ Newspapers.com October 9 at 1954 Allen Yellow Jackets Allen<ncg> Columbia, SC W 21-2 October 16 1954 Paul Quinn Tigers Paul Quinn<ncg> Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 74-6 Tennessee A&I Crushes Quinn The Nashville Tennessean October 17, 1954 2C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114482054/tennessee-ai-crushes-quinn/ Newspapers.com October 23 at 1954 Central State Marauders Central State (OH) Wilberforce, OH W 40-0 October 30 North Carolina College<ncg> Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 13-3 Tigers, Eagles Play Tonight The Nashville Tennessean October 30, 1954 13 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114486547/tigers-eagles-play-tonight/ Newspapers.com November 6 at Texas Southern Houston, TX W 18-15 Tennessee State Trips Southern The Nashville Tennessean November 7, 1954 7C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114484554/tennessee-state-trips-southern/ Newspapers.comTennessee State Trips Southern The Nashville Tennessean November 7, 1954 7C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114484821/tennessee-state-trips-southern/ Newspapers.com November 20 at 1954 Kentucky State Thorobreds Kentucky State Frankfort, KY W 34-12 Tigers Cop Loop title, 34-12 The Nashville Tennessean November 21, 1954 5C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114481857/tigers-cop-loop-title-34-12/ Newspapers.com November 25 1954 Bluefield State Big Blues Bluefield State<ncg> Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 59-0 6,500 Tennessee State Gallops To 10th Straight Victory Harold Goodrum Nashville Banner November 26, 1954 32 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114481538/tennessee-state-gallops-to-10th/ Newspapers.com December 4 1:00 p.m. vs. North Carolina College<ncg> World War Memorial Stadium Greensboro, NC (National Classic) L 6-19 2,500 N. C. College Battles Tennessee State Today https://www.newspapers.com/article/news-and-record/197236629/ Greensboro Daily News Greensboro, North Carolina December 4, 1954 3, section May 9, 2026 Newspapers.com Tigers Suffer First Defeat The Nashville Tennessean December 5, 1954 5C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114484106/tigers-suffer-first-defeat/ Newspapers.com Tennessee State Defeated 19 To 6 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114466457/the-bristol-herald-courier/ Bristol Herald Courier Bristol, Virginia December 5, 1954 1C December 11, 2022 Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics https://stats.ncaa.org/team/691/stats/13796 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 11, 2022 Tennessee State Media Guide 2019 https://tsutigers.com/documents/2020/10/7/2019FootballMediaGuide.pdf Tennessee State University Athletics 116 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 Tennessee AandI Tigers