1972 Tennessee State Tigers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1972 Tennessee State Tigers football Independent 11–1 John Merritt 10th Hale Stadium Pioneer Bowl W 29–7 vs. Drake The 1972 Tennessee State Tigers football team represented Tennessee State University as an independent during the 1972 NCAA College Division football season. In their tenth season under head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled an 11–1 record, defeated Drake in the Pioneer Bowl (the Midwest region final of the NCAA College Division), and outscored all opponents by a total of 431 to 107. Schedule 1972 small college AP September 9 w y 1972 Norfolk State Spartans Norfolk State Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN 56–6 9,208 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-pettiford-directs/142832266/ The Commercial Appeal Pettiford directs a Big Blue romp September 10, 1972 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com September 15 w y Morgan State Atlanta Stadium Atlanta, GA Atlanta Gridiron Festival 14–0 10,093 Hudspeth Ron The Black Colleges: Soul And the Pro Scout https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-journal/136937969/ The Atlanta Journal Atlanta, Georgia September 16, 1972 8A December 16, 2023 Newspapers.com September 23 w y 4 Alcorn A&M Soldier Field Chicago, IL Urban League Classic 40–13 34,208–48,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-tenn-state-passes-take/130090768/ Chicago Tribune Tenn. State passes take toll of Alcorn September 24, 1972 August 15, 2023 Newspapers.com Final 1972 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Alcorn A&M) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/17/stats/13168 National Collegiate Athletic Association August 8, 2024 September 30 w 2 Texas Southern Hale Stadium Nashville, TN 38–15 14,224–16,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean-revenge-sweet-for-tsu/127153034/ The Tennessean Revenge sweet for TSU October 1, 1972 June 26, 2023 Newspapers.com Final 1972 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Texas Southern) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/699/stats/13168 National Collegiate Athletic Association June 26, 2023 October 7 l 3 y Grambling Grambling Stadium Grambling, LA 18–27 9,620–12,035 Grambling's Defense Leaves Tenn. Staters Black and Blue The Shreveport Times October 8, 1972 4D https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40359603/gramblings_defense_leaves_tenn/ Newspapers.com October 14 w 9 1972 Virginia State Trojans Virginia State Hale Stadium Nashville, TN 49–0 9,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-tennessee-state/142832393/ Richmond Times-Dispatch Tennessee State routs Va. State October 15, 1972 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com October 21 w 8 Florida A&M Bragg Memorial Stadium Tallahassee, FL 44–25 16,500 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune-rattlers-bow-again-by/142832572/ The Tampa Tribune-Times Rattlers bow again by 44–25 October 22, 1972 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com October 28 w 4 Southern Hale Stadium Nashville, TN 35–0 9,200–11,023 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-commercial-appeal-big-blue-dominates/130137775/ Big Blue dominates Southern University The Commercial Appeal October 29, 1972 August 16, 2023 Newspapers.com Final 1972 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Southern) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/665/stats/13168 National Collegiate Athletic Association August 16, 2023 November 4 w 4 1972 Morris Brown Wolverines Morris Brown Hale Stadium Nashville, TN 24–14 15,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-morris-brown-lo/142832739/ The Atlanta Journal & Constitution Morris Brown loses another November 5, 1972 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com November 11 w y 4 1972 Central State Marauders Central State (OH) McPherson Stadium Wilberforce, OH 41–0 8,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/dayton-daily-news-marauders-blankes-by-t/142833009/ Dayton Daily News Marauders blankes by Tenn. State November 12, 1972 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com November 23 w y 5 1972 Alabama State Hornets Alabama State Cramton Bowl Montgomery, AL 43–0 15,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/birmingham-post-herald-alabama-st-bombe/142833109/ Birmingham Post-Herald Alabama St. bombed, 43–0 November 24, 1972 March 6, 2024 Newspapers.com December 9 w y 5 Drake Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, TX Pioneer Bowl 29–7 9,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/wichita-falls-times-tennessee-st-plugs/131026929/ Tennessee St. plugs Bulldogs Wichita Falls Times December 10, 1972 September 1, 2023 Newspapers.com Final 1972 Cumulative Football Statistics Report (Tennessee State) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/691/stats/13168 National Collegiate Athletic Association December 16, 2023 References Tennessee State Category:Tennessee State Tigers football seasons Category:Pioneer Bowl champion seasons Tennessee State Tigers football Category:1970s in Nashville, Tennessee