1965 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1965 Tennessee A&I Tigers football Midwest Athletic Association MWAA 9–0–1 3–0 John Merritt 3rd Hale Stadium Black college national championMWAA champion Grantland Rice Bowl T 14–14 vs. Ball State The 1965 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MWAA) during the 1965 NCAA College Division football season. In their third season under head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled a 9–0–1 record, won the MWAA championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 333 to 108. The team was also recognized as the 1965 black college national champion and was ranked No. 5 in the final small college football rankings issued by the Associated Press and No. 12 in the final poll issued by the United Press International. On December 11, Tennessee A&I played in the 1965 Grantland Rice Bowl against Ball State. It was the first college football game in Tennessee between an all-black team and a predominantly white team. Key players included quarterback Eldridge Dickey, fullback Bill Tucker, halfback Noland Smith, wide receiver Willie Walker, split end Johnnie Robinson, middle guard/tackle James Carter, defensive lineman Franklin McRae, and defensive backs Alvin Coleman and Leon Moore. Coach Merritt described Carter as "the best lineman I've ever coached." Schedule 1965 small college AP y y y September 25 North Carolina A&T<ncg> Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 42-12 Tenn. State, Kentucky Show Power In Gridiron Wins: Dickey Paces Tenn. Romp Of A&T Aggies The Pittsburgh Courier October 2, 1965 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40234481/tenn_state_kentucky_show_power_in/ Newspapers.com October 2 at Texas Southern<ncg> Jeppesen Stadium Houston, TX W 32-7 10,000 Tennessee State Hands Texas Southern First Loss The Pittsburgh Courier October 9, 1965 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40233950/tennessee_state_hands_texas_southern/ Newspapers.com October 9 Grambling<ncg> Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 40-7 8,000–24,000 A&I Wins, 40-7; Dickey Shines The Nashville Tennessean October 10, 1965 7E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40234138/ai_wins_407_dickey_shines/ Newspapers.comTenn. A&I Beats Grambling 40-0 The Pittsburgh Courier October 16, 1965 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40234317/tenn_ai_beats_grambling_400/ Newspapers.com Brief Summary Of Cumulative Football Statistics (Grambling) https://stats.ncaa.org/team/261/stats/13167 National Collegiate Athletic Association August 16, 2023 October 23 Florida A&M<ncg> Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 45-6 16,500 Dickey, Defense Doom to A&M 45-6 The Nashville Tennessean October 24, 1965 7E https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40233598/dickey_defense_doom_to_am_456/ Newspapers.com October 30 at Southern<ncg> 9 University Stadium Baton Rouge, LA W 40-36 18,000 Title-Hungry Tenn. State Blasts Tough Southern U. Jaguars, 40-36 The Pittsburgh Courier November 6, 1965 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40233337/titlehungry_tenn_state_blasts_tough/ Newspapers.com November 6 at 1965 Morris Brown Wolverines Morris Brown<ncg> 6 Herndon Stadium Atlanta, GA W 24-0 Tenn. Keeps Rolling, Bombs M-B, 24-0 The Pittsburgh Courier November 13, 1965 14 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40233139/tenn_keeps_rolling_bombs_mb_240/ Newspapers.com November 13 vs 1965 Lincoln Lions Lincoln (MO) 7 Busch Stadium St. Louis, MO (Gateway Classic) W 31-6 5,600 Tennessee State Clips Lincoln St. Louis Post-Dispatch November 14, 1965 5C https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40228899/tennessee_state_clips_lincoln/ Newspapers.com November 20 at 1965 Kentucky State Thorobreds Kentucky State 7 Alumni Field Frankfort, KY W 19-8 3,500 Tennessee State 19, Kentucky State 8 The Courier-Journal November 21, 1965 B8 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40228488/tennessee_state_19_kentucky_state_8/ Newspapers.com November 25 1965 Central State Marauders Central State (OH)<hc> 5 Hale Stadium Nashville, TN W 46-12 9,000 A&I Romps, Awaits Bowl Decision The Nashville Tennessean November 26, 1965 43 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40226939/ai_romps_awaits_bowl_decision/ Newspapers.com December 11 vs Ball State<ncg> 5 Horace Jones Field Murfreesboro, TN (Grantland Rice Bowl) T 14-14 12,000 Ball State, A&I Battle To Tie The Jackson Sun December 12, 1965 3A https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40226430/ball_state_ai_battle_to_tie/ Newspapers.com 1965 Tennessee State University Football Statistics https://stats.ncaa.org/team/691/stats/13167 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 Category:College football undefeated seasons Tennessee AandI Tigers