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Tennessee State Tigers football
2024 Tennessee State Tigers football team
First season1912
Athletic directorDr. Mikki Allen
Head coachEddie George
3rd season, 15–18 (.455)
StadiumNissan Stadium and Hale Stadium
(capacity: 69,143 and 10,000)
Year built1999
Field surfaceTifsport Bermuda Sod
LocationNashville, Tennessee
NCAA divisionDivision I FCS
ConferenceBig South–OVC
Past conferencesSIAC (1926–1929)
MAA (1945–1966)
All-time record555–288–33 (.652)
Bowl record8–1–1 (.850)
Playoff appearances6
Playoff record3–6
Claimed national titles12
(Div. II): 1973 (Poll)
(Black College): 1946, 1947, 1954, 1956, 1965, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1979, 1982, 2013
Unclaimed national titles4 (Black College):1953, 1983, 1984, 2012
Conference titles16
ColorsReflex blue and white[1]
   
WebsiteTSUTigers.com

The Tennessee State Tigers football program represents Tennessee State University in the sport of American football. The Tigers compete in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as member of the Big South–OVC Football Association.

History

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See also: List of Tennessee State Tigers football seasons

NCAA Relegation

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In 1981, the Tennessee State Tigers were relegated from Division I-A to Division I-AA.

First FBS Victory

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Tennessee State Tigers first FBS victory came in 2017 when they defeated the Georgia State Panthers 17-10 for Georgia State's season home opener.[2][3]

Championships

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National championships

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Year Coach Record Championship
1946 Henry A. Kean 10–1 Black College National Champions
1947 Henry A. Kean 10–0 Black College National Champions
1954 Henry A. Kean 10–1 Black College National Champions
1956 Howard C. Gentry 10–0 Black College National Champions
1965 John A. Merritt 9–0–1 Black College National Champions
1966 John A. Merritt 10–0 Black College National Champions
1970 John A. Merritt 11–0 Black College National Champions
1971 John A. Merritt 9–1 Black College National Champions
1973 John A. Merritt 10–0 AP & UPI College Division National Champions
Black College National Champions
1979 John A. Merritt 8–3 Black College National Champions
1982 John A. Merritt 10–1–1 Black College National Champions
2013 Rod Reed 10–4 Black College National Champions

Conference championships

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Year Coach Conference Conference Record
1945 Henry A. Kean Midwest Athletic Association 3–0
1946 Henry A. Kean Midwestern Conference 3–0
1947 Henry A. Kean Midwestern Conference 3–0
1949 Henry A. Kean Midwestern Conference 4–0
1954 Henry A. Kean Midwestern Conference 4–0
1956 Howard C. Gentry Midwestern Conference 4–0
1957 Howard C. Gentry Midwestern Conference 3–0
1959 Howard C. Gentry Midwestern Conference 3–0
1960 Howard C. Gentry Midwestern Conference 3–0
1961 Lawrence E. Simmons Midwestern Conference 3–0
1963 John A. Merritt Midwest Conference 3–0
1964 John A. Merritt Midwestern Conference 3–0
1965 John A. Merritt Midwestern Conference 2–0
1966 John A. Merritt Midwestern Conference 2–0
1998 Lawrence C. Cole Ohio Valley Conference 6–1
1999 Lawrence C. Cole Ohio Valley Conference 7–0

Bowl games

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Tennessee State has competed in ten bowl games and has a record of 8–1–1.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]

Season Bowl Opponent Result
1944 Vulcan Bowl Tuskegee W 12–7
1945 Vulcan Bowl Texas College W 33–6
1946 Vulcan Bowl Louisville Municipal College W 32–0
1954 National Classic North Carolina College L 6–19
1956 Orange Blossom Classic Florida A&M W 41–39
1965 Grantland Rice Bowl Ball State T 14–14
1966 Grantland Rice Bowl Muskingum W 34–7
1970 Grantland Rice Bowl Southwestern Louisiana W 26–25
1971 Grantland Rice Bowl McNeese State W 26–23
1972 Pioneer Bowl Drake W 29–7

NCAA Division I-AA/FCS playoff results

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The Tigers have appeared in the NCAA Division I FCS Football Championship playoffs six times with a record of 3–6.

Year Round Opponent Result
1981 Quarterfinals South Carolina State L 25–26 OT
1982 Quarterfinals
Semifinals		 Eastern Illinois
Eastern Kentucky		 W 20–19
L 7–13
1986 First Round
Quarterfinals		 Jackson State
Nevada		 W 32–23
L 6–33
1998 First Round Appalachian State L 31–45
1999 First Round North Carolina A&T L 10–24
2013 First Round
Second Round		 Butler
Eastern Illinois		 W 31–0
L 10–51

College Football Hall of Fame

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See also: College Football Hall of Fame
Name Position Tenure Inducted Ref.
John Merritt Coach 1963–1983 1994 [14]

Alumni in the NFL

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Over 100 Tennessee State alumni have played in the NFL,[15] including:

Annual Classic

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References

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  1. ^ Tennessee State University Brand Guide (PDF). December 31, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  2. ^ "Football History vs Georgia State University".
  3. ^ "2017's first FCS-over-FBS upset: Tennessee State vs. Georgia State". August 31, 2017.
  4. ^ "Tennessee State rips Tuskegee". The Tennessean. January 2, 1945. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Texas negros lose Vulcan Bowl crown". The Austin American. January 2, 1946. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Tennessee State wallops Louisville in Vulcan Bowl". The Tennessean. January 2, 1947. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Tennessee State defeated 19 To 6". Bristol Herald Courier. December 5, 1954. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Tennessee St. plugs Bulldogs". Wichita Falls Times. December 10, 1972. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Fumbling A&M bows, 41–39 In Orange Blossom Classic". Tallahassee Democrat. December 2, 1956. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Ball State, A&I battle to tie". The Jackson Sun. December 12, 1965. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Tennessee A&I routs Muskingum 34–7". The Daily News Journal. December 11, 1966. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Tennessee State nips USL Ragin' Cajuns". The Daily Advertiser. December 13, 1970. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "TSU denies McNeese an undefeated season". Daily World. December 12, 1971. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Inductee John Ayers Merritt 1994 College Football Hall of Fame". www.cfbhall.com.
  15. ^ "Tennessee St. Players/Alumni". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved September 29, 2015.
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