John Merritt (American football)

(Redirected from "Big" John Merritt)

John Ayers Merritt (January 26, 1926 – December 15, 1983) was an American college football coach. He served as the head football coach at Jackson State University from 1952 to 1962 and Tennessee State University from 1963 to 1983, compiling a career coaching record of 235–70–12. Merritt was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

John Merritt
Biographical details
Born(1926-01-26)January 26, 1926
Falmouth, Kentucky, U.S.
DiedDecember 15, 1983(1983-12-15) (aged 57)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Playing career
1947–1949Kentucky State
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1952–1962Jackson / Jackson State
1963–1983Tennessee A&I/State
Head coaching record
Overall235–70–12
Bowls5–2
Tournaments1–2 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
8 black college national (1962, 1965–1966, 1970–1971, 1973, 1979, 1982)
5 MAA/Midwestern/Midwest (1957, 1963–1966)
2 SWAC (1961–1962)
Awards
Amos Alonzo Stagg Award (1995)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 1994 (profile)

Merritt was born in Falmouth, Kentucky, and is an alumnus of Kentucky State University, where he played guard on the football team from 1947 to 1949. He earned the nickname "Big John". He graduated in 1950 and earned a master's degree from the University of Kentucky in 1952.

He coached Jackson State University from 1953 to 1962, where he compiled a record of 63–37–5. Merritt led Jackson State to back-to-back appearances in the Orange Blossom Classic in 1961 and 1962 before being hired by what was then Tennessee A&I. At Tennessee State (as Tennessee A&I was renamed in 1968), Merritt had four undefeated seasons, claimed four Midwest Athletic Association titles, seven black college football national championships: (1965, 1966, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1979 and 1982) and earned the school's first-ever NCAA Division I-AA playoff victory in 1982.

Merritt coached many players who went on to the National Football League (NFL), including Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Joe Gilliam, Claude Humphrey, Mike Hegman, and Richard Dent. His coaching record at Tennessee State was 172–33–7 with an .828 winning percentage—far and away the best in program history.[1]

Death and honors

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Merritt died on December 15, 1983, at Vanderbilt University Hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, after suffering from heart disease.[2][3]

John Merritt Boulevard in Nashville, Tennessee is named in his honor. The Tennessee State football team usually opens every home season with the John Merritt Classic game at Nissan Stadium, traditionally against Alabama A&M University, but more recently the game has also headlined other from other universities.

Head coaching record

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Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Jackson / Jackson State Tigers (Midwest Athletic Association) (1952–1957)
1952 Jackson 3–5–1 0–2–1 6th
1953 Jackson 5–4 0–3 T–6th
1954 Jackson 1–7–1 0–4 7th
1955 Jackson 5–4 0–3 T–5th
1956 Jackson State 6–2–2 1–1 T–2nd
1957 Jackson State 6–2 2–0 T–1st
1958 Jackson State 6–2–1 2–0 2nd
Jackson State Tigers (Southwestern Athletic Conference) (1959–1962)
1959 Jackson State 6–4 4–3 4th
1960 Jackson State 6–4 4–3 4th
1961 Jackson State 9–2 6–1 1st L Orange Blossom Classic
1962 Jackson State 10–1 6–1 1st W Orange Blossom Classic
Jackson / Jackson State: 63–37–5 25–21–1
Tennessee A&I Tigers (Midwest Conference / Midwestern Conference) (1963–1966)
1963 Tennessee A&I 6–3 3–0 1st
1964 Tennessee A&I 8–2 3–0 1st
1965 Tennessee A&I 9–0–1 3–0 1st T Grantland Rice
1966 Tennessee A&I 10–0 2–0 1st W Grantland Rice
Tennessee A&I / State Tigers (NCAA College Division / Division II independent) (1967–1976)
1967 Tennessee A&I 6–3
1968 Tennessee State 6–2–1
1969 Tennessee State 7–1–1
1970 Tennessee State 11–0 W Grantland Rice
1971 Tennessee State 9–1 W Grantland Rice
1972 Tennessee State 11–1 W Pioneer
1973 Tennessee State 10–0
1974 Tennessee State 8–2
1975 Tennessee State 5–4
1976 Tennessee State 7–2–1
Tennessee State Tigers (NCAA Division I/I-A independent) (1977–1980)
1977 Tennessee State 8–1–1
1978 Tennessee State 8–3
1979 Tennessee State 8–3
1980 Tennessee State 9–1
Tennessee State Tigers (NCAA Division I-AA independent) (1981–1983)
1981 Tennessee State 9–2 L NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal
1982 Tennessee State 10–1–1 L NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
1983 Tennessee State 8–2–1
Tennessee A&I / State: 172–33–7 11–0–1
Total: 235–70–12
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Tennessee State University coaching records Archived July 28, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "Death ends long fight by Merritt". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. December 15, 1983. p. D1. Retrieved August 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .
  3. ^ "Recollections are tribute to Merritt (continued)". The Commercial Appeal. Memphis, Tennessee. December 15, 1983. p. D6. Retrieved August 6, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .
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