1983 Tennessee State Tigers football team

The 1983 Tennessee State Tigers football team represented Tennessee State University as an independent during the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 21st-year head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 8–2–1. At the conclusion of the season, the Tigers were also recognized as black college national champion.

1983 Tennessee State Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record8–2–1
Head coach
Home stadiumHale Stadium
Vanderbilt Stadium
Seasons
← 1982
1984 →
1983 NCAA Division I-AA independents football standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 3 Holy Cross ^     9 1 1
No. 17 Tennessee State     8 2 1
No. 7 Colgate ^     8 3 0
Lehigh     8 3 0
Lafayette     6 4 0
Northeastern     6 4 1
Southeastern Louisiana     6 5 0
William & Mary     6 5 0
Nicholls State     5 6 0
Bucknell     4 5 1
Delaware     4 7 0
Northwestern State     4 7 0
James Madison     3 8 0
Richmond     3 8 0
Western Kentucky     2 8 1
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee poll

Schedule

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DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 3HamptonW 20–1414,000[1]
September 10at Jackson StateL 31–35[2]
September 17at Alabama A&MW 40–2810,000[3]
September 24at Florida A&MNo. 16W 23–13[4]
October 1Alabama StateNo. 13
  • Hale Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
W 52–19[5]
October 8No. T–14 Grambling StateNo. 8T 7–740,000[6]
October 22at Bethune–CookmanNo. 12W 21–196,500[7]
October 29at SouthernNo. 13W 49–24[8]
November 5District of ColumbiaNo. 8
  • Hale Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
W 55–64,000[9]
November 12vs. Mississippi Valley StateNo. 12L 38–5115,000[10]
November 19at North Carolina A&TNo. 18W 57–07,625[11]

References

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  1. ^ "HI defeated 20–14". Daily Press. September 4, 1983. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ^ "Jackson State takes wild 35–31 victory". The Clarion-Ledger. September 11, 1983. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Late Tennessee State surge nets 40–28 victory". The Tennessean. September 18, 1983. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "FAMU bows 23–13". Press Journel. September 25, 1983. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Tennessee State routs Hornets, 52–19". The Montgomery Advertiser. October 2, 1983. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Grambling scores, TSU fit to be tied". The Tennessean. October 9, 1983. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Fumbles foil B–CC's upset bid". The Orlando Sentinel. October 23, 1983. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Tennessee State downs Southern". The Tennessean. October 30, 1983. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Big Blue overwhelms District of Columbia". The Commercial Appeal. November 6, 1983. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Early turnovers help MVSU clobber TSU". The Greenwood Commonwealth. November 13, 1983. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Tennessee State rips N.C. A&T". The Charlotte Observer. November 20, 1983. Retrieved April 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.