1966 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team

Last updated

1966 Tennessee A&I Tigers football
Conference Midwest Athletic Association
Record10–0 (2–0 MAA)
Head coach
Home stadium Hale Stadium
Seasons
←  1965
1967  →
1966 Midwest Athletic Association football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 1 Tennessee A&I $ 2 –0 –010 –0 –0
Lincoln (MO) 1 –1 –07 –2 –0
Central State (OH) 1 –1 –03 –5 –1
Kentucky State 0 –3 –03 –4 –1
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from New Pittsburgh Courier [1]

The 1966 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1966 NCAA College Division football season. In their fourth season under head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled a perfect 10–0 record, won the MAA championship, shut out five of ten opponents, defeated Muskingum in the 1966 Grantland Rice Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 410 to 51. [2] The Tigers compiled a 24-game unbeaten streak that encompassed the 1965 and 1966 seasons.

The team was also recognized as the 1966 black college national champion and was ranked No. 2 in the final small college rankings issued by the Associated Press and No. 3 in the final poll issued by the United Press International. The team's No. 2 ranking was the highest achieved by a black college team to that point in time. The Pittsburgh Courier called the 1966 Tennessee A&I team as "the finest force yet produced by Negro college football." [3]

On October 22, the Tigers became the first team to defeat the Florida A&M Rattlers in Bragg Memorial Stadium and the first team to shut out the Rattlers in 16 years. [4]

Three Tennessee A&I players were selected as first team players on the Pittsburgh Courier's 1966 All-America team: quarterback Eldridge Dickey, fullback Bill Tucker, and defensive tackle Claude Humphrey. [5] Other key players included halfback Noland Smith and split end Johnnie Robinson.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 24at North Carolina A&T * Greensboro, NC W 55–0 [6]
October 1 Texas Southern *
W 52–07,720 [7]
October 8at Grambling *No. 10 Grambling, LA W 31–23 [8]
October 22at Florida A&M *No. 10
W 29–0 [4]
October 29 Southern *No. 6
  • Hale Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
W 31–9 [9]
November 5 Morris Brown *No. 4
  • Hale Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
W 28–02,260 [10]
November 12at Lincoln (MO) No. 4
W 28–63,000 [11]
November 19at Allen *No. 2 Columbia, SC W 39–6 [12]
November 24 Kentucky State Dagger-14-plain.pngNo. 2
  • Hale Stadium
  • Nashville, TN
W 83–011,000 [13] [14]
December 10vs. No. 7 Muskingum *No. 2
W 34–7< 7,000 [15]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Dagger-14-plain.pngHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Related Research Articles

The 1966 Grantland Rice Bowl was an NCAA College Division game following the 1966 season, between the Tennessee State Tigers and the Muskingum Fighting Muskies. Tennessee State quarterback Eldridge Dickey was named the game's most valuable player.

The 1947 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1947 college football season. In their fourth season under head coach Henry Kean, the Tigers compiled a perfect 10–0 record, won the MAA championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 293 to 58. The team was also recognized as black college national champion for the second consecutive season.

The 1956 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1956 NCAA College Division football season. In their second season under head coach Howard C. Gentry, the Tigers compiled a perfect 10–0 record, won the MAA championship, shut out five of ten opponents, and outscored all opponents by a total of 394 to 64. The team was also recognized as black college national champion.

The 1955 Grambling Tigers football team represented Grambling State University as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1955 college football season. In their 13th season under head coach Eddie Robinson, the Tigers compiled a perfect 10–0 record, won the MWC championship, upset Florida A&M in the Orange Blossom Classic, and outscored opponents by a total of 330 to 54. The team was recognized by the Pittsburgh Courier as the black college football national champion for 1955.

The 1965 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) 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 MAA 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.

The 1946 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1946 college football season. In their third season under head coach Henry Kean, the Tigers compiled a 10–1 record, won the MAA championship, shut out six of eleven opponents, defeated West Virginia State in the Derby Bowl and Louisville Municipal in the Vulcan Bowl, and outscored all opponents by a total of 247 to 61. The team played its home games at Tennessee State Stadium and Sulphur Dell in Nashville, Tennessee.

The 1954 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1954 college football season. In their fourth and final season under head coach Henry Kean, the Tigers compiled a 10–1 record, won the MAA championship, lost to North Carolina Central in the National Classic, and outscored all opponents by a total of 330 to 70.

The 1953 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1953 college football season. In their third season under head coach Henry Kean, the Tigers compiled an 8–0–1 record, won the MAA championship, and outscored all opponents by a total of 225 to 60.

The 1947 Kentucky State Thorobreds football team was an American football team that represented Kentucky State Industrial College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1947 college football season. In its first season under head coach C. Randy Taylor, the team compiled a 4–6 record and outscored all opponents by a total of 174 to 112. The team was ranked No. 22 among the nation's black college football teams according to the Pittsburgh Courier and its Dickinson Rating System. The team played its home games at Alumni Field in Frankfort, Kentucky.

The 1951 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1951 college football season. In their eighth season under head coach Henry Kean, the Tigers compiled an 8–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 203 to 93. The Dickinson System rated Tennessee A&I as the No. 3 black college football team for 1951 with a score of 23.71, behind only Florida A&M (24.71) and Morris Brown (24.43). The team played its home games in Nashville, Tennessee.

The 1952 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1952 college football season. In their ninth season under head coach Henry Kean, the Tigers compiled an 8–2 record and outscored opponents by a total of 255 to 77. The Dickinson System rated Tennessee A&I as the No. 4 black college football team for 1952 with a score of 24.43, behind only Florida A&M (25.57), Virginia State (24.57), and Lincoln of Missouri (24.51). The team played its home games in Nashville, Tennessee.

The 1948 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team was an American football team that represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1948 college football season. In their fifth season under head coach Henry Kean, the Tigers compiled a 5–3–1 record and outscored opponents by a total of 205 to 67.

The 1955 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1955 college football season. In their first season under head coach Howard C. Gentry, the Tigers compiled a 7–2 record and outscored all opponents by a total of 245 to 84. Tennessee A&I was ranked No. 4 in the Pittsburgh Courier final rankings of black college football teams.

The 1945 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1945 college football season. In their second season under head coach Henry Kean, the Tigers compiled a 9–2 record, won the MAA championship, defeated Texas College in the Vulcan Bowl, and outscored opponents by a total of 335 to 69. The team played its home games at Tennessee State Stadium and Sulphur Dell in Nashville, Tennessee.

The 1964 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1964 NCAA College Division football season. Led by second-year head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 8–2, with a 3–0 conference record, and finished as MAA champion.

The 1963 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1963 NCAA College Division football season. Led by first-year head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 6–3, with a 3–0 conference record, and finished as MAA champion.

The 1962 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1962 NCAA College Division football season. Led by second-year head coach Lawrence Simmons, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 1–7–1, with a 1–1–1 conference record, and finished third in the MAA.

The 1961 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1961 NCAA College Division football season. Led by first-year head coach Lawrence Simmons, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 4–4–1, with a 3–0 conference record, and finished as MAA champion.

The 1960 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1960 NCAA College Division football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Howard C. Gentry, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 7–3, with a 3–0 conference record, and finished as MAA champion.

The 1957 Tennessee A&I Tigers football team represented Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College as a member of the Midwest Athletic Association (MAA) during the 1957 NCAA College Division football season. Led by third-year head coach Howard C. Gentry, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 5–0–1, with a 3–0 conference record, and finished as MAA co-champion.

References

  1. ↑ "Courier's Double-R Ratings". New Pittsburgh Courier (p. 14). December 10, 1966 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ "Tennessee State Yearly Results (1965-1969)". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Tenn. State Wins No. 2 (AP) No. 3 (UPI)". The Pittsburgh Courier. December 17, 1966. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 "State Socks Rattler 29-0". Tallahassee Democrat. October 23, 1966. p. 2C – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Talent Galore on 41st All America Team: Juniors Dominate Annual Selections". The Pittsburgh Courier. December 24, 1966. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "A&I Romps 55-0; Streak Now At 15". The Nashville Tennessean. September 25, 1966. p. 7E – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "A&I Romps Over Texans; Dickey Stars". October 2, 1966. p. 2E – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Down 16 Points, A&I Roars Back". The Nashville Tennessean. October 9, 1966. p. 7E – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "A&I Roars 31-9". The Nashville Tennessean. October 30, 1966. p. 6D – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "A&I Downs Morris Brown". The Nashville Tennessean. November 6, 1966. p. 5E – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Tenn. State Downs Lincoln". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. November 13, 1966. p. 2F – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Tennessee A&I Rolls, 39-6". The Nashville Tennessean. November 20, 1966. p. 9E – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "A&I Wins 'Grudge' Game 83-0". The Nashville Tennessean. November 25, 1966. p. 34 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ "Tenn. State Rips Ky. State, 83-0". The Pittsburgh Courier. December 3, 1966. p. 14 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Tennessee A&I Routs Muskingum 34-7". The Daily News Journal. December 11, 1966. p. 4 – via Newspapers.com.
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