1984 Tennessee State Tigers football team

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 1984

| team = Tennessee State Tigers

| sport = football

| image =

| image_size =

| conference = Independent

| short_conf =

| record = 11–0

| conf_record =

| head_coach = William A. Thomas

| hc_year = 1st

| captain =

| stadium = Hale Stadium
Vanderbilt Stadium

| champion = Black college national champion

}}

The 1984 Tennessee State Tigers football team represented Tennessee State University as an independent during the 1984 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by first-year head coach William A. Thomas, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 11–0. At the conclusion of the season, the Tigers were also recognized as black college national champion.

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 1984

| rankdivision = NCAA Division I-AA

| poll = NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 1

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1984|team=Hampton Pirates|title=Hampton}}

| site_stadium = Armstrong Stadium

| site_cityst = Hampton, VA

| score = 44–0

| attend = 7,104

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122497516/tenn-state-wrecks-debut-of-hi-coach/|title=Tenn. State wrecks debut of HI coach|newspaper=Daily Press|date=September 2, 1984|accessdate=April 8, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 8

| w/l = w

| neutral = y

| opponent = Jackson State

| site_stadium = Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Memphis, TN

| gamename = Bluff City Classic

| score = 34–14

| attend = 40,000

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122497657/tenn-st-blitzes-j-state-3414/|title=Tenn. St. blitzes J-State 34–14|newspaper=The Clarion-Ledger|date=September 9, 1984|accessdate=April 8, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 15

| w/l = w

| opponent = Alabama A&M

| site_stadium = Hale Stadium

| site_cityst = Nashville, TN

| score = 42–21

| attend = 13,000

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122497830/tsu-bombs-am-4221/|title=TSU bombs A&M 42–21|newspaper=The Tennessean|date=September 16, 1984|accessdate=April 8, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 21

| w/l = w

| rank = 10

| opponent = Florida A&M

| site_stadium = Vanderbilt Stadium

| site_cityst = Nashville, TN

| score = 41–20

| attend = 25,000

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122498053/famu-loses-4th-straight/|title=FAMU loses 4th straight|newspaper=Tallahassee Democrat|date=September 22, 1984|accessdate=April 8, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 6

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 9

| opponent = Grambling State

| site_stadium = Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Grambling, LA

| score = 34–24

| attend =

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/121183272/tsu-stops-grambling/|work=The Commercial Appeal|title=TSU stops Grambling|date=October 7, 1984|accessdate=April 8, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 13

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 7

| opponent = Tennessee Tech

| site_stadium = Tucker Stadium

| site_cityst = Cookeville, TN

| score = 33–3

| attend = 14,623

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122498331/patience-pays-as-big-blue-whips-tech/|work=The Tennessean|title=Patience pays as Big Blue whips Tech|date=October 14, 1984|accessdate=April 8, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 20

| w/l = w

| neutral = y

| rank = 3

| opponent = {{cfb link|year=1984|team=Kentucky State Thorobreds|title=Kentucky State}}

| site_stadium = Cardinal Stadium

| site_cityst = Louisville, KY

| score = 71–0

| attend = 7,500

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122498465/tennessee-states-jug-music-numbs-kentuc/|work=The Courier-Journal|title=Tennessee State's Jug music numbs Kentucky State 71–0|date=October 21, 1984|accessdate=April 8, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 27

| w/l = w

| rank = 3

| opponent = Southern

| site_stadium = Vanderbilt Stadium

| site_cityst = Nashville, TN

| score = 42–7

| attend = 38,500

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122498598/tennessee-state-rips-southern/|title=Tennessee State rips Southern|newspaper=The Tennessean|date=October 28, 1984|accessdate=April 8, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 3

| w/l = w

| neutral = y

| rank = 3

| opponent = Bethune–Cookman

| site_stadium = Tampa Stadium

| site_cityst = Tampa, FL

| score = 41–8

| attend = 9,200

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122498767/bcc-embarrassed-by-tennessee-state/|work=The Orlando Sentinel|title=B–CC embarrassed by Tennessee State|date=November 4, 1984|accessdate=April 8, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 10

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 2

| opponent = Louisville

| stadium = Cardinal Stadium

| cityst = Louisville, KY

| score = 24–15

| attend = 23,821

| source = {{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122498904/tenn-state-stops-cards-with-defense/|work=The Park City Daily News|title=Tenn. State stops Cards with defense|date=November 11, 1984|accessdate=April 8, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 17

| w/l = w

| rank = 1

| opponent = North Carolina A&T

| site_stadium = Hale Stadium

| site_cityst = Nashville, TN

| score = 44–14

| attend = 9,000

| source = {{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122499049/history-making-tsu-rolls-4414/|title=History-making TSU rolls 44–14|newspaper=The Tennessean|date=November 18, 1984|accessdate=April 8, 2023|via=Newspapers.com}}

}}

References

Tennessee State

Category:Tennessee State Tigers football seasons

Category:College football undefeated seasons

Category:Black college football national champions

Tennessee State Tigers football