1973 Memphis State Tigers football team

The 1973 Memphis State Tigers football team represented Memphis State University (now known as the University of Memphis) as an independent during the 1973 NCAA Division I football season. In its second season under head coach Fred Pancoast, the team compiled an 8–3 record and outscored opponents by a total of 264 to 167.[1][2] The team played its home games at Memphis Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.

1973 Memphis State Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record8–3
Head coach
Home stadiumMemphis Memorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1972
1974 →
1973 NCAA Division I independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Notre Dame     11 0 0
No. 5 Penn State     12 0 0
No. 9 Houston     11 1 0
Temple     9 1 0
No. 20 Tulane     9 3 0
Memphis State     8 3 0
Tampa     8 3 0
Boston College     7 4 0
South Carolina     7 4 0
Utah State     7 4 0
Air Force     6 4 0
Southern Miss     6 4 1
Northern Illinois     6 5 0
Rutgers     6 5 0
West Virginia     6 5 0
Pittsburgh     6 5 1
Colgate     5 5 0
Dayton     5 5 1
Xavier     5 5 1
Georgia Tech     5 6 0
Holy Cross     5 6 0
Miami (FL)     5 6 0
Cincinnati     4 7 0
Marshall     4 7 0
Navy     4 7 0
Southern Illinois     3 7 1
Villanova     3 8 0
Syracuse     2 9 0
Virginia Tech     2 9 0
Army     0 10 0
Florida State     0 11 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The team's statistical leaders included David Fowler with 759 passing yards, Dornell Harris with 564 rushing yards, Bobby Ward with 744 receiving yards, and Bobby Ward and Cliff Taylor with 42 points scored each.[3]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 8LouisvilleW 28–21
September 15North Texas State
  • Memphis Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
W 24–325,518[4]
September 22vs. Ole MissJackson, MS (rivalry)W 17–1345,620[5]
September 29 No. 15 Houston
  • Memphis Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
L 21–3540,126
October 6at Kansas StateL 16–2134,970
October 13Tulsa
  • Memphis Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
W 28–1610,420
October 20at Florida StateW 13–1028,883
November 3Virginia Tech
  • Memphis Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
W 49–1627,454[6]
November 10Southern Miss 
L 10–1323,399[7]
November 17at Southwestern LouisianaW 41–6
November 24at CincinnatiW 17–133,215[8]
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

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  1. ^ "1973 Memphis Tigers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  2. ^ "Memphis Football 2019 Media Guide" (PDF). University of Memphis. p. 270. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  3. ^ "1973 Memphis Tigers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "Memphis State gets 24–3 win". The Tennessean. September 16, 1973. Retrieved October 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Courageous Tigers prove they're for real". The Commercial Appeal. September 23, 1973. Retrieved October 26, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Tigers defeat Gobblers". Kingsport Times-News. November 4, 1973. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Southern upsets Mem. St". The Delta Democrat-Times. November 11, 1973. Retrieved March 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Memphis State Rallies to 17-13 Win". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. Associated Press. November 25, 1973. p. 6E. Retrieved January 20, 2023 – via Newspapers.com  .