1977 Memphis State Tigers football team

The 1977 Memphis State Tigers football team represented Memphis State University (now known as the University of Memphis) as an independent during the 1977 NCAA Division I football season. In its third season under head coach Richard Williamson, the team compiled a 6–5 record and outscored opponents by a total of 228 to 194.[2][3] The team played its home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.

1977 Memphis State Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record6–5
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJim Ragland (3rd season)
CaptainKeith Butler
Home stadiumLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1976
1978 →
1977 NCAA Division I independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 1 Notre Dame       11 1 0
No. 5 Penn State       11 1 0
Colgate       10 1 0
North Texas State *       10 1 0
No. 16 San Diego State       10 1 0
Tennessee State       8 1 1
No. 14 Florida State       10 2 0
No. 8 Pittsburgh       9 2 1
East Carolina       8 3 0
Rutgers       8 3 0
Army       7 4 0
Louisville       7 4 1
Boston College       6 5 0
Cincinnati       5 4 2
Georgia Tech       6 5 0
Memphis State       6 5 0
Northwestern State       6 5 0
Syracuse       6 5 0
William & Mary       6 5 0
Southern Miss       6 5 0
Temple       5 5 1
Hawaii       5 6 0
Navy       5 6 0
West Virginia       5 6 0
South Carolina       5 7 0
Utah State       4 7 0
Villanova       4 7 0
Illinois State       3 7 1
Virginia Tech       3 7 1
Miami (FL)       3 8 0
Richmond       3 8 0
Tulane       3 8 0
Air Force       2 8 1
Holy Cross       2 8 0
Northeast Louisiana       2 9 0
  • North Texas State (originally 9–2) awarded a forfeit win after Mississippi State was found to be using an ineligible player.[1]
Rankings from AP Poll

The team's statistical leaders included Lloyd Patterson with 1,336 passing yards, James King with 626 rushing yards, Earnest Gray with 826 receiving yards, and Rusty Bennett with 60 points scored (21 extra points, 13 field goals).[4]

Schedule

edit
DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 3at Ole MissL 3–745,500[5]
September 10TulaneW 27–9[6]
September 17Utah State
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
W 31–2621,364
September 24Virginia Tech
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
W 21–2020,463[7]
October 1Louisville 
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN (rivalry)
L 13–14
October 15Mississippi State
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
W 21–1348,432[8]
October 22North Texas State
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
L 19–20
October 29Southern Miss
W 42–1428,420[9]
November 5at TennesseeL 14–2782,573[10]
November 12at No. 16 Florida StateL 9–3040,127
November 19at Wichita StateW 28–1425,819[11]
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

edit
  1. ^ https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/1977-standings.html
  2. ^ "1977 Memphis Tigers Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  3. ^ "Memphis Football 2019 Media Guide" (PDF). University of Memphis. p. 270. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "1977 Memphis Tigers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  5. ^ "Rebels bounce Tigers 7–3". The Tennessean. September 4, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "MSU swamps Tulane". The Leaf-Chronicle. September 11, 1977. Retrieved October 19, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Tigers rally to edge Gobblers". The Tennessean. September 25, 1977. Retrieved December 14, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Execution...mistakes, penalties just killed Bulldogs". The Clarion-Ledger. October 16, 1977. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Patterson passes spark Tiger romp". The Tennessean. October 30, 1977. Retrieved March 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Streater's 2 touchdowns lead Tennessee past Memphis St". The Courier-Journal. November 6, 1977. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Shocks tumble in 'Wind Bowl'". The Wichita Eagle. September 20, 1977. Retrieved February 26, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.