1974 Memphis State Tigers football team

The 1974 Memphis State Tigers football team represented Memphis State University (now known as the University of Memphis) as an independent during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. In its third and final season under head coach Fred Pancoast, the team compiled an 7–4 record and outscored opponents by a total of 225 to 148.^[1][2] The team played its home games at Memphis Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.

1974 Memphis State Tigers football
Conference	Independent
Record	7–4
Head coach	Fred Pancoast (3rd season)
Captain	James Thompson
Home stadium	Memphis Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 1973 1975 →

1974 NCAA Division I independents football records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 6 Notre Dame			–					10	–	2	–	0
No. 7 Penn State			–					10	–	2	–	0
Temple			–					8	–	2	–	0
Boston College			–					8	–	3	–	0
Utah State			–					8	–	3	–	0
No. 19 Houston			–					8	–	3	–	1
Rutgers			–					7	–	3	–	1
Cincinnati			–					7	–	4	–	0
Memphis State			–					7	–	4	–	0
Pittsburgh			–					7	–	4	–	0
Georgia Tech			–					6	–	5	–	0
Hawaii			–					6	–	5	–	0
Miami (FL)			–					6	–	5	–	0
Southern Miss			–					6	–	5	–	0
Tampa			–					6	–	5	–	0
Holy Cross			–					5	–	5	–	1
Tulane			–					5	–	6	–	0
Colgate			–					4	–	6	–	0
Northern Illinois			–					4	–	7	–	0
Navy			–					4	–	7	–	0
South Carolina			–					4	–	7	–	0
Virginia Tech			–					4	–	7	–	0
West Virginia			–					4	–	7	–	0
Army			–					3	–	8	–	0
Dayton			–					3	–	8	–	0
Villanova			–					3	–	8	–	0
Air Force			–					2	–	9	–	0
Southern Illinois			–					2	–	9	–	0
Syracuse			–					2	–	9	–	0
Florida State			–					1	–	10	–	0
Marshall			–					1	–	10	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The team's statistical leaders included David Fowler with 1,266 passing yards, Reuben Gibson with 493 rushing yards, James Thompson with 395 receiving yards, and James Thompson and Terdell Middleton with 30 points scored each.^[3]

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 7	at Louisville	Fairgrounds Stadium Louisville, KY (rivalry)	W 16–10
September 14	Southern Miss	Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN (Black and Blue Bowl)	L 0–6	26,608	^[4]
September 21	Ole Miss	Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN (rivalry)	W 15–7	50,164	^[5]
September 28	at Colorado State	Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium Fort Collins, CO	W 20–18	23,984
October 12	Cincinnati	Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN (rivalry)	W 13–7
October 19	at Mississippi State	Scott Field Starkville, MS	L 28–29	35,000	^[6]
October 26	at North Texas State	Fouts Field Denton, TX	W 41–0	5,700	^[7]
November 2	Florida State	Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	W 42–14	20,689
November 9	at Tennessee	Neyland Stadium Knoxville, TN	L 6–34	68,738	^[8]
November 16	at No. 14 Houston	Houston Astrodome Houston, TX	L 10–13	23,893
November 23	Wichita State	Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	W 34–10	18,456	^[9]
Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

1. "1974 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. "1974 Memphis Tigers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
4. "Southern stops MSU Tigers, 6–0". The Jackson Sun. September 15, 1974. Retrieved March 23, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Tigers make it two in row over Rebs". The Commercial Appeal. September 22, 1974. Retrieved October 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Mississippi State bombs Louisville". The Shreveport Times. October 27, 1974. Retrieved October 28, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Tigers roll to 41–0 win". The Jackson Sun. October 27, 1974. Retrieved October 31, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Renewed Volunteers ring MSU's Liberty Bowl bell". The Commercial Appeal. November 10, 1974. Retrieved May 8, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Memphis State rolls past Wichita State". The Tennessean. November 24, 1974. Retrieved February 13, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.