Wikipedia

1979 Memphis State Tigers football team

The 1979 Memphis State Tigers football team represented Memphis State University (now known as the University of Memphis) as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its fifth season under head coach Richard Williamson, the team compiled a 5–6 record and was outscored by a total of 223 to 166.[1][2] The team played its home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.

1979 Memphis State Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record5–6
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJim Ragland (5th season)
CaptainWayne Weedon, Leo Cage
Home stadiumLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1978
1980 →
1979 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 6 Florida State   –   –   11 – 1 – 0
No. 7 Pittsburgh   –   –   11 – 1 – 0
UNLV   –   –   9 – 1 – 2
No. 17 Temple   –   –   10 – 2 – 0
Tulane   –   –   9 – 3 – 0
Rutgers   –   –   8 – 3 – 0
Tennessee State   –   –   8 – 3 – 0
East Carolina   –   –   7 – 3 – 1
No. 20 Penn State   –   –   8 – 4 – 0
South Carolina   –   –   8 – 4 – 0
Navy   –   –   7 – 4 – 0
Notre Dame   –   –   7 – 4 – 0
Southern Miss   –   –   6 – 4 – 1
Syracuse   –   –   7 – 5 – 0
Colgate   –   –   5 – 4 – 1
Boston College   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Holy Cross   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Memphis State   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Miami (FL)   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
North Texas State   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Villanova   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Virginia Tech   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
West Virginia   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Georgia Tech   –   –   4 – 6 – 1
Louisville   –   –   4 – 6 – 1
William & Mary   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
Illinois State   –   –   3 – 8 – 0
Northeast Louisiana   –   –   3 – 8 – 0
Army   –   –   2 – 8 – 1
Air Force   –   –   2 – 9 – 0
Cincinnati   –   –   2 – 9 – 0
Richmond   –   –   0 – 11 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The team's statistical leaders included Kevin Betts with 884 passing yards, Leo Cage with 599 rushing yards, Tony Hunt with 234 receiving yards, and Richard Locke with 30 points scored.[3]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 8at Mississippi State
W 14–1343,500[4]
September 15Ole Miss
L 34–3853,166[5]
September 22at Wichita State
W 16–1017,922[6]
September 29Texas A&M
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
L 7–1738,477[7]
October 13Northeast Louisiana
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
L 20–2125,494[8]
October 20at Southern Miss
L 0–2227,286[9]
October 27North Texas State
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
W 22–0[10]
November 3at Vanderbilt
L 3–1328,900[11]
November 10Louisville 
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN (rivalry)
W 10–617,205[12]
November 17at No. 5 Florida State
L 17–6648,021[13]
November 24Cincinnati
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN (rivalry)
W 23–1714,607[14]
  •  Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

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  1. ^ "1979 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. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 17, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  3. ^ "1979 Memphis Tigers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "Knowlton's TD keys Tigers past Bulldogs". The Commercial Appeal. September 9, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Sloan recruiting pays off as frosh lead Ole Miss". The Tennessean. September 16, 1979. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Memphis State edges WSU". The Wichita Eagle. September 23, 1979. Retrieved March 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "A&M in rally to trip MSU after struggle". The Commercial Appeal. September 30, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Memphis State downed". The Jackson Sun. October 14, 1979. p. C1. Retrieved March 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Southern shuts out Memphis". The Greenwood Commonwealth. October 21, 1979. Retrieved March 25, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Memphis State blanks North Texas State 22–0". The Tennessean. October 28, 1979. Retrieved October 27, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Heflin passes Vanderbilt to first win". The Courier-Journal. November 4, 1979. Retrieved October 29, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Ray's steal saves Memphis State's 10–6 win over U of L". The Courier-Journal. November 11, 1979. Retrieved October 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Orange Bowl-bound FSU clobbers Memphis State". Florida Today. November 18, 1979. Retrieved October 24, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Memphis State puts end to US's misery". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 25, 1979. Retrieved October 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
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