1973 Memphis State Tigers football team

1973 Memphis State Tigers football
Conference	Independent
Record	8–3
Head coach	Fred Pancoast (2nd season)
Home stadium	Memphis Memorial Stadium

1973 NCAA Division I independents football records

v t e	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 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.

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

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 8	Louisville	Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN (rivalry)	W 28–21
September 15	North Texas State	Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	W 24–3	25,518	[4]
September 22	vs. Ole Miss	Jackson, MS (rivalry)	W 17–13	45,620	[5]
September 29	No. 15 Houston	Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	L 21–35	40,126
October 6	at Kansas State	KSU Stadium Manhattan, KS	L 16–21	34,970
October 13	Tulsa	Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	W 28–16	10,420
October 20	at Florida State	Doak Campbell Stadium Tallahassee, FL	W 13–10	28,883
November 3	Virginia Tech	Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN	W 49–16	27,454	[6]
November 10	Southern Miss	Memphis Memorial Stadium Memphis, TN (Black and Blue Bowl)	L 10–13	23,399	[7]
November 17	at Southwestern Louisiana	Cajun Field Lafayette, LA	W 41–6
November 24	at Cincinnati	Nippert Stadium Cincinnati, OH (rivalry)	W 17–13	3,215	[8]
Homecoming Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

References

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 .