1980 Memphis State Tigers football team

The 1980 Memphis State Tigers football team represented Memphis State University (now known as the University of Memphis) as an independent during the 1980 NCAA Division I-A football season. In its sixth and final season under head coach Richard Williamson, the team compiled a 2–9 record and was outscored by a total of 255 to 115.[1][2] The team played its home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.

1980 Memphis State Tigers football
ConferenceIndependent
Record2–9
Head coach
Home stadiumLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Seasons
← 1979
1981 →
1980 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 Pittsburgh       11 1 0
Tennessee State       9 1 0
No. 5 Florida State       10 2 0
No. 8 Penn State       10 2 0
No. 9 Notre Dame       9 2 1
No. 18 Miami (FL)       9 3 0
Southern Miss       9 3 0
Navy       8 4 0
South Carolina       8 4 0
Virginia Tech       8 4 0
Boston College       7 4 0
Northeast Louisiana       7 4 0
Rutgers       7 4 0
UNLV       7 4 0
Tulane       7 5 0
Colgate       5 4 1
North Texas State       6 5 0
Villanova       6 5 0
West Virginia       6 6 0
Louisville       5 6 0
Richmond       5 6 0
Syracuse       5 6 0
East Carolina       4 7 0
Illinois State       4 7 0
Temple       4 7 0
Army       3 7 1
Holy Cross       3 8 0
Cincinnati       2 9 0
Memphis State       2 9 0
William & Mary       2 9 0
Georgia Tech       1 9 1
Rankings from AP Poll

The team's statistical leaders included Darrell Martin with 888 passing yards, Richard Williams with 438 rushing yards, Jerry Knowlton with 470 receiving yards, and Rusty Bennett with 35 points scored.[3]

Schedule

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DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 6Mississippi StateL 7–3445,789[4]
September 13at Ole MissL 7–6141,412[5]
September 27at Georgia TechL 8–1728,062[6]
October 4Arkansas State
W 24–320,352[7]
October 11at LouisvilleL 14–3815,501[8]
October 18North Texas State
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
L 10–29[9]
October 25Florida State
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
L 3–2428,778[10]
November 1Vanderbilt 
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
L 10–1418,422[11]
November 8at CincinnatiL 10–147,117[12]
November 15at TulaneL 16–2133,184[13]
November 22Wichita State
  • Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
  • Memphis, TN
W 6–010,069[14]
  •  Homecoming

References

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  1. ^ "1980 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. ^ "1980 Memphis Tigers Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 16, 2020.
  4. ^ "Growling Bulldogs bite, then bury Tigers". The Commercial Appeal. September 7, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Rebels win over hapless Memphis State Tigers 61–7". The Greenwood Commonwealth. September 14, 1980. Retrieved October 31, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "Tigers discover offense, but fall at Tech". The Commercial Appeal. September 28, 1980. Retrieved July 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ "Late offensive show against ASU gives Tigers win No. 300". The Commercial Appeal. October 5, 1980. Retrieved August 12, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Memphis State falls again". The Knoxville News-Sentinel. October 12, 1980. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "North Texas St. victorious, 29–10". The Shreveport Times. October 19, 1980. Retrieved October 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "No. 6 FSU wears down fired-up Memphis St. 24–3". News-Press. October 26, 1980. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Vandy takes first victory by defeating Memphis State". The Jackson Sun. November 2, 1980. Retrieved October 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Staub has a ball after UC ends loss string". The Cincinnati Enquirer. November 9, 1980. Retrieved November 3, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Tigers battle before falling to Greenies". The Commercial Appeal. November 16, 1980. Retrieved July 25, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "Shocker season ends in fizzle with loss to Memphis". The Wichita Eagle. November 23, 1980. Retrieved October 28, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.