History, Heart, Hall of Fame History,History ,Heart, Heart, HHallall o off F Fameame Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University started from meager beginnings as a Founded in 1912, Tennessee State University started from meager beginnings Foundenormald school in 191 2,for T Nennesseeegroes wStateith 24 Universit7 studenyts. start Evedery froonem worke meagder t beginningso keep the as a as a normal school for Negroes with 247 students. Everyone worked to keep the normalinstitution school operating for Negro in esits wearlyith 24years7 studen, fromts. clearing Everyone rocks worke to harvestind to keepg thecrops, and institution operating in its early years, from clearing rocks to harvesting crops, and institutioneven carrying operating chairs fromin its eclass-toarly years-class., from The clearing Tennessee rocks State to harvestin Universityg cr Men'sops, and even carrying chairs from class to class. The Tennessee State University Men’s evenChampionship carrying chairs from class-to Teams-class. of 1957 The 1958 Tennessee and 1959 State truly University embodied Men's the spirit Championship Basketball teams of 1957, 1958 and 1959 truly embodied the spirit Championshipof its institution, Basketball a proud Teamslegacy ofof achievement,1957 1958 and innovation, 1959 truly determination,embodied the spiritand of its institution, a proud legacy of achievement, innovation, determination and of its institution, a proud legacy of achievement, innovation, determination, and courage.courage. Armed Armed with with the the mission mission of of “Think. "Think. Work. Serve,”Serve" these these young young men men helped courage. Armed with the mission of "Think. Work. Serve" these young men to helpedbring worldwide to bring worldwide recognition recognition to Tennessee to Tennessee State, theState, city the of City Nashville, of Nashville, and the helped to bring worldwide recognition to Tennessee State, the City of Nashville, stateand of the Tennessee. State of Tennessee. and the State of Tennessee. Today, TSU is recognized as a comprehensive, urban coeducational, , land-grand Today,Today,university TSU TSU andis isrecognized premiererecognized Historically as as a a comprehensive,comprehensive, Black College urbanurban or Universitycoeducational,co-educational, (HBCU). , land-grand land-grant In January universityuniversity2013, Dr. and and Glenda premiere premiere Glover Historically became the Black Black first College femaleCollege orPresident orUniversity University to lead (HBCU). (HBCU).the institution. In January In January2013,President Dr. 2013, Glenda Glover Dr. Glenda Gloveris one ofbecameGlover hundreds becamethe firstof noted, femalethe first trailblazing President female alumnitopresident lead thatthe to institution.stand lead onthe the institution. President Glover is one of hundreds of notable, trailblazing alumni who Presidentshoulders Glover of this isaccomplished one of hundreds Basketball of noted, Powerhouse trailblazing of alumni the late that 1950s. stand on the standshoulders on the of shoulders this accomplished of this accomplished Basketball Powerhouse basketball of powerhouse the late 1950s. of the late 1950s. The Real Pioneers Another all-black team was the first on ''Glory Road'' On March 16, 1957, a Saturday night, the Associated Press moved a TheThe Real Real PioneersPioneers Another all-black team was the first on ''Glory Road'' story from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics On March 16, 1957, a Saturday night, the Associated Press moved a basketball tournament in Kansas City, Mo. It reported that story from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Tennessee State defeated Southeastern Oklahoma 92-73 to win the basketball tournament in Kansas City, Mo. It reported that NAIA title .It would have been just another small-college Tennessee State defeated Southeastern Oklahoma 92-73 to win the championship game, except for what was mentioned in the third NAIA title .It would have been just another small-college paragraph: championship game, except for what was mentioned in the third “Tennessee State thus became the first all-Negro team to win a paragraph: major basketball tournament in history.” “Tennessee State thus became the first all-Negro team to win a major basketball tournament in history.” Wait. Wasn’t Texas Western, the team depicted in the current hit movie “Glory Road” the first all-black starting five to win a college Wait. Wasn’t Texas Western, the team depicted in the current hit national title? Not by nearly a decade. Not that many people movie “Glory Road” the first all-black starting five to win a college remember. national title? Not by nearly a decade. Not that many people remember. “I’ve always felt that we’ve been overlooked,” said Nurlin Tarrant, who played on the team and serves as president of the Tennessee “I’ve always felt that we’ve been overlooked,” said Nurlin Tarrant, State basketball alumni association. who played on the team and serves as president of the Tennessee State basketball alumni association. The Tigers have been overlooked in part because the NAIA is a lower classification than the NCAA. Still, it was the only classification The Tigers have been overlooked in part because the NAIA is a lower available to them. And it was only through the efforts of their classification than the NCAA. Still, it was the only classification legendary coach, the late John McLendon, that Tennessee State was available to them. And it was only through the efforts of their eligible to compete for a national title at all. legendary coach, the late John McLendon, that Tennessee State was -By Ed Miller eligible to compete for a national title at all.

The Virginian-By Ed -MillerPilot January, 2008 The Virginian-Pilot January, 2008

1 1 1956 Prelude To A Championship...

The1 National956 P Associationrelude ofT oIntercollegiate A Cham pAthleticsionsh (NAIA)ip... Tournament was established Preludein 19371199 5by56 6Dr. P PTo Jamesrree Allu u NaismithChampionshipddee T Too to A A recognize C Chhaamm pthepio i o(1956)…basketballnnsshhipip. .programs.. of smaller colleges and universities,The National with Association the ultimate of goalIntercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Tournament was established The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Tournament was established The inNationalThe 1937 National by Association Dr. AssociationJames Naismith of Intercollegiate of Intercollegiate to recognize Athletics theAthletics basketball (NAIA) (NAIA) programs Tournament Tournament of smaller was was colleges establishedestablished and of crowningin 1937 by a nationalDr. James champion. Naismith to recognize the basketball programs of smaller colleges and in 1937universities,in 1937 by Dr. by James Dr.with James the Naismith ultimate Naismith togoal recognizeto recognize the the basketball basketball programs programs ofof smallersmaller colleges colleges and Fromuniversities, its conception, with thethe ultimate NAIA goal and universities,ofuniversities, crowning a withwith national the the ultimate champion.ultimate goal Tournamentof crowning has a featured national onlychampion. 32 goal Fromofof crowning its conception, a a national national the champion. NAIAchampion. teamsFrom with its the conception, Finals taking the NAIAplace FromTournamentFrom its conception, its conception, has featured the NAIAthe onlyNAIA 32 in KansasTournament City, Missouri has featured at the only 32 TournamentteamsTournament with has the featured has Finals featured taking only only 32place 32 Municipalteams withAuditorium. the Finals In taking 1948, place teamsinteams withKansas withthe City, Finalsthe MissouriFinals taking taking at place the place in the NAIAin Kansas became City, theMissouri first at the KansasMunicipalin KansasCity, MO Auditorium.City, at Missourithe Municipal In at1948, the nationalMunicipal organization Auditorium. to open In 1948,their Auditorium.theMunicipal NAIA In becameAuditorium. 1948, the firstNAIA In 1948, intercollegiatethe NAIA postseasonbecame the firstto black becamenationalthe theNAIA firstorganization became national the to firstorganizationopen their student-athletes.national organization Today, theto open NAIA their to openintercollegiatenational their organizationintercollegiate postseason to open to black their sponsorsintercollegiate a Division postseason II to black postseasonstudent-athletes.intercollegiate to black postseason student-athletes.Today, the to NAIA black student-athletes. Today, the NAIA Today,championship.sponsorsstudent-athletes. the NAIA a Division sponsors Today, II a the Division NAIA II championship.sponsors a Division II championship.sponsors a Division II championship.championship.

In 1953, Tennessee State became the first black college to competeIn 1953, inTennessee a national State championship became the firsttournament, black college their to In 1953, Tennessee State became the first black college to firstcompeteIn ever1953, NAIAin Tennessee a national appearance. State championship became Four the years tournament, first later black the collegetheir Tigers to Incompete 1953, Tennessee in a national State championship became the tournament,first black college their wouldfirstcompete ever shock NAIA in athe national appearance.world! championship In 1956, Four The years tournament,Men's later Basketballthe Tigers their tofirst compete ever NAIA in a national appearance. championship Four years tournament, later the Tigers their Teamwouldfirst ofever shock then NAIA theTennessee world!appearance. In State 1956, FourAgricultural The years Men's later Basketball& Industrialthe Tigers firstwould ever shock NAIA the appearance. world! In 1956, Four The years Men's later Basketball the Tigers CollegeTeamwould of madeshock then it Tennesseethe to world!the Elite StateIn 1956,Eight Agricultural Theof the Men's NAIA & BasketballIndustrial wouldTeam shock of then the Tennessee world! In State 1956, Agricultural the men’s &basketball Industrial TournamentCollegeTeam ofmade then by it Tennesseedefeatingto the Elite IndianaState Eight Agricultural of Central the NAIA (86-63) & Industrial and teamCollege of then made Tennessee it to the EliteState Eight Agricultural of the NAIA & Industrial Wisconsin-EauTournamentCollegeCollege made by it Clariedefeating to the (62- Elite Indiana61 ).EightEight Led Central ofof by thethe legendary (86-63)NAIANAIA andCoach Wisconsin-EauTournamentTournament by by Clarie defeating defeating (62-61 Indiana Indiana). Led Central byCentral legendary (86-63) (86-63) Coach and and JohnTournamentWisconsin-Eau McLendon by defeatingand Clarie All (62- Americans Indiana61). Led by legendary Coach (Top photo) JohnWisconsin-Eau McLendon Clarieand All (62- Americans61). Led by legendary Coach Richard "Dick"(Top photo) Barnett DickCentral Barnett (86-63) and andJohn Wisconsin-Eau Barnhill, the Richard(Top "Dick" photo) Barnett DickJohn Barnett McLendon and John and Barnhill,All Americans the (Bottom(Top photo) photo) ClarieJohn McLendon (62-61). Led and by All legendary Americans Richard(Bottom "Dick" photo) Barnett team lost to eventual champions JohnRichard Barnhill "Dick" Barnett teamDick lost Barnett to eventual and John champions Barnhill, the John(Bottom Barnhill photo) CoachDick Barnett John McLendon and John Barnhill, and All the (Bottom photo) McNeeseteam lost State. to eventual It was a champions bitter 76-68 John Barnhill McNeeseAmericansteam lost State. to Dick eventual It Barnettwas championsa bitter and 76-John68 John Barnhill defeat the Tigers would not forget. defeatBarnhill,McNeeseMcNeese the the TigersState. State. team It wouldIt waslost was ato anot bitter bittereventual forget. 76- 76-68 68 championsdefeatdefeat the the McNeeseTigers Tigers would would State. not not It forget. forget.was a bitter 76-68 defeat the Tigers would not forget. CoachCoach John John McL McLendonendon Coach John McLendon Coach John McLendon

2 2 22 The Dynasty Begins (1957) TTheInhe 1957 DDynastyy thena NAIAsty B Men'sBeginsegi nDivisions (1 (1957)9 I5 Basketball7) Tournament became the first tournament to have seeded teams thus making it the first to have an upset. (The In 1957 the NAIA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament became the first InNAIA 1957, seededthe NAIA teams Men’s 21 years Division prior Ito Basketball the NCAA Tournament Men's Tournament became.) the The first unseeded tournamenttournament to to have have seeded seeded teams teams thus making making it the it the first first to tohave have an an upset. upset. (The (The NAIA TSU Tigers had four upsets on the way to their first tournament finals by beating the NAIAseeded seeded teams teams21 years 21 yearsprior priorto the to NCAA the NCAA Men’s Men's Tournament.) Tournament The.) unseededThe unseeded #5 seed Portland ((87-70), followed by game thrillers against the #4 seed Western TSUTSU Tigers Tigers had had four four upsets upsets on on the the way way to to their their first first tournament tournament finals finals by beating by beating the Illinois (90-88) and the #1 seed, and perennial powerhouse (Pacific Lutheran (71- #5the seed #5 seed Portland Portland ((87-70), (87-70), followed followed by game by game thrillers thrillers against against the #4 the seed #4 Western seed 70). The Tigers dished out the fourth and most important victory by defeating the #7 IllinoisWestern (90 Illinois-88) and (90-88) the #1 and seed, the and #1 seed, perennial and perennialpowerhouse powerhouse (Pacific Lutheran Pacific (71- seed Southeastern Oklahoma State in a 19- blowout (92-73) and winning the 70).Lutheran The Tigers (71-70). dished The outTigers the dishedfourth andout mostthe fourth important and most victory important by defeating victory the #7 school's first NAIA Championship. seedby defeating Southeastern the #7 Oklahoma seed Southeastern State in a 19-point Oklahoma blowout State in(92- a 73)19-point and winning blowout the (92-73)With the and win, winning Tennessee the school’s State became school's first NAIA Championship. firstthe firstNAIA historically Championship. black institution With the to With the win, Tennessee State became win,win Tennessee a collegiate State basketball became national the the first historically black institution to firstchampionship. historically Thisblack was institution just the to win a collegiate basketball national winbeginning. a collegiate basketball national championship.championship. This This waswas just just the the beginning.beginning…

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3 TheTh eChampions Champions ReturnReturn ( 1(1958)958) TheThe 1958 1958Th Men’se Men's Ch NAIAa NAIAmpio Division nDivisions Ret Iu I Basketball rBasketballn (195 8TournamentTournament) sawsaw defendingdefending champions champions TennesseeTennessee State State return return as as the the #3 #3 seed seed behindbehind #1 WesternWestern IllinoisIllinois and #2#2 CoeCoe of of Iowa.The That 1958 year Men's the NAIATigers' Division average I marginBasketball of Tournament victory throughout saw defending the tournament champions was Iowa. ThatTennessee year the State Tigers’ return asaverage the #3 marginseed behind of victory#1 Western throughout Illinois and the #2 tournament Coe of a blazing 29 points with wins over unseeded Northern Michigan (113-45) and was a blazingIowa. That29 points year the with Tigers' wins average over margin unseeded of victory Northern throughout Michigan the tournament (113-45) was and AndersonAndersona blazing (77-56) (77-56) 29 pointsin in the the with first first wins two over rounds. unseeded TSUTSU Northern facedfaced and andMichigan defeated defeated (113-45) its its first andfirst seeded seeded opponentopponentAnderson of of the the (77-56) tournament, tournament, in the first #7 #7 two East East rounds. Texas Texas TSU StateState faced (81-62) and defeated followedfollowed its first byby a seededa victory victory over over unseededunseededopponent Texas Texas ofSouthern Southern the tournament, (110-85) (110-85) #7 in in East thethe Texas semifinals.semifinals. State (81-62) TheThe followedteam'steam’s closest closestby a victory win win came overcame in in thethe championship championshipunseeded Texas finals finals Southern against (110-85) the #1 in#1 theseedseed semifinals. andand tourney tourney The favoriteteam's favorite closest Western Western win came Illinois Illinois in (85- (85-73).73). Withthe With championship the the win, win, the the finalsTigers Tigers against became became the #1only seedonly the and thirdthe tourney third team teamfavorite to have to Western haveback back-to-backto Illinois back (85- championships.championships.73). With theThat That win, year, theyear TigersCoach Coach became McLendon McLendon only the waswas third selected team to Coachhave“Coach back of of tothe backthe Year, Year,” while while playerplayer Dickchampionships. Dick Barnett Barnett received receivedThat year the theCoach “Chuck Chuck McLendon Taylor Taylor was Most Most selected Valuable Valuable Coach Player Playerof the Award. Year, Award.” while player Dick Barnett received the Chuck Taylor Most Valuable Player Award.

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4 The First to 3-Peat! (1959)

TheTWithhe FirstFbackirs tot back ttoo 3NAIA3-Peat!-Pe aChampionships,t! ( (1959)1959) Tennessee State entered the 1959 Men's Division 1 Basketball Tournament as the top seed. The team had an opportunity to WithWithaccomplish back-to-backback to aback feat NAIAno other Championships, team had done, TennesseeTennessee win a third StateState consecutive enteredentered thethe title. 19591959 TSU Men’sMen's breezed DivisionDivisionthrough 1 1the BasketballBasketball tournament TournamentTournament beating unseeded asas thethe toptop Nebraska seed.seed. The The Wesleyan team team had had (75-57), an an opportunity opportunity #9 seed to to accomplishaccomplishYoungstown aa featfeat (89-80), nono otherother and teamteam#8 seed hadhad Illinois done,done, winwinState aa thirdNormalthird consecutiveconsecutive (131-74). title.Ittitle. wasn't TSUTSU until breezedbreezed the throughthroughsemifinal thethe round tournamenttournament that the beatingbeating team was unseededunseeded challenged NebraskaNebraska and edged WesleyanWesleyan out (75-57),the(75-57), #5 seed #9#9 seedSouthwestseed Youngstown (89-80), and #8 seed Illinois State Normal (131-74). It wasn’t until the YoungstownTexas State (64-62).(89-80), Theand finals#8 seed pitted Illinois the StateTigers Normal against (131-a familiar74). It foe wasn't looking until for the semi-final round that the team was challenged and edged out the #5 seed Southwest semifinalpayback, round #3 seed that Pacific the team Lutheran was challenged University. and TSU edged had out knocked the #5 off seed the Southwest former #1 Texas State (64-62). The finals pitted the Tigers against a familiar foe looking for Texas State (64-62). The finals pitted the Tigers against a familiar foe looking for payback,seed in the#3 seed57' semifinals Pacific Lutheranround (71- University.70) on the TSU way hadto winningknocked its off first the NAIA former #1payback,Championship. seed in #3 the seed ‘57 Again,Pacificsemifinals TennesseeLutheran round University. State(71-70) prevailed on TSUthe beating wayhad to knocked Pacificwinning off Lutheranits thefirst former (97-87)NAIA #1 to Championship.seedcapture in the the 57' title. semifinalsAgain, It was Tennessee the round first (71- timeState70) any prevailed on school the way beating had to wonwinning Pacific three its tournaments Lutheranfirst NAIA (97-87) in a row.to captureChampionship.Barnett the received title. ItAgain, hiswas second theTennessee first MVP time StateAward. any prevailed school had beating won threePacific tournaments Lutheran (97-87) in a row. to Barnettcapture receivedthe title. hisIt was second the first“MVP time Award.” any school had won three tournaments in a row. Barnett received his second MVP Award.

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5 The McLendon "Championship" Miles Tennessee State was known for its relentless all-court pressure and fast-break tactics duringTheTh thee McLendon M 1957-1959cLend championshipon “Championship”"Cham run.pio nCoachship McLendon" M Milesiles put players through intenseTennesseeTennessee conditioning State State was was program, known known for which for its its relentless includedrelentless all-courthaving all-court the pressure pressure athletes and and run fast-break fast-break three miles tacticstactics everyduringduring day the beforethe 1957-1959 1957-1959 the season championship championship and three milesrun. run. Coach every Coach dayMcLendon McLendon before theput put tournament. players players through through They an wereintenseintense affectionately conditioning conditioning named program, program, the "Championship which which included included Miles" having having the the athletes athletes runrun threethree milesmiles everyevery day day before before the the season season and and three three miles miles every every day day before before the the tournament.tournament. They They were affectionately named the “Championship Miles.” were affectionately named the "Championship Miles"

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6 Tigers in Action

Tigers in Action

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7 8 8 Members of the Tennessee State University 1957 1958 1959 NAIA Men’s Championship Teams President Dr. Walter S. Davis Athletic Director Raymond H. Kemp Head Coach John McLendon Assistant Coaches Harold Hunter Richard Mack Players Richard “Dick” Barnett John Barnhill Sam Bowens Joe Buckhalter Henry Carlton Bobby Clark Albert Cook Mel Davis George Finley Ronald Hamilton Rossie Johnson Porter Merriwether Remus Nesbitt Rubin Perry James “Jim” Sattlewhite Nurlin Tarrant Eugene Wertz