University of Memphis Athletics
M Club Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1977
Cecil Haggard Cherry came to West Tennessee State Teachers College in the fall of 1938 and played a major role in the Tigers only undefeated and untied season. The junior college transfer led the team to a 10-0-0 mark in 1938 and the Associated Press named the Tigers as the highest scoring team in the nation that season. Memphis would earn a bid to the Prune Bowl in California but a lack of financial guarantee kept the team from its first bowl appearance. In 1939, Cherry picked up where he left off in 1938, leading the team to a 5-5-0 record. He scored the teams only touchdown in a 7-0 victory over Delta State. In the Middle Tennessee State contest, Cherry threw a touchdown pass to open the scoring and had scoring runs of 40 and 51 yards in the Tigers 25-6 win. The speedster also tallied scores in the Louisiana College, Union and Troy State games. He was named the University’s Outstanding Athlete for 1939. Cherry graduated from WTSTC in 1940.
