M Club Hall of Fame
- Induction:
- 1980
Roland McMackin came to the Memphis campus in the fall of 1937 along with new head coach Allyn McKeen and assistant coach Cecil C. Humphreys. The rangy end would be come a vital part of the University’s only undefeated and untied season in school history. A native of Bruceton, Tennessee, McMackin also lettered for coach Zach Curlin’s Tiger basketball team as a guard during the ‘37-38 season. The football team posted a 3-6-0 record in 1937 but very impressive in several close loses. In 1938, McMackin was voted the team captain and he would lead his teammates to the best record in school history. The Tigers finished ‘38 with a 10-0-0 record and for his play, McMackin was named to the All-Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association team. The Associated Press named Memphis as the highest scoring team in the nation for 1938 and the squad was invited to California to play in the Prune Bowl against San Jose. However, the Great Depression limited the school’s budget and with no guarantee of the bowl’s payout, Memphis officials declined. McMackin, who earned his BS degree in 1939, started and owned McMackin Business Systems until his retirement. He made his home in Tuscumbia, Alabama, after retirement.
