Memphis Tigers Football

It didn't take long for the Memphis Tigers to find a new head football coach. Mike Norvell was hired to be the new leader of the program on Thursday, as initially reported by Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel.

Geoff Calkins of the Commercial Appeal confirmed the Tigers' hire. Norvell will be the successor to Justin Fuente, who was drawn to Virginia Tech as head coach and is undertaking the challenge of following Frank Beamer.   

“There’s a lot of opportunities that have been discussed in my coaching career of places that I could’ve gone, of people I could’ve went and led,” Norvell said, per Clay Bailey of the Associated Press, via the Washington Post. “But I was in such a great situation it had to be right. It had to be all about the fit and all about the family.”

“I believe [Norvell] will continue to build upon our success and create even greater standards of competitive excellence for our program for years to come,” athletic director Tom Bowen said, per Bailey.

After being a record-setting receiver at his alma mater of Central Arkansas, Norvell's coaching career began there as a graduate assistant in 2006, according to TheSunDevils.com. He moved on to wide receivers coach at Tulsa and then Pittsburgh, where he also served as offensive coordinator.

The most recent stop for Norvell was with Arizona State, where he wore numerous hats as the quarterbacks coach, offensive coordinator and deputy head coach.

It says a lot about the strong relationship Norvell had with Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham that he was given so much responsibility. USA Today's Dan Wolken hinted at that in his reaction to Thursday's news:

It was going to take a really good situation for Norvell to leave Graham. They are almost like father-son.

— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) December 4, 2015

Memphis was wise to bring in a relatively young coach whose expertise is on offense. It helps that the Tigers have built considerable momentum in 2015, but maintaining it will be easier said than done in the near future.

The following analysis from AZCentral.com's Doug Haller should have Tigers fan encouraged the team can still lure adequate talent to the school:

Arizona State's offense struggled this season, but losing Norvell is big loss to the program. ASU's best recruiter.

— Doug Haller (@DougHaller) December 4, 2015

Persuasive and convincing as Norvell might be on the recruiting trail, there is reason for some anxiety about the state of the program at this moment.

The driving force behind Memphis' success en route to a 9-3 record this year has been quarterback Paxton Lynch. A junior in his third year as a starter, Lynch has lit it up with 28 touchdown passes to only three interceptions—and is likely to declare for the 2016 NFL draft as a result.

Replacing someone like Lynch under center won't be easy. Norvell has the type of background to suggest he can handle it. He's well-versed in spread offenses between his time at Tulsa and with the Sun Devils, so his vision shouldn't discourage incoming recruits.

Undefeated. 

It's the most sought after resume booster for any College Football Playoff hopeful. And until Saturday evening, that's what the Memphis Tigers had.

But no more. 

Goodnight, sweet Memphis

— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) November 8, 2015

Keenan Reynolds, a Navy Midshipman on the precipice of history, didn't take sole possession of the FBS record for career rushing touchdowns. He instead affirmed his college football legacy by adding a major upset to his scrapbook with Navy's 45-20 win over the Tigers. 

But while Reynolds' legacy was etched into stone, Memphis' playoff hopes disappeared. No longer are the Tigers close to being a viable player for a berth in the final four. It was the way Memphis lost, though, that truly illustrates why it isn't fit for playoff consideration. 

This wasn't a rout by Navy from the onset or a result of a sluggish start by the Tigers. No, Navy's win over Memphis was a beatdown. Midway through the third quarter, the Tigers tied the game at 17-17 with a one-yard touchdown run by Anthony Miller and the ensuing extra point. 

From there, the Midshipmen outscored Memphis 28-3. This was all without Reynolds finding the promised land on the ground even once—and going 3-of-5 through the air for 85 yards. 

The entire Navy squad was regimented in its ground approach, rushing for 374 yards on 66 carries out of the flexbone. Seven players had at least 28 yards rushing, with two cracking 80. Chris Swain led the Midshipmen with 108 yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

Look at Navy. On Tuesday we were talking Memphis as a playoff team. By Saturday they may be second in their own division.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) November 8, 2015

Meanwhile, Memphis simply couldn't get enough big plays. The Navy secondary did just enough, allowing Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch to throw for 305 yards on 26-of-42 passing but only giving up one touchdown through the air. 

Navy won in nearly every facet of the game. The Midshipmen didn't turn the ball over once. Memphis did three times. The Tigers had only four penalties, but they added to 43 yards. Navy's two accounted for just five. 

In fact, it is now Navy that has the inside track to an American Athletic Conference title, as it's undefeated in league action at 5-0. The Midshipmen's only loss was on the road. At Notre Dame. 

No. 13 Memphis goes down. Navy beats the Tigers 45-20. That means No. 25 Houston (9-0) is the last remaining unbeaten Group of 5 team.

— Sam Khan Jr. (@skhanjr) November 8, 2015

The Tigers' loss now opens the door for the Houston Cougars, a fellow AAC squad which currently sits at 9-0 (5-0), to sneak into the playoff conversation, or at the very least the New Year's Six roundtable. The Cougars have tilts against Memphis, UConn and Navy left on their schedule. 

The AAC is clearly on the rise, and sooner rather than later this conference will produce a playoff team. But after Saturday's loss at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, it's clear the Tigers won't be that squad.

One of the great joys of college football is finding the feel-good story. You know the drill: A downtrodden program is revived and brought to national prominence by a new coach, a new outlook, a new spirit.

This fall, it’s clear where that story resides: Memphis, Tennessee. Following Saturday’s 37-24 upset of No. 13 Ole Miss, Memphis and coach Justin Fuente are 6-0 and represent a story that anyone with a heart can get behind.

Memphis native Justin Timberlake has even taken notice:

Did @MemphisFB really just do that?!?! #GoTigersGo 🏆‼️

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) October 17, 2015

One year removed from the program’s first 10-win season and its first bowl bid since 2008, the Tigers seem poised for much more this fall. They’re a top contender for the Group of Five’s bid in the New Year’s Six bowl games and a leading contender to win the American Athletic Conference.

Saturday was proof of Memphis’ power and resilience. With a national ESPN TV audience watching, Ole Miss quickly built a 14-0 lead in the Liberty Bowl. Undaunted, the Tigers, led by quarterback Paxton Lynch, fought back, scoring 31 consecutive points and taking the lead for good in the process.

Lynch threw for 384 yards and three touchdowns while completing 39 of 53 passes, cementing his status as a quarterback who can score on any defense in the nation. It was Memphis’ first win over a ranked foe since defeating Peyton Manning-quarterbacked Tennessee in 1996, and the Tigers’ first win over Ole Miss since 2004.

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg was impressed with the victory:

We see you, Memphis. This is called capitalizing. Very impressive. #MISSvsMEM

— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 17, 2015

The Tigers are certain to crack the Associated Press Top 25 next week—having just missed the poll this time around—which is huge news for a program that has been anything but a regular in the national polls. Memphis has been in the Top 25 only twice in its history, for a total of two weeks. The Tigers checked in at No. 25 for a week in 2004 and finished at No. 25 in 2014’s final postseason poll.

Per Tom Schad of the Commercial Appeal, Memphis athletic director Tom Bowen sees Saturday's game as a jumping-off point:

What's this mean to Memphis football? Tom Bowen: "I think it’s a building moment, an epic moment, that will be remembered for a long time."

— Tom Schad (@Tom_Schad) October 17, 2015

They might hang around a little longer this time around.

Lynch leads an exciting offense installed by Fuente, who quickly gave the program relevance following his late 2011 hiring. Before Fuente arrived, Memphis had won a total of five games in three seasons. Now, it's a program that’s worth national attention.

They're fun to watch, and for any fan of the underdog, these Tigers are a story worth rooting for. They have a legitimate shot at an unbeaten season, although the path ahead isn’t easy. A mid-November road trip to No. 24 Houston (currently unbeaten) and Temple (also unbeaten entering Saturday’s game against winless Central Florida) will test this group’s mettle, without question.

The biggest problem, however, as noted by ESPN and Sirius XM's Paul Finebaum, might be programs looking to poach Fuente. It’s only mid-October, and Illinois, Maryland, South Carolina and Southern California have openings, with more certain to follow.

Justin Fuente's real estate agent probably just put a For Sale sign in his front yard.

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) October 17, 2015

For now, however, the Tigers’ bandwagon is one more than worth jumping on—while there’s still room.

A team that won a total of 10 games over the course of four lifeless, talent-deprived seasons matched that number in less than four months in 2014. 

After a flood of offense, a gravity-defying 54-yard game-tying field goal in overtime, a game-winning interception in double overtime and a wild postgame fracas unlike any in recent history, Memphis did more than conquer BYU in the Miami Beach Bowl.

It emerged from program purgatory. 

Between 2010 and 2013, the Tigers were outscored by 305 points. They were the poster child of a dysfunctional program. They were hopeless and helpless. In 2014, thanks to one of the nation’s premier defenses and a flurry of touchdowns at the season’s conclusion, they flipped the script entirely. 

This was no fluke. By taking various steps—headlined by finding the ideal head coach (and staff) poised for the makeover—Memphis broke through. It was unexpected, but it was by design.

As a result, it is now the blueprint for countless others to follow.

The Rise, Fall and Rise of Memphis Football

Dave Woloshin remembers rock bottom. He remembers narrating the week-to-week ineptitude of one of the worst programs in college football, a stretch in which Memphis won five games over the course of three seasons.

“I would sit through the first quarter and start using every note that I had for the broadcast,” Woloshin, the radio voice of the Tigers, said. “By the second quarter, it was already fill time.”

Since 1986, Woloshin has helped relay Memphis athletics to the masses. He has worked on television and radio, watching the football program undergo various makeovers.

As bad as it was, Woloshin recalls some program highs—like when his friend, former Memphis coach Tommy West, guided the Tigers to new heights and national respect with the helping hand of the magnificent DeAngelo Williams, one of the best collegiate running backs of our time.

After putting the program on the map in the early 2000s, however, West couldn’t sustain the expectations he helped create. In 2009, after a two-win season, West was relieved of his duties as head coach.

Before he exited, West delivered a memorable, uncensored press conference that highlighted the obstacles hindering the program. This was not rock bottom, although it was close.

Larry Porter, the coach tabbed to follow West’s footsteps, left his station as running backs coach at LSU to lead a different set of Tigers. He lasted two seasons, winning just three games.

“It was sad,” Woloshin said. “Memphis had proven that the town could get turned on by football. We were getting 40,000 to games not long before this.”

Interest plummeted. Hope vanished. Fans who were on the fence about supporting the program—something West had touched on during his departure—removed themselves from the picture entirely.

“The Tigers announced a crowd of 14,992 on Saturday,” The Commercial Appeal’s Geoff Calkins wrote after a loss to Central Florida in late November of 2010. “If there were more than 4,000 in the place, I'm DeAngelo Willams.”

This was rock bottom. This was the most unwatchable team in the nation now looking for another head coach after only two seasons.

After dabbling with the possibility of hiring Jim McElwain—Florida’s most recent hire—Memphis settled on an unproven offensive coordinator in his mid-30s.

Justin Fuente was lured away from TCU and was named the Memphis head coach in 2012. Untested and unknown, Fuente was handed an impossible program with no expectations to speak of.

And then, his team hit the field.

“The very first practice I ever went to, I knew we had something,” Woloshin said. “I saw that and said that this guy was different.”

He was.

On Monday, Fuente led Memphis past BYU 55-48. This was the Tigers’ first bowl win since 2005 and their first 10-win season since 1938. He did so with a new five-year contract that will pay him $1.4 million in the first year and escalate throughout, according to Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated.

From 3-9 to 10-3 in one calendar year—with two of the three losses against UCLA and Ole Miss, two Top 12 teams at the time—Fuente has brought the program back from the dead.

Along the way, he left a trail to follow.

Step One: Find Your Template

All rebuild efforts have to start somewhere. For Memphis, it began in Fort Worth.

Before Fuente could implement his program foundation, he first had to take the job and abandon his post as co-offensive coordinator at TCU. Given everything the Tigers’ program had been through in recent years, this was a decision that took some massaging.

“I thought long and hard about it,” Fuente told Bleacher Report. “I went into it with my eyes wide open, and I knew it hasn’t been a healthy situation. But I also knew it wasn’t that long ago that they had success.”

Ultimately, he decided to take the leap of faith. Fuente alerted TCU head coach Gary Patterson that he was leaving and received Patterson’s blessing as he packed up the U-Haul. He arrived at TCU still fresh, with some experience at Illinois State to draw from. He left with a wealth of knowledge on how to run a program.

Fuente didn’t dive into this endeavor by his lonesome. He leaned on the advice and direction of former Tulsa head coach Bill Blankenship—who just so happened to be his coach back at Union High School in Oklahoma, where Fuente was a star quarterback—and Patterson, who Fuente studied intently at TCU.

“I’m not sure either one had specific knowledge of this job as much as specific knowledge of how to go about building a program,” Fuente said. “We had a system that worked. To me, that was something you could hold on to. That was a constant for me.”

Fuente came from a place that went 55-10 in his time at the program—including 36-3 during his final three seasons.

Why wouldn’t he bring these proven philosophies with him?

Years	School	Position(s)	Record
2001-2006	Illinois State	QB Coach, Offensive Coordinator	34-34
2007-2011	TCU	RB Coach, Co-Offensive Coordinator	55-10
2012-Present	Memphis	Head Coach	17-20

“I had a great relationship with Gary Patterson when I worked for him, and I wanted to take everything we did program-wise from there and put it here,” Fuente said. “I’m not talking about the eight-man front or the way we ran the offense. I’m talking about the way we practiced and the way we ran our offseason.”

From a structural standpoint, Fuente shocked the system by channeling enormous influence from one of the nation’s most successful head coaches. On a more individual level, he also brought with him the mentality his mentor displayed during the week-to-week grind.

“Gary’s drive fascinated me,” Fuente said. “His ability to put aside a victory and immediately turn his focus toward the next opponent was uncanny. He was completely dialed in on the opponent throughout the entire week, and that was fascinating on a personal level.”

This year, Fuente was named one of eight finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. Joining him in this honor were Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Jimbo Fisher, Mark Helfrich, Art Briles, Bryan Harsin and the eventual winner, Gary Patterson.

Step Two: Work Your A** Off

Woloshin’s rave review of the first Fuente-led Memphis practice he was in attendance for was not the sentiment felt within. In fact, the head coach tasked with reshaping the program didn’t exactly match his response.

“It was a nightmare. It was awful. We couldn’t even make it through it, first of all,” Fuente said. “We weren’t physically conditioned enough to do it. It was as an everyday battle, and it still is. It’s still not where I want it to be. I wouldn’t want Coach [Patterson] to see us.”

His thoughts years later mirrored his impressions following the team's first practice in pads.

While practices were a struggle early on, Fuente was not without talent to work with.

Recruiting is a critical part of any rebuild; it’s also vital in sustaining a certain level of success. While Fuente’s predecessor had been unable to deliver tangible results, Porter did attract marquee talents who eventually paid off.

Still, that talent had to develop. And while Fuente had more in place than many realize—something that ultimately led him toward the job—turning potential into something more is where most rebuild efforts do a nosedive.

That’s where practice comes in; it’s the heart and soul of every sports team at every level and an enormous part of Fuente’s success. Working alongside defensive coordinator Barry Odom—one of the brightest defensive minds in the country—the two zeroed in on improving and developing through repetition.

“It’s the most crucial part,” Fuente said on the importance of practice. “You have to get the most out of your time on the field, and it’s still not where I want it to be. If Coach Patterson were to come to our practice, I’m not sure he would say it’s where it needs to be. But that’s what we’re striving for.”

Fuente’s frustration early wasn’t about learning a set of plays or a given system; it was simply a matter of being able to take reps at the intended pace. Woloshin, having attended hundreds of practices in various places in his time covering the sport, recalls what he watched.

“It blew me away,” Woloshin said. “It was choreographed, it was on the move, and those guys never stopped. It was like watching a hockey line change.”

It’s one thing to take a proven plan and mimic the ingredients. It’s another to exhaust all resources to ensure that it is followed.

This, in a way, is the easy part. The path to success is defined by the work you apply. Doing it over the course of years—and ensuring that time and progress are on the same distinct upward path—is another battle entirely.

Step Three: Savor The Journey and Celebrate Small Victories

Not every step of the rebuilding process revolves around work, repetition and planning. Most do, but not all.

In fact, appreciating the growth and celebrating the results—as insignificant as they might appear to those outside of the building—is fuel to move forward.

Winning a national championship is always the goal. Of course it is. But when you start at the bottom, there’s something to be said about admiring the climb. In many ways, this is where the satisfaction lies.

“It’s hard to do this and you don’t have to tell anybody about it,” Fuente said. “But inwardly you have to take some satisfaction in small steps. If not, you drive yourself crazy.”

Statistic	2012	2013
Points Against	30.3	24.6
Points Allowed	363	295
First Downs Allowed	266	250
Opponent Rush Yards Per Attempt	3.94	3.32
Interceptions	8	11

Although Fuente’s team only won three games in 2013, the progress was evident.  Even though it took a small step back in terms of overall wins—winning three games versus four in his debut season—Fuente saw the change in the works. 

Practices got better. Players developed. The performance, despite what the win column said, improved. This was the year that set the table for 2014, especially on the defensive side. It was no setback.

The Tigers made life difficult on former Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, almost beating Louisville. Memphis also lost to UCF, an eventual BCS bowl winner, by only seven points.

“We were close to winning games last year,” Fuente said. “We played very good defense, we just didn’t score many points. We played some really close games against good people.”

Close losses will eventually get you fired. But given the way Memphis was trending prior to last season, this was a critical step forward. It didn’t come with wins—not yet, at least—but it set the foundation for things to come.

It is in our nature to be consumed by results and, in particular, wins. Pull back the box score, however, and you can find (and appreciate) small improvement.

For a head coach navigating this enormous operation, simply acknowledging these developments can be vital. It can tell you where you need to focus, but more importantly, it can justify the message and methods being taught.

Take note of Fuente’s barometer of success, fellow coaches:

“A win is the end goal and you have to do that to keep your job, but being able to see it moving forward has got to be able to fuel you and drive you.”

Step Four: Develop a Personal Covenant

The main ingredients are rather obvious, although the last part of the rebuild is where most efforts derail. You need to find that special something, that one missing element you can’t quite put your finger on. Along those lines, your message can’t be lost along the way.

You need to find your own Memphis Family Covenant.

“If we could adhere to the Covenant,” Fuente said on the 2014 season. “I thought we had a chance.”

The Memphis Family Covenant, according to Fuente, boils down to playing “selfless” football. It’s about “playing for each other,” he added.

It’s not something we could ever understand, even with his description laid out on the table. It’s something exclusive to the team and locker room, which is precisely why it’s so valuable. To know it, you must experience it.

As a result, playing for Memphis has become a luxury. And that was the case long before the Tigers won 10 games.

“We have a group of seniors here that have been through a lot,” Fuente said. “Seeing the health of the team, the kids enjoying playing football and having success, that’s where my satisfaction comes from.”

Along the way, Fuente has been able to adjust his style and slowly drift away from what got him to this point. That might seem strange given the level of success he has worked toward, but the plan was to never simply hold serve, especially for a coach still in the infant stages of his career.

As Fuente has settled in—and as his players have bought in—he’s eased into his comfort zone. With a 10-win season and a bowl win on his resume, this part of his voice should only continue to evolve.

“I think I’m more myself than I was the first couple of years,” Fuente said. "I can’t be Coach Blankenship or Coach Patterson; I’ve got to find a way to adjust my style to my personality so we get the results these coaches have gotten.” 

This is Fuente’s own personal covenant: the satisfaction of appreciating results and the endless search for more.

“Other people watch us and say we’re doing a good job,” Fuente said. “But we’re not there." 

What began with the methods of some of the sport’s brightest minds has morphed into something spectacular, something that’s far easier to outline than it is to execute.

To rebuild a program from the ground up, you need to follow the steps Fuente laid out. You need to find success through others and incorporate the wisdom of people who have done it before. You need to make the most out of your practice, exhausting each and every hour given in creative ways. You need to celebrate, build on and learn from success, even if these conversations don’t take place in plain sight. 

The one final item necessary for a true rebuild just so happens to be the most important. It's also the most difficult to achieve and ultimately the place so many teams will fail and have to reset once more, hoping to get it right the next time. 

It’s also not a point that Fuente touched on while articulating the necessary blueprint, nor would you expect him to.

You need to find a Fuente to begin. Good luck.

Unless noted otherwise, all quotes obtained firsthand.

It's entirely possible that Memphis tight end Alan Cross is excited to be playing in the Miami Beach Bowl.

How do we know?

ESPN's cameras (via Reddit) caught Cross head-butting his teammates moments before kickoff against BYU on Monday at Marlins Park.

Marlins Park has seen plenty of home runs over the years, but not many head-butts. That's probably for the best.

No explanation was given for the odd display, so we'll have to assume Cross grew up rooting for Kevin Garnett.

Pain means nothing to Cross. That’s why one Twitter user compared him favorably to the always-frightening Chuck Norris.

Unfortunately for Cross, pregame enthusiasm can come at a price. Check out the gash on his forehead (h/t BroBible). That might require some medical attention.

To add historical context to Cross' buffoonery, former Seattle Seahawks fullback Owen Schmitt launched a similar attack on his own head back in 2009. Cross' cut looks tame when you compare it to the ocean of blood pouring down Schmitt's face.

Chuck Norris checks his closet for Alan Cross

— Prison Mike (@memphismike71) December 22, 2014

Cross played through the self-inflicted wound and finished with three catches for 69 yards and a touchdown in a 55-48 win over BYU.

Let Cross' misguided pregame ritual be a reminder to always wear a helmet when head-butting. That said, an equally compelling argument could be made that head-butting should be done away with altogether.

Seriously, what happened to good old-fashioned high-fiving?

As fate would have it, Cross took another blow to the head later when he was punched from behind by BYU defensive back Kai Nacua. The brawl occurred moments after DaShaughn Terry intercepted BYU quarterback Christian Stewart to clinch the victory.

Chuck Norris checks his closet for Alan Cross

— Prison Mike (@memphismike71) December 22, 2014

Look at the technique on that haymaker. Cross may want to ice up after this one.

It is official, Memphis football has hit rock bottom, Davy Jones' Locker has a new roommate.

Memphis lost 47-3 last Saturday to Arkansas State.

There are many Tiger fans who normally try to stay upbeat, but are now even floating the idea of University of Memphis just giving up Division 1 football all together to focus on men's basketball. Basically becoming a public university version of Depaul and Marquette. 

Is it really hopeless? Does Memphis football have to continue to stay in Dante's 9th circle of hell forever?

There are glimmers of hope for the program, however, it is going to require a change of leadership at the top.

As this writer explained January of this year, Memphis' Athletic Director, RC Johnson has been a terrible leader for the football program. In fact, I would say he has been the grave digger of their program.

In his 15 years as AD, Memphis is no closer to getting a BCS bid then Memphis was when the BCS was formed in 1998. I explained in great detail in the former column why Johnson needs to go, but I want to add to the original argument.

RC Johnson has been the Athletic Director with three Division I universities, Miami(Ohio), Temple and Memphis. His record as AD with Miami(Oh) in regards to football is 23-38-5, from 1988-1993. He was then AD with Temple for two years(1994-1995), Temple football was 3-19. Since 1996, Johnson has been AD at the University of Memphis, the football program is 69-110 under his watch

In fairness to Johnson, he was only with Temple for two years, which is hardly enough time to make an impact as AD with a school. But certainly, over 15 years with Memphis and five years with Miami(Oh) should be plenty of time for any AD to make decisions that will be positive or negative toward a school's athletics.

The basic issue many in Memphis seem to feel about RC Johnson and Memphis' University President, Shirely Raines, is that they are out of touch with what it takes to get a university program into a BCS conference.

Dr. Raines wrote an open letter last week to the fans of Memphis mentioning all the things that she and RC Johnson have been doing to help Memphis get into a BCS conference. She lists the improvements made to golf, softball, baseball and basketball.

Trouble is, none of these sports are what the BCS leagues are looking for when they take in a new program, certainly not in the case of TCU, Utah, Louisville and South Florida. She brags about the $10 million dollar improvement campaign that is currently going on for the Memphis football program without mentioning that other CUSA schools, like Houston and Central Florida, are in the middle of a $100 million dollar campaign for the same improvements.

There was a time when Memphis football was salable product on the verge of going to the next level, back in the mid-1990s.

Soon after the firing of head coach Chuck Stobart, this is where Memphis football stood: they had several years of nationally ranked defenses, at one time, #3 in the nation in total defense. They were recruiting players like Issac Bruce,Russell Copeland, Tony Semple, Danton Barto,Ken Irvin,Jerome Woods and Steve Matthews.

Memphis was competitive with SEC schools.

In the six years Chuck Stobart was head coach(1989-1994), Memphis had six victories over SEC schools. Since 1995, Memphis has only defeated an SEC school three times(Tennessee '96, Ole Miss '04, Ole Miss '05)

The problem, of course, was that Stobart could never get the Tigers passed the 6-5 mark, although this is good enough for a bowl trip these days.

After Stobart was fired for personal reasons, Memphis had a golden opportunity to go out and get a high profile head football coach who could have taken what Stobart was building and used it to get the Tigers over the 6-5 hump. Instead, Memphis chose Rip Scherer, a good man, but his only real mark was one good year as head coach with the Dukes at James Madison.

After Scherer was fired, RC Johnson promoted Tommy West from Scherer's staff to be the head coach. West, a former head coach for Clemson, fired for mediocrity while at Clemson, inherited some really good players from Scherer, and DeAngelo Williams was a gift from Houston Nutt (Williams originally wanted to play for Arkansas, but Coach Nutt did not think Williams' talent would be served best in his power run offense at Arkansas, so Williams chose Memphis to be close to home).

When West was let go in 2009, RC Johnson had an opportunity to pull resources and money from big Memphis boosters and go out and get a really high profile coach, much like he did for the basketball program when he hired John Calipari.

Instead, Johnson choose Larry Porter, a former Memphis football player with no experience at calling plays, who had been a RB position coach with LSU and OSU.

As mentioned earlier, Memphis' problem boils down to leadership.

Memphis football has been treated like a red-headed step child under Johnson's tenure, and, as the old saying goes, "you get what you pay for". Memphis only has to look at what their former arch-rival, the University of Louisville did. Louisville, much like Memphis, had always been considered a "basketball school". Yet, in the 1990s, Louisville made a decision to get serious about football for the first time.

They got their boosters together, they spent money to upgrade their facilities, built a very nice on-campus stadium and they went out and hired coaches like John L Smith and Bobby Petrino. Soon, Louisville was not only winning the CUSA in football, but even getting ranked as high as #6 in the nation (2004) as a non-BCS football team.

The next year, they would be invited by the Big East to leave CUSA for greener pastures.

The odds are, with the Memphis football team being as bad this year as they were last year, RC Johnson is probably not going to be able to survive this crisis.

Which will mean Memphis will get a new Athletic Director who in turn will probably fire Larry Porter as his first act of business.Memphis simply can't afford to go down the cheap road this time.

With Memphis way behind other CUSA schools in facilities and improvements, they have to go out and spend major money to try and get a big name to coach their football program.

Mike Leach, Tommy Bowden, Ralph Friedgen and Rich Rodriguez are all available, will Memphis make the call if they do replace Johnson and Porter?

The Big XII is looking to expand as another conference realignment is on the horizon, and Memphis fans are on the edge of their seats with excitement.  Memphis is a city on the edge of SEC country with a big-time basketball program and a loyal fan following. 

Unfortunately, Memphis fans will be let down once more as another BCS conference overlooks them in favor of other programs.  Why can't the Tigers break into the upper echelon of NCAA athletics?

Memphis basketball fans are some of the most avid fans in the country, following their team anywhere they play, despite their relatively small local following.  Memphis is a medium-sized town with no real professional sports team to follow. 

One may argue that Memphis has the Grizzlies, but to the Grizzlies' dismay, they'll always play second fiddle to the Tigers, which is still an upgrade from playing in Canada.  While Memphis fans are loyal, they also treat the football program as a second-rate citizen.  As a city and a fan base, Memphis also lacks the money of schools in the SEC or Big XII. 

The fans are loyal, but they won't part with their money to help any program except the basketball program.

After his firing, Tommy West unleashed a flurry of criticism on the media for its lack of support of the football program, and West indirectly criticized the fans, as well.  Disgruntled as the ugly step-child of the university, West lost interest in recruiting and, ultimately, coaching.  West was in his sunset years with a comfortable payout, so he no longer needed the football program, after coaching the most prolific offenses ever seen in the city.  West's offenses included stars Danny Wimprine and Carolina Panther Deangelo Williams, who regularly filled the seats of Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium every game day.  That golden age of Memphis football soon faded, however.

By contrast, Memphis is poised to be the worst team in college football in 2011.  Why?  After the firing of Tommy West, Memphis had no choice but to ask its single most lucrative donor FedEx CEO Fred Smith for help.  In doing so, Smith formed a committee of his own corporate elites to search for a new coach to lead the Tigers. 

Many of the candidates saw the writing on the wall—a football team lacking depth and a donor who appeared to the outside world expected concessions in return for taking the head coaching position.  At one time, it looked like Washington Redskins defensive backs coach Jerry Gray would accept the position, with multiple media outlets citing sources to that effect.  Gray turned down the position, however, and led Smith and the Tigers to LSU assistant Larry Porter, a former Tiger running back with little to no experience coaching.

2010 saw Porter play Smith's son Cannon at quarterback, but after miserable performances, Cannon was usurped by Ryan Williams who appeared light years ahead of Cannon in every performance.  Porter, however, continued to find reasons to put Cannon on the field until he was eventually injured to such a degree that he could no longer play. 

Fast forward to 2011 where Memphis is projected to be the worst program in the country and Cannon Smith is slated to play at safety after his dismal performance at quarterback in 2010.  As someone who's seen Smith play six years of high school football, I can tell you he isn't qualified to play at any Division I program, at any position, unless he's a remarkable long snapper.  So, why will the Big XII overlook Memphis?

Memphis is in fertile recruiting territory, has a strong following, and a nice television market.  It has one of the nation's elite basketball programs, and it has new facilities.  It sits at the western edge of the Big East and the eastern edge of the Big XII. 

Why wouldn't a major conference want Memphis? 

Memphis gives major conferences every excuse not to choose them. 

The fans have a small-town mentality, focusing solely on basketball, while refusing to donate real money to a football program that could use a major upgrade of football facilities.  Any time the Tigers need money, the program is forced to turn to the town's single provider—FedEx.  In return for selling its soul, the Tigers have to afford Fred Smith concessions for his generosity. 

It's not the fault of the fanbase, however.  Memphis is not a city made of money.  It's a town that lets the entitled drive its politics, while sucking the county dry with corrupt and ineffective policies.  The recent school consolidation is just another example of a poorly run political system looking for more money from the county to waste or feed to corrupt political allies. 

Memphis isn't willing to do what it takes as a city to be better, so the University of Memphis feels the effects.  Instead, the money that's available is funneled into failed policies or the money leaves, because people with real values simply tire of the city, despite their love of the University.

That said, Memphis will never be considered as a member of a major conference, because it refuses to do what's necessary to be a major program.  It's head coach is appears beholden to the highest net worth individual in the city, and the alumni and fans refuse to part ways with the cash required to show major conferences that the school is worthy of a position in the BCS. 

As such, Memphis will continue to suffer consequences of regular recruiting losses and poor performance on the field.  And, despite the choice by starting quarterback Ryan Williams to depart for Miami, who will likely see the death penalty, he still has a higher probability of landing on his feet in a major conference than Memphis.