Aug. 10, 2007
The University of Memphis athletic department will have 14 student-athletes receive their respective degrees in ceremonies scheduled on Sunday. The football team leads the way with six graduates, while softball has three. Baseball will graduate two athletes and men's basketball, men's tennis and men's track each have one.
Tyler Frazier, Men's Track - A transfer from Hutchinson CC, Tyler Frazier earned All American honors as a sophomore and qualified for the NJCAA National Championships in the javelin in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. As a Tiger, he won the javelin at the Bulldog Invitational with a season-best effort of 187-05 and was the second-highest individual finisher for the Tigers at the Vanderbilt Invitational, placing second in the javelin. Frazier is majoring in exercise science. Wichita, Kan./ Bishop Carroll Catholic HS/ Hutchinson CC.
Van Houston, Football - Van Houston played two seasons for the Tigers after transferring from Itawamba Community College. He played all 12 games in each of the 2004 and 2006 seasons and redshirted in 2005 because of a knee injury. Houston finished his career with 21 tackles, including two tackles for a loss of yardage. Okalona, Miss./Okolona HS.
Nicki Johnson, Softball - Nicki Johnson joined Memphis for its inaugural season in 2006 after playing two years at Pima Community College. In two seasons with the Tigers, Johnson compiled a 24-23 record with a 2.64 ERA and 234 strikeouts in 318.1 innings of work. A junior college All-American, she finished in the top 10 in the conference in 2006 in ERA, opposing batting average and batters struck out looking. Johnson struck out a career high 10 batters against Grambling State in 2006 in a one-hitter. She ended her junior year with a 12-9 record and a 2.07 ERA with 118 strikeouts. As a senior in 2006, Johnson finished in the conference top 10 in innings pitched, strike outs, wins, appearances and games started. She started 27 games and finished the season with a 12-14 record and a 3.12 ERA. Tucson, Ariz./Salpointe HS/Pima CC
Joey Lieberman, Baseball - Joey Lieberman was a two-year letter winner for head coach Daron Schoenrock and the Tiger baseball team. A junior college transfer from Meridian Community College, Lieberman saw time primarily as the Tiger's DH, but also played first base and leftfield. Lieberman etched his name in the Memphis record books as one the program's most prolific power hitters, banging out 27 homers in a two-year span--a feat only former Tiger standout Mark Little accomplished over two years. Lieberman closed out a strong two-year stint at Memphis and was selected to the Jewish Sports Review All-America First Team as its DH. He also earned First Team All-C-USA honors after tying for the league and team lead with 14 round trippers. As a senior, Lieberman started in all 62 games in 2007 and finished the year with a team-high 55 RBI, to go with a .267 average and nine doubles. He also led the squad with 16 multi-RBI games. Vicksburg, Miss./Warren Central HS/Meridian CC.
Bridgette McNulty, Softball - A two-time All-Conference USA player, Bridgette McNulty joined the Tigers for their inaugural season in 2006 from Central Arizona where she was an All-American. The third baseman hit .320 in her two seasons at Memphis with 20 home runs and 74 RBI. McNulty led the team in assists in 2006 and 2007, totaling 265 from the hot corner. As a senior McNulty hit .287 with eight home runs, 32 RBI, 34 runs and 43 walks. She ranked nationally in walks, while leading the conference in assists and ranking in the top 10 in walks and on base percentage. In 2006, McNulty led the team in seven offensive categories and hit a program best 12 home runs, while batting .354 with 42 RBI. She started 114 of her 115 career games at Memphis. Phoenix, Ariz./Desert Vista HS/Central Arizona CC.
Brandon Patterson, Football - A two-year letterwinner, Brandon Patterson has two years of eligibility remaining. He has logged 22 career games and started nine contests in 2006 as a defensive back. A 2007 and 2006 Arthur Ashe, Jr Sports-Scholar first team selection, Patters was named second-team CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2006 and was a C-USA Football All-Academic Team selection. The junior logged a career high eight tackles against UCF in 2006 and was second on the team last season in interceptions with three. He has five interceptions in his two years and also recovered a fumble in 2006. Patterson totaled 47 tackles last season and has 60 career stops. Germantown, Tenn./Germantown HS.
Rubio Phillips, Football - Rubio Phillips transferred from Holmes Community College and lettered during the 2004 and 2006 seasons. He was injured in the season opener against Ole Miss in 2005 and missed the remainder of that season, but was able to regain his senior eligibility. Phillips totaled 41 tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery during his career. Kosciusko, Miss./Kosciusko HS.
Garrison Pilant, Men's Tennis - A three-year letterwinner at Memphis, Garrison Pilant transferred to Memphis from Collin Community College in Texas following his freshman year. He capped his Tiger career with a 9-21 mark in singles and a 25-23 record in doubles. Pilant was a two-time member of the Tiger 3.0 Club and a member of the Tiger Academic 30 his final semester at Memphis. He missed the entire fall 2006 schedule due to a wrist injury. Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands HS.
Mario Pratcher, Football - Mario Pratcher is a three-year letterwinner who suffered several injury setbacks during his career. He suffered a knee injury in practice prior to the start of the 2005 season and missed the entire year. Pratcher played in 30 career games and made nine starts as a Tiger receiver. He finished his career with 39 receptions for 447 yards and one touchdown. Memphis, Tenn./Trezevant HS.
Lindsey Pridgen, Softball - Lindsey Pridgen is a two-year starter for the Tigers that came to Memphis in 2006 from Pima Community College. A starter in the outfield and at shortstop, Pridgen compiled a .244 career average with six home runs, 38 RBI and 34 runs scored. She was an All-WAC Honorable Mention as a freshman shortstop at UTEP. Pridgen hit .257 as a junior in 2006 with four home runs, 10 doubles and 23 RBI. As a senior, Pridgen knocked in the game-winning run in the regular season finale against UCF to give Memphis its first C-USA Championship berth. It was her second game-winning RBI of the season. Pridgen started all 61 games in 2007 and hit .234 with 15 RBI, seven doubles and 17 runs scored. Las Vegas, Nev./Silverado HS/UTEP/Pima CC
Jared Sandridge, Men's Basketball - A two-year letterwinner, Sandridge played for the Tigers during the best back-to-back seasons in the school's history. The 6-foot-2 guard transferred back home to Memphis from Angelina College in Texas prior to the 2005-06 campaign. As a Tiger, the former Christian Brothers High School standout played in 19 games and gained his lone career start on 2007 Senior Day. He averaged 0.7 points and shot 33.3 percent from the three-point line in his career. Sandridge was a member of Tiger squads that won consecutive Conference USA regular season and tournament titles and advanced to back-to-back NCAA Tournament Elite Eights. Memphis posted a 66-8 record in his two seasons, and the 66 victories were the second-most in the nation. The 2006-07 Tiger team that Sandridge played on became the first squad in C-USA history to post an undefeated regular season league mark (16-0) and then follow with the conference tournament championship. Sandridge earned his bachelor's degree in business management. Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS/Angelina College.
Lance Scoggins, Baseball - Lance Scoggins was a two-year letterwinner on the mound for the Tigers in 2006 and 2007. In his two seasons in the Blue and Gray, the southpaw from Memphis went 2-6 with a 7.66 ERA in 23 appearances. He started in 19 games and fanned 36 batters. His most memorable outing came against Murray State in 2006, when he induced an NCAA record-tying eight double plays to lead the Tigers to victory. Memphis, Tenn./Bolton HS/Jackson State CC.
Mike Snyder, Football - A four-year letterman, Mike Snyder's career was cut short by injury in 2006. He played 32 career games, starting in 12 contests. Snyder started in 10 games as a junior at linebacker and finished his career with 58 tackles, including two sacks. He also registered a fumble recovery and was a key contributor on the Tiger kick coverage team. New Orleans, La./John Curtis HS.
LaVale Washington , Football - LaVale Washington lettered four seasons for the Tigers and played in 43 career games with 15 starts as a nose guard. He totaled 96 career tackles and eight tackles for lost yardage. Washington made five career sacks, including three as a senior in 2005. H had a career-high six tackles with a sack as a senior in 2005 against Tulsa and logged three tackles and a sack against Akron in the Motor City Bowl in 2005. New Orleans, La./St. Augustine HS.
