March 15, 2010

MEMPHIS, TENN. - The Tiger Football Team begins spring football with its first team workout Wednesday afternoon in shorts at the Murphy Athletic Complex.

The March 17 practice is the first of three workouts slated for this week, with the squad also scheduled to practice on Thursday and Saturday. The Tigers will go through 15 practices in the spring, culminating with the Blue-Gray Game on Saturday, April 17, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The spring game is set to begin at 1 p.m. Additional details regarding activities surrounding the Blue-Gray Game will be announced at a later date.

Head Coach Larry Porter is beginning his first season with the Tigers after returning to his alma mater. Porter, who lettered for the Tigers from 1990-93, still ranks in the Tiger Top 10 for running backs as he is seventh in career yards with 2,194. He fell from sixth to seventh after the 2009 season that saw two-year starter Curtis Steele complete his career ranked third all-time with 2,462 yards. Porter scored 20 rushing touchdowns, which ranks tied for fifth all-time.

The Tigers lost 25 seniors from the 2009 squad, including major producers on offense - Curtis Steele, Carlos Singleton and Duke Calhoun. Those three players alone accounted for 24 of Memphis' 33 touchdowns last season. The squad returns 45 letterwinners, including seven starters each on offense and defense. The entire starting five for the offensive line return and will be battling for starting jobs this spring. The key spot to fill is at quarterback, where the Tigers have five scholarship players competing this spring, but only one - Tyler Bass - has taken a snap for Memphis. The group also includes redshirt freshman Will Gilchrist, Miami transfer Cannon Smith and new signees Ryan Williams and Andy Summerlin. Summerlin is a sophomore transfer from Coffeyville Community College, and Williams is a true freshman who graduated early from Miramar (FL) High to join the Tigers this spring.

Heading into practice next week, the depth chart is wide open. Porter has expressed a number of times that all positions are up for grabs and that he expects major competition this spring. While spring is limited to just 15 practice sessions, Porter explains that this is a crucial time to lay the foundation of building the Tiger Football program.

"We want to create an identity that allows us to speak with our play and I want the team to see that they have the potential within themselves to be champions," said Porter. "I think in order to create and change the culture to one that speaks to a championship culture, you have to create a competitive environment. The players must truly believe that they have a fair shot at competing and earning the starting job.

"I want the players to understand that last year is last year and yesterday is yesterday," added Porter. "It's all about now and in the future. If you feel you are a starter on this team, you need to show us as coaches that you are. Nobody can sit back and think they have it made. Everybody needs to challenge themselves to be better on a daily basis."

While the 2010 Conference USA schedule is not yet available, the Tigers do have four non-conference games this season, beginning with the season opener at Mississippi State on Sept. 4. The Tigers will also travel to Louisville on Oct. 9, and will host Middle Tennessee (Sept. 18) and Tennessee (Nov. 6). C-USA officials will release the league schedule at a later date, but Memphis fans can plan on home contests with UCF, Southern Miss, Houston and Tulsa, and road meetings with Marshall, UTEP, East Carolina and UAB.

Season tickets are currently available by calling the Ticket Office at 901-678-2331, or through the on-line ticketing system by clicking HERE.