Aug. 13, 2012

After a day off, the University of Memphis football team returned to the practice field for a mid-morning workout Monday to begin a week which will include three days of multiple practices. The Tigers will go through two-a-days on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday this week.

Monday's practice was the first since Saturday's scrimmage. First-year coach Justin Fuente said there was plenty he liked from the team's first scrimmage, but also plenty which he didn't.

"When we did what we were supposed to do on either side of the ball, there were good things," he said. "There just wasn't enough consistency."

Consistency has been a focal point for Fuente since camp opened a week ago and following Monday's workout, he again spoke about the effort needed every day and every play.

"In order for us to have any opportunity for success - it doesn't matter if you are the 45th offensive player that is a walk on or you are the starting quarterback - you have to be accountable, understand what is going on and bring it out here every single day," he said. "That is what I am trying to get across to them. It is an everyday thing. It is not a part time thing."

Fuente added, "We always represent this university. We represent this football program every single day but that comes at a price. You have to put in work every single day. We are getting better at it but there is just too much up and down."

Sophomore linebacker Charles Harris said he has seen progress on both sides of the ball but also concurred with Fuente's assessment.

"It has been kind of like a rollercoaster," Harris said. "We just have to be consistent. We're flying around to the ball a lot more. We're making more plays. Now, we just have to be more consistent on making those plays every time and not making any mental mistakes."

Junior quarterback Jacob Karam added that on paper, the Tigers will be a young team but it didn't mean that the squad could not focus on becoming more mature.

"We have a lot of young guys and we don't have a lot of seniors but that doesn't mean we have to be an immature team," he said. "We want to do the little things right. Focus on the details. Just focus on being consistent. Come out here having great effort, great attitude every day at practice. That is all we can do."

Tiger Notes
Memphis fans are encouraged to take part in C Spire's CIRCLE Blitz College Football Question and Answer series with Fuente on Wednesday from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Fans can post a question in CIRCLE for Coach Fuente by CLICKING HERE. For posting a question, fans will automatically be entered into a drawing to win an autographed football or two suite tickets to the home opener vs. UT-Martin on Sept. 1 from Tiger Sports Properties.