Aug. 20, 2012

With two weeks of preseason camp in the books for the University of Memphis, the window is beginning to close when it comes to preparing for the Sept. 1 season opener against UT Martin. This is the final week of camp before the Tigers turn the page and head into the first week of game prep.

Memphis will hold two-a-days on both Tuesday and Thursday with single practices scheduled for Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The Tigers will also be on hand for FanFest 2012 which will take place on the University of Memphis campus Saturday from noon until 2 p.m.

First-year coach Justin Fuente said that he has seen a lot of good things from camp but continues to look for a particular sense of resolve from the Tigers.

"The short term is we need to manifest some urgency to get ready to go compete against some strangers, people we don't know," he said.

Following the lone practice of the day on Monday, Fuente's focus when it came to gaining maturity was on the Tigers' offensive unit.

"We have two seniors on offense," he said. "Those guys don't have another shot. They don't get to come back next year and work with the best strength coach in the country. They don't get to come back next year and be in the same offense. They have to get it right, right now. Until the rest of our offense develops that urgency we are going to sputter. We have to understand where we are at and quit waiting."

Fuente added that at times the Memphis coaching staff sees it on both sides of the ball, where the team has an understanding of what it takes to be successful.

"We just have to keep swinging that sledgehammer and pounding that rock," he said. "Carving out a nice sculpture. It is just going to take us some time."

Tickets for the season and the Sept. 1 opener are available for purchase online at www.GoTigersGo.com or by calling the Tigers Ticket Office at (901) 678-2331.