(07-02-2019 09:28 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 10:52 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  When I was forming my allegiance to the Memphis Tigers as a young boy, the FB Tigers were winning consistently (50s-60s). Only after I graduated college at MSU & moved away from Memphis did the Tigers begin to lose with any regularity. So I have my earliest remembrances of Tiger FB as a winning program. In fact, I remember thinking Louisville & Cincy were the weak sisters who we beat like a drum with regularity.

Same with me. Growing up (I was born in 1947), Tiger football was really good. Went to my first game at Crump Stadium in 1952, with my dad and uncle.

When Spook Murphy was coach, we were great. A couple All-Americans on the team, some NFL pros, competitive with the SEC, etc. Didn't really start downhill until the late 70s, iirc.

The author of this article is obviously much younger, and has no memory or knowledge of that era, or even why we didn't go to a bowl for so long.

And he needs an editor, lol.

Dang, you are old but still kicking which is good.

(07-02-2019 09:28 AM)cmt Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 08:36 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 12:48 PM)cmt Wrote:  Before West we did have some good seasons under Stobart and Bailey and even before them, but all in all, we were one of the very worst football programs in the history of the sport. Memphis, Rice and Temple were all three considered awful over the decades, losses, lack of bowl appearances, etc. I remember being ranked in the bottom ten football programs over time more than once.

These days, that seems to be behind us with several new teams in "D1" and the fact that we've been good for more a decade. I'm just glad those days are over and when the next round of expansion happens, I now feel like we are one of the very first to be added.

don't forget Baylor and Kansas State, and Northwestern.
Until Art Briles, and Bill Snyder....those two schools were perennial losers....as was Northwestern.

We were rarely the worst team, but we had never been great, ever, the Burley Bowl (1956) and Pasadena Bowl (1971) were our only claims to fame. We won the MVC in 1968, 69 and 71. The problem was almost every other team had won something at some point.

Baylor has been to 24 bowl games, way back tho the Orange bowl in 1951, Gator in 1956 and 1960, Sugar in 1956, Cotton in 1974 and 80, etc, etc, etc.

Kansas State didn't do anything until the 1990's

Northwestern won the Rose bowl in 1948 and lost there in 1995 and had a few other brief moments of glory.

Even Tulane had been to the Sugar and Rose Bowls in the 1930's and the Liberty Bowl in 1970 and 79 and had the 12-0 season with a Liberty Bowl win in 1998.

We hadn't accomplished very much and are still looking for an AAC championship game victory.

We had never been great, ever? We were for 4 years, at least, from 1960-63. We went 8-2, 8-2, 8-1 and 9-0-1.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/memphis/

In 1960, we had the 12th best record (8-2) out of 113 football schools. We were 2nd nationally in points per game (30.3), and 22nd in points allowed (8.5). Our only losses were to Ole Miss, who was great that year, and Miss State.

In 1961, our record (8-2) was 10th best out of 111. We were 3rd in the country in points scored per game (33.2), and 8th in defensive points allowed (7.5)

In 1962, our record (8-1) was 5th best out of 120 teams. We were 3rd in the country in scoring offense, and 10th in scoring defense.

In 1963, we had our best team ever (9-0-1). Second best record out of 120 teams. 27th in scoring offense, 2nd in scoring defense. Harry Schuh was a first team All American, and went on to play in the NFL for several years before injuries got him. IIRC, we had another All-American, and a couple others went on to the NFL.

And the capper, we finished 14th in the national poll that year. Our only blemish was a scoreless tie with Ole Miss, a game we should have won (I was there). Ole Miss was ranked #2 in the country at the time, and finished 3rd in the poll that year, IIRC.

We also beat Miss State, who was 7-2-2 that year, a team that beat Tennessee, Auburn and LSU, and tied Ole Miss and Florida.

Our only drawbacks were not being in a conference, thus not getting a bowl game each year (you had to be in a conference to make one, and there weren't many bowl games), and not having a great strength of schedule. But back then, there weren't that many great teams we could schedule.

At any rate, it's just not true that we were never great in football. It just happened so long ago that only really old Tiger fans remember it.

(07-02-2019 09:33 AM)mairving Wrote:  

(07-02-2019 09:28 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 10:52 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  When I was forming my allegiance to the Memphis Tigers as a young boy, the FB Tigers were winning consistently (50s-60s). Only after I graduated college at MSU & moved away from Memphis did the Tigers begin to lose with any regularity. So I have my earliest remembrances of Tiger FB as a winning program. In fact, I remember thinking Louisville & Cincy were the weak sisters who we beat like a drum with regularity.

Same with me. Growing up (I was born in 1947), Tiger football was really good. Went to my first game at Crump Stadium in 1952, with my dad and uncle.

When Spook Murphy was coach, we were great. A couple All-Americans on the team, some NFL pros, competitive with the SEC, etc. Didn't really start downhill until the late 70s, iirc.

The author of this article is obviously much younger, and has no memory or knowledge of that era, or even why we didn't go to a bowl for so long.

And he needs an editor, lol.

Dang, you are old but still kicking which is good.

Haha, yeah, and I should have read your post before I made my last one, but hopefully, I will stick around a while longer.

(07-02-2019 10:13 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(07-02-2019 09:28 AM)cmt Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 08:36 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 12:48 PM)cmt Wrote:  Before West we did have some good seasons under Stobart and Bailey and even before them, but all in all, we were one of the very worst football programs in the history of the sport. Memphis, Rice and Temple were all three considered awful over the decades, losses, lack of bowl appearances, etc. I remember being ranked in the bottom ten football programs over time more than once.

These days, that seems to be behind us with several new teams in "D1" and the fact that we've been good for more a decade. I'm just glad those days are over and when the next round of expansion happens, I now feel like we are one of the very first to be added.

don't forget Baylor and Kansas State, and Northwestern.
Until Art Briles, and Bill Snyder....those two schools were perennial losers....as was Northwestern.

We were rarely the worst team, but we had never been great, ever, the Burley Bowl (1956) and Pasadena Bowl (1971) were our only claims to fame. We won the MVC in 1968, 69 and 71. The problem was almost every other team had won something at some point.

Baylor has been to 24 bowl games, way back tho the Orange bowl in 1951, Gator in 1956 and 1960, Sugar in 1956, Cotton in 1974 and 80, etc, etc, etc.

Kansas State didn't do anything until the 1990's

Northwestern won the Rose bowl in 1948 and lost there in 1995 and had a few other brief moments of glory.

Even Tulane had been to the Sugar and Rose Bowls in the 1930's and the Liberty Bowl in 1970 and 79 and had the 12-0 season with a Liberty Bowl win in 1998.

We hadn't accomplished very much and are still looking for an AAC championship game victory.

We had never been great, ever? We were for 4 years, at least, from 1960-63. We went 8-2, 8-2, 8-1 and 9-0-1.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/memphis/

In 1960, we had the 12th best record (8-2) out of 113 football schools. We were 2nd nationally in points per game (30.3), and 22nd in points allowed (8.5). Our only losses were to Ole Miss, who was great that year, and Miss State.

In 1961, our record (8-2) was 10th best out of 111. We were 3rd in the country in points scored per game (33.2), and 8th in defensive points allowed (7.5)

In 1962, our record (8-1) was 5th best out of 120 teams. We were 3rd in the country in offense, and 10th in defense.

In 1963, we had our best team ever (9-0-1). Second best record out of 120 teams. 27th in offense, 2nd in defense. Harry Schuh was a first team All American, and went on to play in the NFL for several years before injuries got him. IIRC, we had another All-American, and a couple others went on to the NFL.

And the capper, we finished 14th in the national poll that year. Our only blemish was a scoreless tie with Ole Miss, a game we should have won (I was there). Ole Miss was ranked #2 in the country at the time, and finished 3rd in the poll that year, IIRC.

Our only drawbacks were not being in a conference, thus not getting a bowl game each year (you had to be in a conference to make one, and there weren't many bowl games), and not having a great strength of schedule. But back then, there weren't that many great teams we could schedule.

At any rate, it's just not true that we were never great in football. It just happened so long ago that only really old Tiger fans remember it.

However you look at the last 100 years, we are not a terrible program any more and maybe this year we'll reach our mountain top...a conference championship and a good bowl win!

You do realize we have a conference title from 2014.

(07-02-2019 11:52 AM)AlonsoWDC Wrote:  You do realize we have a conference title from 2014.

co-champions with no championship game. Yes, I do.

It counts and no one disputes it.

(07-02-2019 04:39 PM)AlonsoWDC Wrote:  It counts and no one disputes it.

I don't dispute it either. Its just not the best thing to hang your hat on. We'll get one this year.

We tied for first in sauce this year at MIM BBQ along with 6 others, I think. Nothing to brag about.

We beat the other co-champions at their joint by like 35.

(07-02-2019 05:33 PM)AlonsoWDC Wrote:  We beat the other co-champions at their joint by like 35.

Had it not been for a fluke Hail Mary pass, we would've been tied with the co-champ that like you said, we beat by 35.

Tommy West took Ripp's recruits and won with them, Ripp recruited a tough OOC schedule, Tommy played
Cupcakes.
I best remember him for sitting DeAngelo against utk and costing us the game

(07-01-2019 09:56 PM)k2tigers Wrote:  What Norvell and STAFF are doing on the recruiting trail is nothing short of amazing....Penny has more toys to sell, Mike doesn't and he is killing it

Norvell is doing a great job recruiting, but he is not recruiting on Penny’s level by any means.

(07-02-2019 08:23 PM)uskjtc02 Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 09:56 PM)k2tigers Wrote:  What Norvell and STAFF are doing on the recruiting trail is nothing short of amazing....Penny has more toys to sell, Mike doesn't and he is killing it

Norvell is doing a great job recruiting, but he is not recruiting on Penny’s level by any means.

We have the top G5 class so far, and we have been top 3 for several years. The quality of our breadth and depth improves every year!

(07-01-2019 10:55 AM)BK#14 Wrote:  That's a damn good looking uniform!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep those are my kind of uniforms! The team looks like Memphis Tigers, and not kentucky wildcats.

Not sure how much Kentucky football you watch these days, but they wear a lot of gray.

(07-02-2019 09:03 PM)NDTiger Wrote:  

(07-02-2019 08:23 PM)uskjtc02 Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 09:56 PM)k2tigers Wrote:  What Norvell and STAFF are doing on the recruiting trail is nothing short of amazing....Penny has more toys to sell, Mike doesn't and he is killing it

Norvell is doing a great job recruiting, but he is not recruiting on Penny’s level by any means.

We have the top G5 class so far, and we have been top 3 for several years. The quality of our breadth and depth improves every year!

If Norvell ever recruits on Penny’s level while at Memphis, it will be the greatest feat in the history of college football. It’s not an apples to apples comparison. Going back to CUSA (2), Memphis wasn’t considered mid major by talking heads or polls even though the rest of the conference was. Fans and blogger/media types might take jabs, but when reading/viewing the majority of national media pieces be it, recruiting, coaches, player positions..., Tiger basketball has been and continues to be grouped in the major category (or at worst straddles the line). This hasn’t been the case with Tiger football. Not even BYU, who meets P5 scheduling requirements for some conferences, is treated as major in mass media. They are lumped into G5 categories when discussing, polls, recruiting, top players positions...

ETA: Basketball classifications are much more fluid and Memphis has been in the major category (can get back there if not currently in that category to some) whereas football is more rigid and solidified. It’s more so tied to conference affiliation. If CN is able to recruit at Pastner’s level (had #2 or 3 IIRC), it’d be a major feat.

(07-03-2019 08:25 AM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  

(07-02-2019 09:03 PM)NDTiger Wrote:  

(07-02-2019 08:23 PM)uskjtc02 Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 09:56 PM)k2tigers Wrote:  What Norvell and STAFF are doing on the recruiting trail is nothing short of amazing....Penny has more toys to sell, Mike doesn't and he is killing it

Norvell is doing a great job recruiting, but he is not recruiting on Penny’s level by any means.

We have the top G5 class so far, and we have been top 3 for several years. The quality of our breadth and depth improves every year!

If Norvell ever recruits on Penny’s level while at Memphis, it will be the greatest feat in the history of college football. It’s not an apples to apples comparison. Going back to CUSA (2), Memphis wasn’t considered mid major by talking heads or polls even though the rest of the conference was. Fans and blogger/media types might take jabs, but when reading/viewing the majority of national media pieces be it, recruiting, coaches, player positions..., Tiger basketball has been and continues to be grouped in the major category (or at worst straddles the line). This hasn’t been the case with Tiger football. Not even BYU, who meets P5 scheduling requirements for some conferences, is treated as major in mass media. They are lumped into G5 categories when discussing, polls, recruiting, top players positions...

ETA: Basketball classifications are much more fluid and Memphis has been in the major category (can get back there if not currently in that category to some) whereas football is more rigid and solidified. It’s more so tied to conference affiliation. If CN is able to recruit at Pastner’s level, it’d be a major feat.

Memphis has always been a high major program in basketball by any criteria reasonably used.

(07-02-2019 10:13 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(07-02-2019 09:28 AM)cmt Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 08:36 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 12:48 PM)cmt Wrote:  Before West we did have some good seasons under Stobart and Bailey and even before them, but all in all, we were one of the very worst football programs in the history of the sport. Memphis, Rice and Temple were all three considered awful over the decades, losses, lack of bowl appearances, etc. I remember being ranked in the bottom ten football programs over time more than once.

These days, that seems to be behind us with several new teams in "D1" and the fact that we've been good for more a decade. I'm just glad those days are over and when the next round of expansion happens, I now feel like we are one of the very first to be added.

don't forget Baylor and Kansas State, and Northwestern.
Until Art Briles, and Bill Snyder....those two schools were perennial losers....as was Northwestern.

We were rarely the worst team, but we had never been great, ever, the Burley Bowl (1956) and Pasadena Bowl (1971) were our only claims to fame. We won the MVC in 1968, 69 and 71. The problem was almost every other team had won something at some point.

Baylor has been to 24 bowl games, way back tho the Orange bowl in 1951, Gator in 1956 and 1960, Sugar in 1956, Cotton in 1974 and 80, etc, etc, etc.

Kansas State didn't do anything until the 1990's

Northwestern won the Rose bowl in 1948 and lost there in 1995 and had a few other brief moments of glory.

Even Tulane had been to the Sugar and Rose Bowls in the 1930's and the Liberty Bowl in 1970 and 79 and had the 12-0 season with a Liberty Bowl win in 1998.

We hadn't accomplished very much and are still looking for an AAC championship game victory.

We had never been great, ever? We were for 4 years, at least, from 1960-63. We went 8-2, 8-2, 8-1 and 9-0-1.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/memphis/

In 1960, we had the 12th best record (8-2) out of 113 football schools. We were 2nd nationally in points per game (30.3), and 22nd in points allowed (8.5). Our only losses were to Ole Miss, who was great that year, and Miss State.

In 1961, our record (8-2) was 10th best out of 111. We were 3rd in the country in points scored per game (33.2), and 8th in defensive points allowed (7.5)

In 1962, our record (8-1) was 5th best out of 120 teams. We were 3rd in the country in scoring offense, and 10th in scoring defense.

In 1963, we had our best team ever (9-0-1). Second best record out of 120 teams. 27th in scoring offense, 2nd in scoring defense. Harry Schuh was a first team All American, and went on to play in the NFL for several years before injuries got him. IIRC, we had another All-American, and a couple others went on to the NFL.

And the capper, we finished 14th in the national poll that year. Our only blemish was a scoreless tie with Ole Miss, a game we should have won (I was there). Ole Miss was ranked #2 in the country at the time, and finished 3rd in the poll that year, IIRC.

We also beat Miss State, who was 7-2-2 that year, a team that beat Tennessee, Auburn and LSU, and tied Ole Miss and Florida.

Our only drawbacks were not being in a conference, thus not getting a bowl game each year (you had to be in a conference to make one, and there weren't many bowl games), and not having a great strength of schedule. But back then, there weren't that many great teams we could schedule.

At any rate, it's just not true that we were never great in football. It just happened so long ago that only really old Tiger fans remember it.

What is the actual story about why Memphis was an Independent during those year?

(07-03-2019 10:29 AM)slktigers Wrote:  

(07-02-2019 10:13 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(07-02-2019 09:28 AM)cmt Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 08:36 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 12:48 PM)cmt Wrote:  Before West we did have some good seasons under Stobart and Bailey and even before them, but all in all, we were one of the very worst football programs in the history of the sport. Memphis, Rice and Temple were all three considered awful over the decades, losses, lack of bowl appearances, etc. I remember being ranked in the bottom ten football programs over time more than once.

These days, that seems to be behind us with several new teams in "D1" and the fact that we've been good for more a decade. I'm just glad those days are over and when the next round of expansion happens, I now feel like we are one of the very first to be added.

don't forget Baylor and Kansas State, and Northwestern.
Until Art Briles, and Bill Snyder....those two schools were perennial losers....as was Northwestern.

We were rarely the worst team, but we had never been great, ever, the Burley Bowl (1956) and Pasadena Bowl (1971) were our only claims to fame. We won the MVC in 1968, 69 and 71. The problem was almost every other team had won something at some point.

Baylor has been to 24 bowl games, way back tho the Orange bowl in 1951, Gator in 1956 and 1960, Sugar in 1956, Cotton in 1974 and 80, etc, etc, etc.

Kansas State didn't do anything until the 1990's

Northwestern won the Rose bowl in 1948 and lost there in 1995 and had a few other brief moments of glory.

Even Tulane had been to the Sugar and Rose Bowls in the 1930's and the Liberty Bowl in 1970 and 79 and had the 12-0 season with a Liberty Bowl win in 1998.

We hadn't accomplished very much and are still looking for an AAC championship game victory.

We had never been great, ever? We were for 4 years, at least, from 1960-63. We went 8-2, 8-2, 8-1 and 9-0-1.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/memphis/

In 1960, we had the 12th best record (8-2) out of 113 football schools. We were 2nd nationally in points per game (30.3), and 22nd in points allowed (8.5). Our only losses were to Ole Miss, who was great that year, and Miss State.

In 1961, our record (8-2) was 10th best out of 111. We were 3rd in the country in points scored per game (33.2), and 8th in defensive points allowed (7.5)

In 1962, our record (8-1) was 5th best out of 120 teams. We were 3rd in the country in scoring offense, and 10th in scoring defense.

In 1963, we had our best team ever (9-0-1). Second best record out of 120 teams. 27th in scoring offense, 2nd in scoring defense. Harry Schuh was a first team All American, and went on to play in the NFL for several years before injuries got him. IIRC, we had another All-American, and a couple others went on to the NFL.

And the capper, we finished 14th in the national poll that year. Our only blemish was a scoreless tie with Ole Miss, a game we should have won (I was there). Ole Miss was ranked #2 in the country at the time, and finished 3rd in the poll that year, IIRC.

We also beat Miss State, who was 7-2-2 that year, a team that beat Tennessee, Auburn and LSU, and tied Ole Miss and Florida.

Our only drawbacks were not being in a conference, thus not getting a bowl game each year (you had to be in a conference to make one, and there weren't many bowl games), and not having a great strength of schedule. But back then, there weren't that many great teams we could schedule.

At any rate, it's just not true that we were never great in football. It just happened so long ago that only really old Tiger fans remember it.

What is the actual story about why Memphis was an Independent during those year?

There were tons of independents until SC joined the SEC and FSU joined the ACC. It is not accurate that you had to be in a conference to get a bowl bid. That just isn't true at all.

(07-03-2019 12:43 PM)3601 Wrote:  

(07-03-2019 10:29 AM)slktigers Wrote:  

(07-02-2019 10:13 AM)TripleA Wrote:  

(07-02-2019 09:28 AM)cmt Wrote:  

(07-01-2019 08:36 PM)EarthBoundMisfit Wrote:  don't forget Baylor and Kansas State, and Northwestern.
Until Art Briles, and Bill Snyder....those two schools were perennial losers....as was Northwestern.

We were rarely the worst team, but we had never been great, ever, the Burley Bowl (1956) and Pasadena Bowl (1971) were our only claims to fame. We won the MVC in 1968, 69 and 71. The problem was almost every other team had won something at some point.

Baylor has been to 24 bowl games, way back tho the Orange bowl in 1951, Gator in 1956 and 1960, Sugar in 1956, Cotton in 1974 and 80, etc, etc, etc.

Kansas State didn't do anything until the 1990's

Northwestern won the Rose bowl in 1948 and lost there in 1995 and had a few other brief moments of glory.

Even Tulane had been to the Sugar and Rose Bowls in the 1930's and the Liberty Bowl in 1970 and 79 and had the 12-0 season with a Liberty Bowl win in 1998.

We hadn't accomplished very much and are still looking for an AAC championship game victory.

We had never been great, ever? We were for 4 years, at least, from 1960-63. We went 8-2, 8-2, 8-1 and 9-0-1.

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/memphis/

In 1960, we had the 12th best record (8-2) out of 113 football schools. We were 2nd nationally in points per game (30.3), and 22nd in points allowed (8.5). Our only losses were to Ole Miss, who was great that year, and Miss State.

In 1961, our record (8-2) was 10th best out of 111. We were 3rd in the country in points scored per game (33.2), and 8th in defensive points allowed (7.5)

In 1962, our record (8-1) was 5th best out of 120 teams. We were 3rd in the country in scoring offense, and 10th in scoring defense.

In 1963, we had our best team ever (9-0-1). Second best record out of 120 teams. 27th in scoring offense, 2nd in scoring defense. Harry Schuh was a first team All American, and went on to play in the NFL for several years before injuries got him. IIRC, we had another All-American, and a couple others went on to the NFL.

And the capper, we finished 14th in the national poll that year. Our only blemish was a scoreless tie with Ole Miss, a game we should have won (I was there). Ole Miss was ranked #2 in the country at the time, and finished 3rd in the poll that year, IIRC.

We also beat Miss State, who was 7-2-2 that year, a team that beat Tennessee, Auburn and LSU, and tied Ole Miss and Florida.

Our only drawbacks were not being in a conference, thus not getting a bowl game each year (you had to be in a conference to make one, and there weren't many bowl games), and not having a great strength of schedule. But back then, there weren't that many great teams we could schedule.

At any rate, it's just not true that we were never great in football. It just happened so long ago that only really old Tiger fans remember it.

What is the actual story about why Memphis was an Independent during those year?

There were tons of independents until SC joined the SEC and FSU joined the ACC. It is not accurate that you had to be in a conference to get a bowl bid. That just isn't true at all.

Right. It's just that weren't but 8 or 10 bowls back then.