It was not long ago that Memphis was a regular presence in ESPN’s bottom ten, but now the Tigers are the best team in their state and among the legitimate contenders for an Access Bowl slot. It would have been easy to quit during the dark days. Instead, the Tigers accepted their responsibility in the debacle and persevered.

(09-08-2019 07:44 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  It was not long ago that Memphis was a regular presence in ESPN’s bottom ten, but now the Tigers are the best team in their state and among the legitimate contenders for an Access Bowl slot. It would have been easy to quit during the dark days. Instead, the Tigers accepted their responsibility in the debacle and persevered.

Thanks to Tommy West fiery speech.

(09-08-2019 07:59 PM)Crazier Wrote:  

(09-08-2019 07:44 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  It was not long ago that Memphis was a regular presence in ESPN’s bottom ten, but now the Tigers are the best team in their state and among the legitimate contenders for an Access Bowl slot. It would have been easy to quit during the dark days. Instead, the Tigers accepted their responsibility in the debacle and persevered.

Thanks to Tommy West fiery speech.

Memphis literally decided it would become good in football. After Tommy West's fiery farewell speech about 'if you're not going to try then just shut it down' the school began an investment in football. Maybe just a coincidence or maybe it actually got people thinking.

Love seeing this Memphis swagger again.

Tommy West was a very solid head coach and is a very respectable assistant coach now at Middle Tennessee. The fiery speech he gave ... beautiful. We Tiger fans owe him for that. It helped in some manner, no doubt.

I don't think the West speech made any difference. The decision had already been made to pour money and support into football about 9 months to a year before West was fired. It was going forward regardless of what West said. In fact, firing West was one of the first steps in turning around our football program.

(09-08-2019 08:39 PM)TIGERCITY Wrote:  

(09-08-2019 07:59 PM)Crazier Wrote:  

(09-08-2019 07:44 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  It was not long ago that Memphis was a regular presence in ESPN’s bottom ten, but now the Tigers are the best team in their state and among the legitimate contenders for an Access Bowl slot. It would have been easy to quit during the dark days. Instead, the Tigers accepted their responsibility in the debacle and persevered.

Thanks to Tommy West fiery speech.

Memphis literally decided it would become good in football. After Tommy West's fiery farewell speech about 'if you're not going to try then just shut it down' the school began an investment in football. Maybe just a coincidence or maybe it actually got people thinking.

Temple went through the same thing. One vote away from shutting down the program entirely, now we're doing pretty well in the AAC after investing a ton of resources into the program. Hopefully we can figure out how to juggle both basketball and football...

West’s unprofessional speech, while embarrassing and dramatic, was not the primary catalyst bringing more commitment and success. The main drivers were the realization football drives the bus, a new AD, hiring the right coaches (Justin Fuente and Norvell) and a President understanding the importance of athletics.

(09-08-2019 08:48 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  Tommy West was a very solid head coach and is a very respectable assistant coach now at Middle Tennessee. The fiery speech he gave ... beautiful. We Tiger fans owe him for that. It helped in some manner, no doubt.

West’s press conference antics is one reason West remains an assistant. Who would hire someone biting the hand feeding a nearly million dollar check each year (quite high at the time)?

(09-08-2019 09:05 PM)Tiger1983 Wrote:  

(09-08-2019 08:48 PM)bill dazzle Wrote:  Tommy West was a very solid head coach and is a very respectable assistant coach now at Middle Tennessee. The fiery speech he gave ... beautiful. We Tiger fans owe him for that. It helped in some manner, no doubt.

West’s press conference antics is one reason West remains an assistant. Who would hire someone biting the hand feeding a nearly million dollar check each year (quite high at the time)?

You get fired from CUSA school then your career as a headcoach is over unless you drop to FCS. I don't think his speech had anything to do with him getting a headcoaching gig. He told the harsh truth and quite honestly if were investing in football earlier, we most likely would have been in the first round of the Big East expansion.

West and some of the coaches for him never had a chance. The following is a true story - back in the day I volunteered to coach some disabled kids in track and field. Once a week we would meet at a local high school - CBHS for those who live in or near Memphis. One of those days was after a big rain and Coach West and the Memphis football team showed up. They couldn't practice at the Memphis facility because the university field was littered with mud puddles. The high school had turf and a drainage system. So there was Coach West with his team trying to run practicie at a high school because the High School facilities were better --- and sharing the field with a bunch of kids and their volunteer coaches. I'm sure this wasn't his first experience. Now just think about recruiting. Never had a chance.

(09-08-2019 09:13 PM)TIGERCITY Wrote:  West and some of the coaches for him never had a chance. The following is a true story - back in the day I volunteered to coach some disabled kids in track and field. Once a week we would meet at a local high school - CBHS for those who live in or near Memphis. One of those days was after a big rain and Coach West and the Memphis football team showed up. They couldn't practice at the Memphis facility because the university field was littered with mud puddles. The high school had turf and a drainage system. So there was Coach West with his team trying to run practicie at a high school because the High School facilities were better --- and sharing the field with a bunch of kids and their volunteer coaches. I'm sure this wasn't his first experience. Now just think about recruiting. Never had a chance.

Exactly and that's terrible. He had to be a hell of a charismatic person to convince DeAngelo Williams to play for us instead of the SEC in those conditions.

(09-08-2019 08:52 PM)TripleA Wrote:  I don't think the West speech made any difference. The decision had already been made to pour money and support into football about 9 months to a year before West was fired. It was going forward regardless of what West said. In fact, firing West was one of the first steps in turning around our football program.

Correct.

The moves were being made behind the scenes, but even after firing West, we still had the idiocy to name Larry Porter HC.

(09-08-2019 10:25 PM)AlonsoWDC Wrote:  

(09-08-2019 08:52 PM)TripleA Wrote:  I don't think the West speech made any difference. The decision had already been made to pour money and support into football about 9 months to a year before West was fired. It was going forward regardless of what West said. In fact, firing West was one of the first steps in turning around our football program.

Correct.

The moves were being made behind the scenes, but even after firing West, we still had the idiocy to name Larry Porter HC.

West made the speech after he had been fired. Lol. Courage would have been making the speech a year after he was hired.

Our admin spent decades pissing money down a basketball rathole while being encouraged by every vol and reb alum that would make them feel special.

Our own folks are finally in charge, imo. Loyal alum donors and fans

(09-08-2019 10:25 PM)AlonsoWDC Wrote:  

(09-08-2019 08:52 PM)TripleA Wrote:  I don't think the West speech made any difference. The decision had already been made to pour money and support into football about 9 months to a year before West was fired. It was going forward regardless of what West said. In fact, firing West was one of the first steps in turning around our football program.

Correct.

The moves were being made behind the scenes, but even after firing West, we still had the idiocy to name Larry Porter HC.

That was RC Johnson's fault. Fred Smith was ready to hire the Redskins asst coach, and RC hired Larry without consulting Fred, even though he had asked Fred to assist him in the search.

RC became persona non grata with Fred from that point on.

(09-08-2019 11:33 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(09-08-2019 10:25 PM)AlonsoWDC Wrote:  

(09-08-2019 08:52 PM)TripleA Wrote:  I don't think the West speech made any difference. The decision had already been made to pour money and support into football about 9 months to a year before West was fired. It was going forward regardless of what West said. In fact, firing West was one of the first steps in turning around our football program.

Correct.

The moves were being made behind the scenes, but even after firing West, we still had the idiocy to name Larry Porter HC.

That was RC Johnson's fault. Fred Smith was ready to hire the Redskins asst coach, and RC hired Larry without consulting Fred, even though he had asked Fred to assist him in the search.

RC became persona non grata with Fred from that point on.

Interesting

His son had a damn good day yesterday as the Titans OC.

Taylor Lewan has a hilarious podcast called Bussin With the Boys. One episode is Arthur Smith. Really good and he talks about his dad a lot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(09-09-2019 06:25 AM)tnzazz Wrote:  

(09-08-2019 11:33 PM)TripleA Wrote:  

(09-08-2019 10:25 PM)AlonsoWDC Wrote:  

(09-08-2019 08:52 PM)TripleA Wrote:  I don't think the West speech made any difference. The decision had already been made to pour money and support into football about 9 months to a year before West was fired. It was going forward regardless of what West said. In fact, firing West was one of the first steps in turning around our football program.

Correct.

The moves were being made behind the scenes, but even after firing West, we still had the idiocy to name Larry Porter HC.

That was RC Johnson's fault. Fred Smith was ready to hire the Redskins asst coach, and RC hired Larry without consulting Fred, even though he had asked Fred to assist him in the search.

RC became persona non grata with Fred from that point on.

Interesting

His son had a damn good day yesterday as the Titans OC.

Taylor Lewan has a hilarious podcast called Bussin With the Boys. One episode is Arthur Smith. Really good and he talks about his dad a lot.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I don't remember Fred Smith's son Cannon Smith having one single good day with the Memphis Tigers. I don't remember one single good day of Tiger Football during the Larry Porter Era.

Rich kids get opportunities others more deserving don't.

That said, I sure wish the Big XII bought Fred Smith's offer to sponsor the BigXII Championship Game via FedEx.

(09-08-2019 08:43 PM)8BitPirate Wrote:  Love seeing this Memphis swagger again.

I really hope ECU can get theirs back. I remember those ECU teams of the 80s and 90s, you guys were tough.

Back to the OP.

wTf