(06-22-2022 11:12 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 09:43 PM)Browning Hall Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 08:20 PM)Hernando Hills Tiger Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 11:02 AM)Herff Tiger Wrote:  I figure there's a 99.99_9% chance that is correct.

Also, Memphis was probably the only town with a state supported college that had an existing municipal football stadium. I'm sure Crump was looked at as a budget friendly alternative, at least, and likely as a much better stadium than what an OCS would have been at the time. (I don't remember the history, i.e., whether the Tigers played on a previous municipal field prior to Crump or at the old practice field.)

I recall there was talk of the city expanding Crump as opposed to building Memphis Memorial Stadium. There were several sec games that did not include Memphis State that were played at Crump.

There was. They scrapped the plan to expand Crump and built Memorial Stadium instead.

The "they" of course were the city movers & shakers. Our university has NEVER been the focus of a stadium initiative in the city of Memphis, but it has ALWAYS been a necessary component to bring financial viability to the projects. And, unfortunately, our university has always been all too willing to play its assigned role. In the current situation, the die was cast the moment the city unilaterally signed a contract with Simmons. From that moment, the city was never going to seriously consider or support an OCS for our university. And, as usual, our university took its place as the financial means for the city to have its stadium renovated & of course to also become the guaranteed tenant to pay the way.

And BTW, I do not share the idea that a B-12 invite will serve to increase giving to our athletics programs, at least not outside of increased attendance. An OCS would have substantially increased giving apart from tickets - every study has confirmed that getting alumni back on campus 6+ times a year increases alumni giving, not renting a municipal facility off-campus.