University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Football Closes Spring At Friday Night Stripes
Apr 22, 2016 | Football
Tigers close spring practice in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
MEMPHIS – The beginning may not have gone as scripted, but like they have all spring, the Tiger football team improved and adapted to the challenge of the team's first trip to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium this spring.
"It was amazing tonight," Head Coach Mike Norvell said. "To see this community come and support us in these numbers, it was fantastic. That excitement from the crowd probably got the best of us offensively early. But it was a wonderful night."
The Tigers were a bit rattled in the early going, fumbling the opening snap and committing a number of false start penalties early that pushed the offense back up the field. But on the offense's seventh drive of the night, Riley Ferguson found Sam Craft for a 20-yard touchdown pass that gave the approximately 10,000 fans in the stands a hopeful glimpse at the fall possibilities for the Tigers. Memphis then added two more big scoring drives, one on a 36 yard rush from Doroland Dorceus and the second on a 46 yard touchdown pass from Brady Davis to Daniel Hurd. Jason Stewart then got in on the long pass action with a 72 yard touchdown pass on a two-drive series to Sam Craft.
In all, Memphis put 60 points up on the board.
The Tiger defense also had its moments as well, with Kam Prewitt grabbing a pair of interceptions and with Ernest Suttles recovering the fumbled snap to start the scrimmage.
"I liked the way our guys competed," Norvell said. "It was fun to see the guys come out and work tonight. I am really proud of how the guys went through these 15 practices. We're on track for where we want to go. We've still got some work to do this summer, and then we got some great battles and competition to look forward to in our fall practices."
Memphis will open fall camp in August in preparation for a 2016 season that includes seven home games, starting with a September 3rd opener against Southeast Missouri State.
"This is a special football team," Norvell said. "I told them that I don't know if I can remember when I've had more fun coaching a football team than I have the last five months.
We wanted a physical spring. We wanted to establish an identity for this team during the spring, and I thought the guys did a tremendous job by how they worked and how they prepared each day. We're excited about moving forward."
Season tickets for the 2016 season remain on sale, including the new chairback seating on both sides of the stadium. For information on football season tickets, please call 901-678-2331.
"It was amazing tonight," Head Coach Mike Norvell said. "To see this community come and support us in these numbers, it was fantastic. That excitement from the crowd probably got the best of us offensively early. But it was a wonderful night."
The Tigers were a bit rattled in the early going, fumbling the opening snap and committing a number of false start penalties early that pushed the offense back up the field. But on the offense's seventh drive of the night, Riley Ferguson found Sam Craft for a 20-yard touchdown pass that gave the approximately 10,000 fans in the stands a hopeful glimpse at the fall possibilities for the Tigers. Memphis then added two more big scoring drives, one on a 36 yard rush from Doroland Dorceus and the second on a 46 yard touchdown pass from Brady Davis to Daniel Hurd. Jason Stewart then got in on the long pass action with a 72 yard touchdown pass on a two-drive series to Sam Craft.
In all, Memphis put 60 points up on the board.
The Tiger defense also had its moments as well, with Kam Prewitt grabbing a pair of interceptions and with Ernest Suttles recovering the fumbled snap to start the scrimmage.
"I liked the way our guys competed," Norvell said. "It was fun to see the guys come out and work tonight. I am really proud of how the guys went through these 15 practices. We're on track for where we want to go. We've still got some work to do this summer, and then we got some great battles and competition to look forward to in our fall practices."
Memphis will open fall camp in August in preparation for a 2016 season that includes seven home games, starting with a September 3rd opener against Southeast Missouri State.
"This is a special football team," Norvell said. "I told them that I don't know if I can remember when I've had more fun coaching a football team than I have the last five months.
We wanted a physical spring. We wanted to establish an identity for this team during the spring, and I thought the guys did a tremendous job by how they worked and how they prepared each day. We're excited about moving forward."
Season tickets for the 2016 season remain on sale, including the new chairback seating on both sides of the stadium. For information on football season tickets, please call 901-678-2331.
Players Mentioned
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