University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Joe Murphy
Tigers Football Bowling At The Liberty Bowl This Holiday Season
Dec 03, 2017 | Football
Memphis faces Iowa State December 30
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Sing it, Tigers fans. "There's no place like home for the holidays."
On Sunday afternoon, the University of Memphis football team learned it's staying in the Bluff City for the holidays to play in the 2017 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. It is the Tigers' first appearance in the 59th annual postseason classic that is set for Saturday, Dec. 30 at 11:30 a.m. (CT). ABC is televising the game.
The Tigers' foe in the Liberty Bowl is Iowa State, and Memphis has never previously played the Cyclones.
"We're extremely excited about the opportunity to play in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl," Head Coach Mike Norvell said. "This is the first time we get to play in our hometown bowl game and we will get to face a Big 12 opponent in another national showcase game. There's a lot of excitement in the progress and direction we are going, and to get this one last time to see this team in the Liberty Bowl, with this group of seniors, is going to be special."
This year's Liberty Bowl is a school-record, fourth-straight postseason appearance for the Tigers. Memphis began this current bowl streak with the 2014 Miami Beach Bowl and followed with the 2015 Birmingham Bowl and the 2016 Boca Raton Bowl. In 10 bowl appearances, the Tigers are 5-5.
The Liberty Bowl is only the third post-Christmas bowl in Memphis football history. The Tigers' previous post-Christmas bowls were the 2005 Motor City Bowl (Dec. 26, 2005) and 2015 Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 30, 2015).
Although Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is the Tigers' home during the regular season, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl game determines the home and visiting teams and the location of the participating institutions' tickets. The Tigers will be allocated tickets in sections 117-123 which will be priced at $85 each.
"This is a watershed day for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and the entire Memphis community," AutoZone Liberty Bowl Executive Director Steve Ehrhart said. "As the hometown bowl game, we are proud to host our hometown University of Memphis Tigers for the first time in our 59-year history. Congratulations to Coach Mike Norvell and the Tigers on a great season. We invite all Tigers fans and alumni to join the Tigers in celebrating their season and the wonderful accomplishments of this year's team at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl."
Fans are strongly encouraged to buy tickets directly from the Tigers Athletic Ticket Office, as all purchases made through the UofM go towards the minimum ticket requirements of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Tickets may be purchased online at GoTigersGoTix.com or via phone at 901-678-2331. Tickets may also be reserved in person at the Tigers Athletic Ticket Office located at 570 Normal Street in the Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway Hall of Fame. All tickets will be allocated based on Tiger Scholarship Fund (TSF) donation level and priority points.
The match-up with Iowa State marks the third-straight season Memphis plays a Big 12 Conference opponent. In 2015 and 2016, the Tigers played a home-and-home series with the Kansas Jayhawks and won both contests.
In its history, Memphis has a 3-3 all-time record against current members of the Big 12 Conference. In addition to Kansas, the Tigers have played Kansas State (1-2 record) and TCU (0-1). Memphis and TCU played in 2002 when both were members of Conference USA.
On Sunday afternoon, the University of Memphis football team learned it's staying in the Bluff City for the holidays to play in the 2017 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. It is the Tigers' first appearance in the 59th annual postseason classic that is set for Saturday, Dec. 30 at 11:30 a.m. (CT). ABC is televising the game.
The Tigers' foe in the Liberty Bowl is Iowa State, and Memphis has never previously played the Cyclones.
"We're extremely excited about the opportunity to play in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl," Head Coach Mike Norvell said. "This is the first time we get to play in our hometown bowl game and we will get to face a Big 12 opponent in another national showcase game. There's a lot of excitement in the progress and direction we are going, and to get this one last time to see this team in the Liberty Bowl, with this group of seniors, is going to be special."
This year's Liberty Bowl is a school-record, fourth-straight postseason appearance for the Tigers. Memphis began this current bowl streak with the 2014 Miami Beach Bowl and followed with the 2015 Birmingham Bowl and the 2016 Boca Raton Bowl. In 10 bowl appearances, the Tigers are 5-5.
The Liberty Bowl is only the third post-Christmas bowl in Memphis football history. The Tigers' previous post-Christmas bowls were the 2005 Motor City Bowl (Dec. 26, 2005) and 2015 Birmingham Bowl (Dec. 30, 2015).
Although Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is the Tigers' home during the regular season, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl game determines the home and visiting teams and the location of the participating institutions' tickets. The Tigers will be allocated tickets in sections 117-123 which will be priced at $85 each.
"This is a watershed day for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and the entire Memphis community," AutoZone Liberty Bowl Executive Director Steve Ehrhart said. "As the hometown bowl game, we are proud to host our hometown University of Memphis Tigers for the first time in our 59-year history. Congratulations to Coach Mike Norvell and the Tigers on a great season. We invite all Tigers fans and alumni to join the Tigers in celebrating their season and the wonderful accomplishments of this year's team at the AutoZone Liberty Bowl."
Fans are strongly encouraged to buy tickets directly from the Tigers Athletic Ticket Office, as all purchases made through the UofM go towards the minimum ticket requirements of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Tickets may be purchased online at GoTigersGoTix.com or via phone at 901-678-2331. Tickets may also be reserved in person at the Tigers Athletic Ticket Office located at 570 Normal Street in the Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway Hall of Fame. All tickets will be allocated based on Tiger Scholarship Fund (TSF) donation level and priority points.
Fans that have already reserved AutoZone Liberty Bowl tickets via their online account do not need to reorder their tickets, as those tickets are already in their account.
"I know Tiger Nation loves this football team and now our fans have one last chance to support their Tigers," Athletics Director Tom Bowen said. "We look forward to being back in the Liberty Bowl and to offering this class of Tigers one last chance to play in front of what we expect to be a great Memphis crowd. We ask our fans to support the program by purchasing tickets through our ticket office to help us maximize this experience for our student-athletes."The match-up with Iowa State marks the third-straight season Memphis plays a Big 12 Conference opponent. In 2015 and 2016, the Tigers played a home-and-home series with the Kansas Jayhawks and won both contests.
In its history, Memphis has a 3-3 all-time record against current members of the Big 12 Conference. In addition to Kansas, the Tigers have played Kansas State (1-2 record) and TCU (0-1). Memphis and TCU played in 2002 when both were members of Conference USA.
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