Scottie carrying on his father's legacy on Tigers' offensive line.
By: Lamar Chance
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*NOTE: This feature story on Scottie and Scott Dill first appeared in the Sept. 17 Memphis Tigers Football GameDay program (Memphis State Throwback Game).
Home is where you make it. For former Tigers football standout Scott Dill and his family that includes his son, Scottie, that is the case.
"Coming from Birmingham, I never thought I wouldn't move back there," said Scott. "Memphis is home for me. My wife, Michelle, also attended Memphis State. I've made a lot of friends around the city."
But, his connection to the Bluff City and then-Memphis State came a year before he even enrolled at the University.
"The starting point was two of my high school teammates – Kurt Crain and Clay Bittner – that were a year ahead of me came to Memphis State," Scott said. "With them coming here, I learned more about the school and the city. Then, I came on recruiting trips. Rex Dockery was the coach at the time. I liked him and the staff, and the program was strong. I also enjoyed Rendezvous."
Scott Dill, who played for the Tigers in the 1980s
Unfortunately, Scott did not play for Dockery as he passed away in a tragic plane crash before the 1984 season. Scott suited up for Memphis State from 1984-87 which was a period of change for the program.
"Coach Dockery had passed away tragically, and Ray Dempsey was hired," said Scott. "My freshman year, we started strong with a talented team, but faded at the end.
"My second year was tough, but after that season, Charlie Bailey was hired. He and his staff got the program going back in the right direction. My senior year was when we beat Alabama here and also beat Ole Miss."
Following his Memphis State career, Scott was an NFL ninth-round draft pick by the Phoenix Cardinals in 1988. He played a decade in the NFL with Phoenix, Tampa Bay and Minnesota, before retiring after the 1997 season. Although he moved around the country during his NFL career, Scott always returned to Memphis.
"I played professional football, but always had a home here," said Scott. "I retired from pro football after the 1997 season, and we returned back to Memphis and have been here ever since."
Part of that "we" that returned to Memphis was Scottie, who was born in Minnesota. However, much of what Scottie was raised on was Memphis and in particular, the Tigers.
"I was always going to Tigers games – football, basketball and baseball," Scottie said. "It's was all Memphis for me growing up."
Scott agreed, "When Scottie was growing up, we attended a lot of football and baseball games. He started liking Memphis from going to the games, and the Tigers became his team.
"He enjoyed going to baseball games on Park Avenue campus. He could see the workout facilities and the practice fields. I'm sure that had some impact on him."
Indeed, it did as Scottie now plays for Memphis. The 6-foot-7, 285-pound offensive lineman is a redshirt freshman and saw his first collegiate action in the Sept. 3 season opener. With Scottie wearing the Blue and Gray, it's a source of pride for the family.
"It's funny and exciting to watch my wife get into the games with Scottie playing," said Scott, who flies for FedEx. "She got a little teary-eyed during the Tiger Walk at the last home game. It's cool to see him on the field now."
While he's wearing the Tigers uniform now, Scottie did go through the recruiting process. But, in the end, it was Memphis.
"I've always been a big Memphis fan," said Scottie. "During my recruitment, I talked with and visited other schools, but Memphis was my choice."
And Scottie's recruitment reconnected his father to the University's campus.
"It was interesting when my son was being recruited by Memphis," Scott said. "Those were my first trips back to campus in some time. It's nice to see the University moving in the right direction with the upgrades around campus."
Now, playing with the Tigers, Dill is looking to perform at his best – as his father did nearly 30 seasons ago.
"It's pretty awesome (to play at Memphis as my father did)," said Scottie. "I have a lot to live up to because he's in the Hall of Fame here (1999 M Club Hall of Fame inductee). I'm so proud to be wearing the Memphis jersey like my father did."
