May 2020 M Club Newsletter

M CLUB NEWSLETTER
MAY 15, 2020

RECEPIENTS OF ROANE AND CURLIN AWARDS NAMED
Each year, coaches are asked to nominate one of their student-athletes for the Zach Curlin and Elma Roane Awards that are presented annually to the top male and female student-athletes. These individuals must have excelled during athletic competition and in the classroom, while dedicating hours of service to the Memphis and Mid-South community. After extensive interviews held by a selection committee, the Zach Curlin and Elma Roane Awards are presented to the most outstanding male and female student-athlete. The recipients of the 2019-20 awards are Tiger running back, Patrick Taylor, Jr. and Memphis women's soccer all-American Stasia Mallin.

Taylor graduated Cum Laude with a 3.27 GPA in Business. He was a four-year letterman who helped his Tiger teams to a combined record of 38-16 since 2016. During his career, the Texas native tallied 536 rushes for 2,884 yards and 36 touchdowns and four post-season bowl games, including the 2019 Goodyear Cotton Bowl. His 36 touchdowns ties for the second most in school history, while his 2,884 yards rushing rank third among all Memphis backs and his 536 rushes rank fourth, as does his 5.4 yards per carry. Despite countless hours spent in the classroom and on the practice field, Taylor was active in the Memphis community volunteering his time to For The Kingdom Retreat and St. Dominci as a reading volunteer and at LeBonheur Children's Hospital, the Target House and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Mallin graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Engineering and minors in Chemistry and French. She served as team captain for three years, 2018-20. Mallon was a semifinalist for the Hermann Trophy in 2019 and was named to the United Soccer Coaches All-America team. She was a 1^st team All-South Region pick, as well as being selected to the All AAC first team and the Defensive Player of the Week award winner three times. Mallin ranks 1^st in single season assists with 14 and 3^rd in career assists with 29. She holds the American Athletic Conference record for career assists with 29. In addition to the time spent in the classroom and on the pitch, Mallin volunteered at the Target House and at FedExHouse for four years, as well as serving as a healthcare volunteer in San Jose, Costa Rica, for four years.

COVID-19 BRINGS CHANGES TO TIGERS' FALL PLANS; ALL-SPORT REUNION WEEKEND SCHEDULED; GOLF EVENT CANCELED
The University of Memphis 2019-20 schedule of winter and spring athletic events were moving at a normal pace with both men's and women's basketball squads achieving successes on the court, while Tiger spring sports teams were beginning training for spring competition.

Then it all came to a sudden and unsuspected stop.

The worldwide pandemic brought all athletic competition to a halt and closed college and university doors across the nation for the unforeseen future.

The 2020 Memphis Tiger football schedule calls for a September 5 home opener against Arkansas State University at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The contest will also serve as the annual M Letterman's Club All-Sports Reunion weekend anchor event. In past years, as a lead-in to the opening football contest of the season, the M Club has held its annual Tiger Kickoff Classic Golf Tournament on a Friday morning, followed by a reception at the University of Memphis/Penny Hardaway Hall of Fame that evening.

Due to the effects of the coronavirus and the issues that the pandemic has caused across the nation, the M Club Board of Directors has decided to forgo the golf tournament for 2020 but will move forward with plans for the Friday night reception and pregame plans for the first home football game.

More detailed information will be made available as plans for the 2020-21 academic year become clearer.

M CLUB TICKET RENEWAL AND MEMBERSHIP FOR 2020-21
As we draw nearer to the conclusion of the 2019-20 academic year, our plans and preparations have already turned to next season and overcoming the effects of the COVID-19 virus on our daily lives.

In an effort to begin this process, the athletic ticket office and the Tiger Scholarship Fund have already sent out information pertaining to the renewal of season tickets and parking passes, and the donation levels and deadlines for renewals. Please be mindful that if you are planning to renew your football tickets, football parking passes and/or your Tiger basketball tickets, you will also need to renew your M Club membership. If your current M Club membership card indicates an expiration date of 6/30/2020, you will need to renew your membership in order to purchase season tickets and Pink Lot parking.

With the athletic offices closed until further notice, we are all working from our homes. Please feel free to call M Club Executive Director Bob Winn at 901-734-9947 (cell) or leave a message at 901-678-4878 (office) between 8 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday, and we can have your membership renewed in a matter of minutes. If you are interested in obtaining Pink Lot 5 parking passes for Tiger football games, you will have to have football season tickets in your name. Pink Lot parking passes are $175 each and you may purchase up to four per membership. We certainly appreciate the growth and participation in membership over the past six years and look forward to your continued involvement with Tiger athletics.

M CLUB HALL OF FAME BALLOTS EXPECTED JUNE 1
The membership of the M Letterman's Club should receive the 2020-21 Hall of Fame ballot in early June. The M Club Board of Directors is currently reviewing candidates to replace last year's inductees which included John Allen (FTB), Tory Epps (FTB), Earl Barron (BKB), Adam Amar (BBL) and Lizzy Simonin (WSOC). The voting members are asked to review this year's ballot and cast their vote by Monday, August 31. A date for the annual M Club Hall of Fame Banquet will be determined when the University has been able to determine its basketball schedule for the 2020-21 academic year.

TRIO OF TIGERS NAMED TO NFF HAMPSHIRE HONOR SOCIETY
A trio of University of Memphis football players was recently named to the 2020 National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society. In its 14^th season, the honor society is made up of college football players from all divisions who maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better throughout their college careers. Austin Hall, Patrick Taylor and Dustin Woodard are the Memphis honorees on the 2020 list. This marks the third time in program history that Memphis has had three honorees in the same season. Hall, Taylor and Woodard become the 20^th, 21^st and 22^nd honorees in the Hampshire Society from the UofM. Hall started 54 games over his four year career and registered 279 tackles, seven fumble recoveries and five pass interceptions. Patrick Taylor, a free agent signee with the Green Bay Packers, finished his Memphis career with 36 rushing touchdowns, ranking him second all-time and 2,884 yards rushing which places him third all-time. Woodard played in 54 career contests, tying him for the most career starts by a lineman. Woodard was drafted by the New England Patriots.

PHASE 2 OF FOOTBALL COMPLEX EXPANSION NEARS COMPLETION
The first phase of the Tigers football practice facility expansion is complete, and head coach Ryan Silverfield and his staff has settled into their spacious offices at the University's Park Avenue Campus.

Phase 1 of the project included new office areas for the football coaching staff, as well as a modern training and rehabilitation area for the football athletes. The new athletic training area for football meant the old area could be updated and dedicated to treatment of student-athletes from our Olympic sports teams.

The new football training room features in-ground hot and cold plunge pools, which will hold numerous athletes simultaneously. In addition, the expansion includes a food catering prep area, dining areas for football and an observation deck for both the indoor and outdoor fields. The second phase of the project, the indoor facility, was started before the completion of the office areas and is expected to be finished by June. The steel super-structure was completed in March and rises high above the playing surface of Field 1. The roof and sidewall panels have all been hung, and barring any unexpected issues, and the turf has recently been completed. The facility will be available for the 2020 Tigers by the start of fall camp; we hope.

DEPARTED TIGERS
Since our last newsletter went out, the University of Memphis has lost several individuals who played important roles for the Tigers athletic program over the years. Our departed friends are listed below. The M Club offers its deepest condolences to the families and friends of these individuals.

DENNIS BRADSHAW, a native of Burlington North Carolina, grew up in Rossville, Georgia and was a standout quarterback at Rossville High School. He was named to the 1976 Georgia All-State team and was All North Georgia in 1977. Bradshaw signed a football scholarship with Tiger head coach Richard Williamson in 1977 and was redshirted during his first season of college football. An injury in preseason camp caused the option quarterback to miss the 1978 season while recovering. He made his first appearance as a Tiger in the Florida State game in Tallahassee, Florida and completed 11 of 24 pass attempts for 141 yards and two touchdowns. His first career touchdown pass was to tight end Ken Dunek and covered 51 yards.

Starting the final game of the '79 season against Cincinnati, Bradshaw helped lead the Tigers to a 23-17 victory. He did not return for his senior season of eligibility, instead beginning a long career in the airline industry. Bradshaw left Memphis and relocated to Detroit, Michigan where he continued his career with Northwest and Delta Airlines.

Bradshaw passed away on April 18, 2020 at the age of 62.

BILL BRUNDZO, a native of Ashland, Pennsylvania, signed with Billy J. Murphy's Tiger football team in 1964, after a record-setting career in football, basketball and track at Neshaminy High School.

After participating in NCAA-mandated freshman football in 1964, Brundzo moved into the Tigers' defensive secondary in 1965 and set a Tiger record for the most pass interceptions in a season with six. Brundzo would add five additional interceptions during his junior season, which he returned for 99 yards. He tallied 50 tackles in 1966, which led all defensive backs. Brundzo, playing in a secondary that led the nation in pass interceptions in 1967, would total 30 tackles and add one interception. He completed his career with a school record 12 pass interceptions.

Following graduation, Brundzo returned to his home in Pennsylvania and began his long career with Calkins Media. He remained there until his retirement in 2010. Brundzo was named to the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2014.

He passed away on March 29 at the age of 73.

BILL DOWDLE, a native of Memphis, Tennessee and a graduate of White Station High School, came to then-Memphis State University in the fall of 1963. A standout football and baseball player in high school, Dowdle spent his freshman season working as a utility infielder for Coach Al Brown's Tiger squad. He batted .222 during his first season, appearing in eight games and helping the Tigers to a 17-6 record.

The 1964 marked the emergence of Dowdle as a power-hitting first baseman. He batted .307 on the season collecting five doubles, one triple, six home runs and 30 RBI. During the Tigers' game against McKendree University, Dowdle set Memphis State records for most home runs in a game with three and most runs driven in with nine. His RBI record stood for 56 years before being broken this spring by Hunter Goodman's 11. Dowdle moved to catcher for his junior and senior season. During his four seasons with the Tigers, the team produced an overall record of 77-28-3. Dowdle passed away on May 14 at the age of 75.

TOMMY ELRED, a native of Memphis, Tenn., graduated from Whitehaven High School in 1963 having lettered in football, basketball, baseball and track each year, and along with his brother Darrell, signed with head coach Billy J. Murphy at Memphis State University. After spending his first season with the Tiger freshman squad, Elred moved into the offensive backfield in 1964 as a tailback and earned his first letter. He rushed three times for 14 yards and had one pass reception for 16 yards while working with the second team. In 1965 Elred rushed 22 times for 142 yards and one touchdown. As a special teams member, he returned six kickoffs for 117 yards and led the team in punt return yardage with 149, including a long return of 38 yards. Following graduation from MSU with a BBA degree, Elred worked for Delta Refinery before beginning a 25-year career with FedEx.

He passed away on April 4, 2020, after battling the Covid 19 virus. He was 76 years old.

JIMMIE "JIM"MITCHELL, a former Memphis State University Tiger basketball player, passed away at his home on March 30, 2020.

After graduating from high school, Mitchell played basketball at the University of Miami from 1956-58. Mitchell transferred to Memphis State in the fall of 1958 and played for the Tigers under head coach Bob Vanatta. Mitchell appeared in five games, scoring six points and grabbing five defensive rebounds.

Following graduation, Mitchell began a 33-year career with John Deere as an Area Merchandising Representative.

He passed away in his home in Memphis on March 30, at the age of 83.

TOM NIX, the legendary head football coach and athletic director at Christian Brothers High School in Memphis, passed away at his home on April 21. Nix was 93 years old.

An outstanding offensive and defensive lineman for Memphis State College under former head coach Ralph Hatley, Nix helped lead the Tigers to their first victory over a major opponent, Kansas State University in 1949.

Nix became the head football coach at Whitehaven High School in 1953. After three seasons with the Whitehaven Tigers, Nix became the head football coach at CBHS in 1956, a position he held until 1984. During his career at CBHS, Nix won 19 city, county, district and regional championships and added the 1977 Tennessee AAA State Championship to his resume. His career record at CBHS was 241-74-7.

In 1996, the high school named its football stadium for Nix. He was inducted into the University of Memphis M Club Hall of Fame in 1977, the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame in 1992, the Holmes Community College Hall of Fame in 1993 and received the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame "Rex" Award in 1980.

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