Tommy West fired as Memphis Tigers football coach " The Commercial Appeal

Not that this wasn't already in the works. But 2009 has been a bit of a dark year for Memphis Athletics, no?

Comments

Hmmmm

The in-season firing strikes me as an odd move for Memphis. They’re not going to get any sort of real jump-start on the process I’d think, because any of the real candidates worth having are going to wait and see what happens at Louisville, Virginia, Illinois, Colorado, etc. and Memphis will have to pick from what’s left over. Unless there’s some mid-level candidate out there they think is perfect for them, which is hard to see.

Here’s hoping Tommy West has more success down the road.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will on Nov 9, 2009 12:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think it's the financial situation.

That athletic department is leaking money badly right now. Get the firing out of the way and you might be able to convince boosters to help out with the transition.

Anything to get more than 4,000 people into the stadium. The other fear is that if they can’t keep attendance up, they could eventually fall prey to the minimum attendance rule for 1-A status. (15,000 per game average. One year below that gets you probationary status. Two gets you relegation, IIRC. For a while, Wyoming was in danger of that.)

by Hooper on Nov 9, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

...uh oh

Linked from Clay Travis’ Twitter - Memphis wants Trooper Taylor.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will on Nov 9, 2009 12:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Auburn has far more reason to worry than we do.

Trooper would be a great fit in terms of homecrowd excitement, for sure, but that’s a serious rebuild project.

by Hooper on Nov 9, 2009 1:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I want Trooper to have great success, and I think he will

I just don’t want him to see him on the other sideline, no matter who it’s with. Memphis’ chances of winning go up with him there, and they’re still living off of beating us once. I’d hate to lose to them again with Trooper on the sideline, as unlikely as the whole scenario is.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will on Nov 9, 2009 1:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Other names being thrown out there

by Dennis Dodd include Terry Bowden, and ex-Southern Miss coach Jeff Bower.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will on Nov 9, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Kiff'd?

"I can't hear you, Rocky Top is playing."

by Getoffmyvols on Nov 9, 2009 12:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No kidding.

Someone put TOM III on suicide watch. Should Volunteer fans take offense to Memphis firing West after losing to the Vols?

by ChattVol on Nov 9, 2009 12:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Kiff'd x2

David Elson at Western Kentucky is also gone. And I agree with most of what Spencer says about it.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will on Nov 9, 2009 12:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Whoever takes over WKU is going to have a lot of young talent to work with.

2011 should be a great year for them with all of the upperclassmen they’ll have.

by Hooper on Nov 9, 2009 12:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

But yeah,

based on public knowledge, the Elson firing came way too early.

by Hooper on Nov 9, 2009 12:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tubervill'd?

by Hooper on Nov 9, 2009 12:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Should've known this was going to happen:

In his farewell press conference, West of course brings up the 1996 Memphis win over Tennessee. No program or fanbase has gotten more mileage out of one win in the history of college football…pretty much says everything you need to know about THS Football.

Rocky Top Talk

by Will on Nov 9, 2009 3:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs