Category: Sports Feature

Tommy West appreciates Rip Scherer hiring him in 2000 as defensive coordinator. So, he is careful not to say anything about the former coach that could be construed as negative. But read between the lines and a picture begins to form of just where West thinks the Tiger football program got off track.

“This is phase one of our putting our stamp on this football program and I really don’t think it could have gone a whole lot better than it did,” West said as he announced his 2001 recruiting class which includes 20 players. “I don’t think there is any doubt that we have brought a different temperament or a different attitude to some positions on our football team.”

West wants a tough football team and towards that goal he signed nine lineman, including two jucos and Albert Means, a former Parade All-American who transferred to his hometown university after his high school coach was accused of taking $200,000 from an Alabama booster. (The U of M has appealed to the NCAA to waive the transfer rule that calls for a player to sit out a year after moving to a school.)

“I really thought we would have to go a little more into junior college recruiting in our lines, but we ended up with two out of nine lineman coming from junior colleges,” West said. Six of the linemen come from high schools.

West wanted to get a better balance on his team. The Tiger squad he inherited had 11 scholarships taken up by wide receivers while only 10 lineman were on scholarship.

“I think we got a little bit closer to being back in line from a numbers standpoint,” the coach said.

He also laid out a challenge to his current players.

“We’ve oversigned. If there are a few academic casualties in this class, then we’re prepared for that,” West said. “If you are on this team right now, then I would be at every workout, I would be at every class, and I would be at every study hall. We are trying to create as much competition as we can at every position.”

The recruiting class is being heralded as the best at the U of M in close to 20 years. “If you would have put this class on the board on December 1st, I wouldn’t have believed that it ever could happen that way,” said West, who took special pride in signing nine players from the Memphis metro area, where the Tigers had little success in recent years. “I think what we did locally is a statement.”

Scherer made a habit of redshirting almost all of his high school recruits. Don’t expect the same from West.

“I will give every member of this class an opportunity to play next year,” he said. “If they can play on special teams, if they can help us in anyway, then they are going to get a chance to play next year.

“Redshirting has almost become a thing of the past. The NFL has helped see to that,” the former Clemson head coach continued. “The days of taking six or seven years to build a program have also become a thing of the past. So if they can help our team in any way then they will play for us next year. And I expect a majority of this class will contribute next year.”

He sounded like a coach who had learned some lessons the hard way.

2001 MEMPHIS FOOTBALL SIGNEES

Eric Anderson, 6-2, 285, Offensive Line, Middle Georgia College, Marietta, GA Lettered as an offensive center at Middle Georgia College … Helped his team to a 10-2 record and a fifth place national ranking in 2000 … Was named to the 1999 All-Region XVII Team … Played for coach Randy Pippen at Middle Georgia College.

Greg Billingslea, 6-3, 245, Defensive Line, Tucker HS, Tucker, GA Lettered as a fullback and defensive lineman at Tucker High School … Spent his time on offense blocking for tailback Jabari Davis … Helped Tucker HS to a record of 10-3 … Is projected as an defensive lineman at Memphis … Played defensive end in high school before dropping weight to play fullback … Played for coach Phil Lindsey at Tucker HS.

Dante Brown, 6-2, 220, Running Back, Middle Georgia College, Swainsboro, GA Lettered as an tailback for two years at Middle Georgia College … Helped his team to a 10-1 record and a fifth place national ranking in 2000 … Led MGC to a bowl appearance in Brunswick (Ga) in 2000 … Rushed for nearly 900 yards and 14 touchdowns during 2000 season at MGC … Had 208 yards and scored three touchdowns on just 11 rushing attempts during his freshman season at Middle Georgia … Had touchdown runs of five, 42 and 46 yards in that game … Scored four rushing touchdowns against Wingate College in 1999 … Had runs of one, three, seven and 79 yards in that game … Was named to the All-Region XVII Team in 1999 … Signed with Tommy West at Clemson out of high school but attended junior college … Was a first team USA Today All-American at Swainsboro High School … Rushed for 1,842 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior in high school … Had 317 yards and scored four touchdowns against Johnson County in 1997 …Had four kickoff returns for touchdowns as a senior in high school … Rushed for over 1,300 yards and scored ten touchdowns as a junior in high school … Ran track in high school and has posted a time of 10.9 in the 100 meters … Recruited by Clemson, Auburn, Georgia, Ole Miss and South Carolina in high school … Played for coach Randy Pippen at Middle Georgia College.

Shakorr Bryant, 6-3, 265, Defensive Line, Middle Georgia College, Powder Springs, GA Lettered as an defensive end at Middle Georgia College … Helped his team to a 10-2 record and a fifth place national ranking in 2000 … Was named to the All-Region XVII Team in 1999 … Attended McEachern High School in Powder Springs … Played for coach Randy Pippen at Middle Georgia College.

Dierre Carter, 6-3, 245, Defensive Line, Melrose HS, Memphis, TN Lettered as an offensive and defensive lineman for the Melrose High School … Was named to Student Sports Magazine’s 2000 All-America Team … Rated by SuperPrep Magazine as the #17 prospect in Tennessee … Was named to the 2000 Prep Star Magazine All-Southeast Region team … A Commercial Appeal Best of the Preps Football Finalist in 2000 … Named to the Associated Press 4A All-State team in 2000 … Was named to Hi-Tech Tennessee’s Top Prospect List for 2000 … One of the most highly sought after recruits in the Memphis area … Chose Memphis over LSU, Georgia and Ole Miss … Credited with 110 solo tackles and 40 assists as a junior … Had 20 quarterback sacks and 22 tackles for lost yardage during the 1999 season … Also lettered as a member of the Melrose track team … Played for coach Tim Thompson at Melrose High.

James Corder, 6-7, 305, Offensive Line, Christ Presbyterian Acad., Nashville, TN Lettered as an offensive and defensive lineman at Christ Presbyterian Academy in Nashville, TN … Led his team to a 15-0 record in 2000 and the Tennessee Class 1A state title … Received second team all-state honors for all classifications and was named to the first team all-region team … Was named to Bill Buchalter’s Dandy Dozen Offensive Linemen for 2000 … Was named to Hi-Tech Tennessee’s Top Prospect List … Rated as number two lineman in state of Tennessee by Hi-Tech Tennessee … Played for coach David Pack at Christ Presbyterian Academy.

Cameron Essex, 5-11, 170, Defensive Back, SW DeKalb HS, Atlanta, GA Lettered as defensive back at Southwest DeKalb High School … Helped his team to a 12-1 record in 1999 … Played for coach Buck Godfrey at SW DeKalb HS.

Jacob Ford, 6-4, 215, Defensive Line, Melrose HS, Memphis, TN Lettered as an offensive and defensive lineman for the Melrose High School … Was named to the 2000 Prep Star Magazine All-Southeast Region team … Was named to Hi-Tech Tennessee’s Top Prospect List for 2000 … Had 76 tackles and 10 quarterback sacks as a junior … Played for coach Tim Thompson at Melrose High.

Gene Frederic, 6-4, 275, Offensive Line, DeSmet Jesuit HS, St. Louis, MO Lettered as an offensive lineman … Helped his DeSmet Jesuit High team to a 8-1 record and a berth in the state 5A playoffs … Lost in triple overtime to Pattonville in the opening round of the playoffs … Received honorable mention All-Metro honors from the St. Louis Post Dispatch in 2000 … Played both offensive and defensive line for DeSmet … Also handled all of the deep snapping duties for his school … Was a three year football letter winner … Played for coach Dennis Cernaka at DeSmet HS.

James Gaither, 6-4, 220, Punter/Kicker, Grayson County HS, Litchfield, KY Lettered as punter, kicker and wide receiver at Grayson County High School … Was a three year letterman and starter for the football team … Punted 38 times for 44.2 yard average during the 2000 season … Made seven of 11 field goal attempts and had a long field goal made of 51 yards … Was GCHS’s second leading receiver … Had 25 receptions for 275 yards … Was a first team all-district selection as a punter in both his junior and senior seasons … Was a third team all-state selection as a punter in his junior season and was a second team all-state selection as a punter after his senior season … Had 98% of his kickoffs land in the end zone for touchbacks as a senior … Was a two year starter at center on the GCHS basketball team … Led the team in rebounding as both a junior and senior … An outstanding baseball player Gaither batted .475 as a sophomore an had 13 home runs … Batted .380 as a junior with two home runs … Was heavily recruited by the University of Iowa … Played for coach Danny Clark at Grayson County HS.

Andrew Handy, 6-3, 285, Offensive Line, Palmetto HS, Miami, FL Lettered as an offensive and defensive lineman at Palmetto High School in Miami, FL … Selected to play in the Florida All-Star game on Martin Luther King Day … Is expected to play in the Florida-California Football Classic in Santa Barbara, CA in June … Was named first team All-Dade County in 2000 by the Miami Herald … Was considered by many to be the best offensive lineman in the Miami Dade County area this fall … Is called by high school coach “the best lineman ever to play at Palmetto High School” … Worked as a strong guard during his senior season and helped team to an 8-3 record … Played tackle as a sophomore and junior … Was named Palmetto’s MVP Lineman for three consecutive years … Has run 4.9 forty yard dash … Was recruited by Miami (FL), Rutgers and UMass but selected the Tigers … Played for coach Jim Kroll at Palmetto HS.

Albert Means, 6-4, 335, Defensive Line, Univ. of Alabama, Memphis, TN Transferred to the University of Memphis in January of 2001 … Has three years of eligibility remaining at the U of M … Lettered as a true freshman at Alabama in 2000 … Played in seven games and started the final four games of the year at defensive tackle … Was credited with 18 tackles including two tackles for lost yardage … Played his prep football at Trezevant High School in Memphis … Was named to the 1999 Parade All-America Team … Was named to the 1999 USA Today All-America Team … Was named to the 1999 Tom Lemming All-America team … Was named to SuperPrep’s All-America Team … Named to Boarder Wars first-team All-South Team … Picked on the 1999 Prep Star Top 100 Dream Team … Named by Prep Star as one of the top three defensive linemen in the nation in 1999 … Was named as the number one prep prospect in the Southeast by Prep Star Magazine … Named the Defensive MVP in the South by Prep Star … Was named the number two defensive lineman in the nation by Rivals100.Com in 1999 … Was named to the Rivals100.Com All-America team … Was named Tennessee’s Mr. Football in 1999 … Named to the first-team Associated Press and UPI All-State teams … Registered 120 tackles, including 85 solos in 1999 … Had nine quarterback sacks and three pass interceptions two of which he returned for touchdowns … Had 110 tackles as a junior with 11 sacks and five interceptions … Ran a 4.9 40-yard dash at Trezevant High School … Bench pressed 385, squatted 535 and cleaned 315 in high school.

LaDarius Price, 6-0, 175, Quarterback/Receiver, East HS, Memphis, TN Was a three year football letterman who lettered as the quarterback at East High School for the past two seasons … Rated by SuperPrep Magazine as the #12 prospect in the state of Tennessee … Was named to Hi-Tech Tennessee’s Top Prospect List for 2000 as one of the top quarterbacks in the state… Helped East High School to a 9-1 regular season record and a berth in the state playoffs in 2000 … Connected on 27-of-76 pass attempts for 531 yards and three touchdowns in 2000 … Was ranked 10th in Shelby-Metro in punting with 19 for 673 yards … Averaged 35.4 yards per punt … Was ranked second in Shelby-Metro in kickoff returns in 2000 … Had four returns for 182 yards and one touchdown … Averaged 40.5 yards per kickoff return in 2000 … East High averaged 349 yards per game in total offense in 2000 … Led East High to a 13-2 record and the 1999 Tennessee Class 4A state championship … Was ranked 27th in Shelby-Metro in passing completing 30-of-86 passes for 800 yards and 12 touchdowns … Was ranked eighth in passing efficiency with a rating of 152.1 … Was ranked 13th in Region 8 4A in total offense in 1999 … Was ranked fifth in punt returns with a 16 yard average per return and was 10th in kickoff returns with 14 for 283 yards … Averaged 20.2 yards per kickoff return … Worked as the Mustangs punter and was ranked sixth in the Region … During his sophomore season was ranked first in Region 8 4A in kickoff returns … Had 13 returns for 473 yards and one touchdown … Averaged 36.4 yards per kickoff return … Helped team to an 11-1 record in 1998 … Has run times of 4.4 in the forty yard dash … Played for coach Wayne Randall at East High School.

Mario Robinson, 6-0, 205, Running Back, Melrose HS, Memphis, TN Lettered as a tailback and defensive back for the Melrose High School … Was named to the 2000 Prep Star Magazine All-Southeast Team … Battled injuries during his junior season but had strong senior year … Helped Melrose High to a 9-1 regular season record and a berth in the state playoffs in 2000 … Was ranked 13th in Shelby-Metro in scoring despite playing in just six games … Scored seven touchdowns and had six two-point conversions during the 2000 season … Was ranked 18th in Region 8-4A in rushing as a junior despite injuries … Had 20 attempts for 276 yards and scored seven touchdowns in 1999 … Was ranked 15th in Region 8-4A in scoring with his seven touchdowns and two two-point conversions … Was named to the 1998 Prep Star Magazine All-Southeast Team as a sophomore … Rushed for 560 yards and scored 12 touchdowns as a sophomore … Tallied 28 tackles during his sophomore season … Played for coach Tim Thompson at Melrose High.

Sheldon Taylor, 6-2, 220, Linebacker, Trezevant HS, Memphis, TN Comes to the Tigers from Trezevant High School in Memphis … Lettered as a linebacker/defensive end for the Bears … Registered 100 tackles during the 2000 season including 70 solo stops … Was also credited with nine quarterback sacks … Was named to the 2000 Associated Press 4A All-State team … Played in the same defensive line with Tiger transfer Albert Means during the 1999 season … Helped Trezevant to a berth in the state playoffs in 1999 … Played for coach Lynn Lang at Trezevant High.

Tristan Thomas, 6-1, 175, Defensive Back, Marietta HS, Marietta, GA Lettered as strong safety at Marietta High School … Was credited with 67 solo tackles, 23 assisted stops, two quarterback sacks, two tackles for lost yardage and two pass interceptions during the 2000 season … Was an all-county and second team all-state selection in football in 2000 … Also lettered as a member of the Marietta track team … Ran a leg on the 4 X 400 meter relay team … Was a high jumper for AAU Junior Olympic team in the summer of 1999 … Placed 18th in AAU Southeast meet in Orlando, Florida, in the high jump and was 10th in the 80 meter low hurdles with a time of 15.61… Played for coach James “Friday” Richards at Marietta HS.

Scott Vogel, 6-1, 190, Defensive Back, MUS, Memphis, TN Lettered as a quarterback and defensive back for the Memphis University School Owls … Battled injuries throughout his career but put together an outstanding senior season … Helped his team to a 6-5 record in 2000 … Passed for 672 yards and two touchdowns this past season … Rushed for 264 yards and four scores … Was the Owls second leading tackler as a safety … Registered 88 total tackles in 2000 and had two blocked kicks and one pass interception … Was being recruited by SMU and Kentucky … Played for coach Jake Rudolph and Bobby Austin at MUS.

Charles Wellington, 6-0, 225, Linebacker, Trezevant HS, Memphis, TN Was named to the 2000 Associated Press 4A All-State team as a defensive lineman … Was a high school teammate of Tiger signees Sheldon Taylor and Albert Means and helped the Bears to a berth in the 1999 state playoffs … Played for coach Lynn Lang at Trezevant HS.

Marcus West, 6-4, 224, Tight End, Columbus HS, Columbus, MS Lettered as a tight end/defensive end at Columbus High School … Was a first team Associated Press all-state selection in Mississippi … Rated among the state of Mississippi’s Top 40 Prospects by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger … Played tight end on a Columbus team that used a running offense … Had just six pass receptions during the 2000 season and turned one into a touchdown … Was credited with 115 tackles and 12 quarterback sacks playing defensive line … Was invited to play in the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Classic in Mobile, Alabama on June 16, 2001 … Recruited by Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Southern Mississippi … Played for coach Roy McCrory at Columbus High.

Darron White, 6-0, 180, Receiver, Covington HS, Covington, TN Lettered for four years in football at Covington High School … Was a Commercial Appeal Best of the Preps and Tennessee Mr. Football Finalist as a senior … Was named to the Associated Press Class 4A All-State team in 1999 & 2000 … Was named to the Associated Press 3A All-State team in 1998 … Was named to the Tennessee Sportswriter’s All-State Team in 1999 & 2000 … Broke every offensive record in the 78-year history of Covington High … In his four year career he rushed for 3,867 yards, had 1,142 yards receiving, compiled 1,875 yards in returns, totaled 7,260 all-purpose yards, intercepted 18 passes and scored 83 touchdowns … Led his team to a 13-2 record and a berth in the state 3A championship game in 2000 … Scored 32 touchdowns as a senior … Had almost 3,000 yards of total offense in 2000 … Was ranked 13th in Shelby-Metro in rushing in 2000 with 78 carries for 992 yards … Scored 15 rushing touchdowns … Averaged 12.7 yards per attempt which led the Shelby-Metro area … Was ranked first in Shelby-Metro in all-purpose yards with 2,254 during the regular season and almost 3,000 with the state playoffs … Ranked first in Shelby-Metro in scoring with 24 touchdowns and 144 points … Was eighth in Shelby-Metro in both kickoff returns and in pass interceptions … Had 14 kickoff returns for 499 yards and two touchdowns … Registered four pass interceptions for 75 yards in returns … Led Region 7-3A in punt returns, punt return average and punt return touchdowns as a junior at Covington High School … Had 302 yards in punt returns in 1999 and averaged 27.5 yards per return … Scored two punt return touchdowns as a junior … Was ranked fourth in Shelby-Metro in punt returns and 10th in Shelby-Metro in all-purpose yards … Rushed for 1,226 yards, had 283 yards receiving, 302 yards in punt returns, 333 yards in kickoff returns for a total of 2,204 all-purpose yards during the 1999 season … Was named to the first team All Shelby-Metro squad as a specialist in 1999 … Was ranked fourth in Shelby-Metro in kickoff returns as a sophomore with eight for 221 yards and one touchdown … Rushed for 1,055 yards on 123 attempts as a sophomore … Was ranked 21st in Shelby-Metro in interceptions with four during the 1998 season … Was ranked 13th in all-purpose yards with 1,508 … Chose Tigers over Ole Miss and Arkansas … Has been selected to play in the 2001 Tennessee-Kentucky All-Star game … Played for coach Jeff McFerrin, former Tiger linebacker.

Maniax coach Kippy Brown met with the press Tuesday afternoon to talk about last Sunday’s season opener, where the Maniax came away with a 22-20 win over the Birmingham Thunderboltz. Brown also commented on this week’s home opener. The Maniax (1-0) will face the Las Vegas Outlaws (1-0) at the Liberty Bowl, 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 11th.

“We can play better,” Brown said reviewing last weekend’s performance. “In order for us to continue to have success, we need to play better and not make some of the mistakes that we made.”

Those mistakes include a Hail Mary by Maniax QB Marcus Crandell at the end of the first-half, with the Maniax up by 13 points. The pass, which resulted in an interception, was only supposed to be a hand-off, according to Brown. In addition, Brown felt that Memphis allowed the Thunderboltz too much success on third-down, where they converted 50 percent of the time (7/14). However, the defense gave up a late touchdown that kept the Thunderboltz in the game, despite forcing two critical turnovers.

Brown was generally positive about the Maniax performance. The first major plus was only one turnover by the Maniax offense. “When you go on the road for your first game, with a brand-new team, and you don’t turn the ball over, that’s big,” he said.

In addition, Brown lauded the team’s lack of penalties, which plagued the team during the pre-season. The combination led to very few long-down situations, which meant an equally high third down conversation rate (10/20). Finally, the Maniax kept the ball moving with Rashaan Salaam’s rushing game (154 yards on 24 yards).

Looking toward next week, Brown emphasized that Las Vegas is the first divisional game for Memphis. Brown thinks that the biggest challenge facing Memphis against the Outlaws is stopping their defensive line.

“Their front seven, in my opinion, is their strength,” Brown said. However, Brown doesn’t think the Maniax will fall prey to the pass-rush as did the hapless NY/NJ Hitmen, which could not find a way to score last Saturday.

“We’re more than a two-back team,” Brown said. “We’re going to play-action, [Crandell] is going to get out of the pocket. We’re not going to be be sitting ducks.”

John Calipari is a realist. Give him that.

After Marquette ended his team’s eight-game winning streak last week, the head coach of the University of Memphis said: “This is us. We shot 38 percent. This is us. We’ve been shooting like this since the beginning of the year.”

The Golden Eagles built an 11-point lead in the second half before freshman Scooter McFadgon hit three pressure free throws to tie it at 65 with 1:20 to go. McFadgon was cool under pressure as he calmly hit all three shots after being fouled on a three point attempt. Too bad a couple other players couldn’t provide the same sort of ice under fire.

Two silly fouls in the final minute of the game, both whistled with less than 10 seconds remaining on the shot clock, proved fatal for the Tigers. Marquette made all four free throws and ended the longest winning streak in C-USA.

“When you go on a winning streak sometimes you put your head in the sand and think that you are beyond where you are,” Calipari continued. “We still have the same issues that we were dealing with four weeks ago.”

Issues such as shooting (from the field and from the line) and being smart on the court. The coach says he can accept the former but has more trouble with the latter. Teams that don’t shoot well have to make up for it in other ways, like playing smart basketball.

The Tigers also have a habit of beginning games without much intensity. Calipari says they have to start games better.

“Our energy level has got to be higher than it is to start these games,” the coach said. “We start thinking that we can play bad and win. Not against good teams — we cannot.”

And that brings up a final point where Calipari is realistic. The 8-game winning streak came against teams that Memphis should have beaten.

“Maybe people around town thought they were games that we haven’t won in the past,” Cal admitted. “Well, I thought we should have won them.”

A realist to the end.

The XFL Memphis Maniax (1-0) scored the first win in team history yesterday by beating the Birmingham Thunderboltz (0-1) on the Boltz Legion Field in front of 35,321.

This was the inaugural game for both clubs, and the only non-televised game on the Maniax schedule.

Memphis running back Rashaan Salaam ran for 154 yards on 27 carries and two touchdowns while quarterback Marcus Crandell completed 11 of 19 passes for 173 yards. Crandell also completed a 49-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Daryl Hobbs. Crandell had on interception. Kicker Jeff Hall hit on a 40-yard field goal to secure the Memphis lead.

The Maniax opened up the game scoring 19 unanswered points in the first half, but relied on its defense in the second while only scoring once (field-goal) in the third quarter.

Once was enough. The Boltz only scored one touchdown in the first half, a 15 yard pass from quarterback Casey Weldon to wide receiver Damon Gourdine. However, in the second half, the Boltz scored back-to-back touchdowns on a 3-yard run by running back James Bostic, and a 32-yard TD pass from Weldon to wide receiver Quincy Jackson.

The Boltz gave up two crucial turnovers. The first was a Weldon interception by defensive back Rico Clark who ran the ball back 19 yards, to the Boltz 25-yard-line. That set up Salaam’s second TD of the afternoon. The second costly turnover was a Boltz fumble on their own 25 yard-line, ending that possible scoring drive.

The Maniax open their home schedule this Sunday, Feb. 11th, against the Las Vegas Outlaws who beat the NY/NJ Hitmen in Las Vegas 19-0 Saturday night.

Despite four University of Memphis Tigers scoring in double digits (Earl Barron with 16, Scooter McFadgon with 13, Kelly Wise with 12 and Shannon Forman with 10) as well as Wise’s 9th double-double of the season (possible with a game-high 12 rebounds), the Tigers (12-9, 6-2) couldn’t hold on to their 8 game winning streak, losing to Marquette University (11-8 6-2) in the final minutes for a final score of 71-65.

The Tigers jumped out early with Marquette shooting only 1-7 to start the game, but a late first-half run by the Golden Eagles put Marquette up by 5 at the break. Memphis trailed most of the second half until Memphis went on a 10-0 run with four players scoring to cut the advantage to 59-58 with 4:17 remaining on a 3-point play by Forman.

McFadgon converted three free throws with 1:20 remaining locking the two teams at 65. But the Golden Eagles connected on 10-of-10 free throws in the final 2:32 to thwart a Memphis comeback.

Tight, aggressive defense led to a tough shooting night for both teams as Marquette shot 41.2 percent for the game, but Memphis managed only 38.5 percent.

A major difference was at the foul line where the Golden Eagles connected on 24-of-30, while Memphis converted only 10-of-17.

In these final days before the XFL Memphis Maniax journey to Alabama to face the Birmingham Thunderbolts in both teams’ inaugural game on Sunday, Feb. 4, the question of whether or not the league is fake seems more like a soft whisper than any true outcry. Vegas bookies are booking (lightly), teams are practicing. Coaches coach, players play.

But if it isn’t faked, that is, if the outcome of the games are not scripted in the same way that XFL co-owner Vince McMahon produces his wrasslin’ “sports” entertainment, then is the XFL for real?

Maniax head coach Kippy Brown has a simple reply to this. “This is a fun league,” he says. But “I get paid to win. I’m not here to have fun.” That’s it. That’s the attitude. For all the hype and hullabaloo over how different the various aspects of the game seem to be from the XFL’s more subdued cousin, the NFL, the persona of the coach remains the same. Confident. Honest. Straight forward. Brown doesn’t talk like an amateur because he has been a professional football coach for over 20 years.

Of course, how his team — made up of players from all walks of the amateur and professional football experience — complements the coach remains to be seen. Even in its best light, the XFL is going to have to work a miracle to be more than just a stopping point where NFL hopefuls can showcase their wares before a national audience in hopes a “pro scout” will look their way. While the league has its salaries frozen per position, the XFL will not be able to lure away top talent from either the college or the pro ranks. Sure, the XFL already pays more per player than any other pro football league that does not have an “N” as its first letter, but that means little when bragging rights come to play and Memphis can still not lay claim to a “real” NFL-caliber team.

And even if the XFL is “for real,” another question is whether this team is Memphis’ own or just another footnote in the city’s professional football history. It’s a question we all must ask in order to embrace the XFL. Memphis now has the chance to hold a team that gets its collective face on the nation’s TV sets multiple times a year and even gets to use its Liberty Bowl for more than Tiger football games. More than anything, Memphis gets the chance to run with the big boys, even if those boys aren’t the biggest boys.

In the end, this will all depend on the pudding and the proof therein. Sure, the Maniax could be great. Sure, the Maniax could be Wrestlemania. Whichever the case, the real question is whether or not the Maniax will be Memphis.

The world is going to pause this Sunday. At least the beer-loving, nacho-munching, commercial-counting, Dennis Miller-loathing citizenry among us will take pause. For we are on the verge of Super Bowl Sunday. The day we embrace the only game on earth that can include a Roman numeral in its title and be taken seriously. Yes, I’ll pause. But I’ve got a problem with this year’s matchup.

Actually, my problem dates back precisely a year, to Super Bowl XXXIV, when the St. Louis Rams edged the Tennessee Titans in perhaps the finest finale of the Super Bowl era. You take the Rams and Titans, then add this year’s AFC champ — the Baltimore Ravens — to the mix. What do you have? A stew of carpetbaggers who, on their finest day, do not deserve the glory and adulation that comes with a berth in the Super Bowl.

Grab a Memphis football fan and it won’t take much prodding to hear an expletive or seven attached to the name Bud Adams. The Titans owner packed his bags after 37 years in Houston, stepped on Memphis until he was no longer welcome, and camped out for a season on the Vanderbilt campus until his Nashville temple was finally ready.

Perhaps the only NFL owner more difficult on the stomach than Adams is Georgia Frontiere. This woman didn’t so much as bat a fake eyelash before putting an end to 49 years of Los Angeles Rams football. Past her amorous prime, she found an attractive suitor in the city of St. Louis. Georgia’s Rams take on Bud’s Titans for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Is that sentence as hard for you to utter as it was for me to write?

Now look who we have for Supe XXXV. Yep, Art Modell. The Cleveland Browns, god bless ‘em, remain one of eight NFL franchises that have never played in a Super Bowl. Yet the team Modell yanked off the banks of Lake Erie will take the field in Tampa for football’s grand prize.. My heart bleeds for the dog pound. Thoughts of Otto Graham, Jim Brown, and Lou Groza bring tears to my eyes. I should calm down. The Ravens have a grand five-year history. Grand.

Our only hope, fellow gridiron purists, is Wellington Mara’s New York Giants. A team whose following dates waaaaaay back to the first Bush administration . . . and well beyond. Understand how this hurts me to admit. I’m a Dallas Cowboy fan. Redskins and Giants are sworn, natural enemies of mine. The Giants have turned my stomach for the better part of a quarter century. I loved the Kent Graham era. Loved it. But I am going to force myself to root for the, ugh, Big Blue this Sunday.And you should, too. If for no other reason, then do it for the dog pound.

In the name of Vince Lombardi, in the name of football as John Madden would describe it, in the names of Grange, Nitschke, Butkus, and Montana . . . please, carpetbaggers, go home.

Forgive the analogy, but college basketball before the new year is akin to primary season in the campaign of a presidential candidate. A lot of noise is made, a few headlines are stolen, and a buzz begins. But after the new year, when conference play begins … that’s when the votes, so to speak, really start to count. “We know it’s not a football season,” says coach John Calipari. “We know the out-of-conference play is to prepare us for our league.”

With 14 Conference USA games coming up (Memphis is 1-1 in C-USA after Saturday night’s win in Houston), Calipari’s Tigers have a chance to make a lot of fans forget the struggles in Puerto Rico and that journey through the SEC equivalent of the Bermuda Triangle. The Rebels, Razorbacks, and Vols will be distant memories if Memphis can handle the Billikens, Blue Demons, and Green Wave. Using the Memphis nonconference schedule as a guideline, here are a few keys to the Tigers finding the C-USA promised land and, perhaps, a berth in the big dance.

Roster resolution. One way or another, the university has to make a decision about the suspended Courtney Trask and John Grice. A mess to begin with, the doubts raised by the status of these players is a cancerous distraction. Fans wonder. The media wonder. You have to believe the players wonder. Suit them up or drop them from the roster until next season. Memphis can then go to battle knowing who its troops are.

Steady guard play. Show me a team that plays deep into March without talent and leadership in the backcourt and I’ll show you an aberration. This is an area where seniors Shyrone Chatman and Marcus Moody simply have to step to the fore. They know what battles with Cincinnati are like. They’re familiar with hostile territory like Louisville and Hattiesburg. They can be the stabilizing voice the young Tigers desperately need. If Chatman and Trask (assuming he returns) can minimize turnovers and coordinate intelligent shot selection from their teammates, the Tigers will give themselves a chance to win in more games than not.

Make The Pyramid a real tomb for opponents. This has as much to do with the fans as with the players on the floor. Emotion is a self-feeding force. The Tigers respond to what they hear from a home crowd, just as spectators respond to game action. It’s been a few years since C-USA rivals really feared taking the court in Memphis. The U of M needs to scare teams again. One way to achieve this is …

The big boys need to get nasty. Don’t get me wrong. Let’s leave the fisticuffs to the WWF and Central Hockey League. The Tigers, however, have more than enough size to bang with the best C-USA has to offer. The days of the undersized Omar Sneed leading the Memphis frontline attack are over. Shannon Forman is as tough as any 6′ 5″ forward in the country. Paris London is quicker than most of the men who will guard him. Kelly Wise, Modibo Diarra, Earl Barron … count ’em up. Memphis is a big team. With enough grit, this can be an advantage for the Tigers. It can certainly help them.

Win the battle of the boards. Aside from Moody, this is not a team of sharpshooters. Rebounds will be aplenty. Offensively, the time Memphis can kill by grabbing second chances will be critical against teams with more overall skill. Defensively, it’s Hoops 101: Limit your opponents’ shots and you’ll limit their point total.

Play .500 on the road. Goals should be lofty but realistic. For Memphis to reach the NCAA tournament, road wins are going to be a must. Seven games away from the Bluff City remain. The schedule is such that the Tigers never play three straight road games. So a dose of the home stuff will be there to help quell losing streaks. A key stretch of the season will come in mid-February, when Memphis travels to Charlotte two days after hosting Cincinnati and two days before hosting UAB. A win against the 49ers could mean two out of three over this five-day period, maybe even a sweep. Tournament officials will be watching. If the Tigers are to find success in the postseason — be it the conference tourney, the NIT, or the NCAAs — they’re going to have to win away from home.

Get healthy. This may seem like an obvious factor, but it’s especially important for this Tiger team. And it may entail getting healthy in the classroom, as well as the training room. To excel at the brand of basketball Calipari preaches — frenetic defense, aggressive transition, constant ball movement — requires depth. To compete with the likes of Cincinnati, Charlotte, and Southern Miss, Memphis must go at least nine players deep. You might see these nine each play as much as 15 minutes. An ankle-turn here, a knee-sprain there (or indefinite suspensions) and the engine will slow considerably.

Shine, Kelly, shine. Make no mistake: This is Kelly Wise’s team if he wants it. At full strength, the Tigers have as deep a bench as there is in C-USA. And that will be critical if they are to contend for the conference title. But they have one player who can take over a game at either end of the floor. If Wise slumps, the offense will sag. If he gets in foul trouble, the defense will weaken. If he continues to show the maturity he has thus far and continues to adapt to the double-teams he will surely face, well, the sky’s the limit. As Marcus Camby was to Calipari’s last two teams at UMass, so Kelly Wise is to his first here in Memphis.

Relatively speaking, Memphis Maniax ticket sales are keeping up with the big boys.

At least some of them. The Maniax have sold 6,000 season tickets, while its brethren XFL teams such as the San Francisco Demons and the New York/New Jersey Hitmen have sold 18,000 season tickets, according to the Memphis Business Journal.

But Memphis is hanging in with other, larger, market teams such the Chicago Enforcers (5,000 season tickets), the L.A. Extreme (6,000 season tickets), and the Las Vegas Outlaws (6,000 season tickets). Memphis is out-selling the Birmingham Thunderbolts (2,500 season tickets).

Though ticket sales for the Orlando Rage are not available yet, the XFL claims it is pleased with overall sales, with a combined 43,500 tickets sold toward the league-wide goal of 65,000.

The Maniax, as well as the rest of the XFL teams, will attempt to step up progress on ticket sales through ads on the league’s networks: NBC, UPN, and TNN.

One factor which might hinder sales is that the league-wide training camp is in Las Vegas, far away from Memphis’ Liberty Bowl Stadium. Says Maniax GM Steve Ehrhart, “I wish we had training camp here in town to let the fans get to know the team.” Ehrhart goes on to say, “we’re pleased [with ticket sales], but we’d like to sell between 8,000 and 10,000 season tickets [sold].”

Marcus Moody scored 25 points to lead all scorers in a 112-42 University of Memphis (6-8) romp over Howard University (2-9). Moody’s 25 also earned him a spot on the 1,000 point plateau, sharing the accomplishment with only 33 other Memphis players.

The 70 point victory was the 2nd largest in team history and saw 6 Tigers with double digit scores. Shyrone Chatman and Scooter McFadgon added 19 points each, Kelly Wise had 18, and Shannon Forman and Earl Barron finished with 10 each. Chatman also had 7 assists, and Wise grabbed a game-high 14 rebounds.

Memphis shot .586 from the field and hit 15 three pointers as a team. The 15 threes is also a school record that has stood since Memphis knocked in 13 three’s against Florida Atlantic in 1993. The Tigers forced 17 Bison turnovers while dishing 26 assists to only 9 Tiger turnovers. The 100-point effort by the Tigers is their first since 1994.

The Bison shot only .258 for the game with Ali Abdullah scoring 12 points.

Memphis jumped to an early 12-point lead and continued to harass the Bison shooters until the half, going into the locker-room with a score of 50-23, favoring Memphis. In the second half, the Tigers kept coming, making the game a blowout and giving Memphis its 6th win of the season. The Tigers play next at the University of Houston (3-9, 0-0) on January 6, where they will try to even their Conference USA record to 1-1.