Charles Huff made sure Memphis fans got the first word after the Tigers’ home opener, and he had plenty to say.
Following Memphis’ 42-24 win over Arkansas State on Sept. 5, the coach zeroed in on the crowd at the newly renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, where the announced attendance was 45,632 for a sellout. It was the first game in the stadium after the $226.5 million renovations were completed, and Memphis had spent the week pushing for a packed house.
“To the city of Memphis: Thank you,” Huff said after the game. “Thank you for showing the world what Memphis is really about.
Thank you for selling out the stadium. Thank you for staying the whole game.
Thank you for believing in this administration, this team and these players. Thank you.
Again, we got another opportunity to show the world who Memphis really is, and we did it. In a positive light.”
Memphis entered the night at 2-0 after its Week 0 win at UNLV had put the program in the national conversation. Huff said his team handled that attention well while getting ready for Arkansas State, noting that the praise shouldn’t change the standard.
“I thought they managed the outside noise and the pats on the back the right way,” Huff said. “We talked about it.
It’s good to receive the acknowledgement. But it shouldn’t change your goals or how you work.
We talked about for them in life. You may get a raise on your job, but that doesn’t mean you come to work the next day late.”
The first night back in the renovated stadium wasn’t spotless. Huff acknowledged issues with parking and concessions, along with other inconveniences, and said the program would address them.
“We will fix it. We apologize for any inconvenience in parking, any inconvenience in concessions, any inconvenience in anything,” Huff said.
“We apologize. I promise you we’ll get it fixed.”
Arkansas State hung around through the first half, but Memphis pulled away after halftime behind a huge performance from running back Jaylin Carter, who ran for 183 yards and scored four touchdowns.
For Huff and a large chunk of the roster, it was also the first time getting to run out for a home game at Memphis. He called it a special moment, even if the competitive reality hit quickly.
“It was a good moment,” Huff said about running out of the tunnel for the first time. “And then I was like, ‘I better win, or this is going to be a really rough day.’ “
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For Memphis, the takeaway is simple: this is no longer the kind of early nonconference game that looks safe on paper. Boise States showing in Eugene only sharpened the intrigue around what comes next, and the matchup in Memphis now carries a different kind of weight. The Tigers will get a team that just proved it can hang with an elite opponent, which is exactly why the next weekend suddenly feels bigger than anyone might have planned. [Read more 🡒]
Memphis Got The Start Fans Wanted But One Concern Just Grew
The opener delivered the kind of jolt Memphis fans were hoping for, with a 42-24 win over Arkansas State built around a relentless ground game and a defense that made the most of mistakes. Running back Jaylin Carter led the charge, and the atmosphere inside Liberty Stadium matched the moment, as the Tigers opened the season in front of one of their biggest crowds in years.
Still, the result came with a lingering concern under center. Trey Owens first collegiate start turned shaky quickly as he threw four interceptions, giving Memphis a reminder that the offense cannot lean on Carter and the defense forever. The Tigers got the start they wanted, but the passing game now looks like the part of this team that needs the fastest cleanup. [Read more 🡒]
Memphis Keeps Facing One Concern Before Its First Real Test
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The good news for the Tigers is that they have been able to adjust on the fly and still leave with wins, which matters as the schedule tightens. Boise State is next, and this time Memphis expects to have a clearer scouting picture before kickoff, a small but important change for a team still searching for cleaner starts before its first real test. [Read more 🡒]