Memphis football coach Charles Huff knows the Tigers let an opportunity slip with the loss to Boise State.
But he doesn't want Memphis fans to alter their expectations.
"They should expect perfection," Huff said at his news conference on Sept. 15. "We should expect perfection. They should expect us to play in spotless games this weekend. And then next weekend they should expect us to play a spotless game. It's on me, as the head coach, to get our guys to play and live up to the expectations of this program. The fans shouldn't change their expectations. It's not their job."
The Sept. 12 loss to Boise State means Memphis (2-1) has work to do and will need some help to climb back up in the Group of Six College Football Playoff race. There's still
plenty of football left, and that continues with the UT Martin game Sept. 19 (6 p.m. CT, ESPN+) at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.
While Huff said he was always focused more on improvement than perfection, he said he understands why perfection is an expectation at Memphis.
"(The fans) should be fiery hot," he said. "I mean, they should be pissed, blank blank, off. I agree. They should be. Because the expectations of the Memphis Tiger football program is perfection. What's the reality of that? Every week we have to go out there and battle for that. But the expectations shouldn't change."
The Tigers still have their entire conference slate ahead of them, and there's a long way to go before the playoff field is set. But they will need to keep winning, and they need Boise State to lose.
"The fans better not change their expectations," Huff said. "I would want nothing less. Because that's who we are. We're not one of these programs that are happy with a bowl game. And that's no disrespect to them, to those who are. Different scenarios, different level of resources, different level of support. But that ain't us. That'll never be us as long as I'm here."
Memphis' chance for a bounce-back comes against the FCS-level Skyhawks, who are coming off a blowout loss to West Virginia.
The Tigers are favored by five touchdowns. But Huff said he's focused more on how Memphis plays and less on the final score.
"Saturday will be a good test for us," he said. "I'm not worried about the score. I'm not worried about who we're playing. How are we going to play Saturday. What team is going to come out of the locker room?"
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Why Charles Huff said Memphis football fans should be 'fiery hot' after Boise State loss
