Memphis football coach Charles Huff said at his news conference on Aug. 25 that motivational speeches don't mean much once the game actually starts.
But he also said that after Memphis basketball coach Penny Hardaway delivered an impassioned one to the football team about what it means to play at Memphis.
"We carry the city," Hardaway said in a speech that was posted on social media. "We win, it makes our whole entire city better. The people are more happy. The crime goes down, it's already been documented. So when you have that on you, it should mean something. Whether you care about the city of Memphis or not, it should mean something to you. That pride should mean something."
𝙊𝙪𝙧 City Ⓜ️ A big 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 @Iam1Cent for speaking on the
importance of playing for the city 🗣️#GoTigersGo | #CloseTheGap pic.twitter.com/1kMj5wv7fb
— Memphis Football (@MemphisFB) August 25, 2026
Hardaway would know. He's a Memphis native who played for the Tigers before going to the NBA, eventually returning to Memphis as head basketball coach. He and Huff have built a strong relationship in the time since Huff was hired in December. He already has visited a football practice and said he plans to be around more during the season.
Memphis football has an entirely new coaching staff and a roster made up mostly of transfers. Huff has talked throughout the offseason about using Hardaway to explain to those players what it means to play for the Tigers.
"I was the No. 1 player in the high school rankings," Hardaway said. "I could've went anywhere in the country. I chose to stay home. I didn't choose to stay home because I was a home guy. I chose it because of how the fans made me feel for sure. And that's the same thing that y'all are going to get. You perform at a high level in this city, they treat you like royalty. The reason why is because this thing goes deeper than just tickets to a game. The city will ride with you as long as you're doing what you're supposed to do."
The football team kicks off its season at UNLV on Aug. 29 (9 p.m. CT, FOX). Memphis basketball's season begins on Nov. 2 against Iowa State in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
In his speech to the team, Hardaway talked about what it means to play for Tigers fans.
"Y'all have to understand: The days you don't want to get up, the days you don't want to do the extra reps, you've got to push all that to the side because that's nothing compared to what these people have to go through every day," he said. "And spend their money to come and watch y'all play."
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on X @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Watch Penny Hardaway's motivational speech to Memphis football team
