Daryl Douglas and his daughter, Darielle, left their seats at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium with a few minutes remaining in the Memphis football game against Arkansas State on Sept. 5, with great big smiles on their faces.
Season ticket holders for the past 13 years, they were satisfied. With the game — the Tigers, already leading 35-24, were grinding clock. With the program’s trajectory under new coach Charles Huff, who has the team off to a 2-0 start. With the elevated game-day experience — the drone shows, the LED lighting effects and the social component the Landers Plaza offers.
“This is the best it’s ever been at Memphis,” the elder Douglas proclaimed, as hundreds were still mingling and buzzing beneath the 80-yard video ribbon board, the cherry
on top of the school’s $226.5 million renovation project. “I love this.”
That’s when, as if on cue, Tigers running back Jaylin Carter broke loose and ripped off a 24-yard touchdown run (his fourth of the game) that served as the cherry on top of Memphis’ 42-24 win. Father-and-daughter Douglas screamed, high-fived and embraced as they shuffled toward the exit.
And so it went for many Tigers fans who heeded the school’s calls to show up. Memphis announced a sellout (45,632 tickets distributed). The number of tickets scanned didn’t quite hit that mark — but it didn’t seem very far off.
“Shoot, I thought it was great,” said quarterback Marcus Stokes, who was 12-for-15 for 188 yards and two touchdowns. “I had a smile on my face the whole game. I just thought the atmosphere was amazing.”
Was it hot? The heat index at kickoff was north of 100 degrees.
Were there problems getting fans through the gates expeditiously? Long lines were visible from the east side tower late in the first quarter.
Are administrators aware they need more concession options on the plaza? Plainly, yes.
Huff had his apologies ready almost as soon as he sat down in front of a room full of media members after the game.
“There are a lot of things we’ve got to clean up,” he said. “I promise you, we’ll get it fixed.
“Don’t let the punch list put a damper on what we did tonight. Don’t let the punch list put a damper on how far this program has come in seven months, nine months. Don’t let the punch list put a damper on what our leadership is trying to do for this city, this university and this athletic department.”
Jason Coleman has been attending Memphis football games for almost five decades.
“It’s definitely got a P4 (Power Four) feel,” he said.
Which is precisely what the Tigers were aiming to accomplish with the project that broke ground more than two years ago. The goal is to prove they are ready to take the next step. To show the Big 12 or the ACC that they can add value. To establish that they belong.
But none of it happens without the Douglasses and Jason Colemans of the world. And that’s not lost on Huff, who heaped praise and kudos upon Tiger Nation.
“ . . . To the city of Memphis, thank you,” he said. “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.”
Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com, follow him @munzly on X.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: 'P4 feel' permeates Memphis football's first game at renovated stadium
