Memphis wants to move out of Conference USA and into a Big Six league. But does any elite conference want the Tigers?
The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported Wednesday that Memphis has hired former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese to serve as a consultant. He will evaluate the school’s programs and recommend what it needs to do to better position itself to join one of the nation’s top leagues.
Tranghese was hired Aug. 1 and is being paid $5,000 per month on a six-month contract, which can be renewed; the money is coming from privately donated funds. Tranghese asked Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson what his duties would be; Johnson’s response: “There are six BCS conferences. Just get us in one.”
Memphis has been a member of Conference USA since the league’s formation in 1995. The Tigers saw C-USA brethren Louisville, Cincinnati and USF bolt for the Big East after the 2004 season, bringing that conference’s football-playing configuration to eight schools. Tranghese has said Memphis was left behind then “because our football people just felt they had to be in Florida.”
Now, Memphis is making noise about trying to join the big boys once again and the most logical destination is the Big East, where it already has established rivals in Louisville and Cincinnati.
But not everyone is on board with that idea.
“If we are going to add someone, it has to be someone who is really special,” said a Big East athletic director who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “You tell me – would you add Memphis?”
Memphis wants to move out of Conference USA and into a Big Six league. But does any elite conference want the Tigers?
The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported Wednesday that Memphis has hired former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese to serve as a consultant. He will evaluate the school’s programs and recommend what it needs to do to better position itself to join one of the nation’s top leagues.
Tranghese was hired Aug. 1 and is being paid $5,000 per month on a six-month contract, which can be renewed; the money is coming from privately donated funds. Tranghese asked Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson what his duties would be; Johnson’s response: “There are six BCS conferences. Just get us in one.”
Memphis has been a member of Conference USA since the league’s formation in 1995. The Tigers saw C-USA brethren Louisville, Cincinnati and USF bolt for the Big East after the 2004 season, bringing that conference’s football-playing configuration to eight schools. Tranghese has said Memphis was left behind then “because our football people just felt they had to be in Florida.”
Now, Memphis is making noise about trying to join the big boys once again and the most logical destination is the Big East, where it already has established rivals in Louisville and Cincinnati.
But not everyone is on board with that idea.
“If we are going to add someone, it has to be someone who is really special,” said a Big East athletic director who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “You tell me – would you add Memphis?”
No way, Ursus. The C-USA dream ended when the best FBS team in the country left: USF.
SuperHornet's Athletics Hall of Fame includes Jacksonville State kicker Ashley Martin, the first girl to score in a Division I football game. She kicked 3 PATs in a 2001 game for J-State.
