Helmsman sports reporter Alisa Gardner will produce a weekly Q&A session with a University of Memphis sports figure all semester.
On Wednesday, Alisa sat down with Memphis Athletic Director R.C. Johnson, who received a five-year contract extension from The University last month.
Johnson, a serious Elvis fan who boasts one of the King’s own guitars, says he’s more excited about his job now than he was when he started at The U of M six years ago.
AG: What kind of hairspray do you use?
RC: I really don’t know what kind of hairspray I use. My wife usually picks it out for me. Whatever it is, it’s definitely heavy duty.
AG: Will the Tigers move to the Grizzlies’ new arena?
RC: In order be a good athletic director, I need to at least check out the possibilities of moving to a new arena. We are the prime tenants at The Pyramid. That is our home.
It is my responsibility to gather as much information as I can about whether the moving to the new arena is feasible for our school.
AG: Coach Calipari has stated that he is all for getting more faculty involvement in Tiger Basketball. Since only 800 of the 2,500 student seats are being filled, would the faculty be able to use those seats?
RC: We would have to go through the proper channels to have those tickets allotted to the faculty. The tickets have already been paid for, from the students’ activity fees. The student government and Dr. Carson (Vice President of Student Affairs) and I would have to get together to discuss the possibility.
AG: Are you excited about the ground breaking for the new athletic training facility over on South Campus?
RC: Yes, I am very excited about the progress being made at South Campus. It was long overdue. The renovations at South campus and the Athletic Office Building cost about $8 million. I am proud to say that we were able to acquire all of the money from private sectors around Memphis.
AG: What do you have planned for women’s sports?
RC: In about a year or so we will be getting a women’s softball team and I am planning on having a softball field built over at South Campus. I am also working on getting a new track.
AG: Do you ever regret your decision to extend (former football head coach) Rip Scherer’s contract another year considering he was fired the next season?
RC: No, at the time it was the right thing to do. We were committed to trying for another year.
If I had to do it all over again, I would.
Rip was a class individual and be did a lot for this school.
AG: What is your favorite sport?
RC: I would have to say golf.
AG: Are you the happiest you have ever been in your life right now?
RC: I really enjoyed the time in my life when I was coaching football, but my wife and I have been very fortunate and blessed.
We love Memphis — the weather is great and we get to travel a lot.
The City of Memphis is just the right size. It’s not so big that you get lost. I plan on being here a few more years. I just got my contract extended until the year 2007.
AG: What is your favorite color?
RC: Tiger blue, of course!
