The University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee willcontinue to negotiate the fate of the football series between theschools.
Shirley Raines, president of The U of M, and Joe Johnson,president of UT, released a joint statement Monday saying that bothagree contract negotiations should continue between the athleticdirectors of both schools.
The series, which had been scheduled between the two programsfor 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2010, was thought to be all butscrapped due to Memphis' refusal to play the Vols inbasketball.
But, likely due to a groundswell of support to maintain thegames, Memphis' Athletic Director, R.C. Johnson, and UT's AthleticDirector Mike Hamilton were told to work towards a resolution thatdid not involve discontinuing the series.
"Mike and I both pretty well know who we answer to," Johnsonsaid. "Our charge is to get it worked out. I talked to (MikeHamilton) twice today and we'll continue to have discussions."
Johnson said a decision should come sooner rather than later,but the new emphasis on a resolution does not mean anything forsure yet.
"There is nothing that has been decided at this point,
he said. "We will talk and try to get this issue resolved asquickly as possible. I don't want to give you a time or a date,because I know you'll hold me accountable to that date, but itcertainly will be sooner rather than later, we all want to get thisdone."
