Every August, just before hordes of vehicles descend on campus and every student still has visions of perfect attendance, the athletes at The University of Memphis partake in a fall semester kickoff all their own.
It's called the pre-school picnic, but it's not a bunch of 4-year-olds running wild. It's a chance for all the student-athletes on campus to interact before the stress of training and term papers take their toll.
The picnic is more than sodas and taco salads -- it is the opening statement of a season long speech: All for one and one for Memphis.According to associate athletic director Bob Winn, the relationships built at the picnic - and throughout the year - help build winning programs.
"Everybody gets to know one another," Winn said. "It becomes friends pulling for friends (during the season).""That camaraderie, it kind of makes it easier for that winning attitude to filter down,"
Whether the recipe for success is in the relationships or the chili, the athletic department would be wise to bottle it and sell it on ebay.Everything is going right for the Tigers on the field.
Volleyball, men's and women's soccer and football carry a combined record of 40-11. The worst winning percentage among the quartet? The men's soccer program, at .727. The longest losing streak? Two games by volleyball, which is now in the midst of an 11-game winning streak.
Many sports are receiving national attention, as well.
The rifle program is nationally ranked in both small bore and air rifle.
The football team was ranked in the AP poll for the first time since forever.
Men's soccer also received national attention, making their program debut in the NSCAA (soccer coaches) poll.
For those who prefer individual accolades, look no further.
Memphis athletes have won awards at the pace of The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Every week I scan through piles of e-mail announcing individual accolades: Conference USA Players of the Week, national Players of the Week, award watch lists and individual medalists.
School records are being broken at ... well, record pace.
It's like some alternate reality with Memphis as its center point.
Think of a season in Tigers' history with that much autumnal success -- I dare you.
Can't do it? Neither could Winn, and he's been with The University athletic department for 31 years.
"Given what has occurred thus far, this fall it is indeed the most successful fall campaign that we've ever had."
Need more proof?
The men's golf team just won their third straight tournament as I'm writing this. And yes, that rewrote a 14 year-old record.
Athletic Director R.C. Johnson would be wise to include erasable pens in next year's budget. Or at least a bunch of Wite-Out.
Of course, there is no guarantee that this success will carry over into next season or even the rest of this one, but according to Winn, the coaching infrastructure is in place.
"If you look at nearly every great (athletic) program, they've maintained their staffs," Winn said. "They hire good people and they make sure they don't leave. Right now, we've probably put together as good a group of coaches together as any time in our history."
Memphis has started to develop this coaching continuity. Johnson locked up the two most recognizable coaches, men's basketball's John Calipari and football's Tommy West, to lucrative long-term deals. Carrie Yerty has had nine seasons to develop a winner in volleyball. Richie Grant is in his sixth year with men's soccer and Brooks Monaghan is coaching his fifth women's soccer team.
All this means there is stability in a system, and that reputation precedes them even as the players change.
"Players recruit players," Winn said. "Players want to go where programs are successful."
Of course, not everything is perfect in Memphis athletics. There is that ugly Kevin Grothe incident, which left the athletic department coffers $75,000 short.
Oh, and the tiger head that serves as an entrance for the football team at home games is on the physically unable to perform list - out with mold damage. It has yet to make a fully inflated appearance and is doubtful for Saturday's game with Tulane.
Plus, the football team did lose that game at UAB. And the volleyball team lost a set last week. I think women's soccer gave up a cheap goal, too.
But there has never been a better time to go catch the Tigers of your choice -- you can bet your taco salad on that.
