As soon as their blue suede shoes stepped out of the RV and hit the pavement on this unseasonably warm November Saturday, they were sweating, clad in polyester so tight and transparent you could see the prints on their underwear. The oversized velcro belts threaten to lose their connection with every expanding breath.
The white jump suits are dotted with sequins running all the way up the collar, reaching up to the back of their jet-black pompadour wigs complete with chops. Except for the T, I, G, E, R and S that adorn their backs and serve as their names, the men under the karate-chopping facades are unknown.
In the shadows of Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, the group practices their skit in front of an uninspired audience of Toyotas, Fords, Chevrolets and Hondas.
Thirty minutes later the Cheering Elvi are ready to perform in front of thousands watching the Tigers take on the South Florida Bulls.
Followed by their version of groupies -- two women decked out in colored wigs and Tiger garb -- the Elvi head to the top of the stadium to look down upon their weekend constituents. It's all rather fitting for six 'Kings'.
Overlooking the sea of blue and the sparse patches of Tulane green, the Elvi start to make their way down.
"Look there's Elvis," yells a fan.
The fan's husband turns. "There's six of 'em!" he says.
Yes, quite a sight it was. Six men, surely running on adrenaline, were bounding down the stairs, bell-bottoms flapping, about to lead the masses in cheers and create excitement not seen since the days of the Medicine Man, Sam Bielich in the late '80s.
Bielich, who changed his name to Sam Ayers, was a favorite on The U of M campus. Dressed in a horned helmet and loincloth, Bielich incited fans at Tiger football games and even the games of the Kansas City Royals AAA affiliate Memphis Chicks. Noticed by the Texas Rangers, the Medicine Man was hired as their mascot. Since, he's parlayed success into starring roles in movies and hit TV shows such as "24," "Alias" and "Angel" to name a few.
"I think that is one of the reasons we wanted to start something up," 'I' said. "To fill that void the Medicine Man left."
During this first appearance, not only were the Elvi noticed by those in the stands, but the people on the field also surrendered to the enthusiasm.
According to one of the Elvi, head coach Tommy West later said that he turned and saw nothing but the backs of his players' heads as they were all looking into the crowd to see what the fuss was about. The Elvi loved every minute of the attention, almost as much as a peanut butter and banana sandwich.
"There's just no better feeling in the world than to watch the people in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium stand up and cheer and yell T-I-G-E-R-S," 'I' said.
They had been preparing for that feeling for more than a year. However, finding jump suits that would fit caused the delay, not the men to go in them.
"Actually, I don't think anyone turned us down," said 'R,' who wears a TCB necklace to match the luster of his plastic gold sunglasses.
Their timing couldn't have been better.
They made their debut during the same season the Tigers would go to their first bowl game in 32 years. Then returned to a season when the buzzword around the city and campus was "undefeated" or even "Heisman."
The Elvi cheered, the Tigers won and both ushered in a new era of University of Memphis football.
Nevertheless, what could possess them to rush from side to side, leading fans in deafening, joint-popping cheers?
One Elvi joked it was part of "group therapy to assist in overcoming shyness in front of strangers and to release us from the bonds of living as extreme introverts," but we know better.
"It was pretty much a no-brainer," 'R' said. "We were all built like Elvis in his later days, we all look good in white, plus polyester jump suits are pretty cheap."These diehard Tiger fans have followed Memphis athletics for decades, and their love for football goes beyond that of any normal fan, as anyone, who has participated in an Elvi-led cheer, can see.
The side-burned crew even made the trip down to Louisiana for the New Orleans Bowl to motivate the Tiger faithful.
"I think we had just as many people from North Texas have their picture taken with us as Memphis fans," said 'I.'
What those pictures will never capture is their identity.
One major difference between Medicine Man and Cheering Elvi is the anonymity. The Elvi only agreed to be quoted if their names were not given."(We keep anonymity) at the request of and out of respect for our families," 'R' said. "If, for example, your father or someone dating your sister was one of the Elvi, would you want your friends to know about it? I wouldn't think so."
There is an increasing number of embarrassed relatives out there because there are far more than six members.
"It's kind of an honorary thing where someone may be available to do it and someone may not be able to do it," 'I' said. "It change every time there are new faces under the masks."
If these fans are so steadfast in their loyalty to the Tigers, why don't they come to every game?
'I' quickly replied: "You always keep them wanting more."
It's working.
During the recent win against the Tulane Green Wave, Bob Rush -- color commentator for Tiger radio broadcasts -- actually asked where the Cheering Elvi were.
They were probably among the fans watching the game.
"Remember, at our core, we are Tiger football fans," 'R' said. "We don't get to see much of the game when we are running around the stadium.
"We want to be a novelty to some degree, and again, we like to watch the games. A typical appearance for the Elvi will consume a little of the second quarter, all of halftime and a majority of the third quarter. That could be three touchdowns for this team, maybe even DeAngelo alone."
Like every rock star, or even every rock musician, they love a crowd and the bigger the better.
Consequently, the Cheering Elvi are currently trying to find a way to get kids to Tiger games through the Youth Villages program.
"Now that would make sweating in polyester jump suits on a warm fall day in Memphis seem like it was really worth it," said 'R'.
Although, it's been almost a year since the Elvi first graced the Liberty Bowl faithful, they hope to keep it going as long as people are interested.
"Personally, until I am either dead and buried or no longer look as good as I do in the jump suit," said 'R'.
Moreover, it's not only football that may benefit from the excitement.The Elvi are also targeting Tiger basketball games, baseball games and even volleyball matches.
"I wouldn't put it past us to show up at a Golf tournament, a tennis match or a rifle team match, although we'd have to be careful not to cheer in front of the guns," said 'I'. "I think everybody in the next year or so will have a little taste of the Elvi."
Only a taste; just the way they want it.
"Some people say Elvis is not alive," said R.C. Johnson, U of M Athletic Director.
Well R.C., he's not only alive, there are six of him and they're Taking Care of Business.
