Saturday’s game ended with fireworks blasting to signal a Memphis win, but there was only one thing on junior tight end Alan Cross’ mind – the band director’s ladder.
Cross headed straight for it as soon as the final horn sounded, and he promptly began directing the band as they played the University of Memphis fight song. And the student section was right next to him singing along.
It felt like one big party, which is what the whole evening felt like starting with country star Pat Green’s performance on Tiger Lane before the game.
Then, 46,378 Tiger fans filled Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, which is the most since 2006.
And most importantly, the Tigers won. They beat MTSU 36-17 and showed Memphis football can be fun.
The crowd was doing the wave, and the players couldn’t stop talking about it after the game. Cross said the crowd has never been full enough to do it during his tenure in Memphis.
The fan turnout was so great that not even the athletic department was ready. The lines at the ticket offices were so long that some fans could not get inside the Liberty Bowl before kickoff.
It was a unique experience for Memphis football. It felt more like a Tiger basketball or Memphis Grizzlies’ game. Speaking of Grizzlies, Quincy Pondexter and former Grizzly Rudy Gay even showed up for the game.
“It was so great,” senior linebacker Tank Jakes said after the game. “The crowd had great energy and even did the wave. I hope they keep coming back and support us. We need their help.”
Jakes finished the game with seven tackles, two sacks, a safety, a forced fumble and an interception. The senior has been the Tigers’ best player on defense all season long, and by the way, he is only 5 feet 11 inches tall.
“He’s a good football player,” Fuente said. “Like I've said before, he understands the game. He's very heavy and he can get into cracks and crevices and make plays.”
Jakes was not the only Tiger to have a big game. Cross finished with two receiving touchdowns, and his second touchdown, which came from 50 yards out, may have drawn the loudest cheers of the night. But he said that was the only time he could not hear the crowd.
“I didn't hear the crowd on the catch, but tonight was the best crowd I've seen since I've been here,” Cross said after the game. “It provides a lot of excitement. We saw the fans doing the wave. I haven't seen that in forever. They provide confidence for everyone out there.”
It all goes to show one thing: Memphis will always support a winner. And head coach Justin Fuente is finally putting a winning product out on the field.
That product is going to be tested next Saturday, though. Fuente and company travel down to Oxford to face No. 10 Ole Miss (3-0), and I suspect a pretty strong contingent of Tiger fans will make the short drive.
The Rebels will probably beat Memphis, but that does not mean Memphis is a bad team. The Tigers could even lose the week after at Cincinnati, but that should not sway fan support.
The Tigers may struggle these next few weeks, but one thing is for sure: Memphis is in for many more fun nights at the Liberty Bowl.
