Memphis football coach Justin Fuente challenged his players and coaches to raise their performance level at practice last week, and by all accounts the team did just that.
The Tigers completed their final scrimmage of spring practice over the weekend, and Fuente said he was pleased with his team’s performance.
"I liked the way both sides approached the scrimmage," Fuente said. "I think everyone came out here with great enthusiasm, great spring in their step and guys on both sides of the ball wanting to fly around and go get after it. I was really pleased with that.”
The Tigers will have one more practice this week on Thursday which will be similar to an in-season Thursday practice. Then they will use their final of 15 NCAA allotted practices when the annual Memphis spring practice game “Friday Night Stripes” is played this Friday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
As far as the results of the scrimmage, on defense junior Dontrell Nelson and redshirt junior Chris Morley recorded interceptions in the 98-play Saturday scrimmage.
On offense, soon-to-be junior quarterback Paxton Lynch threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to redshirt sophomore wide receiver Anthony Miller.
Overall, the scrimmage involved situational goal line plays, and various offensive situations such as the Tigers offense starting from the one-yard line.
"I liked their demeanor, the way they were in meetings and the way they were on the sidelines," Fuente said. "Obviously, there is a lot to work on but I liked the way they approached it. We can work with that."
Coach Fuente said he wants his team play hard and execute this week.
"On Friday night, I want to see them go play hard and execute," Fuente said. It will be rudimentary on both sides of the ball but I want to see this team go play fast and execute. I would like to see zero mistakes on both sides of the ball.”
