The University of Memphis is one of the most thriving metropolitan research institutions in the United States. Our central location makes us a destination for students from all 50 states and more than 75 countries. As a result, a rich cultural diversity will be discovered as soon as you step onto our beautiful 1,160 acre campus.
For today’s technology driven workforce, an investment in education is essential. At the University of Memphis, you will be able to choose from over 50 majors and 70 concentrations of study in our 10 colleges and schools. The University of Memphis offers Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral degrees, as well as the Juris Doctor and the Specialist Degree in Education.
Explore the University of Memphis web site to learn more about the tremendous opportunities that await you upon admission. If you have already decided you would like to join the thousands of other applicants who have made the University of Memphis their choice, please follow the links on this page to complete the application process, discover financial aid opportunities, make housing decisions and register for class.
Mission
The University of Memphis is a learner-centered metropolitan research university providing high quality educational experiences while pursuing new knowledge through research, artistic expression, and interdisciplinary and engaged scholarship
Vision
The University of Memphis will be recognized as one of America’s great metropolitan research universities, noted for its comprehensive, innovative academic programs and for capitalizing on its urban setting and region to address the challenges of our global society.
History
The University of Memphis was founded under the auspices of the General Education Bill, enacted by the Tennessee Legislature in 1909. Known originally as West Tennessee State Normal School, the institution opened its doors Sept. 10, 1912, with Dr. Seymour A. Mynders as president.
Students in the first classes selected blue and gray as the school colors and the tiger as the mascot. Tradition holds that the colors, those of the opposing armies during the Civil War, were chosen in commemoration of the reuniting of the country after that divisive conflict.
Over the next decade, The Desoto yearbook was created, the first library was opened in the Administration Building, the first dining hall was built and the first men’s dorm was built; today that dorm, Scates Hall, houses the College of Arts and Sciences’ Dean’s offices.
In 1925 the name of the college changed to West Tennessee State Teachers College. Three years later, the Brister Library was built, named after two-term president John W. Brister. In 1931 the students created a campus newspaper, The Tiger Rag; and in 1935 the school’s agriculture department was discontinued.
The college changed names again in 1941, becoming Memphis State College, and in 1946, J. Millard “Jack” Smith became president – the first alumnus to hold the position. In 1950 graduate studies were initiated, and in 1954 the school switched from a quarter to a semester system.
In 1957 the state legislature designated Memphis State full university status. In 1959 the university admitted its first black students, and the first doctoral programs began in 1966. The 1970s, under President Cecil C. Humphreys, saw new buildings constructed across the campus, including a University Center and a 12-story library. In 1983 MSU became the first public university in Tennessee to gain accreditation of its entire curriculum.
The 1990s were characterized by another name change and another building boom. In 1994 MSU became the University of Memphis, and the Ned R. McWherter Library was completed. Moving into the 21st century, the Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management and the FedEx Institute of Technology have made their mark on the University landscape.
Today, the University of Memphis is one of Tennessee’s three comprehensive doctoral- extensive institutions of higher learning. Situated in a beautiful park-like setting in the state’s largest city, it is the flagship of the Tennessee Board of Regents system. It awards more than 3,000 degrees annually.
With an enrollment of approximately 21,000 students, The University of Memphis has 24 Chairs of Excellence, more than any other Tennessee university, and five state-approved Centers of Excellence.
The Heritage Room
Those interested in the University’s history can take a walk through the past by visiting the Heritage Room in Brister Hall on campus. Over 150 items are on display, including yearbooks, lettermen jackets and sweaters, class photos, diplomas, football cleats, and more. Photos documenting the integration of the University in the late 1950s are also on exhibit.
The Heritage Room is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 1:30 to 4 p.m. during the Fall and Spring semesters when classes are in session and on Thursdays from 1:30 to 4 p.m. during the Summer session.
Life on Campus
The University Of Memphis campus offers eight different residence halls and Graduate and Student Family Housing for graduate students or students who are married or have families. Whether you are interested in a traditional style residence hall or apartment style living, The University of Memphis has accommodations to meet your needs.
Our goal is to provide each student with a living environment that is safe, comfortable, and will enhance your academic, intellectual, cultural, spiritual, and social development.
Click here to see “Why Live on Campus?”
Intercollegiate Sports
Baseball
Basketball, men’s
Basketball, women’s
Cross Country, men’s
Cross Country, women’s
Football
Golf, men’s
Golf, women’s
Rifle
Soccer, men’s
Soccer, women’s
Softball
Tennis, men’s
Tennis, women’s
Track and Field, men’s
Track and Field, women’s
Volleyball
Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex
In 1970, the University of Memphis Athletic Department officially opened what is now known as the Billy J. Murphy Athletic Complex. The complex, which is situated on 140 acres and is located south of the main campus on Getwell Ave., is where many of the Tiger athletic programs train and hold competitions. The football and soccer teams utilize the grass and turf fields for practices, while the golf, softball, track and baseball programs have facilities to call their own for practice and competition.
The complex is named after former Memphis head football coach Billy J. Murphy. The main building houses locker rooms for football, track and soccer, as well as the athletic training room, equipment room, indoor practice facility, meeting rooms and weight room. The Murphy Complex underwent some major renovations in 2003 to the tune of $6 million. The renovations included expanding the football locker room, training room and equipment room, as well as building new team meeting rooms and a large foyer that can be used for banquets.
As part of the building addition, the athletic training staff has additional space to provide excellent care for Tiger athletes. The area includes various taping and treatment stations as well as offices for the athletic trainers and team physicians. One of the highlights of the athletic training facility is the in-ground aquatic pool which is used for rehabilitating injuries. In addition, the equipment staff received increased space for sorting and storing uniforms and gear, as well as additional room for its laundry facility.
Just behind the building are three 100-yard grass fields for football to utilize for practice, as well as an additional field set up for soccer practices. A new addition to the Murphy Athletic Complex is a full 100-yard EnviroTurf field that was installed by Eagle Golf & Athletics Inc., in December 2009. The field provides Tiger football an alternative to the additional three grass fields available for practice. The field is an exact replica of the playing surface at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium where the Tigers play their home games. Media and fans are able to watch practices from a patio that was constructed just off of the main entrance. If weather conditions are not favorable for outdoor practices, the teams are able to conduct practices in the indoor practice facility which features artificial turf.
The football team has a large locker room that includes such amenities as steam and sauna rooms, in-house television and stereo systems, individual wood lockers for each player and shower facilities.
The Tiger weight room, which is located just outside of the turf room, opened in January of 1993 and is used by a majority of U of M student-athletes. The 10,500 square-foot facility features the latest in strength training equipment. The weight room is equipped with 10 self-contained Olympic platforms and power racks, a plyometric/medicine ball area, a complete dumbbell line (up to 150 lbs in two and a half pound increments) and a variety of hip sleds, glute-ham stations and other supplemental pieces allowing athletes from all teams to perform an unlimited variety of exercises and movements.
Construction has begun on a new 12,000-square football weight room exclusively for the Tiger Football team. The $3 million project will also include a 50-yard, three-lane track for speed training.
The University of Memphis football program is very fortunate to have one of the finest football facilities in the nation in which to play its home football games. Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, “built by the citizens of Memphis,” is a memorial to the veterans of World War I, World War II and the Korean War. The renovated 61,000-seat facility, built in 1965 at a cost of $3.7 million by the city of Memphis and renovated in 1987 for $19.5 million, is operated by the Memphis Park Services Department.
The Tigers inaugurated the stadium in the fall of 1965 and in 45 years, have compiled a 141-122-7 record in the Liberty Bowl. The stadium features a synthetic FieldTurf playing surface, spacious locker rooms and a four-level press box, which features a stadium club for VIPs. The playing surface, which had been natural grass through the 2004 season, was replaced with the new FieldTurf surface that is used in more than 25 NCAA Division IA football stadiums.
In December of 1983, city of Memphis officials named the playing surface Rex Dockery Field in honor of the late Tiger coach who was killed in a plane crash.
In the spring of 1984, the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Memphis added a new scoreboard and sound system to Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium/Rex Dockery Field. The computer operated scoreboard is 100-feet long and stands 23-feet high. It has a 16′ x 32′ message center, and was the largest scoreboard in the Mid-South at the time.
Included in the 1987 stadium renovation were the addition of the sky-suites located on the east side of the stadium, approximately 12,000 seats in the stands and a stadium club to accommodate donors. In addition, several areas of the stadium were vastly improved, including the lighting system, playing surface, handicap seating area, concession stands and restroom facilities.
In 1999, the city of Memphis and Jumbotron entered into an agreement which placed a new 18′ x 24′ video scoreboard system in the south end of the stadium.
In addition to the new $850,000 playing surface for the 2005 season, the stadium has also undergone aesthetic changes over the last couple of years that have made the stadium look more like the “Home of the Tigers.” Prior to the start of the 2006 season Jim McDonald of McDonald Outdoor provided several large photo wraps on the walls of the entrances to welcome Tiger fans. New graphic wraps were unveiled around the interior of the stadium during the 2008 season, and a renovation project on stadium restrooms in the lower concourse was completed prior to the start of the season.
The first step toward a major renovation project at the Liberty Bowl was completed prior to the start of the 2009 season when both locker rooms were renovated and two multi-purpose rooms were added on the concourse. One of the most notable changes is that the opposing team is now in the north tunnel and the Memphis Tigers are in the south tunnel. In addition, renovations have begun to bring the stadium into compliance with ADA specifications, which has lowered the capacity for the stadium from 62,380 to approximately 61,000.
The stadium is also the host site of the annual AutoZone/Liberty Bowl game, as well as the Southern Heritage Classic. Located near the Memphis Fairgrounds, the stadium also hosted the Tennessee-Kentucky High School All-Star game in 1994.
Throughout the 45-year history, several professional teams have called the Liberty Bowl home. In 1974, the Grizzlies of the World Football League played their one and only season in Memphis. From 1978-80, the stadium was host to the Memphis Rogues of the North American Soccer League, and later in 1984-85 to the Showboats of the U.S. Football League. Three other teams spent just one season in the Liberty Bowl including the Memphis Maniax of the XFL (2001), the Tennessee Oilers (1997) and the Memphis Mad Dogs of the CFL (1995).
The largest crowd to witness a Memphis home football game at the Liberty Bowl was the record-setting 65,885 who attended the Tigers’ stunning upset of No. 6 ranked Tennessee in 1996. The Tigers defeated the Vols, 21-17, before a regionally-televised audience on CBS-TV. The entire nation, however, saw Memphis’ game-winning drive when CBS carried the final five minutes nationally.
In 2004, Memphis hosted Louisville for an ESPN-broadcasted Thursday night game. A crowd of 52,384 fans came out for the game, marking the largest Tiger crowd for a non-SEC opponent. That same season, Memphis set a new home attendance average record with 41,175 fans in just five games. The previous high average was 40,622 in 2003, and that was for seven home games.
In addition to playing in college basketball’s top arena, FedExForum, the Tigers have a world-class practice facility in the Larry O. Finch Recreational Facility, which is located on the University of Memphis campus.
The 31,000-square-foot center cost $3.2 million, and features a regulation court which runs east to west. With the removal of portable goals, the building can be divided into two north-south courts for intramural play. Besides the playing courts, the building features every amenity the Tigers could desire.
In the summer of 2000, the center’s weight room was equipped with $50,000 of state-of-the-art weight and cardiovascular equipment through a generous donation from Memphis businessmen Richard Mercer, Harry Phillips and George Sneed, and every year since, the weight room has been updated with new equipment. With the renovations done in the summer of 2004, the weight room was moved courtside where players can work out just off the facility’s primary practice court.
The players’ lounge now occupies what was once the weight room, giving the Tiger players and coaches a spacious area to hold team functions. The lounge area features a big screen television and a pool table, along with several couches and recliners on which players and coaches can “lounge.” Built into the main entrance to the lounge area are open lockers featuring uniforms and mementoes from former Tigers in the NBA.
The locker room has individual wood lockers along three walls. Adjacent to the locker room is a video room where players and coaches can watch game tape in preparation for upcoming contests.
The center’s fully-equipped training room includes heat packs, electrical stimulation units, ultrasound, whirlpools, three treatment and two taping tables as well as a separate doctor’s examination room.
Also, the classroom which overlooks the court has been transformed into a dining area for post-practice meals for the team.
A brick archway entrance was added to the front of the facility in the summer of 2008. It is the first step in establishing the Memphis Basketball Walk of Fame. The on-going project is turning the Finch Center’s entrance area into a Memphis basketball museum, which will chronicle the Tigers’ glorious basketball history.
In the summer of 2010, plans began to add more office/locker room space to the facility. The preliminary plans are to extend the center’s upper level above the weight room area and enclose the weight room with glass walls.
The Larry O’ Finch Center was dedicated Feb. 24, 2000. In Finch’s three years as a player at Memphis, the Tigers recorded a 63-21 record and either won or tied for two Missouri Valley Conference championships. He scored 1,869 career points and averaged 26.8 points in the 1973 NCAA Tournament when the Tigers advanced to the national championship game.
Finch was named All-America honorable mention by both the Associated Press and UPI and was the 1972 Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year.
As a coach, Finch is the second winningest coach in Tiger history, posting a 220-130 record in 11 seasons. Under his leadership, Memphis advanced to the NCAA Tournament six times, including the Elite Eight in 1992 and the Sweet 16 in 1995.
There’s never been a better time to be a Tiger fan. Ten-straight 20-win seasons. Ten-consecutive postseason tournament berths, including a trip to the 2008 NCAA championship game and back-to-back Elite Eight appearances in 2006 and 2007. A roster that features some of the nation’s best collegiate talent. And, to top it off, Memphis fans are able to watch their beloved Tigers in the one of the country’s best arenas, FedExForum.
The 2010-11 college basketball season will be the team’s seventh season in FedExForum, and the Tigers have made the arena one of the nation’s best homecourt advantages. In its first six seasons, Memphis posted a 110-13 record (18.3 home wins per season) for an amazing 89.4 winning percentage. The Tigers put together a school-record 47-game homecourt win streak at FedExForum from 2006-08.
Although nearing its sixth birthday in September 2010, FedExForum is a $250 million state-of-the-art arena that has the nation still talking. When fans come to a game at FedExForum, the excitement begins even before they enter the front doors. FedExForum features a 35,000 square-foot outdoor plaza where all fans enter the building. The plaza serves as Memphis’ front porch, a gathering area for fans of all ages.
Once in FedExForum, fans are treated to an experience that is unparalleled in the college basketball game. In the arena, there are five levels with wide concourses, making navigating the building easy. There are over 100 points of sale for concession stands, meaning shorter lines. There are four full-service restaurants, with three offering service to Premium Seat Holders – Opus, a fine dining restaurant overlooking the court; Blue Note Lounge, where fans can get a cocktail and a light meal before or during the game; and the Lexus Lounge. The fourth restaurant, which is open to all fans just off the Grand Lobby, is Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Sports Bar, a fun pregame meeting place with patio seating.
All of the food in FedExForum is offered by Levy Restaurants, the leader in sports and entertainment venue dining, and fans experience selection and quality beyond anything they’ve ever had at a sporting event. Memphis favorites such as Neely’s Barbecue and D’Bos chicken wings are available, and fans can also satisfy their appetites with sushi, paninis, po’ boys and just about anything else they could possibly want.
Once in their seats, the first thing fans notice is the massive video board. Designed by Daktronics, the center-hung scoreboard is the focal point of the system, providing fans with live video, instant replays and information on 10 large digital full-color displays, including four dedicated scoring sections. The scoreboard is one of the biggest in the country, measuring approximately 22 feet high by 38 feet in diameter. The unique design of the main center-hung scoreboard includes two 36-degree full-color rings of LED on the top and bottom of the scoreboard. Four additional video displays, in vertical configuration, flank the main video screens and dedicated scoring sections.
To complement the center-hung video and scoring displays, additional LED displays are prominently featured around the seating bowl. These ProAd® digital displays are used for a variety of purposes, including presenting exciting animations and graphics, statistics, scores and stats from other games, and interactive promotional messages from the team and its sponsors. One 360-degree ring of light encircles the entire seating bowl, mounted on the Terrace Level fascia. A second large display curves 270 degrees around the Club Level fascia.
Before, during and after games, Tiger fans can buy the latest merchandise and U of M gear in the team store, located in the Grand Lobby and at several boutique stores throughout FedExForum. The store is also open from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday, or can be reached by phone at 901-205-1551.
A unique feature of FedExForum is the music theme that is prevalent throughout. Luxury suite holders have their names engraved on a record outside their suite, and lyric sheets from famous Memphis songs appear prominently on the walls. Concessions and restaurants are named with uniquely Memphis music themes and areas of the arena concourses are divided into sponsored zones highlighting musical genres like Rock ‘n’ Roll, the Blues, Gospel, Memphis Music Today and more. FedExForum is also home to the Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum on the ground floor of the administration building. The Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum traces the roots of rock and roll and soul music in Memphis, offering visitors a self-guided tour of Memphis music from the early 20th century in the ’70s. The Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum is one of only two Smithsonian Institution exhibits not located in Washington, D.C.
Along with the Grizzlies’ locker room on the Event Level, the Tigers also have a state-of-the-art locker room facility just off the playing floor. The area has players and coaches locker rooms, a training room, video room and players lounge. The locker room is one of the best facilities in the nation.
FedExForum is setting a new standard for college arenas, and it’s all happening in Memphis. There has truly never been a better time to be a Tigers fan.
The 2010 season begins a new era in the annals of University of Memphis baseball. After calling Nat Buring Stadium home for 36 seasons, construction and renovations have been completed for Tigers baseball’s new home – FedExPark.
Thanks to a gift from FedEx Corp. (NYSE:FDX), construction redesigned the former Nat Buring Stadium that housed Memphis Tiger baseball since 1972.
The redesign includes a new dressing facility, indoor practice facility, training room, players lounge, locker rooms, coaches offices, dugouts, grandstand, concession areas, press box and a private suite which will aid players, teams and fans with their game day experience.
The dressing facility includes locker rooms for Tiger coaches and players, office and meeting space, a player’s lounge, indoor pitching and batting cages, a training room, as well as a direct entrance into the Tiger dugout and field at game time.
The grandstand area features an expanded press area for media covering the events, as well as newly-constructed restrooms and concession stands. The press box also showcases private booths for both radio and television broadcasts, as well as working media and event management areas. A grand entrance way has been constructed at the main entrance to the ballpark from the leftfield parking lots.
Construction setup began on Feb. 16 – two days before 2009 Opening Day. Construction crews took over the Tigers’ home, forcing them to play the 2009 season at three different ballparks in the Memphis area. The Tigers called Millington’s USA Stadium its home for the season, but hosted games at AutoZone Park and Gagliano Stadium.
The stadium redesign is the latest of several upgrades to the Memphis baseball facility. On March 27, 1991, the Memphis Athletic Department ushered in a new era-night baseball. The Tigers hosted Mississippi State University in the program’s first-ever night game. The Tigers played three times under the lights in 1991.
While the ballpark’s surroundings were renovated, the playing field remains the same. Noted for its cozy dimensions, it has often proved to be a pitchers’ park when the wind blows in from left field. However, when the wind blows out to left, hitters would think differently. The dimensions down the lines are 318 and 317 feet in left and right fields, respectively, 360 in the alleys and 379 to center.
Several other renovations have taken place since the stadium opened in 1972. Besides the 1991 addition of lights to the stadium, a new backstop was installed at the beginning of the 1994 season to allow better visibility for the fans. Chair back seats were also installed in the grandstand area for better comfort and enjoyment of Tiger baseball games.
During the summer of 1994, the playing surface of the infield was overhauled, giving the stadium one of the best natural grass playing surfaces in the South. In the winter of 1999, new dugouts were constructed. In the spring of 2004, the entire playing field was leveled out and resurfaced for better playing conditions. A new wall was added to the list of stadium improvements in the winter of 2005. Prior to the 2006 campaign, field turf was installed around the batter’s circle to help maintain the field’s aesthetic in the high-traffic area. In addition, a new scoreboard was put in place in January 2008.
FedExPark replaces Nat Buring Stadium, where Memphis compiled a 667-295-1 record in 36 seasons. The first game played at the former Nat Buring Stadium was on March 14, 1972, when the Tigers defeated Mississippi State 11-2 in game one of a doubleheader. Memphis went on to sweep the Bulldogs with a 4-2 victory in the evening game. The Tigers were also victorious in the final game at Nat Buring, outlasting ECU 7-5 on May 17, 2008.
Nat Buring Stadium hosted two Missouri Valley Conference Tournaments (1972, 1973), two Metro Conference Tournaments (1976, 1977) and the Great Midwest Conference Tournament in 1993. Memphis recorded winning records at home in 33 of its 36 seasons at “The Nat”, including posting a program-best 32-1 mark in 1981.
For the last 10 years, the Memphis men’s and women’s soccer programs have been able to call one of the premier soccer facilities in the country their home. The Mike Rose Soccer Complex (MRSC), a world-class facility featuring a 2,500-plus seat stadium, has facilitated the growth of men’s and women’s soccer at the University of Memphis. Since the move to MRSC in 2001, the men’s and women’s programs have four C-USA conference championships to their name and have recorded a combined 10 seasons with 10 or more wins.
The state-of-the-art facility sits on 136.17 acres and houses 16 FIFA dimension fields equipped with Bermuda grass, superior playing surface complete with underground drainage, sprinkler systems and lighted playing fields. Accompanying these fields are fully paved walkways, easily accessible parking, restrooms, covered pavilions, picnic and recreation areas and a three-acre lake. It is a definite asset to both the Tiger and Lady Tiger soccer programs.
“The facility has helped us in recruiting some of the better players in the region to our program,” said men’s head coach Richie Grant.
Participant facilities within the main stadium structure include showers and locker rooms, a food court, corporate skybox, full media services, administrative offices and a conference room.
“Being able to play at Mike Rose enables our program to compete with anyone facility-wise,” said head women’s coach Brooks Monaghan. “There may be some facilities that are similar or close to Mike Rose, but I honestly don’t feel there are any better. As far as quality and atmosphere, Mike Rose is first class.”
Located in southeast Shelby County, just east of the Memphis city limits, the Mike Rose facility has established itself as one of the premier soccer facilities in the Mid-South. In 2003, the MRSC was the host site for the Ford Conference USA Championship.
“We feel like Mike Rose is one of the best college soccer facilities in the country.” Grant said. “The quality of the surface makes for entertaining soccer every night.”
In 2010, the Tigers will play their third full season in their $1.7 million Tiger Softball Complex on the University of Memphis’ Park Avenue Campus on the corner of Park Avenue and Getwell Road.
The natural grass outfield boasts spacious locker rooms and dugouts on each side of the base path. The dimension of the 275 capacity stadium are 200 to the right and left fields and 220 to center. Bullpens are found to the side of each dugout and a batting cage rests beyond the right field fence. The press box to the complex consists of two broadcast booths and two workroom areas. High speed wireless Internet is available for the working media.
Spacious locker rooms behind each dugout were completed prior to the 2009 season. The bullpens were also upgraded before the 2010 season with field turf.
Memphis officially dedicated its new stadium on Saturday, April 7, 2007, before the final contest of a three-game series with Tulsa. University of Memphis President Dr. Shirley C. Raines threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Kimmi Hayden in front of a full house. U of M Athletic Director R.C. Johnson and other school administrators were also in attendance, and the first 250 fans received a commemorative souvenir ticket.
The Tigers began playing in the new facility on March 24, 2007, in a three-game series against Houston. In two seasons, Memphis has played 32 home games in the stadium and has a 20-12 record. The Tigers have averaged an attendance of 199 for the 19 dates at the Tiger Softball Complex.
“This is huge for our program,” said Memphis head coach Windy Thees. “Having a place close to campus that is as beautiful as this place is wonderful. We’ve got the brick and the blue roofs. Everything about it screams Memphis and first class. Especially for recruiting purposes, having a place like this is going to make this program grow and grow.”
Tiger Softball Complex Records
Year
Overall
Pct.
C-USA
Pct.
2007
12-6
.667
7-5
.583
2008
8-6
.571
4-6
.400
2009
11-8
.579
5-7
.417
Total
31-20
.609
16-18
.471
Tiger Softball Complex Attendance
2007
2,267 (11 dates)
224 Avg.
2008
1,521 (5 dates)
190 Avg.
2009
2,014 (12 dates)
167 Avg.
Total
5,802 (28 dates)
207 Avg.
Top Five Tiger Softball Complex Crowds
1.
346
vs. UCF (DH) – 5/5/07
2.
344
vs. East Carolina (DH) – 4/26/08
3.
327
vs. Southern Miss (DH) – 4/12/08
4.
279
vs. UCF (DH) – 4/28/09
5.
267
vs. Tulsa – 4/7/07
Home of the University of Memphis track and field squad, the Billy J. Murphy Track Complex offers a nine-lane track featuring 48″ lanes. The state-of-the-art track surface was resurfaced in 2007 and is currently in championship condition.
The competition area includes a nine-lane track, grass infield as well as a full hammer cage and multiple throw areas. The pole vault and jumping areas are reversible to accommodate wind conditions.
The complex hosts the annual Memphis Tiger Invitational during the outdoor season. The Memphis Tiger Invitational began in 2009 and is expected to be an annual meet with a new high school meet beginning in 2010.
On September 3, 2009, ribbon cutting ceremonies took place for the newly opened $1.5 million Frank L. Flautt Golf Center, located next to the Tiger Softball Complex on the University of Memphis’ Park Avenue Campus. The facility provides both the Tiger and Lady Tiger golf teams with state-of-the-art practice amenities.
The center includes a 400-yard driving range, complete with two teeing areas, two putting greens, and a chipping green. Inside, both teams have locker rooms with individual player lockers as well as study, kitchen, and lounge areas. Both teams also have indoor hitting bays to be used during inclement weather. The Memphis golfers also have access to a cutting-edge video room where they can analyze their swings from multiple angles.
An intimidating arena for opponents of the University of Memphis women’s basketball and volleyball teams, the Elma Roane Fieldhouse serves as the home of the Tigers right in the heart of the University of Memphis campus. The arena is often packed with Tiger fans and gets loud and raucous during games with the stands backing right up to the benches courtside. That has provided the Tigers with a great home-court advantage over the years.
The Fieldhouse is named after former women’s athletic director Elma Neal Roane. A pioneer for women’s athletics at Memphis and in the Mid-South, Roane still attends games in her namesake building, cheering on the Blue and Gray.
And for women’s student-athletes, the Fieldhouse is an all-in-one stop with a weight room and athletic training room in the lower level of the fieldhouse.
The weight room, which opened in 2005, features top-of-the-line Power Lift combo racks with Iron Grip weights. The weight room also features four Woodway High Speed Treadmills, which are specifically made for training elite level athletes. Strength and conditioning coach Mike Jenkins and his student assistants train various women’s athletic teams in the downstairs weight room.
Right next door to the weight room is the athletic training facility where the Tigers can train, get treated, practice and compete all in one building, right in the heart of the University of Memphis campus.
Upstairs, the locker rooms began a renovation process as soon as the 2009-2010 women’s basketball season was complete. The locker rooms will go through a two-phase renovation in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, with the first phase being an entire remodel of the back area. The current three locker areas will be narrowed down to two locker rooms, one for volleyball and one for basketball, and the lounge space will also be renovated to better fit the needs of the Tiger volleyball and basketball programs. At the end of the renovation, the two teams will have brand new locker rooms, a new shower and bathroom area, a new area that can accommodate media post-game needs, and new storage and a more efficient lounge area.
As soon as the first phase of the remodel is done in the Fall of 2010, the second phase will begin downstairs, where the Tigers will renovate both the strength and conditioning and weight room areas, and will add officials locker rooms for the various games and tournaments the Tigers host each season.
The entire renovation will cost close to a million dollars and will offer the basketball and volleyball teams a luxurious home right in the center of campus to practice and play their home games.
In October of 2009, The Racquet Club of Memphis, one of the premier facilities for tennis in the nation, officially became the home for men’s and women’s tennis at the University of Memphis.
The Racquet Club has been the Mid-South’s premier facility for tennis since opening its doors in 1974. Located on 12 acres of land in East Memphis, The Racquet Club has hosted the Regions Morgan Keegan Championship, an annual stop on the ATP Men’s World Tour each February since 1976. In 2002, the Racquet Club of Memphis became host to the Cellular South Cup, an ATP Women’s World Tour event, held during the same time as the men’s event. The tournament stops bring some of the best players in the game to the Mid-South on a yearly basis including 2010 participants Andy Roddick, Tomas Berdych, Tommy Haas and Maria Sharapova, all ranked among the top 20 players in the world on the ATP and WTA circuit.
The new home for Tiger tennis features 186,000 square feet of facilties including six recently refurbished top-of-the-line post-tension system hard courts, as well as 11 indoor courts. Remodeled men’s and women’s locker rooms specifically for use by the U of M men’s and women’s tennis programs have also been added to the Racquet Club’s facilities since the facility became the home for Tiger tennis in 2009.
With the move to the Racquet Club, Tiger student-athletes now have a brand new player lounge at their disposal for use during down time between practices and matches. The area, which used to be the facility’s salon area, has been overhauled and includes four 48-inch big screen televisions and a player recreation area which includes one of the big screen televisions equipped with the most popular gaming systems. The player lounge also features a training room, study area, kitchen, racquet stringing room and offices for the coaching staff. A Hall of Fame area is also being created in the player lounge featuring pictures of some of the most important players in the history of both the men’s and women’s tennis programs at the University of Memphis.
