Memphis Tigers News Archives

June 2003

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06/30/03		Schilling Named Assistant Basketball Coach (GoTigersGo.com)
		University of Memphis basketball coach John Calipari rekindled a longtime association with Ed Schilling, naming the former Wright State coach an assistant on the U of M staff. Schilling was a member of Calipari's coaching staff at Massachusetts during the Minutemen's 1996 run to the NCAA Final Four and a 35-2 record. When Calipari was named the vice president of basketball operations and basketball coach with the New Jersey Nets, Schilling joined him as an assistant with the NBA team. Schilling's meteoric rise in the coaching profession was chronicled in Sports Illustrated as he became the only coach ever to advance from the high school coaching ranks to the Final Four and finally to the bench of an NBA team in a period of 310 days. After one season with the Nets, Schilling returned to collegiate coaching as he was named the head coach at Wright State in 1997. At the time, he was the second youngest Division I head coach in the nation. Over a six-year career at Wright State, the Raiders were 75-93. One of the biggest wins in Wright State history came Dec. 30, 1999, when during Schilling's third season the Raiders defeated then, sixth-ranked Michigan State 53-49 in front of a near-capacity crowd in WSU's Nutter Center. Many basketball analysts referred to the win as the most significant upset of the decade. Michigan State would go on to capture the NCAA Championship that year. The following year Wright State began the season with a 9-1 record, the best Division I start in school history. The Raiders posted an 18-11 record and an 8-6 mark in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference and advanced to the semifinals of the MCC Tournament. He was named the 2001 MCC Coach of the Year by collegeinsider.com. In 2002, Wright State knocked off 20th-ranked Butler on the road in Hinkle Fieldhouse, 90-87 in double overtime. The Raiders finished the season with a 17-11 mark. WSU was 10-18 this past season. "I welcome the challenge to not only learn more from Coach Cal, but also help him add to his legacy of success," Schilling said. "I hope that my six years of Division I head coaching experience will contribute to his program and success. "I have been asked what I am going to do at The University of Memphis," he added. "The answer is easy. I'll do whatever Coach Cal wants me to do. Any possible way I can contribute to Coach, the players, the program, the university and community I will do. I will try to explore every avenue within the NCAA rules to help accomplish the high goals that Coach Calipari has set. I also expect to contribute to the positive development and maturity of the young men under our care." As a collegian, Schilling was a four-year starting point guard at Miami (Ohio). He was a two-time team captain and along with Ron Harper helped lead the school to a pair of NCAA Tournaments. He was a three-time academic all-conference selection and is still the single-game assist record holder in the Mid-American Conference and holds single game, season and career assists records at Miami. Soon after graduating from Miami in 1988, Schilling was named the head coach at Western Boone High School in Thorntown, Indiana. He led Western Boone to a school record for most wins in a season during the 1990-91 season and after three seasons was named the head coach at Logansport (Indiana) High School. In arguably the most competitive prep conference in the nation, Logansport's basketball program improved each of Schilling's four seasons. In his final two seasons, Schilling's teams won back-to-back sectional championships while compiling the most wins at Logansport in more than 20 wins. And in addition to the experience Schilling quickly gained as a young high school coach, he also spent his summers learning more about the game at the famed Five-Star Basketball Camp in Pennsylvania. Schilling's relationship with Five-Star Basketball Camp began as a camper while in high school. He continued his association with the camp as a college counselor during his playing days at Miami University. And after graduating from Miami and beginning his coaching career, he was a station master and head resident coach at Five-Star. He was inducted into the Five-Star Basketball Camp Hall of Fame in 2002. Schilling is also the co-author of two books, Guard Play which was co-authored with Steve Alford and Five Star Basketball was written with Howard Garfinkel. He has also created several teaching videotapes including Playing the Point and Combination Defenses. It was at Five-Star where Schilling began his relationship with John Calipari. "To say that I'm excited about this new challenge would be an understatement," Schilling said. "Memphis is a super city and Coach Cal is not only a great coach, but he is also one of the most loyal friends a person can have. I feel blessed to be on board Coach Cal's ship again." Schilling is involved in ministry work around the world with Champions for Christ. He and his wife Shawn are the parents of three children: daughters, Christina and Natalie, and a son, Eddie.

06/29/03		U of M Hires Assistant (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish parrish@gomemphis.com June 29, 2003 It's been decided for some time. But paperwork and such for weeks kept things from being official. Now, everything's official. Ed Schilling is a University of Memphis basketball assistant and will fill the void left on John Calipari's staff that was created when Steve Roccaforte departed for Lamar. "I respect Coach Cal so much and we work so well together, and that's why I'm here," said Schilling, who will work on his third Calipari staff. A former teammate of Ron Harper at Miami-Ohio, Schilling also worked alongside Calipari at UMass and with the New Jersey Nets. "Hopefully I can come in and give back a little bit of what Cal's given to me," Schilling added. "I went from a high school coach to a college coach to an NBA coach (in a span of 310 days) because of him. And anything I can do to give back to him, help him, help this program and help this community, that's what I'm going to do." As for getting settled into Memphis, that's yet to happen. Schilling - who spent the past six years as the head coach at Wright State before being relieved of his duties after this past season - is still house hunting in the area. For now, he's living in a hotel with his family, which consists of a wife and three children. "We'll be moving into a house in the middle of July," Schilling said. "Hopefully," he said, "we'll do it during that dead recruiting period." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

06/26/03		Members of Track Team Unhappy About Relocation (Daily Helmsman)
		By Thomas Sellers and Daniel Ford June 26, 2003 Seven women's track team members learned via e-mail from their coach, Brenda Cash, that they were being evicted from their apartments at Carpenter Complex this week. Some teammates said they believe they are being moved out so athletes from more publicized sports can move in. "They are just trying to make room for football and basketball players," one track member, who wished to remain anonymous, said. The team said the e-mail they received from Cash said the teammates had to move out of Carpenter and into Richardson Towers by the start of the fall semester. The e-mail written by Cash to her players said, "Hello Ladies, Well it looks like Carpenter Complex is out for all athletes except football, basketball and volleyball," Cash wrote. "So it looks like you will be placed back into Richardson Towers or you will need to look for off-campus housing." Cash told the team members that Lynn Parkes, associate director of athletic women's sports, was still working on the situation, but not to count on anything being changed. "Ms. Parkes told me today that she is still working with Glenda Barton (residence life office coordinator) to look at the numbers and if space is available maybe seniors and fifth-year's could stay," Cash wrote. "But I say, DON"T COUNT ON IT!! I'll let you know if anything else changes, however if I were you I'd start making other plans. Sorry :-( ! Coach C." One source said it was Parkes's decision to move the women out. "From what I was told, Residence Life had nothing to do with it. It was Lynn Parkes that made the decision," the team member said. Cash's e-mail came on the heels of a letter Barton wrote to Parkes instructing her to tell Cash her team would have to move out. And that Lisa- Marie Hyman, Chanel Dunn, Cherishe Hollingsworth, Keenan Gibson, Monique Nelson, Sheena Ohlig and Sue Ann Bowen would be moved from Carpenter Complex to rooms being held for them in Richardson Towers. Barton told Parkes for what seemed to be at least the second time that Cash's team would not be allowed to stay at Carpenter Complex. "I received the list from Brenda Cash and see that you were copied on the e-mail, with the list of athletes for Fall (2003)," Barton wrote. "As we have discussed earlier, we do not have spaces for track in Carpenter. We have held spaces in Richardson Towers for these athletes and will be placing them in rooms that have been held in Richardson Towers." When reached for comment, Cash said she did not want to step on anyone's toes by commenting too early on the situation, but from what her players have been saying it appears The U of M may be avoiding the issue. Cash said that some of her athletes told her they tried to schedule an appointment with Athletic Director R.C. Johnson to discuss being bumped out of their dorms in favor of football, basketball and volleyball players. One track member said they did indeed try to meet with Johnson to discuss the move, but they were refused an appointment. "We have attempted to see R.C. Johnson twice," the source said. "The first time (June 19) we were told he was out to lunch and he wouldn't be back the next day. Two of us went (June 23) and his secretary refused to schedule appointments for us." One team member said she can not believe The University is trying to move out four seniors and three juniors over the age of 20 to make way for incoming freshman. "There are only seven of us," a source said. "I don't see why they want to move us out. What is that going to solve?" Another reason Cash's team had to move out was so that The University of Memphis could remain in compliance with NCAA regulations. The regulations state that student-athletes cannot make up more the 49 percent of the dorm's residents as to avoid creating "athletic dorms" which were abolished about nine years ago. "We've gone in and identified bed space for scholarship athletes in several buildings to make sure we don't go over the 49 percent rule," Danny Armitage, associate dean of students said. "If two non-athletes move out then we have to move out two athletes." Armitage said he, personally, does not decide where to move athletes. "The Athletic Department tells us where they want us to put the teams and we put them there," Armitage said. "No one has been singled out, we were told the teams have to go. The track team has not been singled out."

06/26/03		Tiger Top Receiver Out For Season After Tearing Knee (Daily Helmsman)
		From our press services June 26, 2003 The University of Memphis football team will have an even tougher road back from the cellar of Conference USA. The Tigers' senior receiver Tavares Gideon will miss the 2003 football season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate in his left knee. Dr. Barney Freeman performed the successful surgery, and athletic trainer Eddie Cantler will guide Gideon through his rehabilitation. Gideon, who was Memphis' second-leading receiver last season with 42 receptions and eight touchdowns, still has a redshirt season available and is expected to be back in action for the 2004 season. Gideon was the last of the starting receivers from last season. Travis Anglin, who led the team in receptions, graduated and is now in camp with the Detroit Lions. And the Tigers most explosive receiver, Antoine Harden, was dismissed from the team for disciplinary reasons after averaging 21 yards per catch last season. Gideon, who was a highly touted JUCO player before coming to Memphis last season, began to hit his stride late in the season catching six touchdowns in the second half of the season.

06/26/03		Memphis Fans Rank in Top 10 (Daily Helmsman)
		From our press services June 26, 2003 The University of Memphis drew 266,283 in paid attendance for an average of 16,643 fans per game during the 2002-03 season to rank seventh, according to national collegiate basketball attendance figures released by the NCAA Monday. Kentucky led the nation in paid attendance, averaging 22,271 per game this season. Syracuse ranked second, averaging 20,921 while Louisville was third with an average of 19,037. Rounding out the top 10 were North Carolina (18,688), Maryland (17,566), Wisconsin (16,930), Memphis, Indiana (16,527), Kansas (16,300) and Ohio State (15,533). Memphis has ranked among the nation's top 10 in attendance average the past three seasons under John Calipari. The 2001 squad averaged 17,110 to rank sixth nationally while last year's team averaged 16,225 to rank 10th. During Calipari's tenure, Memphis has drawn 897,8370 in total paid attendance. Only Syracuse (1,006,890) and Conference USA rival Louisville (963,969) have drawn more fans over the three-year span. Memphis ranks ahead of North Carolina (889,198), New Mexico (882,191) and Kentucky (866,164) in total home paid attendance over the last three seasons. Conference USA ranked seventh among the nation's Division I conferences, averaging 8,362 per game. The Big 10 Conference led the nation in attendance average at 12,526. In addition to Memphis and Louisville being ranked among the nation's top 10 in attendance, C-USA member Marquette was 11th (15,553), Cincinnati was 25th (12,182) and St. Louis was 49th (9,232).

06/25/03		Marc Gasol's Reign in Spain Puts Drain on U of M's Gain (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish parrish@gomemphis.com June 26, 2003 There is still a possibility the University of Memphis could add a center to next season's team but it would take Lausanne High graduate Marc Gasol returning from Spain to accept a scholarship from the Tiger coaching staff, which seems unlikely. "Coming back to Memphis is not out of the realm of possibilities," said Lausanne coach Jason Peters. "But Marc and his family are actually in the middle of negotiating a (professional) contract in Spain. I would expect a final decision next week." At 7-0, the younger brother of Grizzlies star Pau Gasol is worth taking a chance on because he's big and skilled. But the fact Gasol's a little bigger in terms of weight than anybody would prefer means the Best of the Preps Finalist would probably be a project not expected to seriously contribute for a couple of years. Dozier on camp list Robert Dozier, a 6-8 small forward from Lithonia Ga., will be at the Tigers' Individual Skills Camp this weekend and, according to his AAU coach, could commit to Memphis on his trip. "I certainly expect that will happen," said Georgia Elite coach Linzy Davis. "I think it probably will." Dozier was an unknown commodity entering the summer but has shot up the recruiting lists of several major schools with his impressive play of late. Lopez's world tour Normally, John Calipari likes his recruits to come to town not long after their high school graduation and get accustomed to campus and their new teammates. But for Ivan Lopez, that simply isn't possible. A 6-9 power forward, Lopez is playing with the Puerto Rican junior national team and is booked for the next month or so. On Sunday the Memphis signee will be rebounding for Puerto Rico against Scandinavia in the opener of the fourth annual Global Games in Dallas. Then from July 10-20 Lopez will represent his native country in the FIBA Junior World Championships in Greece. "So Ivan won't be in Memphis until at least after that," said Bob Mackey, who coached Lopez at Ryan Academy in Norfolk Va. "They give him no choice. He's like their prize."

06/25/03		ACC Moves Could Bite Tigers (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish parrish@gomemphis.com June 26, 2003 R.C. Johnson prides himself on being ahead of the curve. Yet when the University of Memphis athletic director heard the latest news coming out of the ongoing ACC/Big East conference shuffle, even he admitted to being caught a bit off-guard. "I was stunned," Johnson said. "Of all the options everybody has talked about, I had never heard that one." The ACC officially extended invites to Miami and Virginia Tech on Wednesday to leave the Big East and join its league. Both institutions will probably accept within days and turn the ACC into an 11-school conference as early as the 2004-2005 fiscal year. With lawsuits and politics playing a part, there have been enough turns in this saga over the past six weeks to make The Usual Suspects seem easy to follow. But no twist was more unexpected than the latest, which is an ACC move to strip the Big East of its two most successful football programs instead of the previously considered trio of Miami, Boston College and Syracuse. "These two institutions represent and share the values for which the ACC has long been known," said Clemson President James F. Barker, head of the league's Council of Presidents. "We feel they will be a great addition to our family." What all this means for Memphis is unclear. But on the surface, the developments would not seem to help. If the Big East loses Miami and Virginia Tech, many analysts have the league replacing them with two all-sports schools while adding two non-football-playing institutions just to boost numbers. Under that scenario, Louisville is considered a lock to be an all-sports addition and Marquette is penciled in as a non-football member. That's two prominent C-USA schools that appear to be heading out. And nobody nationally seems to believe that Memphis will be the second, or even third, all-sports school the Big East might invite. In recent reports from such media outlets as ESPN, Louisville, Cincinnati, East Carolina, South Florida, Central Florida and Marshall have all been listed as potential all-sports, Big East targets. Even with all the corporate support that Johnson said has been promised, Memphis isn't being mentioned. "If they were to take two (all-sports schools) from Conference USA and we weren't one of them, we obviously wouldn't like that and wouldn't be in favor of that," Johnson said. "But I just don't know if that scenario will play out because this is a whole new landscape. And the fact that we haven't been mentioned on talk radio or on the Internet doesn't bother me." It now seems that the best scenario for Memphis would be C-USA getting proactive and trying to make a move on a damaged Big East before the Big East makes a move on C-USA. To do so, commissioner Britton Banowsky would probably have to excuse some of his lower-tier league members like UAB and Army or his non-football schools like DePaul and Charlotte to clear room for additions and ensure that the whole thing makes economic sense. And though booting charter members isn't necessarily attractive, it has to be considered when the alternative might be losing premier institutions in this eat-or-be-eaten world of college athletics. "I don't know if (C-USA) needs to go after somebody else, but we certainly need to be aggressive," Johnson said. "And I'm confident that we are. I really am." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

06/24/03		Volleyball Signs Fifth Newcomer for 2003 (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- - The University of Memphis volleyball team rounded out its 2003 recruiting class when Jennie Toronto from Highland High School in Salt Lake City, Utah, signed a National Letter of Intent (NLI) to play college volleyball at The University of Memphis, Tuesday. "Jennie is a real positive person that will add depth to the right and left sides," Head Coach Carrie Yerty said. "She is a solid passer and defender and will be focusing on making the transition from high school to the Division I game." Toronto was a second team all-state and all-region honoree in 2000 and was a first team all-region player in 2001. Her Highland High School team finished second in the region and third in the state last season and Toronto earned second team all-state honors. A 5-10 outside/right side hitter, Toronto is the daughter of Tom and Catherine Toronto. She is also the niece of Caroline Toronto, an All-America honoree in track and field at the University of Utah. A member of the student senate, the junior choir and the honor roll, Toronto was coached in high school by Kim Norman. Norman was also the high school coach of Logan Tom, the two-time AVCA National Player of the Year at Stanford and a member of the U.S. National Team. Toronto is the fifth newcomer for the 2003 roster, joining Emily Steckel (Santa Clarita, Calif./Hart HS), setter Hristina Stancheva (Sofia, Bulgaria/First English), who enrolled in school in January, Christen Clayton (Houston, Texas/Clear Lake HS), and Melissa Nance (Frankfort, Ind./Clinton Prairie). Toronto also becomes the second Salt Lake City native to join Memphis. Rising junior Heather Watts, the Tigers' returning starter at setter, was a graduate of Skyline High School. Watts was a Verizon Academic All-District IV honoree and finished the season with 1,575 assists, the second-high single season mark in school history. Memphis opens its volleyball season on the road at the Arkansas State tournament, Aug. 29-30. The Tigers will face UALR, Eastern Kentucky, UT-Martin, Northwestern State and host Arkansas State in that tournament. Memphis hosts its own home tournament Sept. 12-13, featuring Louisiana-Lafayette, Holy Cross and Tennessee Tech. The Tigers open their Conference USA schedule on the road at Saint Louis, Oct. 3rd at 7 p.m.

06/23/03		Memphis Ranks Among Nation's Leaders in Attendance (GoTigersGo.com)
		The University of Memphis drew 266,283 in paid attendance for an average of 16,643 fans per game during the 2002-03 season to rank seventh according to national collegiate basketball attendance figures released by the NCAA Monday. Kentucky led the national in paid attendance, averaging 22,271 per game this season. Syracuse ranked second, averaging 20,921 while Louisville was third with an average of 19,037. Rounding out the top 10 were North Carolina (18,688), Maryland (17,566), Wisconsin (16,930), Memphis, Indiana (16,527), Kansas (16,300) and Ohio State (15,533). Memphis has ranked among the nation's top 10 in attendance average the past three seasons under John Calipari. The 2001 squad averaged 17,110 to rank sixth nationally while last year's team averaged 16,225 to ranks 10th. Over Calipari's tenure, Memphis has drawn 897,8370 in total paid attendance. Only Syracuse (1,006,890) and Conference USA rival Louisville (963,969) have drawn more fans over the three-year span. Memphis ranks ahead of North Carolina (889,198), New Mexico (882,191) and Kentucky (866,164) in total home paid attendance over the last three seasons. Conference USA ranked seventh among the nation's Division I conferences, averaging 8,362 per game. The Big 10 Conference led the nation in attendance average at 12,526. In addition to Memphis and Louisville being ranked among the nation's top 10 in attendance, C-USA member Marquette was 11th (15,553), Cincinnati was 25th (12,182) and St. Louis was 49th (9,232).

06/21/03		Tiger Receiver Lost For Season (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish parrish@gomemphis.com June 21, 2003 If this is the year the University of Memphis football program is planning on having that breakthrough season, it'll have to do so without its leading returning receiver. Tavares Gideon had surgery Friday to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will miss the entire year while rehabilitating with Tiger trainer Eddie Cantler. Consequently, Memphis will be without three of Danny Wimprine's top targets from 2002 as it tries to snap a streak of eight straight losing seasons. Travis Anglin and Antoine Harden have completed their eligibility. Attempts to reach Tiger coach Tommy West Friday were unsuccessful. A former junior college standout, Gideon injured his knee last week during offseason workouts. The 6-3 native of Greenville, Miss., still has a redshirt year available and thus is expected to return for the 2004 season. Gideon caught 42 passes for 466 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns last year while developing into one of the better U of M newcomers. His absence will probably lend an opportunity for significant playing time to Tavarious Davis, a junior who was named one of the Tigers' most improved players following spring workouts. A 6-1 native of Athens, Ga., Davis appeared in five games last season, with no catches. He had three receptions for 25 yards - including a 12-yard touchdown against Chattanooga - as a freshman in 2001. - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

06/20/03		Tiger Football Loses Top Receiver (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis senior receiver Tavares Gideon will miss the 2003 football season after suffering a torn anterior cruciate in his left knee. Dr. Barney Freeman performed the successful surgery, and athletic trainer Eddie Cantler will guide Gideon through his rehabilitation. Gideon, who was Memphis' second-leading receiver last season with 42 receptions and eight touchdowns, still has a redshirt season available, and is expected to be back in action for the 2004 season.

06/20/03		Oliver Receives Minority Fellowship (GoTigersGo.com)
		Ray Oliver, the University of Memphis's director of performance enhancement for basketball, has received a minority fellowship to work with the Carolina Panthers for a second straight summer camp. Oliver, whose resume includes a stint as the strength and conditioning coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the early 1990s, will again work in the weight room and on the practice field doing rehab as well as have responsibilities with quality control. Oliver will report to the Panthers' camp in late July. "It's going to be better this time because I know everyone there," Oliver said. "It is a lot of work but it is a good program for minorities to improve themselves." Oliver was one of John Calipari's first hires at the U of M and has just wrapped up his third season with the Tigers.

06/20/03		Tigers Reassess Frontcourt (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish parrish@gomemphis.com June 20, 2003 Remember that University of Memphis frontcourt last season? The one before Chris Massie became eligible? The one that John Calipari openly criticized and repeatedly questioned? Well, it now appears - at least on paper - that the 2003-2004 version will be similar, thanks to Kendrick Perkins's decision to turn pro out of high school instead of playing for the Tigers. "We play the hand that's dealt us," said Calipari, who added that he spoke with Perkins by phone Thursday morning and wished him luck. "We're going to recruit good players, and sometimes that means a kid like this will make this kind of choice. But the option of recruiting bad players is just not a good option." The deadline for withdrawal from the NBA Draft passed Thursday afternoon with no sudden change of mind from Perkins. For better or worse, the 6-11 center from Beaumont, Texas, who is projected by most to be a second-round selection, is now a professional. Consequently, Memphis likely will be suspect in the paint next season and forced to play a smaller lineup that could feature a true wing like Billy Richmond at power forward. Is it ideal? No. Can it work? Yes. Which is why Calipari - always the optimist when it comes to his team - continues to sound upbeat about the immediate future even though he knows his post presence took a huge hit when Perkins, who signed with the Tigers in November, made his decision. "I still like this team," said the fourth-year U of M coach. "We've got our whole backcourt back. This could be a very athletic team and a good three-point shooting team. And we could still play big if we needed to." Calipari likes to say that one man's loss is another man's opportunity. The subject of that cliche this season will be Duane Erwin, who is really the Tigers' only established post player - if you consider a sophomore year of 2.1 points and 3.0 rebounds per game established. Senior center Modibo Diarra has not lived up to expectations on the court. The status of power forwards Almamy Thiero (injury) and Arthur Barclay (grades) remains uncertain. And fellow power forwards Ivan Lopez and Keena Young will be true freshmen who project as role players rather than superstars. Subsequently, the Tigers' best hope of putting someone on the floor who can do what big men are supposed to do will come in the form of the guy everybody calls "Red," who has struggled to get minutes for two seasons but will now probably get more than he could've ever hoped. "What a great opportunity for Duane Erwin," Calipari said of the 6-9 junior from Huntsville. "This is the year for him. He's showed signs of being really good. Well, now we'll keep him on the floor for 35 minutes and let's see how he blocks shots, rebounds and plays. "Everything happens for a reason," Calipari concluded. "Hopefully 'Red' can take advantage of this, and we'll be fine." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

06/20/03		ESPN2 Will Air Tigers-Rebels Sept. 6 (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg stukenborg@gomemphis.com June 20, 2003 University of Memphis athletic director R.C. Johnson said Thursday that the football team's Sept. 6 home game against Ole Miss will be carried by ESPN2. Kickoff will be moved from 7 p.m. to 11 a.m. to accommodate the broadcast. The game will mark the second straight year the U of M has been on ESPN2 and the third straight season on an ESPN network. Memphis played host to Louisville on ESPN2 last October, losing 38-32 to the Cardinals, and dropped their 2001 season opener at Mississippi State on ESPN. It will be the program's fifth appearance on the sports cable network since 1982. "I know I will get some flak for playing an afternoon game (against Ole Miss in early September), but in this case we had no say," Johnson said. "In our conference contract, it allows ESPN to pick the games it wants to televise and the (kickoff) time. The upside is it will give us national exposure." Ole Miss will be led by senior quarterback Eli Manning, a Heisman Trophy candidate and one of the most prolific passers in school history. Manning, son of former Rebel quarterback Archie Manning, has passed for 6,519 yards and 52 touchdowns during his career and owns 24 school records. Memphis, entering coach Tommy West's third season, will rely on an offense paced by junior quarterback Danny Wimprine, who has made a similar assault on the Tiger record book. He has set 14 school records, including touchdown passes (37) and passing yards (2,820) in a season. Wimprine may not have one of his favorite targets to throw to against Ole Miss. Tiger senior receiver Tavares Gideon, the team's leading returning receiver, injured his knee during an offseason workout last week and will undergo an arthroscopic procedure today. Tiger trainer Eddie Cantler said Gideon would be examined today "to ascertain the extent of damage (sustained) in an offseason workout." Gideon caught 42 passes for 466 yards and a team-leading eight touchdowns last season. If Gideon is unable to play this season, he will have another year of eligibility remaining since he has not been redshirted. The loss of Gideon would leave the Tigers without three of their top four receivers from a year ago. Leading receiver Travis Anglin (55 catches, 740 yards) completed his eligibility and Antoine Harden (37 catches, 608 yards) was dismissed from the team. - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

06/19/03		U 0f M Notebook (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg stukenborg@gomemphis.com June 19, 2003 When Stephen Pater begins his new position as women's basketball coach at George County (Miss.) High this fall, country music superstars Tim McGraw and Faith Hill aren't expected to sing the national anthem at the team's season opener. But it's not a stretch to say they could. Pater, the University of Memphis women's basketball program's director of operations, is leaving after one season at the U of M to return to his first love, coaching. As for McGraw and Hill, Pater could extend an invitation to the duo without feeling intimidated. Pater, 32, is a former childhood friend of McGraw's and played summer league baseball with the singer in Rayville, La. When McGraw and Hill married in 1996, it was Pater's father, Adrian, who performed the ceremony. Pater said he's attended about a dozen McGraw concerts, including one earlier this year at The Pyramid. "I haven't had to pay to attend one of them," he said. Pater spent seven seasons as the girls basketball coach at Moss Point (Miss.) High before accepting Lady Tiger coach Joye Lee-McNelis's invitation to join her staff at Memphis. He led the Moss Point team to its first state tournament appearance in 2000 and to the state semifinals in 2001. After giving up his coaching clipboard in 2002-03, he jumped at the chance to return. "You don't realize how much you miss coaching until you're not in it," Pater said. "This is an opportunity to get back in it." Pater's final day at the U of M is June 30. Coming along The indoor practice facility on the South Campus, which was destroyed by fire last fall, is scheduled to be available for the Tiger football team by early September. U of M director of football operations John Flowers said it's possible the team could have access to the indoor turf room during preseason workouts in August, but he's projecting September availability. "I don't think it will be ready for (preseason) practice, but they put the steel beams and roof up in three days last week," he said. The Tigers open preseason practice Aug. 6. The team's opener is Aug. 30 at home against Tennessee Tech. Another net gain? Lady Tiger tennis player Sabrina Lindemann may add yet another honor to her growing list of postseason awards. Lindemann is a finalist for an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship, awarded by the Region No. 6 Selection Committee. The NCAA will make final selections June 26. "This would help her in meeting her academic goals," said Lady Tiger tennis coach Charlotte Peterson. Lindemann, a native of Linz, Austria, has received eight postseason honors, four of them for her academic accomplishments. Odds and ends The Tiger baseball coaching staff will not be conducting its annual camps because of improvements being made to Nat Buring Stadium. The staff is expected to hold its camps this winter. . . . The Lady Tiger volleyball team has added Emily Steck el, a standout defensive specialist and two-year starter for Hart High in Newhall, Calif. - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

06/19/03		Memphis Trio Competes in NCAA Track and Field Championships (Daily Helmsman)
		By Daniel Ford June 19, 2003 Sometimes they both think about what might have been. And with a sigh, coach Brenda Cash imagines what kind of strides Keenan Gibson and The University of Memphis women's track team might have been able to make if Gibson could return for another season. Gibson is the fastest woman at The U of M, but because of her age, 24, she was only granted three years of eligibility, instead of four. However, the sprinter made the most of this, her final season, by finishing 10th in the nation in the 100-meter dash in Sacramento, Calif. last week. Gibson ran an 11.72 and missed qualifying for the finals and becoming an All-American by one spot, or in track terms, four-hundredths of a second. "It was the best way to end her career," Cash said. "After the (semifinal heat) was over she said, 'boy I would have liked those finals." Gibson was the first female track athlete to qualify for nationals since Cash took over and rebuilt the program in 1985. "I didn't think it would take this long," Cash, a former All-American at Arizona State," Cash said. "To have someone who was directly under my tutelage go to nationals was a real confidence booster for me as a coach." Gibson was not the only Tiger in town. Mate Nemeth was competing in the 3000-meter Steeplechase and Gaute Myklebust was entered in both the discus and shot put. Nemeth was the lone Tiger to qualify for the finals and finished 12th with a time of 8:47.54. Myklebust, who was named Conference USA Outdoor Track and Field Athlete of the Year, missed the finals in the shot put by one-fourth of a meter. The Norwegian also finished 14th in the discus, which was not good enough to qualify for the finals. Myklebust's threw for a U of M school record and personal best of 58.33m. Although Myklebust gave his best performance to date, his throw fell in comparsion to SMU's Hannes Hopley throw of 59.20m. Freshman Myklebust and sophomore Nemeth have years as a Tiger to improve unlike Gibson. Her career at Memphis may be over, but Trinidad native is not finished running. She is currently training for another track meet, this time as an independent, and has aspirations of running in the Olympics for Trinidad and Tobago. "She's looking at the possibility of competing for her country," Cash said. She said Gibson surely has the determination and work ethic to represent her country. "She has always been a great sprinter," Cash said. "We were just fine-tuning her. She put in the work and the time to make herself just that much better." Cash hopes she won't have to wait 18 more years for another Keenan Gibson.

06/19/03		Recruits Reverse Courses - Pair Rescind Their Promises to Tigers (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish parrish@gomemphis.com June 19, 2003 Chalk it up as a day of losses for the University of Memphis. As expected, McDonald's All-American Kendrick Perkins has decided to let this afternoon's deadline for withdrawal from the NBA draft pass without taking advantage of it. Consequently, the 6-11 center will forgo a career as a Tiger and try to prove wrong all the analysts who insist he isn't ready to be a professional. And just in case that wasn't enough, Eric Price told The Commercial Appeal on Wednesday that despite announcing his allegiance to Memphis three weeks ago, he too is no longer destined to be a Tiger. The 6-1 rising junior from Washington has reopened his recruitment and now lists Connecticut as his leader. "Right now, my parents and my coaches want me to weigh my options," said Price, whom HoopScoop ranks as the second-best prospect in the Class of 2005. "Memphis is still on my list. It's not the leader. But it's still on my list." The same cannot be said for Perkins, who has spent the past six months or so teetering between college and the NBA. Now, the back-and-forth is over and there is apparently no turning around for the four-year letterman from Ozen High in Beaumont, Texas. "Kendrick is staying in the draft," said Andre Boutte Jr., a prep teammate of Perkins's and the son of the Beaumont coach who bears the same name. The elder Boutte, his son explained Wednesday night, had accompanied Perkins to San Antonio for a workout with the Spurs and could not be reached for comment. "But," Boutte Jr. repeated, "Kendrick is staying in the draft." Ranked as the fourth-best prospect in the Class of 2003 by PrepStars.com, Perkins is considered a borderline first-round pick at best and most agree he won't be selected until the second-round. If the latter happens, no contract will be guaranteed. Which prompted John Calipari to rhetorically ask the same question every Tiger fan must be wondering this morning. "Why would you do that?" said the Memphis coach. "But if he wants to, I'll support him. I'll support him in whatever he does." Perkins's decision leaves the Tigers' 2003 recruiting class with only 6-8 power forward Ivan Lopez, 6-7 power forward Keena Young and small forward Sean Banks. However, Banks, a 6-7 talent from New Jersey, has yet to qualify academically. In developments: Briefly: Former Wright State coach Ed Schilling is in Memphis, but his hiring as a Tiger assistant probably won't be official for at least a couple more days. Schilling was an assistant for Calipari at UMass and with the New Jersey Nets. He will replace Steve Roccaforte, who left to work under Billy Tubbs at Lamar while he grooms to be the legendary coach's successor. Roccaforte attended Lamar and grew up in nearby Port Arthur. . . . U of M power forward Almamy Thiero, who missed all but a few minutes of last season with a leg injury, has had a second surgery and will be sidelined for another three or four weeks. . . . Former Tiger standout Chris Massie has returned to Memphis after several workouts with NBA teams and will now wait to see what his future holds. Calipari said Massie is taking classes and remains optimistic that he will be drafted even though most believe its not likely. "But," Calipari said, "I think there is still a chance." . . . The U of M will continue accepting registration for its upcoming Day Camp until Monday morning. The camp, which runs from Monday through Thursday, is being offered at half price to honor-roll students. For more information, call the basketball office at 678-2346. - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

06/19/03		Tiger Football Coach Turns Passion Toward Golf in Summertime (Commercial Appeal)
		By Zack McMillin zmcmillin@gomemphis.com June 19, 2003 Rule No. 1 when playing golf with Tommy West: No practice balls. ''Don't have time,'' says the University of Memphis football coach. ''Don't want to waste any good shots.'' Rule No. 2: If it looks like rain, just keep repeating a simple mantra. ''It's going north,'' West says. ''That's just what you've got to say, 'Going north.' '' So even as the clouds gather and the wind blows stronger and the light grows dimmer, West is predicting 18 holes of golf as we prepare to tee off from the first hole at Plantation Golf Club in Olive Branch. Some signs are in our favor, however. Mike Herrington, the owner of Plantation and Cherokee Valley, wore his C-USA golf socks to the course, and John Flowers, the U of M's director of football operations, points out a U of M flag proudly displayed in the yard adjacent to the first tee. ''That's a nice touch,'' says West. Chuck Pierotti, a friend of West's and the former owner of Crown Distributing, adds what will be the first of his many one-liners on this day: ''At least it's not flying at half mast.'' Perhaps it should have been, given the tee balls that followed. I'm the only player who doesn't need a mulligan, but my second shot on the par-5 hole hooks into someone's backyard. Which brings up another rule. ''We don't ever go backward,'' West says. ''Take your penalty and drop. Just play.'' Maybe West doesn't keep to the letter of the USGA rulebook, but he sure keeps the spirit of the game close to his heart. This is not a football coach who plays golf merely to pass the time; West has an abiding passion for the game that goes back to his childhood growing up in Gainesville, Ga. On summer mornings, his parents would drop him off at Chattahoochie Country Club, where he caddied in the morning and played in the afternoon. Although West is naturally lefthanded, like many people older than 40, he learned to play righthanded. He still plays that way, though he does putt lefthanded. Midway in the round, he uses my lefthanded driver and rips it. ''The pro told me that if I played golf righthanded, it wouldn't mess up my baseball swing,'' West says. ''I don't know if he was right or wrong, but I bought it.'' The baseball swing was good enough to get him drafted out of high school. The golf swing - even without regular practice - is well-constructed and backed by the kind of power you'd expect from a guy who played tight end at Tennessee. On the par-5 seventh, West rode the wind for a 315-yard drive. ''I usually shoot around 80,'' West says. ''I'm capable of getting into the high 70s and I'm capable of shooting in the high 80s.'' From the conclusion of spring practice until the Fourth of July, West indulges his love for the game by playing every chance he gets. ''This is charge-your-batteries time of the year,'' West says. ''I encourage my staff to get out and play. You've got to take a break.'' Last summer, he took a golf trip up north that included rounds at U.S. Open tracks like Baltusrol in New Jersey and Shinnecock Hills on Long Island. ''Loved Baltusrol,'' West says. ''I had this caddie telling me U.S. Open stories.'' He wasn't so keen on Shinnecock Hills, site of next year's U.S. Open. Playing from the back tees, West says he hit the ball as well as he could and still managed only a 92. ''If you told me they had a Lear jet to take us up there for a day of golf,'' says West, ''I wouldn't go. It was the hardest golf I have ever played.'' West, the Clemson coach from 1993-98, has also played numerous rounds at Augusta National. He is good friends with Tommy Crenshaw, the course horticulturist, and he went to high school with Marsh Benson, the head professional. In one six-year stretch, West and his friends would take off every Memorial Day weekend and play all of Augusta they could fit into a 48-hour period. ''That's the greatest deal that's ever been,'' says West. One year, West set a goal of breaking 80 and violated his no-practice rule. In the morning round on Monday he shot 80. ''So I'm fired up and ready for the afternoon,'' West says. ''We get to the 18th hole, and I have a 5-foot putt for par to shoot 79. ''I missed it.'' By the back nine, it looks as if the rain has - who knew? - gone north, and the concept of luck comes up when Flowers catches a bad break. ''Rather be lucky than good,'' West says. The conversation turns to how rotten Memphis's luck has been the last three decades, and how West believes the pieces are in place to start changing it. West thinks it's about believing in luck and having a sense that you are destined to get good breaks, the way Bear Bryant's teams seemed to at Alabama. ''That's the team that used to always seem to get the luck, to get the breaks,'' West says. ''It was always something with Alabama.'' On Plantation's signature hole, its daunting par-4 18th (dogleg left past large tree, approach shot over water to an uphill green), this golf writer's tee shot goes so far right that the ball is just barely inbounds. ''I just sabotaged that round,'' I say. ''Not yet,'' West assures me. Knowing I need a par to break 40 on the back, I pull the driver for a 220-yard shot directly into a tough wind. It takes off solid but a little low and it's 50-50 to land dry or wet. Instead, it hits the lumber guarding the bank, bounds high into the air . . . and lands on the collar of the green to set up a par. ''See,'' says West, ''that's the Alabama break I was talking about!'' I shoot 82 to West's 84, and after we bid our goodbyes, West begins pondering what to do with the rest of his day. ''I bet we can get in nine more,'' he says to Flowers. ''It's going north.'' - Zack McMillin: 529-2564

06/18/03		Memphis Baseball Camps Not Scheduled For This Summer (GoTigersGo.com)
		Memphis, Tenn. - The University of Memphis baseball coaching staff will not hold its annual summer camps this summer due to field improvements being made at Nat Buring Stadium. Check back in the fall to find out more information regarding the annual winter camps that will be held by the coaching staff.

06/17/03		Tigers' Recruit Tempted by NBA (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish parrish@gomemphis.com June 17, 2003 By Thursday, something will be official. But for now, the future of Kendrick Perkins still teeters between the University of Memphis and the NBA with no decision in place. "He's just weighing his options," said Andre Boutte, Perkins's coach at Ozen High in Beaumont, Texas. "Nothing has changed." Which means Tiger coach John Calipari will spend the next few days probably optimistic about the odds of getting his top recruit but realistic to the possibility that Perkins will never set foot on campus. Boutte, of course, won't say that. He insists, as of late Monday, that no decision has been made even though the deadline for withdrawal (Thursday at 5 p.m) is approaching. But when you consider that Perkins joined Brian Cook, Derrick Zimmerman and Szymon Szewczyk for a workout in Boston last week, the chances of the McDonald's All-American turning back seem to be dwindling fast. Because for Perkins to attend the U of M and meet NCAA eligibility requirements, the 6-11 center will have to reimburse the Celtics for the cost of the flight, hotel, food and any other expense he incurred on his visit. Even so, when asked if it's fair to assume the above is a solid indication that Perkins is set on remaining in the draft, Boutte said "No." "That's just an assumption," he added. "Kendrick's just testing the waters. That's what he's doing." Labeled a project with good potential by most NBA scouts, Perkins is considered a borderline first-round pick though many mock drafts have him as a second-round selection. Only first-round draftees are offered guaranteed contracts. - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

06/15/03		Once a Shoo-In, Allen Now Has Doubts (Commercial Appeal)
		By Jim Masilak masilak@gomemphis.com June 15, 2003 Just a few years ago, when he was tabbed as the sure-fire, can't-miss, next big thing in Memphis basketball, it would have been inconceivable that any school might say no to Andre Allen. Even before an Atlanta-based publication declared Allen the nation's best eighth-grade player in 2000, local high school coaches were tripping over one another in pursuit of the short, stocky boy wonder. Allen eventually surfaced at Booker T. Washington, where his list of honors through three seasons is formidable: 2001 state champion; 2001 state tournament MVP; two-time MIAA Class AA city champion and two-time Mr. Basketball. The natural destination for Allen, one of the city's most-hyped talents, was always going to be his beloved hometown school, the University of Memphis. But some funny things happened on the way to The Pyramid. As college coaches replaced prep coaches in the recruiting process, and as recruiting analysts put a microscope to the nation's top players, the talk regarding Allen centered not on what he has done, but what he hasn't. At just under 5-10, the rising senior has grown barely two inches since the eighth grade. And Allen, with a suspect outside shot, has not developed into the team-leading point guard many had hoped. Nor has he retained his rating as the top player in his class. In fact, most observers no longer even rate him as the city's top player. That honor goes to 6-9 Hamilton swingman, and Allen's friend, Shawne Williams. "Some kids have had recognition since seventh or eighth grade. Now you've got the sleepers who are waking up," said Rorey Lawrence Sr., Allen's AAU coach. "I've seen Andre up against some big guards, and (his height) wasn't a factor. But (coaches) like 6-5, 6-6 guards, and Andre hasn't grown." Then there is school itself. While Washington coach Fred Horton says Allen is passing all his core classes, the coach admits his star is struggling with the TCAP, which he must pass to graduate. Indeed, more question marks now surround Allen than ever before. And the biggest one - a question that would have seemed implausible a couple years ago, given his stated preference - is, where will Andre Allen go to college? For it appears more and more likely, with each passing day and each new U of M guard commitment, that Allen will have to look elsewhere, that there simply won't be a place for him at the University of Memphis. No vacancy? U of M coach John Calipari already has received commitments from two smallish but highly regarded guards. Darius Washington, a 6-0 senior two guard from Orlando, plans to sign with the U of M in the fall. And Eric Price, a 6-1 junior point guard from Washington, has committed to enroll in 2005. Those commitments would appear to leave little room for Allen. "He's already realized it," Horton said. "When they (committed) Darius, that started him looking at a different path. "There just doesn't appear to be a spot for him. I think it's unfortunate, but there are many other options he can take." Allen is still ranked by most recruiting services as one of the nation's top 100 rising seniors, though he is near the tail end of those lists. Of the top 100 as ranked by Prepstars.com, Allen is one of just two in the top 90 who are 5-10 or smaller. Washington, meanwhile, is ranked No. 2 overall, while Price is listed as the No. 12 player in the Class of 2005. "Andre is a point guard, but he doesn't have the height and he hasn't shown the ability to run a team like other point guards out there," said Jeff Goodman, a recruiting analyst with Prepstars.com. "He won't back down from anybody. He can score, but he has a tendency to take some poor shots. "Darius and Eric are both arguably better players. I don't really think Andre fits what Cal wants. He's that stocky kid who's not super quick. Cal's not gonna take a kid from Memphis just to take him." Horton, who said he is trying to line up a game next season against Washington's Orlando Edgewater team, said Allen will only be spurred by any criticism. "It serves as an incentive for him to work harder so he can disprove all the naysayers," Horton said. "I think size in Andre's case doesn't matter. He's a tremendous athlete. He'll figure out a way to beat you." And then, Horton adds, "In his heart and in his mind, he's still No. 1." Where next? While Allen has long identified Memphis as his No. 1 choice, it has been with the addendum that he was "leaving my options open." It appears now that, by waiting, he may have missed out on his top option. Due to NCAA recruiting regulations, college coaches are not allowed to comment on prospective recruits. "They wanted me to commit when I was younger," Allen said, "but I had to weigh my options." According to Allen and his coaches, those options now include schools like Tennessee, Houston and, perhaps, Indiana, which is in need of a point guard right now. USC, Lawrence said, also has showed interest of late. Ray of hope Before the U of M got commitments from Washington and Price, Tiger point guard Antonio Burks said Allen "talked about coming here a lot. But lately that hasn't been there." If anyone can provide an example for Allen, should he still harbor hopes of playing at the U of M, it's Burks. A former Washington player, Burks played one season at Hiwassee Junior College in Madisonville, Tenn., before catching on at the U of M for the 2001-02 season. He soon took over as the team's starting point guard - the position Allen long hoped to play for the Tigers. "He can use me for an example," Burks said. "It was real hard for me. Nobody knew I was ever gonna play here at the U of M. "I made Coach Cal like me." Allen could yet do the same. The U of M is still recruiting the player who once seemed destined to wear Tiger blue. The door remains slightly ajar, but Allen seems to have accepted that it may not open for him. "I'm all right with it," Allen said of the likelihood he'll never play for the hometown team. "As a person told me, 'Don't always be considering Memphis. They've already got two other guys.' "There are plenty more colleges looking at me. I've got plenty of options." - Jim Masilak: 529-2311

06/15/03		Hamilton Star Needs an Escape (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish parrish@gomemphis.com June 15, 2003 There was a time when it seemed like a lock. Shawne Williams loved the University of Memphis and how it offered him a chance to fulfill a dream. The University of Memphis loved Shawne Williams and how he could do things with a basketball that the average hoops prodigy simply cannot do. It was never a question of if. Only when. Exactly when would the Hamilton High standout call a press conference, sit down behind a table, throw on a blue hat, look into the cameras and announce to the world - or at least the Memphis area - that he had decided to become a Tiger. But now . . . "I'm definitely not going to Memphis," Williams said last week without hesitation. "I have to look at what's best for me. And it's best for me to get out of town." Leaving a bad place Shawne Williams is one of the most talented basketball players this city has produced in some time. He's a 6-9 wing who drains jumpers from the perimeter. He's a guard trapped in a power forward's body, a combination that makes scouts salivate. Most agree that Williams possesses all the skills to one day play this game at the highest level. And he's only added to that reputation in recent weeks on the AAU circuit while breaking into the top 15 of some evaluators' national rankings. "Every time I've seen Shawne, he's been great," said Jeff Goodman, a recruiting analyst for PrepStars.com. "He's obviously come onto the national scene, I would say, almost as much as anyone this summer." Meanwhile, Williams's personal life has deteriorated to the point to where his high school coach, Ted Anderson, insists he needs a change of scenery. That's why the U of M is no longer an option. Without getting into the details, Williams is living every inner-city cliche you've ever heard. And though it's hard to find anybody who can say a bad word about the kid himself, it's equally as difficult to get a soul to deny he isn't in a tough situation that's setup for a slip-up. Both of Williams's parents are around town, but neither takes care of their son. In fact, right now Anderson said that his star prospect isn't living with any family members and is getting far less supervision than a 17 year-old needs. "Shawne's not in the best situation," Anderson explained in no shortage of words. "He's living a hard life. And that's why I have to get him out of town like no other that I have ever had. "It's nothing against the University of Memphis," added Anderson, who is a U of M graduate. "If the University of Memphis were in another city, that would be fine. But it's not. It's here. And Shawne has to get out of here." Considering the shaky foundation, it's fair to note that prep school seems like a decent option for Williams. It would provide an immediate escape from the streets of Memphis and likely better his reputation on the national level while improving his academic standing, which with a 19 on the ACT is already in solid shape. Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, and Mt. Zion Academy in North Carolina - two storied boarding schools that produced such stars as Ron Mercer, Carmelo Anthony and Tracy McGrady - have inquired about Williams spending his senior season with them. Regardless, Anderson insisted prep school is not a possibility no matter how desperate the situation might get. "That's something that's been brought to me, but we're not doing it," he said. "Shawne is a Hamilton kid. He's going to graduate from Hamilton." Parting ways Anderson has met several times over the past few months with John Calipari and expressed his concerns to the Memphis coach. And though the two clearly don't agree on what's best for Williams, Calipari - who doesn't have a history of chasing prospects who don't also chase him, nor does he need to - seems content with Anderson's wishes, and the Tigers' once-relentless recruitment of Williams has cooled considerably. Case in point: when Williams picked up a stack of mail from Hamilton late last week that fills more than one box at the school, there were letters from virtually every school he's been interested in - Cincinnati, Kentucky, Indiana, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Houston and Arkansas are some of Williams's favorites - except for Memphis. "Cal understands," Anderson said. "He wants Shawne, but he knows where I'm coming from because we've talked about it. "In the end, Shawne is going to be fine, and the University of Memphis is going to be fine, too," Anderson concluded. "I'm just trying to do what's best for Shawne. And getting as far away from here as he can is going to be what's best for Shawne." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

06/14/03		Current U of M Commitments (Commercial Appeal)
		CLASS OF 2004 Darius Washington: This 6-0 combo guard from Orlando comes from the Dajuan Wagner school of scoring. PrepStars.com ranks Washington as the third-best rising senior in the nation, and he's sure to headline what will be another elite recruiting class by Memphis no matter if any Memphians are actually involved. Washington can't sign a national letter of intent with the Tigers until November. CLASS OF 2005 Eric Price: This 6-1 point guard will play his junior season at Blair Academy in New Jersey after spending the past two years at Washington's Dunbar High. He is the youngest commitment John Calipari's staff has ever publicly taken, and PrepStars.com ranks him as the 12th-best rising junior in the country. Price can't sign a national letter of the intent with the Tigers until November 2004.

06/13/03		Nemeth Places 12th in the Steeplechase (GoTigersGo.com)
		SACRAMENTO, Calif.- Mate Nemeth placed 12th in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the NCAA Track & Field Championships. Nemeth, a native of Hungary ran a 8:47.54 in the finals of the event. Dan Lincoln of Arkansas ran an 8:26.65 to edge out Jordan Desilets of Eastern Michigan for the 3000m steeplechase national championship. Nemeth was one of three Memphis Tigers that competed this weekend in Sacramento, along with Gaute Myklebust and Keenan Gibson. Both Gibson and Myklebust failed to advance to the finals in their respective events. This marks the conclusion of the 2003 Memphis Track & Field season which went down in the books as one of the school's most successful years. In 2003 Memphis qualified 12 male athletes and four female athletes for NCAA Reguionals and three advanced to the NCAA Championships. This year's Tiger sqaud combined to set new school records in nine events. Louisiana State University won its 25th Women's Track & Field National title scoring 64 points to top Texas which scored 50 points and South Carolina who scored 47 points. On the Men's side Arkansas scored 59 points to edge out Auburn (50), Southern Cal (41.5) and LSU (36). Team points are accumulated through individual placing in event finals. Ten points are awarded for a first place finish, eight for a second place finish, six points for a third place finish, four points for a fourth place finish, two points for a fifth place finish, one point for a six place finish and .5 points for placing seventh in an event. Women's 1, LSU, 64; 2, Texas, 50; 3, South Carolina, 47; 4, Florida, 36; 5, Nebraska, 33; 6, Indiana, 32; 7, North Carolina, 30; 8, UCLA 28; 9, Stanford, 27; 10, Penn State, 24; 11, Georgia, 22; 12, Washington St., 21; 13, Southern Cal, 19; 14, Auburn, 18; 15, BYU, 17.5; 16, Cal Poly-SLO, 16.5; 17, Oregon, 14.5; 18, Miami (Fla.), 14; 19, Arkansas, 13.5; 20. Yale and Idaho, 13. Men's 1, Arkansas, 59; 2, Auburn, 50; 3, Southern Cal, 41.5; 4, LSU. 36; 5, Nebraska, 33; 6, Florida, 32; 7, Tennessee and Stanford, 30; 9, Minnesota, 29; 10, South Carolina, 22; 11, Penn and Texas A&M, 20; 13, Oregon, 19.25; 14, Georgia and TCU, 19; 16, Middle Tennessee St., 17; 17, Texas Tech and SMU, 16; 19, UCLA, 14.5; 20, Mississippi St., 13.

06/13/03		Myklebust Just Misses Finals of Discus Throw (GoTigersGo.com)
		SACRAMENTO, Calif.- Action continued at the 2003 NCAA Track & Field Championships on Thursday and Friday. Memphis athlete Gaute Myklebust, who was named 2003 C-USA Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year competed in his second event Thursday, the discus throw. Myklebust entered the competition with a Memphis school record and best throw of 58.33 meters. Myklebust placed 14th in the qualifying round with a toss of 55.34 meters and failed to advance to the finals in the discus competition. This marks the end of a stellar junior season for Myklebust. A duo of Texans provided the top marks in the discus qualifying round. SMU's Hannes Hopley threw 59.20 meters to place first while Jason Young of Texas Tech threw 58.07 meters to finish second. Another Texan John Ralston of Texas A&M was the final qualifier with his toss of 55.84 meters. The top-twelve qualifiers advanced to the finals. With Myklebust's two event competitions complete, Mate Nemeth is the lone Memphis Tiger still competing in Sacramento. Nemeth will run in the 3000 meter steeplechase finals tonight scheduled for 8:10 p.m.

06/13/03		Packers' Hot Corner - Ex-Tiger Boosts Stats, Warms to Lambeau (Commercial Appeal)
		By Ron Higgins higgins@gomemphis.com June 13, 2003 When the Green Bay Packers drafted Mike McKenzie in the third round of the '99 National Football League draft, the reaction from Packers fans was. . . . "Who's Mike McKenzie?" said McKenzie with a laugh and a shake of his dreadlocks. "I just wanted the opportunity to gradually win a lot of people over." McKenzie, a former University of Memphis star cornerback, certainly has done that. As he prepares for his fifth NFL season, all as a starter, there's the feeling that McKenzie might be the best defensive back in the game who hasn't made a Pro Bowl team. "The last two years Mike should have been in the Pro Bowl," said Lionel Washington, the Packers assistant defensive backs coach who has worked closely with McKenzie. "But I've told him it's something he can't worry about. If we get to a Super Bowl, that stuff takes care of itself." Last year, McKenzie had the numbers comparing favorably with the three NFC cornerbacks - Washington's Champ Bailey and Philadelphia's Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor - who were chosen to the Pro Bowl. McKenzie had 64 tackles, two interceptions, a sack and 15 pass breakups. The only year that McKenzie has had fewer than 60 tackles was his second season, in 2000. That's when two knee injuries, including arthroscopic surgery for torn cartilage, limited him to 10 games. He came back two years ago with the best season of his career - 70 tackles, 21 pass deflections and an NFL playoff game in which he held 49ers receiver Terrell Owens to 40 yards in just four catches. "Every year, I try to add something to my game," McKenzie said. "People watch tape on you, they know what you do well. It's why you have to get faster and stronger. I'm physical and I want to be even more physical at the line of scrimmage." It's why McKenzie spends his off-seasons in and out of Memphis training with personal trainer Dean Lotz. McKenzie has faithfully trained with Lotz since preparing for the NFL draft in the spring of '99. McKenzie, a two-time Conference USA first-team selection, left school after his junior season, even though some believed him too slow for the NFL. "We worked with Mike a couple of months, he went out and ran the 40 in 4.37 seconds and that was that," Lotz said. "He has continued to get better every year because he doesn't feel like he knows everything. He's willing to learn." McKenzie was the third of three cornerbacks drafted in '99 by Green Bay, the others being Antuan Edwards in the first round and Fred Vinson in the second round. The Packers drafted the cornerbacks for primarily one reason - to stop Minnesota's Randy Moss, who had torched them for 343 yards and three touchdowns in two 1998 games. "He came in immediately and played with the degree of confidence you need when you're out there all alone playing that position," said John Dorsey, Green Bay's director of college scouting. "Mike showed he has the unique gift of great closing speed to make plays at the last second." On the regular-season opening Sunday as a rookie, McKenzie was the starter. He beat out returning starter Craig Newsome, Edwards (who was moved to safety) and Vinson, who was eventually traded to Seattle. By the end of his first season, McKenzie became the first Packer rookie to lead the team in interceptions, when he had six. He set the bar high, yet his play has remained remarkably consistent. McKenzie usually draws the assignment of covering the league's best receivers, such as Owens, Tampa Bay's Keyshawn Johnson and Moss. "The one thing that has never changed for Mike is his knack of always being around the ball," said Bob Slowik, the Packers' assistant head coach and defensive backs coach. "He makes plays." So why hasn't McKenzie been on a Pro Bowl team yet? Maybe it's because he's not a graduate of the Deion Sanders/Fred Smoot school of public smack-talking. "I'm not going to be one of those guys who talks to the media and tells them what I'm going to do before I do it," McKenzie said. "I feel I want to make it happen between the lines, that actions speak louder than words." It's an attitude and a style that has endeared him to the Packers organization. In January 2002, they rewarded him with a five-year, $17.1 million extension that included a $3.5 million signing bonus. Then just a couple of months ago, Brian Parker, McKenzie's Memphis-based agent, presented him with the news he was receiving a guaranteed $1.75 million roster bonus for this season. This hasn't changed McKenzie one iota. He's not a party guy. His major indulgence is restoring old cars, something he learned from an uncle who was into body repair. In the McKenzie collection is an '82 Impala, a '68 Chrysler Newport, a '66 Buick Electra 225 convertible and a '71 Impala. "I still have the car I had in college," McKenzie said. "When you're in college, you don't have money to get it fixed, you learn to tinker with your car." Washington appreciates McKenzie as a player and a person, calling him "the total package." "Mike is level-headed, he's humble and he comes to work hard every day," Washington said. "Every day I tell him to do something that will make him better than he was yesterday, and he always does." McKenzie, who was raised in Miami and played collegiately in the warm climate of Memphis, said he loves playing in Green Bay. "The first time I walked out for one of our games on a typical Green Bay winter day, I was thinking, 'How can anyone play in this?'" McKenzie said. "But when you look around Lambeau Field, and see 70,000 screaming fans, you realize there isn't anywhere else you'd rather be on a Sunday afternoon. "And besides, when it gets cold, my dreads keep me warm." Parker is hoping to connect McKenzie even more with the Packers faithful. A Milwaukee TV station recently approached Parker about a weekly McKenzie show during football season. Maybe a little airtime will help McKenzie's Pro Bowl cause, though it's not his top priority. "I do feel that maybe the respect for me across the league isn't there," McKenzie said. "But my main focus is getting to the Super Bowl. I'm looking for that ring." - Ron Higgins: 529-2525

06/12/03		What Has Been Happening in the World of Tiger Sports (Daily Helmsman)
		Men's Basketball Midway through his senior year Sean Banks wasn't sure if he would qualify academically to go to college. Banks, a wing forward out of Oradell, N.J. who committed to play for the Tigers next season if he were to qualify, seems as if he will. Memphis coach John Calipari said recently that he thinks Banks will make grades after all and that the 6-foot 7-inch shooter pulled his grades up a lot during the last semester of his senior year. Men's Basketball Assistant coach Steve Roccaforte left Memphis to return to his Alma Mater, Lamar. Roccaforte has taken over as assistant coach under Billy Tubbs with the understanding that he will take over Tubbs head coaching position in two or three years. Ed Schilling, former head coach of Wright State, will likely fill Rocco's position. Schilling has coached with Calipari at UMass and with the New Jersey Nets and was recently fired from Wright State. Men's Basketball Perhaps the most prolific scorer ever to play for the Tigers received his degree at spring commencement. Anfernee Hardaway earned his remaining credits last semester and graduated. Hardaway won several national Player of the Year awards during the 1992-93 season at Memphis before going on to an NBA career that has included a NBA finals appearance and four All-Star games. Seven-foot center Earl Barron also graduated this spring becoming the first men's basketball player to graduate in four years since 1991. Football After sitting out last season due to academic ineligibility Albert Means will return to the field for his junior season this fall. Means, an honor roll student this past year, passed 24 hours in the spring and fall to qualify. The 6-foot 4-inch 335-pounder was the center of nationwide controversy in 2001 after it was discovered that Means' high school coach, Lynn Lang, was paid $150,000 to influence the defensive lineman to sign with the University of Alabama. Baseball Memphis centerfielder Kevin House was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 17th round of the 2003 Major League Draft. House hit .307, scored 50 runs, hit 5 homeruns and 34 RBIs while not committing an error all season. House attended Whitehaven High School and transferred to the Tigers from Alabama Southern Community College where he was a First-team All-American. House could still return for his senior season at Memphis if he decides not to sign. Men's Track and Field Gaute Myklebust and Mate Nemeth will compete in three events at the NCAA Championships June 11th in Sacramento, Calif. Myklebust, Conference USA Men's Track athlete of the year, will compete in the discus and shot put. Nemeth is seeded fifth out of 26 distance runners in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. Nemeth was a double gold medallist in the C-USA outdoor championships winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the 5,000-meter run. Women's Track and Field Keenan Gibson will also travel to Sacramento to compete in the 100 and 200-meter dashes on an at-large entry. Gibson is the 25th-ranked sprinter out of 31 participants and is one of two runners to qualify from C-USA. Gibson set the school record for the 60-meter dash (7.60) in 2001 and ran a season best 11.48 in the 100 at the Mid-East Regionals to qualify for Nationals.

06/12/03		Nemeth Advances to Finals, Gibson and Myklebust Fall Short of Finals (GoTigersGo.com)
		SACRAMENTO, Calif.-Three Track & Field athletes from The University of Memphis began competition at the NCAA Championships Wednesday in Sacramento. 2003 marked the first time since 2000 that Memphis qualified athletes for the NCAA Championships and the first time the school sent a female athlete to NCAA's since 1985. Senior sprinter Keenan Gibson advanced to the semifinal round in the 100-meter dash at the NCAA Championships, Wednesday. Gibson finished fourth in the first heat of the 100 in a time of 11.72. Gibson's brilliant Senior campaign came to an end as she finished ninth in her heat in the 100m dash semifinals. Gibson ran an 11.86. Aleen Bailey of South Carolina ran a 11.30 posting the best time in the semifinals ahead of event favorite Muna Lee of LSU who ran a 11.45. Judyth Kitson of Alabama ran an 11.65 and was the last qualifier for Saturday's finals in the 100m dash. Mate Nemeth placed eight in his heat in the 3000 meter Steeplechase. His time of 8:43.34 was good enough to place him 13th overall and qualify Nemeth for the finals on Friday. Dan Lincoln of Arkansas ran the best preliminary time in the 3000 meter Steeplechase. His time of 8:36.08 was just better than Bastar Ibrahim of Montana State who ran a 8:36.87. Gaute Myklebust competed in the qualifying round of the Shot Put Wednesday. Myklebust entered the meet the No. 15 ranked Shot Put thrower in the nation and that's where he placed in the qualifying round missing a qualification mark to advance to the finals. Myklebust's toss of 17.76 meters was well short of his season best 18.33 meters. Jeremy Silverman of UCLA threw the Shot Put 18.01 meters placing 12th and claiming the last qualification spot. Christian Cantwell of Missouri produced the best throw of the qualification round with an impressive heave of 20.79 meters. Myklebust will compete in the Discus throw on Friday. Competition at the NCAA Meet will continue through Sunday. Check back at www.gotigersgo.com for more results as they become availible.

06/11/03		Tiger Volleyball Adds Fourth Newcomer for 2003 (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - - The University of Memphis volleyball team continued to prepare for the opening of the 2003 season when Emily Steckel signed a National Letter of Intent, Wednesday. Steckel, a graduate of Hart High School in Newhall, California, will join Memphis in the fall at the libero position. A two-year letterwinner and starter at Hart High, Steckel helped her team to the state play-offs as a senior. She also played club volleyball with the Santa Monica Beach Club that ranked in the top 10 in the SCVA and finished in the top 20 at the Las Vegas Invitational. She also played club ball at outside hitter and libero for the Synergy Volleyball Club (renamed from Santa Clarita Athletic Club). Her Magic Volleyball Club also won the SCVA Championships at the 14s level. "Emily is a tremendous, fiery competitor and she plays for one of the best club teams in the west," Tiger Head Coach Carrie Yerty said. "She is a highly-skilled defensive player and passer, and it will be a duel between her and Christen Clayton for the starting libero position for this fall." Steckel was voted the best defensive player at the Nike High Potential Camp at Ohio State last summer and also attended the Dave Rubio volleyball camp at the University of Arizona. A member of the California Scholastic Federation and a member of the Honor Society, Steckel is considering majoring in either journalism, psychology or pre-law at Memphis. "We're so excited to have Emily join us," Yerty said. "She is a competitive player who lays it on the line and she is just a highly-skilled player who will bring so much to our team both on and off the court." Steckel is Memphis' first recruit from California since former Tiger April Harriman completed her degree in 2000. Harriman, who was just the third Memphis student-athlete in school history to be named an Academic All-America honoree, went on to earn her master's degree and spent two years on the coaching staff at Ohio University. Steckel will be the fourth newcomer for the Tigers in 2003. She joins setter Hristina Stancheva, who enrolled in school in January, Christen Clayton from Houston, Texas, and Melissa Nance from Frankfort, Indiana. The Tiger volleyball team expects to add two more players before the season begins August 29th at the Arkansas State University tournament. Memphis will open its 2003 home schedule, Sept. 12-13 when they host their own University of Memphis Tournament. This year's tournament features Holy Cross, Tennessee Tech and Louisiana-Lafayette over the two-day tournament. Memphis will also participate in tournaments at Birmingham Southern and Davidson College before the Conference USA schedule begins in October.

06/11/03		Nemeth Advances to Finals, Gibson Competes in Semifinals (GoTigersGo.com)
		SACRAMENTO, Calif.-Three Track & Field athletes from The University of Memphis began competition at the NCAA Championships Wednesday in Sacramento. 2003 marked the first time since 2000 that Memphis qualified athletes for the NCAA Championships and the first time the school sent a female athlete to NCAA's since 1985. Senior sprinter Keenan Gibson advanced to the semifinal round in the 100-meter dash at the NCAA Championships, Wednesday. Gibson finished fourth in the first heat of the 100 in a time of 11.72. Gibson's brilliant Senior campaign came to an end as she finished ninth in her heat in the 100m dash semifinals. Gibson ran an 11.86. Aleen Bailey of South Carolina ran a 11.30 posting the best time in the semifinals ahead of event favorite Muna Lee of LSU who ran a 11.45. Judyth Kitson of Alabama ran an 11.65 and was the last qualifier for Saturday's finals in the 100m dash. Mate Nemeth placed eight in his heat in the 3000 meter Steeplechase. His time of 8:43.34 was good enough to place him 13th overall and qualify Nemeth for the finals on Friday. Dan Lincoln of Arkansas ran the best preliminary time in the 3000 meter Steeplechase. His time of 8:36.08 was just better than Bastar Ibrahim of Montana State who ran a 8:36.87. Gaute Myklebust competed in the qualifying round of the Shot Put Wednesday. Myklebust entered the meet the No. 15 ranked Shot Put thrower in the nation and that's where he placed in the qualifying round missing a qualification mark to advance to the finals. Myklebust's toss of 17.76 meters was well short of his season best 18.33 meters. Jeremy Silverman of UCLA threw the Shot Put 18.01 meters placing 12th and claiming the last qualification spot. Christian Cantwell of Missouri produced the best throw of the qualification round with an impressive heave of 20.79 meters. Myklebust will compete in the Discus throw on Friday. Competition at the NCAA Meet will continue through Sunday. Check back at www.gotigersgo.com for more results as they become availible.

06/10/03		Tigers Consider Side Trip (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish parrish@gomemphis.com June 10, 2003 The Grizzlies may not be the only local basketball team leaving the country in October. The University of Memphis is exploring the possibility of spending its fall break in Mexico City and playing exhibition games that could be beneficial on many levels. "They've kicked the tires and clipped the hanger to look under the hood," explained Lee Frederick of a Milwaukee-based travel agency called Sports Tours International. "But there is still nothing definite." Frederick said the U of M contacted him a month ago and inquired about a possible venture to Mexico City, which would be feasible because of an NCAA rule that allows teams to take one foreign trip every four years. But the snag, apparently, is that Frederick was dealing solely with Tiger assistant Steve Roccaforte, who left last week to take a job at Lamar, his alma mater. Now, Frederick said, he is simply waiting to hear back from Memphis officials about whether they want to book the trip. If so, the cost would be between $1,000 and $1,500 per person. "It's pretty slick and efficient," Frederick said while pointing out that the flight would be short with no time zone change issues. "If they're ready to go, we can do it." Attempts to reach John Calipari for comment on this matter Monday were unsuccessful. But the Tiger coach has spoken in the past about taking a similar trip and emphasized that the greatest benefit is not necessarily the games but the fact that the NCAA allows 10 organized practices to prepare for the outing during what is basically a dead period. Those extra workouts would give Memphis a head start on the 2003-04 season, much like the one Duke took advantage of last year before a trip to London. Another development: U of M adds transfer: Former Duquesne player Simplice Njoya has enrolled in summer classes at Memphis and plans to join the team for the 2004-05 season. A 6-10 center, Njoya spent the past two years at Duquesne and averaged 7.7 points and 5.0 rebounds per game last season after missing 19 contests during his freshman campaign while serving a suspension that stemmed from his acceptance of extra benefits while in high school. The native of Cameroon, who was a borderline top 100 national recruit in 2001 out of The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., was granted his release from Duquesne in April. He will be limited to practices with the Tigers this season because of NCAA transfer rules. "Simplice," Calipari said, "is a good kid, a good student and had an interest in being here." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

06/10/03		Transfer Enrolls at Memphis (GoTigersGo.com)
		Former Duquesne starting center Simplice Njoya has enrolled in summer school at The University of Memphis with intentions of playing for the Tigers beginning with the 2004-05 season. Njoya (6-10, 225) averaged 8.1 points and 5.2 rebounds over his two-year career at Duquesne and started all but four games he was eligible for with the Dukes. He averaged 7.7 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 41.7 percent from the field in 30 games last year as a sophomore. Njoya was given his release by Duquesne in late April. He will have to sit out the coming 2003-04 season before becoming eligible. The Yaoundé, Cameroon, native prepped at The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., before signing with Duquesne. "Simplice is a good kid, a good student and had an interest in being here," said Memphis coach John Calipari.

06/10/03		Patience Pays Off (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg stukenborg@gomemphis.com June 10, 2003 For someone whose life used to involve covering distances in a short amount of time, Brenda Calhoun-Cash has been patient. Extremely patient. She has waited nearly 18 years for this week, calmly, quietly and confidently instructing University of Memphis women's track and field athletes and running a program on budgets that have been tighter than a sprinter's hamstrings. Yet when Cash takes Keenan Gibson to the NCAA Track and Field Championships this week at California State in Sacramento, many of the struggles she endured resurrecting the women's program at the U of M will vanish. Gibson, who'll compete in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, will be Cash's first NCAA participant. "That has always been the thing that has kept me going . . . getting a kid to the nationals," Cash said. It is an important milestone in Cash's U of M coaching career, one that began in August 1985 when she was hired, at age 26, to restart a program that had been dormant for three years. A former Arizona State all-American sprinter, Cash came to Memphis from the University of Iowa, where she had served as a graduate assistant with its nationally ranked program. While Memphis provided an opportunity for her to become a head coach, it also presented many obstacles. "It was a challenge doing what you had to do to get started," Cash said. "I remember calling all the high school track coaches and asking them if they had any kids (enrolled) at the university. I advertised in the Helmsman (the student newspaper). "I think we ended up with 12 kids that year. And they had to do everything." She said she doubled those numbers the following year, taking advantage of a recruiting season and attracting a large contingent of top local athletes. Among her early recruits was Pam Anderson, a former prep all-American at Melrose High who had spent her freshman season at LSU. "I got homesick at LSU," Anderson said. "I had a good time, but I got homesick and came back to Memphis. "Well, coach Cash saw me running one day down Park Avenue to the Memphis track. I didn't know who she was, but she said, 'Do you want to run for me?' I told her that Memphis State didn't have a track team. She said she was starting it back up." Anderson, 35, said she is proud Cash is being rewarded for her endurance because she remembers how difficult those early years were, when the athletes had to buy their owns shoes and spikes. "I think anytime you are re-starting a program, you have to take your lumps," said U of M associate athletic director Lynn Parkes, who hired Cash. "I know I took mine when I coached (women's) golf (at Memphis). "It's a matter of finding the athletes and gradually building your resources. But I felt Brenda had a good competitive background and a good grasp of what it took to win." The daughter of Lee Calhoun, a gold medalist in the 110 hurdles in the 1956 and '60 Olympics, Cash led her team to the 1992 Great Midwest Conference championship and was named coach of the year. Trece Hayslett, the athletic program's life skills coordinator, was a member of the '92 conference champions. The title, she said, was a testimony to Cash's ability to quickly rebuild the program despite the inherent obstacles. "We used to practice on the old track behind the (Elma Roane) Field House," Hayslett said. "A lot of times we'd be practicing while the band was practicing (on the infield), and she'd be yelling to us across the field over the music. "Other times some of the band members would cross the track in the middle of your sprint. I think we took a couple of band members out. It's been a long road for coach Cash, but she has persevered. She knows how to win and how important it is." Gibson, a native of Trinidad, will not be favored in either event, but she is as impressive an athlete as Cash has had in 18 years. Gibson, in her final season of eligibility, will be joined in Sacramento by two U of M male qualifiers, Gaute Myklebust (shot put and discus) and Mate Nemeth (3000 steeplechase). Cash said she'll be going to the NCAA Championships for the first time since she was a competitor. The trip has given her an extra bounce in what has always been an upbeat step and another reason to believe the program can become one of Conference USA's best. "I don't think the department has always given Brenda the resources needed to elevate the program," Parkes said. "So it's nice to see someone who has had longevity, and who has gone through the ups and downs of running a program, have success and enjoy it." - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

06/07/03		U of M Picked for 9th (Commercial Appeal)
		By The Commercial Appeal June 7, 2003 Defending Conference USA football champion TCU was chosen to repeat, while the struggling University of Memphis program was also picked to repeat . . . as a struggling program. In voting conducted by the conference's sports information directors, TCU received 115 of a possible 121 votes, including seven of the 11 first-place votes. The Horned Frogs finished 10-2 and ranked 22nd after beating No. 21 Colorado State in last year's AXA Liberty Bowl. Memphis was 3-9 overall and finished ninth in C-USA last season with a 2-6 league record. The Tigers received 40 votes from the SIDs to come in at ninth, ahead of only Houston and Army. Army was 1-11 last season and is 7-27 in league games since joining C-USA in 1998. Memphis hasn't fared much better. The Tigers have had eight straight losing seasons and haven't won seven or more games in a season since 1976. But Memphis, which begins its third season under Tommy West, returns record-setting quarterback Danny Wimprine, potential all-conference running back DeAngelo Williams and welcomes new defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn. Southern Miss, which received two first-place votes, was selected second, newcomer South Florida third, Cincinnati fourth and Louisville fifth. The bottom six, in order, were Tulane, East Carolina, UAB, Memphis, Houston and Army. Southern Miss should challenge for the title. The Golden Eagles return eight starters on a defense that features All-America candidate Rod Davis at linebacker. South Florida, 9-2 last season as an independent, went unbeaten against C-USA opposition, defeating Southern Miss, East Carolina, Memphis and Houston. The Bulls have won 19 straight home games, the second-longest streak in the nation, and return 12 starters. Cincinnati garnered enough votes for fourth place on the strength of junior quarterback Gino Guidugli, who passed for a school-record 3,543 yards last season and led the Bearcats to their third straight bowl appearance. Louisville will be attempting to reach the postseason for the sixth straight year. Tulane could have one of the league's most prolific offenses behind quarterback J.P. Losman, all-purpose running back Mewelde Moore and receiver Roydell Williams. East Carolina will begin its first season under coach John Thompson, a former U of M and Southern Miss defensive coordinator who came to ECU from Florida.

06/06/03		Baseball's Kevin House Drafted By St. Louis (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn.-- - As the 28th pick in the 17th round, the St. Louis Cardinals selected Tiger's junior centerfielder Kevin House on day-one of the 2003 Major League Draft. House, who held a Memphis season-high 17-game hitting streak at season's-end, played in 50 games for Memphis in the 2003 campaign and led the squad in hits (62), triples (4) and total bases (96). His .307 batting average ranked second, as did his 34 runs scored, five home runs and 34 RBI. In the field he was equally solid as he maintained a 1.000 fielding percentage in 129 chances, while recording six assists. Prior to transferring to Memphis, House was an NJCAA Division II First-team All-American at Alabama Southern Community College. The Whitehaven High School product was also drafted by the Houston Astros in the 48th round of the 2001 Draft. "I'm excited about the opportunity," said House. "I think I am ready and it is time for me to pursue my childhood dream and play professional baseball." With House's draft pick, the Tigers have now had a player drafted in each of the last eight years.

06/06/03		The 'Hi Cal' Diet (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish parrish@gomemphis.com June 6, 2003 The E-mail came last week from a California man whose son is a budding basketball star preparing for the 13-and-under AAU Nationals, which will be held in Memphis this month. The spelling was bad. The sentences were broken. But the point was obvious, if not astonishing. "Although (my son) has a number of colleges that would like him to attend, he has made it perfectly clear that if his team is lucky enough to win another title this summer in Memphis then he will be going to the University of Memphis," it read. "He may never come back to California." Score another early commitment for John Calipari. Forget weighing the options. Never mind official visits and all that stuff. These days, many of the top prospects - and even some of the extremely young ones from the West Coast - want to come to Memphis. And Calipari is the reason, not to mention the man benefiting from it. "Kids have a fascination with him," said Jeff Goodman, a recruiting analyst with Prepstars.com. "He's charismatic. He's very persuasive. He's coached in the NBA. And kids know him. "That name goes a long way." Calipari took over the U of M program on March 11, 2000. Since that day, he's recruited at a pace unequaled by most in the country. To date, the Tiger coach has committed six top-notch, blue chip prospects from places such as New Jersey, Texas, Florida and Washington. And though not all of them have worked out as planned (Qyntel Woods and Amare Stoudemire never played here, declaring for the NBA Draft), the consensus feeling among those who follow college basketball is that when it comes to recruiting and selling himself and his program, there aren't many in the business better than Calipari. "He's been in everybody's home," said Dave Telep, who covers recruiting for TheInsidersHoops.com. "He has an aura about him, and it has certainly followed him to Memphis." For all that U of M basketball means to this city, the truth is that on the national scale Tiger hoops was on the verge of falling off the recruiting map before Calipari's arrival. Larry Finch, Tic Price and even Johnny Jones might've signed a top 100 prospect from somewhere outside this region on a good day. But as for getting a consensus top 10 national recruit - like Dajuan Wagner or Kendrick Perkins - that wasn't a realistic goal, nor should it have been for any program that hasn't seen a Final Four since 1985 or a Sweet 16 since 1995. Fast-forward to today and the Tigers - still without the recent wins of an elite school - have not only committed one of the more-heralded guards in the Class of 2004 in Florida's Darius Washington, but they've also gained a verbal allegiance from Eric Price, a rising junior from Washington who many also rank as a top 10 prospect. That alone makes Memphis the only school in the country that has already committed a pair of blue-chippers for the next couple of classes. And, one can presume, they won't be the last two announcing their intentions to enroll at the U of M. "Look at what all these kids want . . . the NBA," Calipari said while explaining his recruiting success. "Well, I've been in the NBA, and I've gotten college players ready for the NBA. And whether it's an Allen Iverson or a Keith Van Horn, if you ask them about me as a coach, they're going to say good things. Which helps. "But it's not just me," Calipari said. "It's a staff of guys who have done a great job of pinpointing who to go after and why." That last remark is one Calipari stresses while making it clear that he is no miracle-worker when it comes to recruiting. Is his NBA background with the New Jersey Nets an advantage? Sure. Does his Final Four at Massachusetts carry weight? Absolutely. But Calipari realizes he will lose more times than not at Memphis recruiting against a school with the reputation and tradition of a Kentucky, Duke or North Carolina. So instead, he's found success by being selective and looking for reasons an elite kid from another part of the country might choose Memphis over a more high-profile institution. The fact that former assistant Steve Roccaforte is close with Perkins's high school coach and Washington's father went to college at LeMoyne-Owen are two examples of automatic inroads Memphis possessed when beginning the recruitment of those two standouts. And then there's this: Every major prospect Memphis has committed either wanted or wants to get on the NBA fast track. And that's a track Calipari has proven to possess with his development of guys like Marcus Camby. "And Wagner," Telep said. "Dajuan Wagner has done a lot for that program because of the way Calipari was able to nurture a guy like that and get him into the NBA quickly, and that's something that he can sell to the rest of these kids. "That NBA thing (with the Nets) put him on SportsCenter every night, and it put him in front of kids watching what is ultimately what they want to do more than anything else - play in The League," Telep added. "Calipari has used that in recruiting. And he's used it well." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

06/03/03		Gibson Qualifies for NCAA Championships in 100 and 200 (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn. - - Senior Keenan Gibson can pack her bags for Sacramento and the NCAA National Championships after receiving an at-large entry into both the 100 and 200-meter dashes, Tuesday. "This is very exciting," Head Coach Brenda Calhoun-Cash said. "I know for Keenan, it's especially exciting since this is her last year to participate in track. I'm just really happy for her, she is such a great kid and works hard on and off the track." Gibson is the 25th-ranked qualifier in the 100 out of 31 participants. LSU's Muna Lee is the top seeded runner in the field, while USC's Natasha Mayers is second. Gibson and TCU's Monica Twum are the only Conference USA participants in the 100-meter dash, which opens its schedule, Wednesday, June 11th at 10:25 a.m. (PDT). Gibson's hopes in the 100 almost came to a halt after breaking badly from the blocks in the finals of the 100 at the Mid-East Regional. She finished seventh in the final, but her preliminary time of 11.48, which tied a season-best, qualified her for the national championship meet. Gibson will also compete on the second day of the national championships in the first round of the 200-meter dash. The 19th-seeded qualifier out of 29 qualifiers, Gibson's time of 23.36 in the regional puts her among some of the top collegiate sprinters in the country. TCU freshman Donita Harmon will be the one other C-USA sprinter in the 200 field at the meet. The first round of the 200-meter dash begins Thursday, June 12th, at 10:15 a.m. (PDT). Qualifying in two events, Gibson becomes the first-ever Lady Tiger to qualify for the NCAA National Championships since the program was reinstated after a three-year hiatus in 1985. Memphis' Barbara Wine provisionally qualified for the indoor championships in 2000, but was not selected to the final list. A native of Arima, Trinidad, Gibson set the school record in the indoor 60-meter dash (7.60) in 2001. Her season-best time of 11.48 seconds in the prelims of the Mid-East Regional in the 100 is eighth-hundredths shy of tying the school mark in that event, set by Wanda Hooker in 1978. Gibson already tied the school record in the 200 last weekend with a time of 23.36. She currently shares that record with Hooker after Hooker set the initial mark in 1979. In addition to her outstanding achievements on the field, Gibson was also recently named to the Conference USA Commissioner's Honor Roll for having a GPA or 3.0 or more.

06/03/03		Means Can Play in Fall (Commercial Appeal)
		By Phil Stukenborg stukenborg@gomemphis.com June 3, 2003 University of Memphis defensive lineman Albert Means, the former high school all-American from Trezevant High, will be academically eligible to play this fall. Means played for the Tigers in 2001 after transferring from the University of Alabama, but sat out last season as an academic casualty. During his year away from the football field, Means made a determined, and successful, attempt to regain his eligibility. He passed 24 hours during the fall and spring semesters and made the honor roll in the spring, according to Becky Kolenbrander, the U of M's academic adviser for football. While he doesn't need additional hours in the summer to remain eligible, Kolenbrander said Means will take two summer courses. "I worked with him beginning in August when I came here (from Virginia Tech)," Kolenbrander said. "He really started using our help and our services and started finding the right support and wanting the support. Once he got that, he started getting the grades." Kolenbrander said Means is on track to graduate in December 2004. Tiger coach Tommy West, reached Monday at the Highland Hundred golf tournament at Wedgewood, said he was particularly pleased at Means's efforts in the classroom. "He's done a great job (to regain his eligibility)," West said. "And he has done this on his own. I'm excited for him. He dug himself a hole and now he has dug himself out of it." Means left Alabama after the 2000 season when reports surfaced that his services had been sold unwittingly to the Crimson Tide by Lynn Lang, his high school coach. The NCAA granted Means an exemption in the unique case and, instead of having to sit out the 2001 season under the organization's transfer guidelines, he was ruled eligible. In his first season at Memphis, Means played in each of the team's 11 games and finished with 51 tackles, the seventh-highest team total. He also had four tackles for loss and a sack. His return will boost a defensive line that lost starters Tony Brown and Boris Penchion, but Means, a defensive tackle, will have to have a productive offseason. "He is not in shape, but he'll get in shape," West said. "But he's been busy putting this other thing behind him." The academic misfortune last year paled in comparison to the unwelcome spotlight Means has basked in since his recruiting scandal became public. Two years ago, former Trezevant High assistant football coach Milton Kirk revealed how he and Lang shopped and sold Means during his senior year. In November 2002 Lang pleaded guilty to one count of racketeering and is awaiting his July 31 sentencing. Lang admitted to receiving $150,000 from Memphian Logan Young to steer Means to Alabama in February 2000. The alleged payment was the most notable of several NCAA violations that led to Alabama being placed on five years probation. Young has denied any wrongdoing. - Phil Stukenborg: 529-2543

06/03/03		Perkins to Skip NBA Pre-Draft Camp (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish parrish@gomemphis.com June 3, 2003 The NBA Pre-Draft Camp begins today in Chicago, but Kendrick Perkins won't be a part of it even though the University of Memphis signee was invited. "We will not be there," said Andre Boutte, Perkins's coach at Ozen High in Beaumont, Texas. "Kendrick's just going to do individual workouts, and that's it." A 6-11 center who has made himself eligible for the draft, Perkins has worked out for the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs but hasn't participated in any camps. Boutte said Monday that his McDonald's All-American remains open to the possibility of becoming a Tiger and still has not hired an agent. Perkins, who is projected to be a possible late first-round pick but probable second-round selection, has until June 19 to withdraw his name from consideration and retain his amateur status. "It's still up in the air," Boutte said. "I think he's just trying to see where he's positioned." - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

06/02/03		Paul Conway Takes Head Coaching Post at Lambuth (GoTigersGo.com)
		MEMPHIS, Tenn.-- - After three seasons with the Memphis soccer program, assistant coach Paul Conway will be leaving to return to his alma mater, Lambuth University to take the helm as head men's soccer coach. Conway played collegiate soccer at Lambuth under Tiger under head coach Grant, before taking on the roles of an assistant for Grant at Memphis. In his three-year stint with the Tigers, he has been instrumental in administrative duties, recruiting and coaching with the program. "I am excited about the future, but very thankful to Richie for giving me the opportunity to coach here and learn under him." Conway said. The Irish native will now take the reigns of a Lambuth program that was headed by former Tiger Clint Browne. A member of the NAIA's Mid-South Conference, the Eagles went 12-4-1 and advanced to the MSC championship match in the 2002 campaign. "It is a credit to Paul and his ability to receive an opportunity to be a head coach." said Grant. "I know he is ready and will do an excellent job."

06/02/03		Tiger Assistant Moves On (Commercial Appeal)
		By Gary Parrish parrish@gomemphis.com June 2, 2003 It's home. It's an opportunity to be a head coach. That is why Steve Roccaforte is leaving the University of Memphis for Lamar in Beaumont, Texas, with the understanding that he will succeed Billy Tubbs as the Cardinals next coach. "I don't think Billy anticipated coaching when he went back as the athletic director (last year)," Roccaforte said. "But once he did that, the president stepped in and asked if he'd take over, stabilize the program and hire somebody who could come in and be the heir apparent." That heir apparent is Roccaforte, who will presumably work under Tubbs for the next two or three seasons before getting his first head coaching opportunity at his alma mater. Roccaforte grew up in nearby Port Arthur. Roccaforte, 38, joined the Tiger staff shortly after John Calipari took over three years ago and built a reputation as a dogged recruiter. As Memphis-based sports agent Brian Parker put it, "Roc's the only guy in town I could call at 1 in the morning and he'd ask me to hold because he was on a business call." Now, Calipari will have to fill that spot on his staff with someone possessing a similar work ethic. Graduate assistant Andy Allison is also leaving the Tigers. He learned Sunday that he has been hired as an assistant at Western Kentucky. - Gary Parrish: 529-2365

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