Memphis counting on Mike Norvell to maintain upswing – Today's U (blog)
Up and down. Back and forth is the pendulum history of Memphis football swinging between winning and mostly losing seasons.
Not even Memphis-native Cybill Shepherd, one of Hollywood’s leading actresses and beauties from the 1970s and 1980s, was able to alter the inconsistent pattern.
When the 1991 Tigers opened their season against USC at the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Memphis belle gave the team a Knute Rockne-like pep talk. Shepherd was 41 at the time but still a temptress. For context of an actress with acting chops and beauty in her young 40s who could inspire 2016 football players, think Charlize Theron or Angelina Jolie.
Memphis’ players responded to Shepherd, thumping the No. 16-ranked Trojans, 24-10. But with Shepherd’s inspiration remaining in Hollywood the rest of the season, the Tigers reverted to form, finishing 5-6 for their third straight losing season.
Back and forth once again is the fear confronting Memphis football fans this season.
Memphis had been up the past two years under Justin Fuente with rankings as high as No. 25 in 2014 in a 10-3 season and No. 15 in 2015 with a final record of 9-4. But we’re left to wonder if the Tigers are on the way back down with Fuente having left to take the Virginia Tech job to replace retired legend Frank Beamer.
In 2012, Fuente inherited a team with a 2-10 record that suffered through the Tigers’ fourth straight losing season.
It took a couple of years of struggling at 4-8 his first year and 3-9 in 2013 before his breakthrough. He did it behind the play of quarterback Paxton Lynch, who also has moved on, declaring early for the NFL Draft following his junior season last fall. The 6-foot-7, 244-pounder was the 26th pick of the first round by the Denver Broncos.
For Memphis to maintain its success under new coach Mike Norvell, much of it will depend on the foundation left behind for him and if the Fuente recruits embrace their new head coach. It’s not an easy projection to make.
Norvell, 34, was the offensive coordinator at Arizona State. He spent the past nine seasons with Todd Graham, following him from success at Tulsa (2007-10), one year at Pitt (2011) and the past four in the desert with the Sun Devils. He’s also held the title of deputy head coach since 2013.
He runs a spread offense, making him a good fit for the talent Fuente has been recruiting. Arizona State ranked 23rd nationally in total offense with 473.8 yards total offense per game.
It should be noted Memphis has a healthy number of returning starters with 13 – six on offense and seven on defense. But the only two returning All-AAC players are special teams picks: first-team kicker Jake Elliott and first-team punter Spencer Smith.
At quarterback, the Tigers have turned to the junior college ranks to replace Lynch with Riley Ferguson. Lynch’s backup was Clay Holgorsen, a redshirt sophomore in 2016.
Ferguson enrolled in January to participate in spring drills and says he has added 25 pounds to the 190 he played at on his 6-4 frame last year. He threw 326.9 yards per game last year at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College.
In the spring game, Ferguson was 15-of-20 for 172 yards and three touchdowns. He had most of the work in spring drills and is likely the starter for the season opener on Sept. 3 against Southeast Missouri State.
One benefit to Ferguson’s transition is there are four starting offensive linemen returning: senior left guard Christopher Roberson, sophomore center Drew Kyser, junior right guard Gabe Kuhn and sophomore right tackle Trevon Tate. The other two offensive starters returning are senior running back Sam Craft and junior Phil Mayhue.
Defensively, the returning starters are junior defensive end Christian Johnson, senior nose tackle Donald Pennington, senior linebacker Jackson Dillon, junior linebacker Shareef White, senior cornerback Dontrell Nelson, senior strong safety Chris Morley and senior cornerback Chauncey Lanier. Sophomore Kam Prewitt might challenge for a starting job after two interceptions in the spring game.
As for recruiting, Memphis’ 2016 class ranked No. 59, according to Rivals.com. That’s after previous classes under Fuente of 71, 2015; 79, 2014; 79, 2013; and 69, 2012.
There appears to be enough talent for Norvell to work with for the Tigers to post a third straight winning season. But even if he does, how long will he stay?
That may also determine the length of the current Memphis upswing.
