Tigers Storm into National Championship Game

SAN ANTONIO --- With one game remaining, what few naysayers are left are being driven into a corner—almost literally.

The University of Memphis’ dribble drive offense drove home another resounding message to national pundits Saturday afternoon in San Antonio: These Tigers are for real. Memphis recorded its fourth-straight dominating performance over a high profile opponent—UCLA in this case—as it exacted revenge on a team that had denied it a national championship 35 years ago.  Memphis is set to play Kansas Monday night in San Antonio on college basketball’s highest stage as it pursues its first national championship.

“Tell my bosses I am not coming home,” screamed Tiger fan Jackie Burnett shortly after the Tigers dumped the Bruins 78-63 to improve to 38-1. “This is something I have been waiting 23 years for. I am here until Monday. Let everybody know that!”

Ditto for thousands of other Tiger fans that have invaded this Texas city by plane, bus and car, often under dire circumstances.

“We went through the tornados in Little Rock to get here,” said Chad Horton (’99), who drove with daughter Anna Grace through heavy storms in Arkansas to get to the game.

Blue Crew members Nick Eubanks and Avanti Akins and alum Katina Garrard (’95) left Memphis at 1:30 p.m. Friday and found smooth sailing until Austin. “We pulled in late last night and found out there were no rooms all the way to San Antonio,” she said. “So we had to backtrack an hour to Killeen to find a room. We only got four hours of sleep.”

Ah, the things Memphis fans will do to watch the Tigers.

“I left at 4 a.m. and drove down here by myself without a ticket or a hotel room,” said Rich Harger (’97), who said other Tiger fans came to his rescue with a ticket.

About 450 Memphis fans arrived on three charter flights from Memphis. Others flew to Houston or Austin and drove the remaining distance.

Most met at the Tigers’ pre-game pep rally at the team hotel at the Crowne Plaza a few hours before the game.

“In Little Rock I said, ‘I’ll see you in Houston,’” U of M Alumni Association Executive Director Tammy Hedges told the 3,000 or so in attendance at the pep rally. “In Houston I told you I would see you in San Antonio. Now I am telling you I will see you Monday night,” Hedges told cheering fans.

Often discounted throughout the season by skeptical national media, the Tigers seem to be picking up fans.

“I have had Michigan fans and Texas fans tell me last week they hope we win it all,” said Garrard. “Tonight (after North Carolina lost), I had Tar Heel fans telling me they hope we win it all. I think we are finally getting the respect we deserve.”

Odds and Ends

The win does more than just expose the nation to Memphis basketball, according to U of M President Shirley Raines, in San Antonio with her husband, Bob, to catch the games.

“We all know we have an outstanding basketball team and a great coach,” said Dr. Raines. “What this will do is give others a chance to look at our other outstanding programs at the University. It puts us on a national stage.”

John Calipari’s teenage daughter Megan—often heard a few rows behind the Tiger bench screaming for her father’s team—offered this after the victory: “If we keep our focus, we’ll do fine Monday night.”

Charles Rafael (’68) is becoming quite the prognosticator. Just before last week’s win over Texas, Rafael, a self-proclaimed professor of basketball, said if the Tigers shot 30 to 35 free throws, Memphis would win. The Tigers shot 36 that night on the way to an easy victory. Rafael was at it again before Saturday’s game. “If we shoot between 18 and 23 free throws, we will win this one, too.” Memphis made 20 of 23 for a season best 87 percent.

Alumni Affairs coordinator Lauren Issacman had one of the tougher jobs Saturday—handing out “Go Tigers” buttons that flash blue. “Do I look stressed, I am stressed,” said Issacman, under a steady wave of fans seeking what has become the most popular Tiger keepsake. Issacman, though, said she welcomed the onslaught.

After the game, Chris Douglas-Roberts had this to say about the Tigers’ skeptics: “The negativity just bounces off of us. We just go out and play.”

Joey Dorsey, Shawn Taggart and Robert Dozier shut down UCLA All-American Kevin Love to 12 points. “We were just trying to make it hard for him [Love] to catch the ball,” said Dorsey.

Douglas-Roberts had 28 points, Rose 25 and Antonio Anderson 12, including a 3-point basket that banked in as the Tigers were milking the clock as time was winding down. Dorsey didn’t score but pulled down 15 rebounds.

The 38 wins is the most ever in a single season by any team, giving Memphis a record that might not be broken for quite some time.