Tigers eager to finally kick off new season

MEMPHIS – It’s been eight months since the Memphis Tigers beat Iowa State in last year’s Autozone Liberty Bowl.

Eight months.

But the wait is finally over as it is finally game week again for Memphis.

The Tigers gearing up to open things up against North Alabama Saturday night at a new look Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. The kickoff for what’s expected to be the best season in Tiger football history.

Title talk.

Playoff talk.

All that gives way to real football this weekend and Ryan Silverfield, for one, can’t wait.

“Obviously very excited to start the season. It’s been a long time coming,” Silverfield said. “A tremendous offseason with a lot of things going but it comes down to now, we get to play the games and that’s what it’s all about.”

A season opener that punctuates just how different things have become with this Tiger football program.

“The expectations on the outside are great. That means people are talking about Memphis football and as you guys know, 14 years ago they weren’t talking about Memphis football. Not one bit. It was what a downtrodden program it had become,” Silverfield added. “To hear national pundits and people talk about the program and where it’s at and the expectations, that’s a great thing. We have our goal right. Then let’s make no bones about it, it’s to win the conference championship.”

But the first Monday of a new season doesn’t come without some bad news for the Tigers.

Safety Kourtlan Marsh is likely done for the season. The Samford transfer and potential starter in that U of M secondary is out with what Silverfield calls a ‘significant’ injury.

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