As the Memphis Tigers Football program nears the 2025 season, many questions are being asked among the fan base. You would think that with a program that has built a strong footprint within the American Conference and nationally, fans would be pleased, yet this is not the case. We hear the grumbling about a lack of “marquee wins” in what many classify as a “Trash” conference. We here at 4 Star Sports are issuing a reality check. With this, we look at two harsh truths and one undeniable reality for Tigers fans.
Truth One: Silverfield Has Been Successful
Silverfield Era
When Ryan Silverfield was announced as the head coach before the 2019 Cotton Bowl, there was great cheer. Since then, all he has done is win, as he has amassed a 42-20 record as he enters his sixth season. Included in these wins are back-to-back 10-win seasons in the 2023-24 season, which is a program first.
Last season, the Tigers won 11 games, which is the second most in program history, to the Cotton Bowl season, where Memphis was 12 games. In addition, Silverfield has won in postseason as he has a 4-0 bowl record, which includes victories over West Virginia and Iowa State in their most recent bowl games.
We are well aware that the success of Silverfield was built on the success of former coach Mike Norvell. In his tenure, Norvell took Memphis Football to heights unseen (College Gameday, Cotton Bowl). Before departing for Florida State in 2019, before the Cotton Bowl. To understand the full scope, we have to look before Norvell and analyze the Justin Fuente era.
At a time when Memphis was the laughing stock of the nation, Fuente stepped into the role. To put the climb into context, Fuente took over following a 3-21 record over two seasons with Larry Porter at the helm. While Fuente resurrected the program with a 10-win season in 2014 and a share of the AAC Championship, we have to take a look further into the history to understand where we are in 2025.
An Era Of Struggle
Many fans of today only recall the above-mentioned coaches and the success they had under them. With this, many fans inside Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium have been there for many years. These fans readily recall names such as Chuck Stobart, Rip Scherer, and Tommy West and their time leading Memphis. If the fans of 2025 could go back and sit in the same stadium in these eras, they may see the program from a different hue.
Stobart, whom we have discussed in the past, led Memphis at a time when the program was an independent. This comes with its challenges, as he finished his tenure with a 29-36-1 record. Despite three consecutive 6-5 seasons, the Tigers could not make the “B word,” which at this time was not discussed. Following Stobart, the Tigers named Rip Scherer their new head coach.
Rip led Memphis into Conference USA at the time, which was a transitional period for the program. In his tenure, Scherer could not complete the season with a winning record despite a historic win over Tennessee in the 1996 season. At the end of a rough tenure, riddled by very little support from the administration, per Scherer, Memphis moved in a different direction.
That direction was Tommy West. In his time in Memphis, West restored some semblance of hope as he led the Tigers to their first bowl game, the New Orleans Bowl, in 32 years, in the 2003 season. In his nine seasons, West led Memphis to five bowl games, which included three consecutive in the 2003-05 seasons. West created stability within the program despite a lack of success at the end of his tenure. West was fired in the 2009 season after a 2-7 start.
These numbers tell the true story of progress for Memphis. The combined record of Stobart, Scherer, and West was 100-141-1, or a .416 winning percentage. Not many of these “Marquee Wins” and “Fancy Wins” in this era? Were there? This is a stark contrast to Fuente, Norvell, and Silverfield, who currently have a 106-58, or .646 winning percentage, as coaches in Memphis. The program has come a long way from empty stadiums and consistent losing seasons.
Truth Two: The American, A Powerhouse in Disguise
Respect Your Conference
The main gripe of fans is that “Conference is trash” and “No competition,” yet we see things differently. In reality, we see the American Conference as the nation does, a league that is competitive and a powerhouse. Despite being overshadowed by the SEC, ACC, Big 12, and Big Ten, the AAC has proven its worth. In 2024, the AAC proved this posting a 6-2 record in bowl games, the best among all FBS conferences. With this success, the conference was the Bowl Challenge Cup. The 75% winning rate in postseason outshone two of the four “Power” conferences in the SEC and Big Ten.
This strength is nothing new for fans who do not watch sports with blinders on. Since its inception in 2o13, the conference has competed in the New Year’s Six Bowls on seven occasions. Included in this was the Cincinnati trip to the CFP in 2021, which had not been done in history to that point.
While fans in Memphis may not want to see the success of this conference, it is plain to see. Think back to teams such as UCF, Houston, Navy, and Tulane and the success they have had in regular and postseason. Even as recent as 2024, we saw the Army program as they finished 11-1 and narrowly missed the CFP due to a perceived weak schedule. This speaks to the strength of this conference and its teams.
Best Path To The Playoff
As the nation argues over whether their conference holds the most power in the nation, many are sleeping on the American. With an expanded 12-tema CFP format, in place for 2025, there is a unique opportunity for American Athletic teams. As we know by now, the five highest-ranked conference champions receive an automatic bid, including one team from the Group of Five.
With other conferences such as the Mountain West, Sun Belt, and Conference USA, Memphis will look to use the strength of the American to its advantage. If the Tigers were to win the AAC championship, we could see the Tigers in the CFP. The competitive nature of the conference, combined with a manageable schedule for Memphis, could lead the the best path to the playoffs.
Reality Of Truths: Stop Whining and Support
Here at 4 Star Sports, we have always been realistic with anything we cover. With this, it is time for many Memphis Football fans to stop whining and start supporting. When will you embrace this current success, under Silverfield, and stop looking for any excuse?
The progress of the program is evident in more ways than wins and bowl trophies. If we think back to the end of the West era, and his infamous rant on the way out, he mentioned “Doing away with it if you don’t support it,” and inadequate resources. While Memphis hired Porter, who was abysmal, this rant opened eyes. The current facilities in Memphis are some of the best in the nation, regardless of conference.
These facilities have put Memphis on the map with recruits and players. In return, the program is now on the map as a program that deserves respect. Instead of dwelling on the success of one season and the absence of headline-grabbing wins, fans should consistently fill Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. With this stadium packed, this will create an electric atmosphere we all know is there. We purposely used the word ‘Consistent’ because this program has come too far to be taken for granted by its fans. As we close, we simply say this.
It is time to rally behind Silverfield and the team, recognizing that the path to greatness runs through Memphis, Tennessee.
