MEMPHIS — After interacting with fans earlier in the day as part of FanFest on Tiger Lane, the Memphis football team returned to the Fairgrounds on Sunday night for its first practice under the lights of Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Memphis scrimmaged during the night practice, which included a light drizzle at one point. The workout began a busy second full week of preseason camp, which includes two-a-day practices on Monday and Wednesday.
“My impressions are we have a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball and on special teams,” Memphis coach Justin Fuente said following Sunday night’s scrimmage. “There was some good effort out there, but effort is not enough. We have to increase our execution level immediately.”
This week will conclude preseason camp as classes begin at the university Aug. 24. There are now less than three weeks before the season and home opener Sept. 5 against Missouri State.
Memphis adjusted its schedule in scrimmaging Sunday night. The team will turn around now and practice twice on Monday.
Earlier in the day, the Memphis players and coaches were on Tiger Lane meeting fans, signing autographs and putting young fans through a series of football drills as well as playing games. There were also plenty of ntertainment including the Memphis Spirit Squads and Mighty Sound of the South marching band.
FanFest began with the Tigers unloading team buses and taking part in Tiger Walk, parading past hundreds of fans who came early for the event.
“We really take pride in representing this community – not just the university but this community at large,” Fuente said. “We talk about what it means to be from here. What are the things that we represent? Are they just words, or do we really try to represent them? We take charge very seriously. That’s why we do events like FanFest. And ultimately on Saturday’s in the fall, we work hard to put a good product on the field.”
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