Tigers prepare takeover

The University of Memphis will be taken over Thursday for a week full of spirit, culminating with the Tigers' final home game.

The Student Government Association spearheaded a yearlong campaign to get more students involved in Tiger athletics. The Tiger Takeover — the new official name the SGA has chosen as for the basketball homecoming and Senior Day — is set to be the final stage of the promotion.

"The storyline is perfect," DeWitt said. "What better way to show our support than come out to our seniors' last home game of the regular season."

Four teams — the Interfraternal Council, the Pan-Hellenic Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, and the Registered Student Organization Team — will compete in three contests over five days of competitions.

The Tiger Takeover tips off Thursday with a banner competition in the University Center at 2 p.m. The banners will be displayed during the pep rally on Monday and the homecoming game at FedExForum on Tuesday, where the Tigers will take on the University of Central Florida.

The competition will continue on Friday with a canned food drive. The SGA has held canned food drives during past homecomings. DeWitt said he wants to make serving the community a campus tradition as well.

Finally, teams will receive points for participation in Saturday's watch party for the game at Marshall, Monday's pep rally and game day events before The U of M's UCF rematch.

Tiger Takeover is the latest installment in the SGA's campaign to get students involved in athletics.

Last semester, SGA President Tyler DeWitt sought to increase student support for U of M football. Despite a disappointing 2010 season that left the Tigers 1-11, the student attendance record was broken in last year's season opener against Mississippi State with about 4,800 students attending.

"The SGA lobbied the athletics department, and look what happened," DeWitt said. "We went all out for one game and we broke a record."

The athletics department and the SGA provided a tailgating area for students that DeWitt said he hopes will continue now that The U of M will get more money from a bigger conference.

Dean of Students Stephen Petersen said the leadership SGA has put toward reinvigorating campus — something he said he hopes will continue in future generations of the SGA — is impressive and far trumps participation in years past.  

"The SGA has done a great job organizing and building competition among teams of students on campus. This new concept and new name should certainly raise some excitement."

DeWitt said The U of M still needs to work on improving attendance at games. Being known for basketball, there is no reason the student section shouldn't be filled every game, he said.

"We're entering a new era for University of Memphis athletics, and we definitely want to go into the Big East conference strong. That brand standard will energize our students," DeWitt said.

The SGA and DeWitt altered the original homecoming plans to do away with the "king and queen festivities" because they felt it didn't work, Petersen said.

"It never was a homecoming," DeWitt said. "This is about school pride. We're going to stand up together and show everyone that we're a community. We're students. We care."

The Tigers lost to UCF for the first time in the program's history, 68-67, in this season's first conference game after a three-point play by the Knights that resulted from a controversial foul call.

The Tigers look to even the score this time around as they continue to fight for a place in this year's NCAA tournament.

"Tiger Takeover is an outstanding idea for students to get involved in this week's Homecoming festivities, which culminate at next Tuesday's basketball game versus UCF," said head basketball coach Josh Pastner. "…this is a great way to get involved not only with Homecoming, but to also play an active role in Tiger Nation."