Q: Is Riley Ferguson good? - @_JonahJordan
A: The simple answer to this question is yes, but I’m assuming you want me to expand on this so I will.
It’s never easy following a legend, and while it’s odd to call Paxton Lynch a legend just one year removed from school, well, he is. He holds all kinds of school records, and let’s face it, anybody that beats Ole Miss, especially a nationally ranked Ole Miss team, is an instant legend at the University of Memphis (shout out to Danny Wimprine).
Let’s not quickly forget that before Paxton came along, Memphis wasn’t exactly a quarterback factory.
Ferguson has looked good through two games, and I anticipate that as he continues to get comfortable with the speed of Division-I college football and with the timing of a new offense and with his skill personnel, he will get better and better. He’s very talented – No.1 junior college pro-style quarterback in the nation for 2015 talented, and I believe that will continue to show as we go deeper into the season.
I don’t think the Tigers could have done a better job replacing Lynch.
Q: Is Memphis football as good as they were last year? - @mitchelljkoch
A: Here’s the question that’s really being asked: Is this Memphis football team as good as arguably the best Memphis football team in program history? Probably not, and that’s perfectly fine.
That doesn’t mean that this isn’t a good or even great team relative to program standards – I believe they are.
This team should make a bowl game – something that has only happened seven times this century and finish with a winning record – something that has only happened nine times since I was born in 1992.
This team is good, but maybe just not quite as good as the 2015 team; however, I’m not ready to rule it out yet.
Q: Which running back should start? - @elbertjunior901
A: This is a great question, and I bet a question that a lot of Tiger fans are asking.
Here’s how I’d answer: It doesn’t matter.
Years ago, teams would feature one running back, and he would get upwards of 25 carries and sometimes more. That’s just not the case anymore, and luckily for Mike Norvell and offensive coordinator Chip Long, they have several running backs who are all good at different things.
Patrick Taylor Jr. has emerged as a power back who could likely handle 20 carries or more if Memphis finds itself in a game where they really need to grind a team down.
Darrell Henderson is going to be a star in Norvell’s offense. It’s been well documented that Norvell like to throw the ball to the running backs in space and that’s exactly where Henderson shines.
Doroland Dorceus has proven over the years to be a very talented back, and he’s come up big in big games in the past.
Tony Pollard can do a little bit of everything, and I foresee him in a similar role to Henderson.
We haven’t seen Sam Craft play this season, but he’ll have a role both as a receiver and a runner.
It’ll be running back by committee.
Q: How bad do you miss Justin Fuente? - @mitchelljkoch
A: I, like many Memphians, will always miss Justin Fuente. He’s one of the 25 best coaches in college football, and he’ll quickly get things rolling at Virginia Tech.
Mike Norvell has been terrific up to this point, especially recruiting, but it’s perfectly fine to miss Fuente and fully support and appreciate Norvell.
Q: Will Memphis make a bowl game this year? - @elbertjunior901
A: Simply put, absolutely. I see Memphis’ floor as seven wins and as many as nine or even 10, depending on what happens with a few key American Athletic Conference games.
Q: Do you think the new recruiting room at the Liberty Bowl will actually help bring in recruits? - @JonathanCapriel
A: Yes. Believe it or not but it doesn’t take much to impress a 17- and 18-year-old kid. Just look at how Oregon football exploded after they started to upgrade their facilities, wear flashy uniforms and run an up-tempo, high-powered offense. Sound familiar?
Memphis new recruiting room at the Liberty Bowl is state-of-the-art, and something that will impress recruits. Every young player has a different reason as to why they decide to go to a college to play football, but you better believe facilities are at the top of many players lists.
Memphis has done a fantastic job over the last couple of seasons of upgrading their facilities on campus and at the Liberty Bowl, adding new, flashy uniforms and hiring a young, energetic, smart coach who knows what it takes to compete at the highest level.
Q: Are any of the football players single and looking to date an older woman? - @brittneymemphis
A: Let me break this down because I feel like two questions were asked here. First, yes, I believe that on a roster of roughly 110 football players there are a few single ones. Now for the second part of the question, my immediate answer would be probably. I don’t want to jump to any conclusions or speak in absolutes, but I have to believe that with such a high number of players, at least a couple are both single and willing to date older women. How much older? I don’t know, but it’s worth a shot. Good luck, brittneymemphis.
Q: Will the Tigers be doing anything this season to honor Harambe? - @BallFromGrace
A: To my knowledge, nothing is in the plans to honor the late, great Harambe, but let it be known that I fully support a moment of silence or even a statue – whatever is deemed appropriate.
The Memphis Tigers gather in the tunnel to take the field for their 43-7 win over the Kansas Jayhawks.
