Football training camps are opening and as the season approaches those who play game – from the NFL to little leagues – are getting their bodies ready for the grind.

Despite announcing his retirement from the NFL last winter, the itch to play has legendary Green Bay quarterback Bret Favre trying to scratch his way back onto the field as the Packers brass seek a resolution.
While the Favre issue waits to be resolved, college teams are being evaluated at media days around the country. We got some insight into the University of Memphis Tigers and other Conference USA squads during C-USA media day at The Peabody hotel last week.

All in the mix – favorites and new faces

The 2007 C-USA Football Championship game featured Tulsa and Central Florida battling for the league title and the two squads are favored once again for a title shot in 2008, according to the league’s 12 head coaches. The Knights of UCF got a big lift from record-setting running back Kevin Smith – after being picked to finish third in the East division – and rolled to the league championship with a 44-25 win over Tulsa, advancing to play Mississippi State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Houston was voted to finish second in the West and is coming off its third consecutive appearance in a bowl game. The Cougars will be led in 2008 by first-year head coach Kevin Sumlin. Sumlin became the first African-American to head an NCAA FBS program in the state of Texas when he was picked for the job, and is the eleventh head coach in Houston’s history. He spent the last five seasons at Oklahoma where he served most recently as both the offensive co-coordinator and wide receivers coach.
C-USA coaches picked Memphis to finish fourth in the East Division behind UCF, East Carolina and Southern Miss in the pre-season poll.

The Tigers were picked fifth early on last season and ended 2007 tied for second with East Carolina with a 6-2 league record.

U of M coach Tommy West says the goal for the Tigers is the tough task of reaching the next level. (Courtesy photo)

The six wins were the most C-USA victories for Memphis since the league began playing football in 1996. It also marked the fourth time that the Tigers have logged at least five C-USA victories. The other three times were all under head coach Tommy West’s direction in three consecutive years (2003-05.)

West begins his eighth season as head coach of the Tigers and his longevity makes him the dean of C-USA coaches. The title doesn’t put West in a comfort zone, even though he was loose and laid back with the media. West knows there are tough days ahead. He is also reminded that Southern Miss fired highly successful Jeff Bower last year after 14 straight winning seasons and 10 bowl appearances in 11 years. After his 17-year run Bower was replaced by Larry Fedora, who had spent the last three seasons as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State.

With new coaches at Southern Miss, Houston, and SMU, West believes C-USA has the best group of coaches it has ever had. June Jones comes to SMU from Hawaii where he led the Warriors to the Sugar Bowl last season. Jones is known for his wide-open offensive style. It’s a good mix, said West.

How ‘bout them Tigers

As West talked about the future he saw some good things for both the Tigers and C-USA. The Tigers have gone to four bowls in seven seasons with West, including last season against Florida Atlantic in the New Orleans Bowl after getting off to a terrible start. West believes the program at U of M has reached new heights and he is shooting for even greater things. And, according to West, it will take a super effort to reach the next another level.

U of M fans can’t wait until the Tigers hit the gridiron August 30 at Ole Miss with junior college replacements for quarterback Martin Hankins and running back Joe Doss. Hankins is the second on the school’s career passing touchdowns list and Doss is fourth on the career rushing chart.

“We are good at wideout and we are good up front’” West said. “If we come through in the secondary, we can compete,” he added. “The corners (defensive backs) will be important.”

The Tigers worked hard to recruit Tyler Bass, the 6-3, 220-pound Stockbridge (Georgia) High School quarterback who had signed with Maryland.

“We would like to bring him along slowly. He is our future,” West insisted.

Bass was able to get a release from the Terrapins after he found out that he wasn’t in the immediate future plans of the ACC school.

Junior Duke Calhoun is one of the reasons the deep stable of U of M pass catchers is drawing raves. Calhoun is a 6-4 Raleigh-Egypt product and was named to the C-USA offensive first team along with senior offensive lineman Brandon Pearce. Calhoun holds a school record with seven career 100-yard games, with four coming last season. He will open the 2008 season on a 24-game receiving streak.

Now hear this

One rule change for the upcoming season states that microphones, provided by home management, are strongly recommended on referees and will be mandatory in 2010. They may only be used on referees for penalty or other game announcements. They must be controlled by the referee, and my not be open at other times. Microphones on other officials are prohibited.

Duke Calhoun is expected to anchor a talented core of U of M receivers during the 2008 season. The junior from Memphis caught 62 passes for 890 yards and 5 touchdowns last year. (Courtesy photo)