This article originally appeared in the October 2011 issue of MemphiSport.

The University of Memphis has been playing football for almost one hundred years. In that time, the Tigers have given fans some great moments to celebrate and many more terrible moments to shake their heads at in disgust.  After coming off a 1-11 campaign in 2010 and starting this season with multiple blowout losses, it has become almost impossible for Tiger football fans to not be embarrassed. This isn’t the first time Memphis fans have wanted to cover their heads with brown paper sacks and it won’t be the last. To compare where Tiger football’s current situation stacks up historically, MemphiSport has assembled the list of the 10 Most Embarrassing Losses in Tiger football history.

Tiger Football’s 2nd Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

September 10, 2011
Arkansas State 47, Memphis 3
ASU Stadium, Jonesboro, AR

While the Larry Porter era has seen its fair share of blowout losses, this one game has become the signature moment of embarrassment for the program, triggering outrage from local media, Jerry “The King” Lawler and fans alike. While Memphis holds the lead in this local rivalry (28-22-5), this recent blowout featured the largest margin of victory by Arkansas State in the history of the series. Arkansas State dominated the game from start to finish. The Red Wolves had over 600 yards of total offense thanks to quarterback Ryan Aplin’s 274 yards and three-touchdown performance. Memphis could only muster 169 total yards and one field goal. If you look up embarrassment in the dictionary “losing by 44 points to a Sun Belt Conference team led by a former Memphis high school coach who you could have hired the year before” might be the definition.

Memphis Football’s 2nd Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 3rd Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 4th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 5th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 6th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 7th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 8th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 9th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 10th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

List by MemphiSport, Descriptions by C.J. Hurt

This article originally appeared in the October 2011 issue of MemphiSport.

The University of Memphis has been playing football for almost one hundred years. In that time, the Tigers have given fans some great moments to celebrate and many more terrible moments to shake their heads at in disgust.  After coming off a 1-11 campaign in 2010 and starting this season with multiple blowout losses, it has become almost impossible for Tiger football fans to not be embarrassed. This isn’t the first time Memphis fans have wanted to cover their heads with brown paper sacks and it won’t be the last. To compare where Tiger football’s current situation stacks up historically, MemphiSport has assembled the list of the 10 Most Embarrassing Losses in Tiger football history.

Tiger Football’s 3rd Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

September 30, 1978
Texas A&M 58, Memphis 0
Kyle Field, College Station, TX

This 58-point beat down is the largest margin of defeat for Memphis in the modern era (after 1950). Memphis was in trouble from the very first play after Aggies tailback Curtis Dickey broke a big run for 65 yards and a touchdown. In fact, Dickey’s first four carriers went for 104 yards and he finished with 167 rushing yards on 11 carries. Memphis simply had no answer for the A&M wishbone as the Aggies gained a staggering 615 total yards. Texas A&M dominated the Tiger offense just as easily as they dominated the Tiger defense. Mempis could only muster one rushing yard and 52 yards thru the air. To make matters worse, this game was televised.

Memphis Football’s 3rd Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 4th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 5th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 6th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 7th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 8th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 9th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 10th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

List by MemphiSport, Descriptions by C.J. Hurt

This article originally appeared in the October 2011 issue of MemphiSport.

The University of Memphis has been playing football for almost one hundred years. In that time, the Tigers have given fans some great moments to celebrate and many more terrible moments to shake their heads at in disgust.  After coming off a 1-11 campaign in 2010 and starting this season with multiple blowout losses, it has become almost impossible for Tiger football fans to not be embarrassed. This isn’t the first time Memphis fans have wanted to cover their heads with brown paper sacks and it won’t be the last. To compare where Tiger football’s current situation stacks up historically, MemphiSport has assembled the list of the 10 Most Embarrassing Losses in Tiger football history.

Tiger Football’s 4th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

Nov. 6, 1954
Ole Miss 51, Memphis 0
Crump Stadium

This game was the worst home loss by margin of victory in Memphis football history and it was ugly. Thanks to a strong passing attack led by quarterbacks Houston Patton, Eagle Day, and John Wallace Blalack, Ole Miss was able to dominate the offensive side of the ball. The Rebels gashed the Memphis defense for 517 total yards and scored at will on the hapless Tiger defense. Memphis only completed two passes for 14 yards and threw two more passes to players in Ole Miss uniforms. It’s too bad for Ole Miss that they can’t play every game against Memphis.

Memphis Football’s 4th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 5th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 6th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 7th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 8th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 9th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 10th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

List by MemphiSport, Descriptions by C.J. Hurt

This article originally appeared in the October 2011 issue of MemphiSport.

The University of Memphis has been playing football for almost one hundred years. In that time, the Tigers have given fans some great moments to celebrate and many more terrible moments to shake their heads at in disgust.  After coming off a 1-11 campaign in 2010 and starting this season with multiple blowout losses, it has become almost impossible for Tiger football fans to not be embarrassed. This isn’t the first time Memphis fans have wanted to cover their heads with brown paper sacks and it won’t be the last. To compare where Tiger football’s current situation stacks up historically, MemphiSport has assembled the list of the 10 Most Embarrassing Losses in Tiger football history.

Tiger Football’s 5th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

October 4, 1969
Tennessee 55, Memphis 16
Memphis Memorial Stadium

When asked what the turning point of the game was, Tigers head coach Spook Murphy said, “I guess the turning point was when the referee blew the opening whistle.” Indeed it was, as the Vols dominated the Tigers all game making this contest one of the program’s five biggest home losses ever by margin of points. Memphis forced five turnovers and still managed to find a way to get absolutely hammered from start to finish. However, what really makes this defeat so embarrassing is the fact that Tennessee played their second string players for almost the entire second half.

Memphis Football’s 5th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 6th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 7th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 8th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 9th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 10th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

This article originally appeared in the October 2011 issue of MemphiSport.

The University of Memphis has been playing football for almost one hundred years. In that time, the Tigers have given fans some great moments to celebrate and many more terrible moments to shake their heads at in disgust.  After coming off a 1-11 campaign in 2010 and starting this season with multiple blowout losses, it has become almost impossible for Tiger football fans to not be embarrassed. This isn’t the first time Memphis fans have wanted to cover their heads with brown paper sacks and it won’t be the last. To compare where Tiger football’s current situation stacks up historically, MemphiSport has assembled the list of the 10 Most Embarrassing Losses in Tiger football history.

Tiger Football’s 6th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

November 14, 1998
Southern Miss 45. Memphis 3
M.M. Roberts Stadium, Hattiesburg MS

Any loss in the aptly named “Black and Blue” game is devastating, but this one is especially difficult because it holds the distinction as the most lopsided loss in this historic rivalry and the eighth worse road loss by margin of victory in Tiger football history.

Southern Miss dominated this rivalry coming into the game, winning 11 of the previous 13 contests. Quarterback Lee Roberts came into this contest having broken the Golden Eagle’s single season touchdown mark (a record previously held by Favre) a week prior. Roberts added two more touchdowns to his total during this shellacking. Memphis could only muster 149 total yards and was held to just 51 total passing yards. Thankfully for Tiger fans, Southern Miss let up some towards the end of the game, otherwise they might have put up 70 points on the board.

Memphis Football’s 6th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 7th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 8th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 9th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 10th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

List by MemphiSport, Descriptions by C.J. Hurt

This article originally appeared in the October 2011 issue of MemphiSport.

The University of Memphis has been playing football for almost one hundred years. In that time, the Tigers have given fans some great moments to celebrate and many more terrible moments to shake their heads at in disgust.  After coming off a 1-11 campaign in 2010 and starting this season with multiple blowout losses, it has become almost impossible for Tiger football fans to not be embarrassed. This isn’t the first time Memphis fans have wanted to cover their heads with brown paper sacks and it won’t be the last. To compare where Tiger football’s current situation stacks up historically, MemphiSport has assembled the list of the 10 Most Embarrassing Losses in Tiger football history.

Tiger Football’s 7th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

November 4, 2004
Louisville 56, Memphis 49
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

This Thursday night game had it all: It was the last time these two teams would meet as members of Conference USA, over 1,202 yards of total offense combined, and ten lead changes. The two teams gave up a combined total of 15 big plays. The game culminated in a heartbreaking one-yard touchdown run by Louisville’s Eric Shelton with 37 seconds left to give the Cardinals a one-touchdown lead. The heartbreaking nature of this defeat is what makes this game so embarrassing. In the middle of what was supposed to be the Tiger football’s best season ever, the boys in blue and grey lost to one of their biggest rivals in the final seconds of a game. Add to it the fact that Louisville went on to win C-USA, something Memphis has still never done. Memphis went on to finish second in the conference right behind the Cardinals.

Memphis Football’s 7th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 8th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 9th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 10th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

List by MemphiSport, Descriptions by C.J. Hurt

This article originally appeared in the October 2011 issue of MemphiSport.

The University of Memphis has been playing football for almost one hundred years. In that time, the Tigers have given fans some great moments to celebrate and many more terrible moments to shake their heads at in disgust.  After coming off a 1-11 campaign in 2010 and starting this season with multiple blowout losses, it has become almost impossible for Tiger football fans to not be embarrassed. This isn’t the first time Memphis fans have wanted to cover their heads with brown paper sacks and it won’t be the last. To compare where Tiger football’s current situation stacks up historically, MemphiSport has assembled the list of the 10 Most Embarrassing Losses in Tiger football history.

Tiger Football’s 8th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

September 25, 1999
Tennessee 17, Memphis 16
Neyland Stadium, Knoxville TN

Sometimes choking away a win can be just as embarrassing as losing by 40 points. On this September day in 1999, Memphis missed an opportunity to pull off one of the greatest upsets in school history by knocking off then No. 7 and defending national champions Tennessee in Knoxville. Tennessee was still fuming over an embarrassing loss to Memphis in 1996 with star quarterback Peyton Manning at the helm and wanted to avenge that loss. Memphis waltzed into Knoxville as a 31-point underdog.

However, odds makers and experts did not take into account the complex defensive scheme orchestrated by head coach Rip Scherer and defensive coordinator John Thompson. The Tiger defense was able to put pressure on the Vols by executing complicated and confusing blitz packages and it worked for the first three quarters as Memphis held Tennessee to just 82 yards.

Even with multiple miscues, Memphis lead 16-10 with 1:31 left in the game. Then heartbreak happened for the Tigers as Tee Martin threw a 53 yard bomb to Bobby Graham to put the Vols on the six yard line of Memphis. Two short plays later, Tennessee scored a touchdown and a successful extra point gave them the lead with almost no time left on the clock.

Memphis Football’s 8th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 9th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 10th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

List by MemphiSport, Descriptions by C.J. Hurt

This article originally appeared in the October 2011 issue of MemphiSport.

The University of Memphis has been playing football for almost one hundred years. In that time, the Tigers have given fans some great moments to celebrate and many more terrible moments to shake their heads at in disgust.  After coming off a 1-11 campaign in 2010 and starting this season with multiple blowout losses, it has become almost impossible for Tiger football fans to not be embarrassed. This isn’t the first time Memphis fans have wanted to cover their heads with brown paper sacks and it won’t be the last. To compare where Tiger football’s current situation stacks up historically, MemphiSport has assembled the list of the 10 Most Embarrassing Losses in Tiger football history.

Tiger Football’s 9th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

October 26, 2004
Cincinnati 49, Memphis 10
Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati OH

This game was supposed to be a blowout, but it was supposed to be Memphis that was running up the score not Cincinnati. To make matters worse, this game was the last time the two schools would meet as conference rivals. The Bearcats limped into this game after a terrible loss against Army. Memphis on the other hand was in the middle of one of their most successful seasons ever, riding high with a 5-1 record and one of the most potent offenses in the nation (ranked 8th in total offense, 5th in scoring, and 10th in passing). A stingy defense lead the way for the Bearcats as they were able to hold standout tailback DeAngelo Williams to just 57 yards on 16 carries and no touchdowns. The Tigers managed only two first downs in the first half and went an astonishing 1 for 12 on third down conversions. Cincinnati’s offense looked unstoppable gaining 420 total yards.

Memphis Football’s 9th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever
Memphis Football’s 10th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

List by MemphiSport, Descriptions by C.J. Hurt

This article originally appeared in the October 2011 issue of MemphiSport.

The University of Memphis has been playing football for almost one hundred years. In that time, the Tigers have given fans some great moments to celebrate and many more terrible moments to shake their heads at in disgust.  After coming off a 1-11 campaign in 2010 and starting this season with multiple blowout losses, it has become almost impossible for Tiger football fans to not be embarrassed. This isn’t the first time Memphis fans have wanted to cover their heads with brown paper sacks and it won’t be the last. To compare where Tiger football’s current situation stacks up historically, MemphiSport has assembled the list of the 10 Most Embarrassing Losses in Tiger football history.

Tiger Football’s 10th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

October 24, 1987
Southern Miss 17, Memphis 14
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium

This is the first of two appearances on this list by the Golden Eagles. This game featured freshman quarterback and future Hall of Fame member Brett Favre. The 1987 matchup was the closest game Memphis played against Favre in the quarterback’s four-year career in Hattiesburg, MS. Favre threw for 280 yards and a touchdown in a thrilling three-point victory over Memphis.

This particular game in the “Black and Blue” rivalry lived up to its nickname with big hits (and fumbles) all night long. Appearing out of sync the entire game, Memphis turned the ball over on their first three possessions courtesy of sloppy weather and careless play. Even with all of the Tiger miscues, Southern Miss only had a touchdown lead going into half. Memphis managed to tie the game at 14 late and appeared to be on track. Then it all fell apart for the Tigers. Southern Miss kicked a field goal to take a three-point lead with 5:22 on the clock, more than enough time for Memphis to get a score and finish on top. However, an ineffective offensive series for the Tigers saw the ball right back in Brett Favre’s hand with a chance to ice the game. Then the unimaginable happened. After Memphis forced a three and out, the Tigers got a roughing the kicker penalty on the punt return, thus giving the Golden Eagles a first down and allowing them to end the game for good. Brett Favre’s Southern Miss teams went on to outscore Memphis 105-55.

Memphis Football’s 10th Most Embarrassing Loss Ever

List by MemphiSport, Descriptions by C.J. Hurt