🏈 FedEx & U. of Memphis seeking to buy BCS Conference invite

[LBS]

http://www.cbssports.com/general/st...illions-if-bcsaffiliated-league-takes-memphis

President of the Memphis-based FedEx company, who's son plays for the Tigers, is seeking an invitation to join a BCS conference and is willing to put his money where his mouth is...in the form of up to $10MM/Year.

Hey Beebe. Are you hearing this? Memphis plus one more and your back in the game.

 

[bamascw]

Memphis' best bet is the Big East

 

[LBS]

Memphis' best bet is the Big East

I anticipate the there will be a second round of "expansion" in a few years, perhaps looking more like a reshuffling of the deck. If that is the case, I would think it smart for Mr. Smith to either piggy bank that money for an attractive lump sum "carrot" to lure a conference at that time, or to spend that money on facilities improvements that might make things more BCS Conference level.

The renting the Liberty Bowl each Saturday ain't top shelf. Perhaps rally the boosters to build something more sizable, or expand the Liberty Bowl itself. If you visit their web site and look at the facilities, you'll see that their weight room really isn't. That is to say, their weight "room" is a space at the end of what appears to be a practice floor for basketball.

The odd thing is that Mr. Smith's son plays on the football team, yet the basketball and baseball areana's have the FedEx name on them. Go figure.

 

[psychojoe]

If the Big 12 holds together (a better looking prospect today than it was Friday) Memphis and maybe TCU would restore their numbers. TCU would have to enlarge their stadium or play in Jerry land though.

 

[bamascw]

There has been off and on talk for years about building a new football stadium but honestly, it will not happen unless Fred pays for most of it. This city (Memphis) is so full of issues and the city council members all hate each other....so on and so on....

 

[LBS]

There has been off and on talk for years about building a new football stadium but honestly, it will not happen unless Fred pays for most of it. This city (Memphis) is so full of issues and the city council members all hate each other....so on and so on....

He could roll in and put up luxury suites by the truck load, slightly increasing the seating, and begin making money the way other schools do. Do you suppose they'd let him call it The FedEx Liberty Bowl?

 

[bamascw]

He could roll in and put up luxury suites by the truck load, slightly increasing the seating, and begin making money the way other schools do. Do you suppose they'd let him call it The FedEx Liberty Bowl?

They would let him call it "Fred Smithville" if he would pony up the cheese!

They want to build a campus stadium but I just don't see that happening anytime soon. He could dump a boatload of money into the current stadium and make it very nice but I don't know if he is willing to do that.