S O U L
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UNIVERSIT Y OF MEMPHIS
C I T Y
Memphis' character is steeped in a rich history of diversity, creativity and commerce. From food to music to business, few can match The Bluff City's influence on modern culture.
Fewer still can match our passion for sports.
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At the heart of the nation’s 20th largest city in a metro of 1.13 million, the University of Memphis is more than a local college team. From the Final Fours of the 70s, 80s and 2000s to the 2014 AAC Champion football team, through the years, the Tigers have consistently reached beyond social and economic boundaries to rally Memphians of all backgrounds and beliefs under one blue banner. But for all our history, Memphis is a city poised to tackle the future head-on. Today, waves of urban revitalization and youthful optimism, along with the rebirth of localism, have swept up Memphians young and old. When it comes to passion and pageantry, Memphis will gladly stand toe-to-toe with the biggest names in the nation. But when it comes to having a soul-stirring brand of loyalty to our hometown athletes, Memphis does it better than the rest.
There's only one Memphis.
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Life in a city
that's famous
The world loves Memphis. America loves Memphis. Memphis loves Memphis. We’re a city bursting with civic pride. We attract creative people, talented beyond belief, who come here to be connected to one another. Other cities would kill to have that vibe, but it’s ours and ours alone. The passion to create runs deep and spans generations, producing the likes of B.B. King, Elvis, Al Green, Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes and Justin Timberlake, as well as some of the biggest breakthroughs in business, like FedEx and the world’s first hotel chain Holiday Inn. What would the world be like without rock ‘n’ roll, overnight delivery and hotels? You don’t have to worry. Memphis made sure of that.
all over the world
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Memphis is a magnet for big industry and thinkers.
Nike’s largest employee presence is in Memphis, second only to their headquarters in Oregon. Memphis distributes every single article of Nike wear that winds up on athletes.
Top Fortune 500 Companies & Leaders with World HEADQUARTERs In Memphis
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FedEx (#64)
Elvis Presley Enterprises
AutoZone (#300)
Wright Medical Technologies
International Paper (#105)
Lucite International
Medtronic
Thomas & Betts
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Youth Villages
Nike (Distribution Center)
Sharp Manufacturing of America
Ducks Unlimited
Hilton Hotels
Hunter Fan
Smith & Nephew
SUn STUDIO
GRACELAND
located just blocks from the FedExForum where UofM plays hoops, is where Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Roy Orbison changed American pop culture forever.
is one of the mostvisited homes in America, bested only by the White House, and voted the Most Iconic American Attraction by 10Best.com.
MEMPHIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT is the busiest air cargo airport in North America and home to the FedEx fleet.
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Memphis RANKINGS
#7
TOP CITY FOR MILLENNIALS
BEST CITIES TO START A BUSINESS by wallethub
BY the WALL STREET JOURNAL
#15 On forbes' U.S. Cities' Emerging Downtowns #4 HAPPIEST CITIES
FOR JOB-SEEKING COLLEGE GRADS
by Forbes and CareerBliss.com
20th LARGEST CITy
IN AMERICA
WITH A POPulation of 1.13 million
SOURCE: GREATER MEMPHIS CHAMBER
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A CITY AND A UNIVERSITY DRIVEN BY DOING The UofM is an engine of innovation. Our drive to create comes easily because we are smack dab in the middle of a city alive with ingenuity. Our students are better learners through hands-on experiences that inspire boundary-pushing work. The way we see it, an education isn't something you get. It's something you do.
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POINTS OF
PRIDE
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We attract more high-ability students than any other public university in Tennessee and have the largest honors program in the state. We have two prominent business incubators on campus — FedEx Institute of Technology and Crews Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The real world is where the “doing” happens, so every UofM student is guaranteed an internship, if they want one, which contributes to another impressive ranking — Top Ten for Internships by U.S. News and World Report. We are a Carnegie-designated high-research institution offering a comprehensive number of degrees at all degree levels, from bachelor’s to doctorate, including a juris doctorate in law. We are consistently ranked our state’s safest large university by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation with 40% fewer incidents than any of the state’s 10 largest schools. PreLaw magazine listed the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law as having the best law school facility in the U.S.
UofM Programs in the CURRENT U.S. News and World Report rankings: Audiology (#12) Speech-Language Pathology (#15)
Biological Sciences (#209)
Psychology (#117)
Rehabilitation Counseling (#21)
Earth Sciences
Clinical Psychology (#79)
Health Care Management (#47)
Public Affairs (#104)
Online Graduate Nursing Program
Online MBA (#66)
(#106)
(#70)
Math (#126)
Part-Time MBA (#140)
Law (#142)
Master of Health Care Administration
Education (#180) Fine Arts (#177)
(#48)
ATHLETICs Program with Purpose A high percentage of our student-athletes come from underrepresented low-income households and are the first in their family to attend college. UofM Athletics fiercely supports them, making a world-class education affordable for all. 11 11
UofM Student-Athletes Stand Out Academically
91%
of our student-athletes (who exhausted eligibility while enrolled) have graduated since 2003.
100% of our athletic programs (19 teams) have posted their highest semester GPAs in the last 10 years.
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3. 5 GPA 3.0 GPA
has been earned by 32.5% of Memphis Tiger athletes at some point in college, placing them on the prestigious Dean’s Honors List.
or higher has been achieved by the athletic department as a whole for nine consecutive years.
years straight UofM leads our conference for the most teams (5) winning Academic Excellence Awards. We also have the most individual honorees in the AAC.
85%
180
student-athletes named to AAC AllAcademic team.
56%
of Memphis Tiger athletes achieved 3.0 GPA for the Spring 2015 term.
100%
of UofM teams completed community service commitments totaling more than 700 hours.
is our NCAA Graduation Success Rate, placing Memphis higher than schools including Tennessee, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, Florida, Kentucky, Louisville, Oklahoma and Texas.
GRADUATION SUCCESS RATE COMPARISON 2013-2014 (2007 COHORT)
POWER 5 institutions
academic peers
university of memphis
85.5 85.3
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GSR
92.0
65.9
MEN'S BASKETBALL GSR
62.0 64.0
68.3
FOOTBALL GSR
63.9 76.0
0.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
90.0
100.0
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" Memphis is an environment in which, for whatever reason, people feel free to try all sorts of innovations. It remains a culture where the art of the possible seems to be a way of life." - Frederick W. Smith
Founder, Chairman & CEO, FedEx Corporation
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DEANGELO WILLIAMS Former UofM Tiger Running Back, holds NCAA record for 100-yard rushing games (34) and allpurpose yards (7,573). Ranked 4th on the all-time NCAA rushing list. Heisman Trophy finalist in 2005, now with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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FOOTBALL
" We do this
for our city." What happens in Memphis during football season is rare. The players hit the field each week to make the city proud. That’s because our University feels connected to the city in every way. Our football players embody a philosophy of hard work that Memphis prides itself on. And our market doesn’t overlap with or compete for any other college team’s fans. This truly is Tiger Nation.
Memphis Tigers ended the 2014 season in the AP Top 25 and defeated BYU in a double-overtime thriller to win the Miami Beach Bowl.
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The 2015 season is proving that the Memphis Tigers are unstoppable. Our overhauled and energized football program has posted the highest AP rankings in University history.
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FOOTBALL
8 BOWL APPEARANCES 2014 Miami Beach Bowl 2008 MagicJack St. Petersburg Bowl 2007 New Orleans Bowl 2005 Motor City Bowl 2004 GMAC Bowl 2003 New Orleans Bowl 1971 Pasadena Bowl 1956 Burley Bowl
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Tiger players have been drafted by NFL since the first year of the draft in 1951 18 18
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IN HIGH GEAR Players named All-Conference in the Missouri Valley, Metro, Conference USA and American Athletic Conference leagues
Players named to AllC-USA teams
1992
2005
DeAngelo Williams was named Heisman Trophy finalist
Joe Allison was recipient of the Lou Groza Award, presented annually to the top kicker
CURRENTLY 8 ACTIVE UofM TIGER PLAYERS IN THE NFL Including: Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots Super Bowl Champion Kicker DeAngelo Williams, Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back
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players earned NFL Super Bowl Championship rings
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players have competed in the Super Bowl
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Liberty BOWL MEMORIAL STADIUM
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Memphis Tiger fans pack the stands of one of the finest football facilities in the nation. This historic stadium was built in memory of World War I, World War II and Korean War veterans. It’s located just blocks from stately historic mansions and a vibrant arts, theatre and entertainment district with a distinctively funky Memphis vibe. Tailgaiting is legendary. The field serves as home turf for the Memphis Tigers and home to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
59,308
seats, each with unobstructed views of the field
FOUR LEVEL
press box
$15.7M in improvements since
2012, including new LED lighting throughout, newly renovated locker rooms and playing surface
6th largest
LED VIDEO BOARD
IN THE NATION
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luxury suites and a stadium club for VIPs
CAPACITY
comparable in size to West Virginia, Texas Tech, Ole Miss, Louisville, Oregon and Virginia
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" Memphis is the global capital of soul. And that soul is not just in the music, it's in the people." - JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE MEMPHIS NATIVE
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ANFERNEE "PENNY" HARDAWAY Former UofM Tiger point guard took us to the Elite Eight in ’92. Consensus All-American who had the first triple doubles in UofM history, led the Tigers in scoring, averaging 22.8 points in his final season. 4X NBA All Star retired after a career with Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns, NY Knicks and Miami Heat.
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BASKETBALL
Meet Memphis' Hoops-Crazed Soul
If you grew up in Memphis, you are obsessed with basketball. We are the kind of city that doesn’t take no for an answer on the court or in everyday life. That gritty determination is present in the game of hoops and Memphis can’t get enough. When Larry Finch and company stood toe-to-toe with Bill Walton and the UCLA machine for the 1973 national championship, the world saw what Memphis has always known. Basketball is our pastime.
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BASKETBALL
2 NCAA 3 NCAA FINAL FOURS NATIONAL
(2008, 1985, 1973)
APPEARANCES
4 NIT FINAL FOURS
CHAMPIONSHIP (2008, 1973)
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CHAMPIONSHIP (2002)
(2005, 2002, 2001, 1957)
post-season appearances, including 22 in the past 25 years
players selected in the NBA Draft
1 NIT
in game attendance for 13 out of last 14 years
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UofM is one of two colleges to produce back-to-back NBA Rookie of the Year recipients.
90%
TOP 20 first-round NBA draft picks
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8
NBA AllStars
top-ten NBA draft picks
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of games are televised nationally
TOP 20 ranking nationally for growing NBA talent
players won NBA Championships 27
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FEDEX FORUM
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When you suit up as a Memphis Tiger, your talents will be put on display in one of the largest and most sophisticated basketball arenas in the nation. Every home game plays out on this remarkable stage, which is also shared with NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies. UofM Tigers have a dedicated locker room and lounge area within the facility. Located in the heart of downtown, games wind down with fans spilling out on to historic Beale Street which is just steps away from the FedExForum.
$258M 18,700 facility shared with the Memphis Grizzlies
Located in downtown Memphis in the historic
seats, including 1,000 premiere courtside
63 Skysuites
BEALE ST. DISTRICT
TOP 20 CAPACITY among NCAA Division I facilities
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" I t's like a factory for original souls. And those it does not produce, it pulls into its voracious tractor beam." - Hampton Sides
Memphis-born best-selling author on his hometown
contributor to National Geographic and editor-at-large for Outside
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U ofM WOMEN'S GOLF Players train in one of the nation’s premiere collegiate golf facilities, the Frank L. Flautt Center and have built a nationally prominent NCAA program. Leighann Cabush tied for fourth overall posting a 212 in the 2015 Fall Invitational.
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WE WILL BUILD MORE CHAMPIONS
comprehensive facilities for elite performance BASKETBALL • Traditions Hall with interactive exhibits and basketball museum dedicated to the history of Memphis Basketball and open to the public • Audio/Visual Experience Room for recruiting efforts and public tours • Academic Learning Center with study rooms designed for small groups and a large study hall for team-focused group sessions • New team dining hall/nutrition center with views of the indoor practice court and multiple TV screens • Athletic training and state-of-the-art weight room built specifically for men’s basketball needs and located in close proximity to the practice court
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• New state-of-the-art team video room, with integrated XOS video system • Viewing balcony accessible from coaches’ offices for recruits, families and donors • Basketball Practice Facility totals 58,000 sq. ft. • Features 14,000 sq. ft. practice gym, with 3 full courts made of state-of-the-art hardwood floor system • Top-of-the-line HydroWorx therapy pool with underwater video monitoring system and additional hot and cold tubs in Training Room • Includes 3,000 sq. ft. weight room featuring the latest in cardio equipment and best-in-class free weights and training stations
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FOOTBALL • New team lounge adjacent to team locker room featuring state-of-the art video and entertainment systems • New learning center with 3 individual study rooms designed for small groups and a large study hall for team-focused group sessions • New team dining hall/nutrition center with views of the indoor practice field and multiple TV screens, as well as individual booths reserved for team captains (Captain’s Den)
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• Viewing balcony is accessible from the Head Coach’s Office, Offensive and Defensive Coordinator’s Offices, Conference Rooms and Recruiting Lounge • 76,000 sq. ft. climate controlled indoor space • State-of-the-art and energy efficient Sport LED Lighting system with natural light illuminates the practice field
• New state-of-the-art team video room, with integrated XOS video system
• Large roll-up doors allow for integration of practice with outdoor fields for quick access into the facility from the rain and other weather elements
• Recruiting Lounge allows staff to showcase program history and success in a family friendly environment with views of indoor practice field
• Includes integrated video camera system to XOS video control and features advance scoring and timing equipment
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THE MEMPHASIS IS ON AMBITION BASEBALL - 5 NCAA Tournament appearances
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
- 4 Conference
- 7 NCAA Tournament
-M ore than 90 players
appearances
- 4 Conference Championships
Championships
have been selected in the MLB Draft and gone on to play professionally
- 2 1 players have
advanced to play in the Major Leagues
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- 3 NCAA Regional appearances - Top 5 finishes in 48 events since 2003 with 11 victories - Posted 2 tournament victories during the fall 2015 season - 2 individual champions in 2015
SOFTBALL
WOMEN'S SOCCER
MEN'S SOCCER
- 12 All-Conference players since program’s inception in 2006
- 5 NCAA Tournament appearances in the past decade
- 2 All-Americans
- 2015 student-athlete Rookie of the Year
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MEN'S GOLF
- 3 Conference titles in the past 10 years
- 22 Regional Honors since 2000 - 58 All-Conference selections
WOMEN'S GOLF
VOLLEYBALL
- 7 NCAA Tournament appearances
-M ade one of
- 5 Conference Championships - 24 Tournament wins - 2 Coach of the Year recipients
MEN'S TENNIS - 3 NCAA Tournament appearances in last 4 years - 3 Conference Championship appearances in last 4 years - 2013 Conference USA Championship
the nation’s best improvements in 2014, posting a 23-11 record
- 2 tournament championships in 2014
WOMEN'S TENNIS - 49-21 overall record as a nationallyranked team - 33 All-Conference honors since 1998
TRACK AND FIELD
POM AND CHEER
- 8 All-Americans in 2015
- 14 Universal Dance Association (UDA) National Titles
- 14 NCAA East Preliminaries Qualifiers in 2015 - 7 school records set in 2015, second-most in a single year - 13 USTFCCCA All-Academic recipients in 2015 - 6 NCAA Championships
- World Dance Team POM Championship in 2013 - Coed College Cheerleading Championship in 2013 - Top 10 finish in Coed Cheer at 2014 National Championships 37
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" Lost in the midst of SEC Country, Memphis is more known for its barbecue and blues than its sports. This is dumb. Memphis is a phenomenal sports town, both in its support of the University of Memphis and the Memphis Grizzlies. The FedExForum is one of the few arenas with a distinct personality." - USA TODAY SPORTS 38 38
LARRY FINCH Memphis Tigers Head Coach 1986–1997, led team to 6 NCAA Tournament appearances including Elite Eight in ’92, posted 10 out of 11 winning seasons. He was also one of the greatest to ever play for Memphis and led the Tigers to the 1973 NCAA Championship game in a heroic loss to UCLA.
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FANS SHOW UP IN HUGE NUMBERS This is a University—and city—full of joy. You can hear it in the roar of Tiger fans at every game. You notice it in the big smiles on faces in the stands. The Tiger faithful are everywhere in Memphis. We show up in huge numbers to support both women’s and men’s athletics. You will even find us on the road, especially our loud, rowdy and crazy Blue Crew—the official student support group for UofM athletics. We are one of only two universities in America with a live tiger mascot. The current tiger is TOM III, the third live tiger to represent our university in the past 30 years. The UofM also has a costumed tiger mascot known as Pouncer.
TOP 50 TV DMA MARKET In the middle of SEC Territory,
the Memphis Tigers have a stronghold on fan support.* 40 40
*New York Times “The Upshot”
2015's impressive ratings to date CINCINNATI vs. MEMPHIS
Aired on ESPN with a national rating of 0.82, with 1,241,777 viewers and a 12.61 local Memphis rating.
USF vs. MEMPHIS
Aired on ESPN2 with a national rating of 0.78, with 1,154,610 viewers and a 7.45 local Memphis rating.
ole miss vs. MEMPHIS
Aired on an ABC telecast window along with IowaNorthwestern, with a 2.6 rating. Locally in Memphis WANT had a 22.6 rating, 39 share, putting us in the three highest cities nationally that weekend.
$38M 4 MILLION 49% 8%
Last year alone, fans of Memphis Tigers posted $38 million in gifts and commitments in support of UofM athletics and academics. There is no shortage of love for our University. People give big and root hard.
4%
Memphis is the 5th college in the nation to reach the 4 million in basketball attendance mark for the 21st century, joining Kentucky, North Carolina, Louisville and Syracuse as the first to reach this significant milestone.
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S O U L
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C I T Y