The Memphis Tigers football team became bowl-eligible for a ninth straight season with its win over North Alabama on Saturday, and it fittingly ended 59-0 on the afternoon the late Danton Barto’s jersey No. 59 was retired.

The Memphis Tigers basketball team bounced back from its loss at Saint Louis with a win boosted by tenacious defense and point guard Kendric Davis’ impressive offensive output.

But it was a letter emailed by Tigers athletic director Laird Veatch to the school’s biggest boosters that had so many talking.

Veatch put out a plea for money to support the school’s athletes through NIL opportunities, and the ask — replete with a plea suggesting players could leave if it wasn’t answered, and soon — is a big one even for deep-pocketed supporters.

Those were among a long list of topics covered by The Daily Memphian sports staff during another busy week on the Memphis sports scene, also including — but hardly limited to — the Grizzlies’ many injury woes (Ja Morant seems really hurt one night, then magically not another night), Bartlett High’s big football playoff win over Germantown High and a new head coach for Memphis 901 FC announced just as the soccer world turns its attention to the World Cup.

Thanksgiving week — enjoy your turkey (or protein of choice), all the fixins’ and apple pie (or in my case, hold-the-sugar cheesecake) — won’t slow things down, with the Tigers’ football team closing its regular season Saturday against SMU in Dallas before learning its bowl destination, their basketball team down in Orlando for a trio of tournament games, the Grizzlies at home against New Orleans on full tummies and Bartlett playing Hendersonville Beech in the Class 6A semifinals.

While waiting for Thursday’s holiday spread, here are some of the past week’s highlights to peruse. — Tim Buckley, deputy sports editor/senior writer

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“On Danton Barto’s day, the final scoreboard blazed with his number.” It was a fine way to retire the jersey of the all-time great Memphis linebacker, who died in 2021 at age 50.

Tigers seniors' final home is one to remember By John Varlas

Kendric Davis finally arrives for the Memphis Tigers By Parth Upadhyaya

Love It, Like It or Hate It: Reviewing Memphis’ road loss to Saint Louis By Parth Upadhyaya

Brooklyn Nets pull away from ailing Memphis Grizzlies By Drew Hill

U of M asks boosters to pay NIL money — or players will be lost By Tim Buckley

Coach Silverfield supports Memphis AD's athlete funding efforts By Frank Bonner II

Ja Morant upgraded to questionable ahead of game vs. Kings By Drew Hill

Why is Kenneth Lofton Jr. in the G League? Grizzlies have 'a reason' By Drew Hill

Memphis 901 FC names new coach By John Varlas

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