Memphis has organized a six-person advisory committee to assist university president Bill Hardgrave in the search for a new athletic director.

Jeff Crane, who was named Memphis’ interim AD on April 23 after former AD Laird Veatch departed for Missouri, talked about a variety of topics in an interview with The Daily Memphian.

The Memphis athletics department announced East Memphis, Collierville and the Arlington/Lakeland area as its three locations. 

Paul Finebaum said he thought Memphis was a better match for the ACC than SMU.

Spring is in the air, and things are busy over at the University of Memphis. Penny Hardaway still has some pieces to add, and the Tigers need a new athletic director. 

Blake Watson and Tigers defensive lineman Jaylon Allen both sign free agent deals with the Denver Broncos. Also, Memphis receiver Joe Scates has signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

When Laird Veatch was introduced as the new athletic director at the University of Missouri, he acknowledged those at his most-recent stop.

A look at players from the Memphis Tigers football program who’ve entered the NCAA transfer portal prior to the 2024 season and the Tigers’ latest portal pickups.

“Blake Watson is an NFL running back,” Memphis Tigers coach Ryan Silverfield said as the 2024 draft approaches. With Watson gone, South Carolina transfer Mario Anderson and others line up to replace him.

University of Memphis president Bill Hardgrave addresses the departure of athletic director Laird Veatch and names an interim AD.

Seth Henigan and David Jones are among the subjects of discussion as The Daily Memphian Tigers Podcast with Greg Gaston wraps up following Saturday’s spring football game and Jones’ NBA Draft entry.

“Whoever succeeds Laird Veatch as the Memphis Tigers athletic director will be handed a silver platter full of gifts realized under his watch.”

Related story: 

Memphis AD Laird Veatch leaving for Missouri

The departure of athletic director Laird Veatch from Memphis to Missouri comes three days after the Tigers secured a five-year, $25 million NIL commitment from FedExCorp.

“With newfound bucks from FedEx Corp., Tigers football coach Ryan Silverfield says, ‘The bar should be set as high as it can be.’ It beats flailing along with a shoestring NIL budget in a stadium needing modernization.”

Arrington Maiden’s story has plenty of parallels to that of Memphis starter Seth Henigan, and the Tigers seem to love the young Texan.

Three reserves battled for the backup job behind starting quarterback Seth Henigan and the running backs looked good in the Memphis Tigers’ fun-filled spring game.

Former Memphis Tigers starting cornerback plans to transfer to SEC member Mississippi State.

University of Memphis Tigers athletic director Laird Veatch suggests Memphis isn’t the only school experiencing such a flip-flop.

Tim Buckley, Parth Upadhyaya and host Greg Gaston discuss FedEx’s groundbreaking NIL commitment to the University of Memphis and Tigers’ basketball scheduling and transfer portal news.

Memphis’ spring football game, which is free to attend, will be split between two evenly matched teams of blue and gray. It will include two 12-minute quarters, followed by four untimed drives.

Memphis, which lost three players to the NCAA transfer portal on its opening day, hauled in most of its transfers in December. Coach Ryan Silverfield doesn’t anticipate a significant number of new additions now. 

Related stories:

Memphis cornerback DeAgo Brumfield enters transfer portal

Tigers running back Ducker heads to transfer portal

Memphis running back Jay Ducker is entering the NCAA transfer portal, he posted on social media. Ducker rushed for 544 yardsfor the Tigers in 2022.

DeAgo Brumfield, now in the NCAA transfer portal, started in 12 of the 13 games he played for the Tigers last season.