Saturday night brought celebration on and off the field for the Memphis Tigers football program as the newly renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium welcomed Tigers Nation for an exciting day of college football, where the Tigers beat Arkansas State 42-24 to improve to 2-0 on the season. As normal after every game, there are thoughts, observations, and takeaways, especially from a spectacular night as the Tigers had on Saturday. 

Without further ado, let’s jump right into all of those feelings. 

First, starting with the celebration off the field before deep-diving into the game itself. It’s been a long time coming: the western side of the stadium, combined with the drone show and the new lights, enhanced the fan experience and finally gave Memphis football the feels of being a Power Four football environment. For years, Memphis fans have dreamed of having a renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium because most of the fan base understands that before you can make that jump to the next level, you first have to close the gap by looking the part as well, and Dr. Ed Scott and his staff knocked it out of the park. The entire western side of the stadium is beautiful and gives fans of all backgrounds a place to celebrate Memphis football while enjoying a newly renovated stadium that sends a message to the college football world: Memphis is a brand here to stay. Memphis fans were eager to get inside as they sold out the Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium with a crowd of over 45,000. 

As for the renovations, Dr. Ed Scott and his staff knocked it out of the park with beauty and practicality, combining everything into a finished product Memphis fans can take pride in for generations. That said, like with any brand-new project, there were some hiccups, but as we’ve seen since he took over as Athletic Director, Dr. Ed Scott and his staff will have ironed out the kinks before the next home game on the 19th against UT Martin. With that, I encourage all fans to take a step back from the ledge and be patient as things get ironed out; this new western side of the stadium will be something generations of Memphis fans will come to love and cherish. 

On the field of play, let’s start with the first-half woes once again this week. Another week of Memphis starting slow but finishing strong. Easier said than done, but Memphis has too much talent on the roster to start slowly; this weekend against Boise State will be the best test for the Tigers to start strong. This weekend against Arkansas State, the Tigers finished the first quarter with zero points on the scoreboard before scoring 21 in the second quarter to take a 21-17 halftime lead. 

On the offensive side of the ball, the offensive firepower kept on rolling on Saturday night as Marcus Stokes, Jaylin Carter, and Manny Covey all showed out against Arkansas State. Starting with Marcus Stokes, who, despite throwing two interceptions, finished his night 12 for 15 with 188 yards and two touchdowns. What we learned about Stokes is that the dude is a leader; most quarterbacks would have thrown in the towel after throwing two picks, not Stokes. He kept on grinding and delivered a really solid night out against Arkansas State. As for the running backs, Jaylin Carter and Manny Covey once again had incredible nights, with the two combining for 286 yards, with Carter leading the way with his 183 yards and four touchdowns. Over the years, Memphis football has become a running back university; this year is no different, as the two-headed beast in the backfield puts Memphis in a position to have one of the best running back rooms in the country. 

For the defense, the Tigers’ defensive line managed five sacks, with J’Mond Tapp leading the way with 1.5. In the secondary, the unit finished the night with four interceptions, with Dylan Smith leading the way with two picks on Saturday night. It was another night when the Tigers’ defense stepped up and made the plays Coach Huff needed. 

At the end of the day, Saturday was a day of celebration for the Tigers as they took care of business against a rival and welcomed the fan base to the newly renovated Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium with a win to improve to 2-0 on the season. As for the week ahead, Memphis and Boise State will be an all-out war as the two head into the matchup as the frontrunners to represent the Group of Six in the College Football Playoff.  

Photo Credits- Memphis Football on X