Memphis needs more football wins to join major conference

Former Big East commissioner Mike Tranghese says the University of Memphis needs to win more in football to complement its compelling case for a major conference bid. Tranghese served as a paid consultant to the UofM athletic department during a sixth-month stint in which he evaluated a Tiger program positioning itself for inclusion in a Bowl Championship Series conference. Tranghese’s consulting work ended Dec. 31. He was paid $5,000 monthly through private donations, according to athletic director R.C. Johnson. – Commercial-Appeal

Mike Dubose takes job at Memphis

Millsaps coach Mike DuBose resigned to take an assistant position as the defensive line coach at the University of Memphis. The Majors (7-3) won their first outright league title since 1994 and made their first NCAA Division III playoff berth in 31 years. DuBose finished with a 33-10 record (24-2 SCAC record) during his four-year tenure with Millsaps. – Sun-Herald

Memphis officially introduces Larry Porter as football coach

Larry Porter began envisioning his perfect job nearly two years ago when, as an assistant coach, he and the LSU football team were being honored at the White House for winning the national championship. Porter, a former University of Memphis running back, wasn’t thinking politics. He had his alma mater on his mind. Later that night, the UofM basketball team was playing Kansas for a national title of its own, a matchup that inspired Porter to dream. “I will never forget that, on one hand, I was so proud of my alma mater,” Porter said. “On the other hand I was saying, ‘You know what? Football can be just as good.’ “I went to bed with that vision in my mind. (Saturday) night I probably slept two hours thinking about that same vision of being a championship-caliber program. I still believe that will happen.” – Commercial Appeal

Larry Porter to be named Memphis coach

Former University of Memphis running back Larry Porter will be named the Tigers head football coach, sources told The Commercial Appeal today. Porter, currently LSU’s assistant head coach, could be introduced at a press conference Sunday. – Commercial-Appeal

Gray, Porter Lead Memphis Search

The search for the next University of Memphis football coach is moving at an accelerated pace as the regular season winds to a close and it appears the race to replace Tommy West is down to two candidates: Washington Redskins defensive assistant Jerry Gray and LSU assistant head coach Larry Porter. Sources close to the process said Sunday that Gray, 46, or Porter, 37, could be named as early as next week. The Tigers (2-9) play their finale Friday at Tulsa in a Conference USA game that will end the nine-year run of West. West, the former Clemson coach, led the program to five bowl appearances in the past seven seasons, but his teams have gone 17-32 since 2006. Neither Gray nor Porter has head coaching experience at any level. – Commercial Appeal

Larry Porter Leads Memphis Search?

Well placed sources at Memphis tell Football Rumor Mill that LSU running backs coach Larry Porter has emerged at the leader in Memphis’s search for a new coach to replace the fired Tommy West.

In the early stages, it appeared MTSU coach Rick Stockstill would land the job. However, he pulled out and decided to stay in Murfreesboro. In the meantime, a schism developed among the powers at Memphis. It seems AD R.C. Johnson wanted Porter, while other prominent boosters wanted to move in another direction.

Sources indicate this morning that it appears Johnson is winning the battle. More to come from Football Rumor Mill…

Gran, MacIntyre in the picture at Memphis

University of Tennessee running backs coach/special teams coach Eddie Gran and Duke University defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre are the latest names to surface in the University of Memphis’ hunt for a successor to Tommy West… Memphis is expected to name a new coach shortly after the season ends Nov. 27 in Tulsa. Late last week, LSU assistant Larry Porter, Middle Tennessee coach RIck Stockstill, North Alabama coach Terry Bowden, Oklahoma State co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer and Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster emerged as the leading candidates. Porter and Stockstill appear to be atop the list, Porter for his reputation as a recruiter and being a former Memphis running back and Stockstill for his head coaching experience. His MTSU team has an opportunity to finish 9-3 this season. – Commercial-Appeal

Memphis Has a Short List

Larry Porter, Rick Stockstill, Terry Bowden, Gunter Brewer and Bud Foster — have emerged as leading candidates to become the next University of Memphis football coach, according to sources close to the process. But Tigers athletic director R.C. Johnson, who would only confirm he had pared a list of 50 considerably, said no candidates have been interviewed to replace Tommy West, who was dismissed Monday after nine seasons as UofM coach. West, 55, will coach through the end of the season. ”There are an awful lot of people out there who are pretty excited about this job,” Johnson said. – Commercial-Appeal

Long List at Memphis to Replace Tommy West

Among the names that have surfaced as potential candidates to replace Tommy West are: LSU assistant head coach Larry Porter, a former UofM running back; Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong; Oklahoma State co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer, son of former Ole Miss coach Billy Brewer; Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn; and Detroit Lions assistant Tim Walton, former UofM defensive coordinator. – Commercial Appeal

Strong, Porter, Malzahn, Brewer names surface at Memphis

While Memphis Athletic Director R.C. Johnson would not discuss possible candidates, among the names that surfaced Monday were LSU assistant Larry Porter, a former Memphis running back; Oklahoma State co-offensive coordinator Gunter Brewer, son of former Ole Miss coach Billy Brewer; Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn, who spent two seasons in C-USA as Tulsa’s coordinator; and Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong. … Strong, 49, has been at Florida since 2003 and has served as assistant head coach (2005-07) and associate head coach (2008 and 2009). Known for his success as a recruiter, Strong has worked under Steve Spurrier at Florida and Lou Holtz at South Carolina. – Commercial Appeal

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