Tuesday (11/18) on the Jason & John Show a ton of Memphis fans called in on both sides of the "Fire Ryan Silverfield" debate. Here's the audio followed by Frank Bonner from the Daily Memphian on the Tigers Beat on 92.9 FM ESPN. AUDIO:
Ryan Silverfield’s tenure as head coach at Memphis has been marked by both clear progress and persistent tension, a complicated mix. When he took over in late 2019 (after Mike Norvell’s departure), he inherited a high-performing program, and expectations were immediately steep.
On the upside, Silverfield has delivered tangible success. In his first full season (2020), he led the Tigers to an 8–3 record, won their bowl game, and set the school’s best winning percentage for a debut coach. Since then, he’s orchestrated some program milestones: back-to-back 10-win seasons (including a Liberty Bowl victory in 2023), a major contract extension through 2028 with auto-renew clauses for the head coach, and even two Tennessee Sports Writers Association Coach of the Year honors. He’s also emphasized culture, discipline, and academic performance, as seen in recent record GPAs for Memphis players.
Yet the journey hasn’t been seamless. Early in his tenure, Memphis struggled to sustain the heights set under Norvell, going just 21–15 over his first three seasons. Some lapses on game management, frustration from the fan base over inconsistency, and even a controversial incident a former player allegedly shared Memphis’ playbook with an opponent have clouded his accomplishments.
Full coverage of the Memphis Tigers live on 92.9 FM ESPN. Next up: Memphis hosts Navy at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Thanksgiving at 6:30 p.m.