The University of Memphis is the flagship university of the Tennessee Board of Regents system. An American Public Research University, its Athletics program currently features nine women's sports and likewise nine men's sports. The Memphis Tigers represent the football team of the University of Memphis and it is a Division I member of the NCAA. The University football team also participates in the Conference USA competition.

Thomas "Tommy" Cleveland West is the current Head Coach of Football at the University of Memphis. Born on July 31, 1954, in Carrollton, Georgia, Tommy West was the head coach for Clemson University earlier. John Flowers is his current director of football operations.

During the tenure of five years, from 2003 to 2007, the Memphis football team participated in four bowl games. In 2005, DeAngelo Williams, a senior running back and first-preference pick of the Carolina Panthers of the NFL led the team in the Motor City Bowl.

The home field of the Memphis Tigers is the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Initially built as Memphis Memorial Stadium in 1965, it is also the site of the annual Liberty Bowl. The stadium was built as a part of the Mid-South Fairgrounds, one of the U.S. South’s most popular fairs and it was dedicated to the Memphis' war-veterans. Previously the University football team had spent 28 seasons at Crump Stadium.