Memphis football vs. Vanderbilt in Nashville?
Memphis football coach Ryan Silverfield has an idea for a future game.
“I'm trying to get — let's get Vanderbilt,” he said Monday. “Let's play them in Nashville. I think that'd be a fun one. Let's play them at the Titans' stadium. Let's find anybody that wants to play us in a true neutral-site game. I think that'd be fantastic.”
Memphis and Vanderbilt have played 12 times, with the Commodores winning seven. The last meeting, though, was in 1989.
Silverfield was talking about future games after Memphis' 34-27 loss to Missouri in St. Louis on Saturday. The game with Missouri was the result of a drawn-out agreement that Memphis fans were less-than-pleased with.
The two schools signed a home-andhome agreement in 2010, but Missouri expressed interest in buying out the return game, which was slated for Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. That buyout would have been $250,000. The two schools then renegotiated, leading to Saturday's meeting at The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis.
Memphis earned up to $1 million. Memphis Athletic director Laird Veatch said last year that in addition to the $250,000 cancellation fee, Memphis received an additional $500,000 guarantee from Missouri as well as up to $250,000 in lower level tickets for which Memphis will keep the revenue.
“Given the set of circumstances, it was a fun environment,” Silverfield said. “I was glad we were able to play in St. Louis, a great town, as an away game, so be it. We walked away with a million dollar check. But wish we walked away with a win. That was more important.”
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @thejonahdylan.