Jerry Gray Edging Larry Porter as New Tigers Football Coach

As an appearance before the grateful Memphis City Council earlier this year again proved: when Fed-Ex CEO and founder Fred Smith speaks, people are bound to listen.

Certainly, as he looks to fill the vacant head football coach position, U of M Athletic Director R.C. Johnson is not oblivious to Smith's influences as the city's most prominent businessman and the school's most well-heeled financial booster.

Bob Rush, former Tiger football analyst remarks, "I spoke to someone the other day, who jokingly said, Mr. Smith was going to be our athletic director for the next couple of years."

The sudden rise of Washington Redskins' defensive assistant coach, Jerry Gray, to the top of the list of choices to succeed the outgoing Tommy West, would appear to have the stamp of approval from Smith, who also owns a share of the NFL team. Rush believes Gray, despite lacking head coaching experience, does bring a strong fourteen year coaching resume to the table.

Rush notes, "NFL experience. You know very much like the basketball program, the kids like someone whose been there. He's been there as a player and a coach...and he knows what it takes to reach the next level."

Yet, critics of the possible pick of Gray cite other more "familial factors" of why the choice may reflect some string-pulling by Smith. Reportedly, Gray would appoint Smith's son and current Redskins' executive, Arthur, to his staff, coinciding with next year's expected arrival on the team of Smith's youngest son, Cannon, a former quarterback standout for Olive Branch High School.

But, what of the declining stock of the original front-runner for the job, former 90's Tiger running back and current LSU assistant coach, Larry Porter? Rush admits a certain bias for a former blue and grayer taking over the reins.

Rush cites, "Porter, of course. Number one, he's an alum. I like that. I like that alot. The fact that he's a tremendous recruiter, I think that's very important."

Porter's noted skills at recruiting would seem to be a key element for a football program, which without the vaunted BCS affiliation, finds itself solidly buried in mediocrity amid college football's pecking order of "haves and have-nots."

Rush continues, “People like to bring up Cincinnati, Louisville, some of the rivals that we were on equal footing at one time. They beat us by leaps and bounds now and a big part of that's being in the BCS now. There are a lot of kids that can't all go to the SEC schools. Potentially, with the right commitment, this can be a good football program."