by Adam Douglas
Things are finally underway for the 2012 version of the University of Memphis Tigers football team. And with a new leader at the helm, former TCU co-offensive coordinator Justin Fuente taking over for now former head coach Larry Porter, the Tigers look to head into a new direction - offensively and defensively.
"I can't wait until we can teach the kids how to practice, Fuente said. "I'm not sure they understand it yet - the effort, focus and attention to detail that it takes to practice for two full hours to get a really good practice in."Like his predecessor, Porter, Fuente has inherited a deeply inept team that has won only three games over the last two seasons. So finding someone in the locker room that has the experience and leadership to lean on for the underclassmen may be a difficult task. But Fuente knows that he and his staff should be able to carry the bulk of that role."I have told the kids already that what has happened in the past was the past," Fuente said. "I want them to know that we're here for them, to teach them and that we care about them and the community." "Some people may think that when a new coach comes in, that he already has his guy," Fuente said. "Well, that's not any of that here. They're all our guys and that's how we get them to lead others when they get recruited to come here." Though spring ball has just begun, Fuente is still unfamiliar with his new team. He says that there are no starters or backups at this point, and that he also doesn't know anything about who will be taking snaps this fall. But the one thing that players can be sure of is the ability to compete for spots. Fuente has been reluctant to watch any film on the team in order to not form an opinion, rather to give each person a sure fire chance to earn his spot."I've watched some film, but I want them to know that they're coming in with a blank slate," Fuente said. "I find it rather hard to not form an opinion if do watch, and I don't want to do that."
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