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SJR 416

Memorials, Sports - University of Memphis Athletic Department -

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by London Lamar

Ceremonially honors the University of Memphis Athletics for athletic and academic success in 2024-25, recognizing achievements without new obligations.

Signed by Governor.
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Bill Summary · SJR 416

Summary of Senate Joint Resolution 416 (SJR 416)

Overview

SJR 416 is a ceremonial, joint memorial resolution recognizing and commending the University of Memphis (UM) Athletic Department for its athletic and academic achievements during the 2024-2025 season and related years. The measure is purely commemorative, expressing appreciation and best wishes to UM student-athletes, coaches, and staff. It was signed by the Governor on May 2, 2025.

Purpose and Intent

  • Publicly acknowledge the University of Memphis Athletic Department as a Division I NCAA program and a charter member of the American Athletic Conference (AAC).
  • Highlight notable athletic accomplishments across multiple sports during the 2024-25 period and recent seasons.
  • Extend best wishes for continued success to the students, coaches, and staff of UM Athletics.

Key Provisions and Highlights Recognized

The resolution includes numerous “whereas” statements praising UM Athletics’ performance and culture. Notable achievements cited include:

  • Football (Memphis Tigers)

    • Fifth consecutive bowl game win and back-to-back ten-win seasons (first time in program history).
    • End-of-season rankings: No. 23 in the Coaches Poll and No. 24 in the AP Poll (first top-25 finishes since 2019).
    • Longest active streak nationally of scoring 20+ points in 40 consecutive games.
    • Ten weeks ranked or receiving votes in the AP Poll; fourteen weeks in the Coaches Poll.
    • Eleven wins over the season; overall 21-5 over the past two seasons (the most wins in a two-year span in program history).

  • Basketball (Men’s)

    • Penny Hardaway named 2024–2025 AAC Coach of the Year.
    • 26-5 overall record and 16-2 conference record.
    • Memphis completed its first regular-season AAC championship and won the AAC tournament.

  • Basketball (Women’s)

    • 425th win at Elma Roane Fieldhouse (as of February 1, 2025); lifetime Fieldhouse record 426-222 (.657).

  • Athletics Achievements

    • Three 1,000-point scorers on the UM roster during the 2024–2025 season: Tilly Boler, DeeDee Hagemann, Alasia Smith (one of two AAC programs to achieve this).
    • Men’s tennis earned an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
    • Women’s soccer named United Soccer Coaches South Region Coaching Staff of the Year; both men’s and women’s soccer won the AAC regular-season championships in 2024.
    • Seven football players earned First-Team All-AAC honors; three earned Third-Team All-AAC honors.
    • Academic performance highlighted: 94% of football players graduated; 13 of 17 athletic teams achieved a perfect 1000 single-year APR score.

Who is Affected

  • Primary: University of Memphis Student-Athletes, Coaches, and Athletic Department staff.
  • Secondary: The broader UM community and the state of Tennessee, which recognizes and supports higher education athletic excellence.

Timeline and Procedural Context

  • Introduced: April 8, 2025.
  • Senate actions: Passed on First Consideration (April 9); Adopted on April 14 (Ayes 32, Nays 0); Engrossed and transmitted to House (April 14-16); Concurred (April 16; Ayes 96, Nays 0).
  • House actions: Sponsor added (April 14); Signed by House Speaker (April 24); transmitted to Governor (April 25).
  • Governor: Signed into law on May 2, 2025.

Impact

  • Ceremonial recognition with no new fiscal obligations or regulatory changes.
  • Serves to publicly honor UM’s athletic and academic excellence and may bolster school spirit and public profile.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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