Here's what Memphis Tigers AD said about chances at Big 12, stadium funding, state of football team

Colorado is leaving the Pac-12 to return to the Big 12, the rumors about what happens next in conference realignment are in overdrive again, and Laird Veatch believes diving into the particulars won’t serve the best interests of Memphis.

So the athletic director would not comment when asked by The Commercial Appeal on Monday whether the university had been in contact with the Big 12 or Pac-12 conferences the past week.

What was he willing to say?

Here are a few highlights from a wide-ranging interview conducted with Veatch, most notably his thoughts on the Tigers’ positioning in conference realignment, an update on Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium renovation plans, and his expectations for coach Ryan Silverfield and Memphis football entering a pivotal 2023 season.

What does Colorado going to the Big 12 mean for Memphis?

“I’ve been real cautious about any comments about the conference realignment landscape because I want to do what’s best for Memphis and the process. So the only thing I would say is it’s obviously a very changing and dynamic landscape. I do feel like we are doing everything we possibly can. I feel like we’re in the conversation and we’ve never been better positioned than we are today. Beyond that, I’d rather not get into a lot of the discussion.”

What’s the latest on funding for the stadium renovations?

“I’ll share what I shared at the (Memphis) rotary club (last week), which was essentially, all along, I’ve deferred to the mayor and the city on any kind of comments on the funding formula and how all that works because that’s their job and responsibility. But they’ve been great to us throughout the entire process and very open and communicative and they’ve been very steadfast in their commitment to making all of this happen. I’ve been given no reason to think otherwise. I’m confident we’ll continue to move forward after the season starts and it is a challenging process for them, certainly. But they’re managing it well.”

Where are you in terms of the renovation process?

“The city hired Populous to be the architect and they’ve really just been going through what I would consider a standard process when you do these kinds of projects. We have the original master plan vision that we partnered with them on and, as this process is moving forward and getting ready for construction after the end of the season, you’re going through a standard process where you really refine all those plans and you get into more construction level design and architecture. That’s been the process. They’ve included us in several of the meetings, allowed us to have real input and perspective in it, and it’s moving forward in that process as it should.”

What’s the most important part of this project in terms of perception?

“The word 'perception,' I think, is important. In the end, big picture, I want our stadium to look like we belong at the highest levels of college football. At the detail level, I want that to mean our players and our fans have the type of experience that you would expect at the highest levels of college football. Whether that’s the general fan and the types of concessions and hospitality and tailgating experience that they can have to the level of premium seating to the locker room and playing experience that our players have.”

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How are football ticket sales looking so far?

“You never feel like they’re what you need them to be or want them to be. We’re not quite back to where we were last year, but we have seen more momentum and progress in recent weeks as you come closer to the season, and that’s typically what happens here. You get a few weeks out and things, and you get that final push, and we’ll see where we’re at.”

Is there pressure on Ryan Silverfield entering year four?

“I don’t know if there’s ever not been pressure on a head football coach. That’s just the reality they live in. It’s the reality I live in. All of us in this profession, we choose that and embrace it. I am sincerely even more optimistic and positive in my expectations than I was at that point (when he wrote a letter in support of Silverfield to Memphis football fans), and a lot of it has to do with what’s gone on in the background and the steps that have been taken.

Clearly, when you look at what Ryan was able to do in the offseason, with his staff, how he took advantage of the transfer portal, just culture and mentality around the program, it just feels really good. I think the schedule lines up well. We anticipate a real breakout year. I think it’s going to be a lot of fun and we’re going to win a lot of ball games and get back to the type of level we expect.”

So a successful season is competing for a conference title, right?

“I think when you’re at Memphis and in our conference, particularly with the new makeup, our expectation should be we are competing for championships.”

You can reach Commercial Appeal columnist Mark Giannotto via email at mgiannotto@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter: @mgiannotto

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis AD Laird Veatch discusses Big 12 shot, stadium renovation