Memphis football announces 'Release the Tigers' with Stephen Gostkowski as first honoree
Memphis football fans will see a familiar face helping lead the Tigers on to the field for their season opener Saturday.
The team announced Thursday that former Tigers kicker and three-time Super Bowl champion Stephen Gostkowski will be part of a new tradition called "Release the Tigers." Memphis will have a different honoree each week, with the debut this weekend at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium against Bethune-Cookman (6 p.m. Central, ESPN+).
“We know fans will very much enjoy this new tradition as part of Memphis Football gamedays,” athletic director Laird Veatch said in a news release. “Traditions like these are what makes college athletics so special, and having a Tiger legend like Stephen back in front of our fans will be a great way to start the season. This is another great example of how we are continuing to innovate and improve the fan experience at our games.”
Gostkowski connected on 70 of 92 field goals and was 159 for 165 on extra point attempts for 369 points during his career in Memphis from 2002 to 2005. He was named Conference USA special teams player of the year in 2005.
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He was a fourth-round pick (No. 118 overall) by the New England Patriots in 2006 and played there until 2019. The four-time Pro Bowler played for the Tennessee Titans in 2020 and holds NFL records for consecutive extra points made and most seasons leading the league in points scored.
Gostkowski will also be in the area on Friday night because he's a special teams assistant at Lipscomb Academy, which plays at Briarcrest Christian.
Reach sports writer Jonah Dylan at jonah.dylan@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @thejonahdylan.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Stephen Gostkowski to 'Release the Tigers' at Memphis football opener
