April 22, 2005

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - With the generosity of alumni and supporters the University of Memphis men's soccer program enjoyed a successful silent auction on Thursday, raising over $8,750 toward funding the team's tour of Europe in May.

"The success of the silent auction is the success of a lot of people's involvement, time and energy," said Memphis head coach Richie Grant. "It really is an amazing Memphis soccer alumni and friends of the program effort. The money we raised goes a long way to helping our players go to Europe as a group. This has been a significant assistance to the trip we're taking."

Following an extravagant dinner organized by the Tiger Scholarship group at Christian Brothers High School's Heffernan Hall, Northeastern State University soccer coach Charlie Mitchell delivered a motivating speech about players having confidence in their ability. Along with coaching current Memphis men's soccer assistant coach Robert Nicholson at NSU, Mitchell played professionally with the New York Cosmos alongside the legendary Pele in 1976.

"Charlie had a wonderful message for the players," Grand said. "He valued confidence as one of the most important qualities that a player could have. He said the reason you should have the confidence is because the coaching staff recruited you. Obviously we see something in them in the beginning that draws them into our program. They should have that confidence to know they were recruited with a plan in mind for them."

Among the items that were auctioned off was a framed Kansas City Wizards jersey signed by 2004 Memphis team captain Daniel Dobson who recently signed with the Major League Soccer team. Other items included a dinner at Cal's Steakhouse with head basketball coach John Calipari and items from local soccer stores Soccer USA and Soccer Stix. Trust One and First Tennessee were also large sponsors to the evening.

The evening was emceed by former U of M soccer player Gareth O'Sullivan who scored 37 goals and 15 assists in his 74 games for Memphis from 1989-92. O'Sullivan is third all time in goals scored at the school.

"Gareth is one of the best players to come out of the university," Grant said. "He has a great personality and knows how to work the crowd."

The Tigers have raised nearly half of the total cost for funding the team's trip to Europe on May 5-15. Memphis will play three exhibition games against professional level teams in Belgium and Holland. Soccer programs are allowed one foreign trip every four years in addition to the normal spring schedule.