For release: August 15, 2011
For press information, contact Alexa Begonia, 901-678-3873

Don’t be alarmed if you see 100 Tigers prowling around the University of Memphis campus. They are part of the U of M Alumni Association’s “Tigers Around Town” Centennial Celebration. The Association offered 100 of the uniquely designed, life-size Tiger statues to alumni, businesses and fans for sponsorship. The statues will be unveiled Saturday, Sept. 10, at noon (9.10.11@12) in the Student Plaza adjacent to the Administration Building.

The family event will include hot dogs, soft drinks, inflatable bouncers and entertainment by the Soul Outsiders.

Each Tiger statue, based on the measurements of mascot TOM II, is made of fiberglass and stands about 6 feet high, 3 feet wide, and weighs around 600 pounds. The Tiger design was created by senior art education major Brooke Ebersole. While the pose for each statue is the same, some of the Mid-South’s finest artists showed off their talents to make each Tiger distinctive.  Four are Dr. Bob Canady, Jamie McMahan, NJ Woods and Pam Cobb.

Each sponsor selected a year between 1912 and 2012 for their Tiger. “Each Tiger will represent one of the 100 years of the University,” said Tammy Hedges, executive director of the Alumni Association. “A historical fact about the U of M for that year will appear on a plaque that accompanies each statue.”

After being displayed on campus throughout 2011, the statues will appear at locations around the greater Memphis area in early 2012.

Among the project sponsors are Landers Lincoln Ford of Collierville and Bill Koeneman Construction Co.

For more information about the Tigers Around Town or the unveiling, contact alumni coordinator Alexa Begonia at hbegonia@memphis.edu or 901-678-3873.