Jerry Lawler, Jimmy Hart and children of DeAngelo Williams to release the Tigers at this Saturday’s Memphis game
Local wrestling legends honor Tiger great
From the University of Memphis
gotigersgo.com
MEMPHIS, Tenn. –WWE Hall of Famers Jerry Lawler and Jimmy Hart along with the children of Memphis football great DeAngelo Williams will be the ‘Release the Tigers’ honorees at this Saturday’s Memphis football game against North Texas at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium at 6:30 p.m.
“Welcoming Memphis legend Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler and Jimmy Hart to be joined by DeAngelo and Risalyn’s children, DJ, Decker, Rhyia and Reyna for the ‘Release the Tigers’ tradition is a dynamic collaboration that will excite Tiger Nation,” said University of Memphis Senior Vice President and Director of Athlet-
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ics, Ed Scott, Ph.D. “The fans at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium will be energized by the honorary group in recognition of Wrestling Night and the partnership between the DeAngelo Williams Foundation and the University.”
Jerry Lawler is one of the most popular voices in the professional wrestling world, and one of the most decorated champions. Since making his pro debut in 1970 he has won 168 championships – a feat that no other wrestler in history has come close to matching. Known simply as “The King”, Lawler got his start in pro wrestling in 1970 and won 35 American Wrestling Association Southern Heavyweight Championships to go along with 10 AWATag Team Championships.
Lawler’s unprecedented contributions to the sport and entertainment industry were recognized with induction into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996 and WWE Hall of Fame in 2007.
Jimmy Hart, regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestling managers of all-time, is a 2005 WWE Hall of Fame inductee.
Most known for managing the legendry Hulk Hogan, Hart is currently signed to a Legends contract with the WWE while also playing in the rock band The Gentrys.
DeAngelo Williams, the Tigers all-time leading rusher and first Memphis football player to be inducted into the College Football Hall of Famer, helped transform the Memphis program, leading Memphis to three straight bowl games for the first time in school history.
A First-Team All-American in 2005, Wynne, Ark. native finished seventh in Heisman Trophy voting and was named a finalist for the Doak Walker Award. An AP Third Team All-American in 2004, Williams set an NCAA record with 34 games of 100-plus yards rushing, and he finished his career as the FBS record holder in all-purpose yards (7,573), now ranking fourth.
Memphis Athletics announced a partnership with The DeAngelo Williams Foundation in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. For every ticket sold to Saturday’s game against North Texas, $5 will be donated to the foundation to purchase mammograms for Memphians.
Through a sponsorship with Brookhaven Pub & Grill, pink towels will be provided as a giveaway to the first 5,000 fans at the game. The 20-yard-line markers will be outlined in pink paint in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
During the game, the foundation’s partnership with the athletics department will be officially recognized.
