SAN ANTONIO -- Now the university presidents are on board. After two days of delicate negotiations, facilitated by Jimmy Cart ... all right, it was me, the president of the University of Tennessee and the president of the University of Memphis issued the following joint statement Wednesday:

Given that both the University of Memphis and the University of Tennessee are playing in the Sweet 16 in San Antonio;

Given that it would be great for the state of Tennessee if both teams advance to the Elite Eight;

Given that it would be exciting to play each other for the right to go to the Final Four;

We, therefore, urge all Memphis and UT fans to root for one another in San Antonio.

Signed,

Dr. John Petersen and Dr. Shirley Raines.

That's real, by the way, and it clinches it. The blue and the orange shall join together, the Tiger shall lay down with the Vol.

And here's a Tiger fan now, sitting in the Alamodome, watching the Tigers during their public shootaround.

"I want to support the team, I want to do what the university asks me to do," said Kirk Williams, 47.

Great, it's settled then.

"But I'd almost rather get more teeth pulled than root for Tennessee," he said. "And I've had six pulled in the last two months."

OK, so there's still some work to do. But it should be quite a night in San Antonio for Tennessee basketball teams in the Sweet 16.

At 7:27 p.m., Memphis tips off against Texas A&M. Half an hour after that game's over, Tennessee tips off against Ohio State.

"You know, each of those teams, vital players are from the city of Memphis," said Memphis coach John Calipari. "How about that?"

Calipari has gone so far as to say that he thinks Tennessee fans and Memphis fans should pull for one another out of self interest, if nothing else.

Memphis needs Tennessee fans to help offset what is expected to be a massive homecourt advantage for Texas A&M. Tennessee needs Memphis to knock off Texas A&M so the Vols won't have to put up with the Texas A&M crowds in the next round.

"I've got a Tennessee T-shirt on hold right now," Calipari said. "I would hope for the first time in their lives I see orange jerseys cheering for us. And for the first time they see the University of Memphis fans cheering for Tennessee, maybe even singing that song."

Pause.

"What's the name of that song?"

"Rocky Top," John. Everyone sing along.

But what are you willing to do for the state, Bruce Pearl?

"If Calipari would wear an orange T-shirt, I'd wear a Memphis jacket, absolutely," said the Tennessee coach.

Pearl did have a question, however.

"He thinks our fans are going to root for Memphis?"

Right. What do you think?

"I think it would be hard for Memphis fans to root for Tennessee," he said.

Which is true, of course, and the problem with the all-for-one strategy. Sports fans don't decide which team to root for. They don't make up lists of pros and cons.

Pulling for a team is something that comes from the heart, not the brain. It's a visceral -- not an intellectual -- exercise.

Memphis guard Jared Sandridge, proud graduate of Christian Brothers High, has heard the talk about Memphis and Tennessee fans coming together for this one glorious night.

"It just doesn't work that way," he said. "It sort of reminds me of that ESPN commercial where this guy and girl are on the couch making out. One has a Michigan sweatshirt on, and the other has an Ohio State sweatshirt and, because of sports, it just doesn't feel right. Memphis fans pulling for Tennessee doesn't feel right."

But what of the idea that both teams are from the same state?

"I don't buy it," said Memphis guard Chris Douglas-Roberts. "It's not just a rivalry, it's a heated rivalry. They really do not like us."

So maybe the presidents' joint appeal won't work. Maybe Memphis fans will pull for Memphis, and Tennessee fans will pull for Tennessee, and that's all anyone should expect.

Everyone can still appreciate this night, right? Especially the spotlight on Memphis basketball?

"It speaks volumes for Memphis," said Tennessee forward Dane Bradshaw, who grew up in Memphis and played at White Station High. "Over and over again, I think you'll hear commentators say, 'From Memphis, Tennessee!' and that does a lot for our respective schools."

Exactly. Cheer that, at the very least. Sis-boom-ba ... oh, wait, here's Pearl with another question.

"Calipari didn't say anything about painting his chest orange or anything, did he?" he asked.

Well, not exactly.

But maybe if you go blue first?