Matt Reagan boots Vol loyalty as true blue Tiger

Matt Reagan

MEMPHIS — In 2005, the last time the University of Memphis played Tennessee at Neyland Stadium, Matt Reagan was there.

In the UT student section.

As a high school senior.

Wearing blue and gray.

Reagan, in his final season as the UofM kicker, survived the bold wardrobe choice four years ago. And he nearly left the stadium exchanging handshakes and hugs with the Tiger fans scattered throughout the stands.

It took a kicker -- Tennessee's James Wilhoit -- to erase a 16-14 Memphis lead early in the final quarter with two field goals and give the Vols a 20-16 victory.

''I had a friend of mine that year who went to UT and he got me a guest student ticket,'' said Reagan, a Knoxville native who attended Bearden High. ''And, yes, I was wearing a Memphis shirt.''

And the treatment he received?

''They were fine, I guess,'' Reagan said of the Tennessee students sitting around him. ''I think they just tried to ignore me. I didn't get stuff thrown at me.''

Reagan will handle the punting and place-kicking when the Tigers (2-6) play the Vols (4-4) Saturday at Neyland Stadium.

Born and raised in Knoxville, Reagan said he grew up a Tennessee fan and attended several games a year with his father, Rick. Occasionally, they would take in a Volunteer spring game.

''I watched them growing up,'' Reagan said. ''And I pulled for them.''

As he became a proficient prep kicker -- he was an all-state selection as a senior, averaging 40.1 yards punting, knocking 85 percent of his kickoffs into the end zone and converting 22 of 23 extra points -- Reagan hoped the Vols would notice. Despite coming from the same school that produced Dustin and Britton Colquitt, both of whom punted for UT, Reagan wasn't on the Vols' list.

''It didn't work out,'' Reagan said. ''But I'm happy to be here.''

As his Tigers career winds down, Reagan, also recruited by Louisville, Northwestern and Duke, finds himself ascending the school's kicking charts. Reagan ranks fourth in UofM history in kick scoring with 245 points, four shy of overtaking Ryan White for third place. His 45 career field goals rank fifth, five short of third place.

Mostly a punter in high school, Reagan didn't add that responsibility at the UofM until this season. Entering Saturday's game, he ranks fourth nationally in punting with a 45.3-yard average. He ranks first in Conference USA in punting and third in field goals per game.

''In high school I used to enjoy punting more than kicking because that's what I did more of,'' Reagan said. ''I thought I was better at it.

''When I got to college, I got into the kicking mode for three years. Getting back to punting felt weird at the beginning, but I like doing both.''

Earlier this season, Reagan set a school record for highest single-game punting average (53.5 on six punts). He also booted a career-long 48-yard field goal against Southern Miss.

While Reagan's numbers are impressive, he's had a few disappointments. At Southern Miss, one of his punts was returned for a touchdown by Tracy Lampley, who caught a low-lining kick on the run and raced 50 yards for a key third-quarter TD.

''Matt's had an OK year,'' Tiger coach Tommy West said. ''He's got to get a little more height on his (punts). I think we've helped Matt. We're doing a little more rugby(-style) punting lately and I think that's helped him. He's done a good job.''

Reagan said while he's pleased to be ranked fourth nationally in punting average, he'd much rather have the Tigers ranked fourth nationally in net punting. Memphis is 14th.

''We've made mistakes on that unit as far as the punt return at Southern Miss,'' Reagan said. ''That bugs me every time I think about it.''

Reagan, who followed Stephen Gostkowski of the New England Patriots as the UofM's place-kicker, said he'll be playing on the field at Neyland Stadium for the first time since his high school participated in a preseason jamboree.

-- Phil Stukenborg: 901-529-2543

Tennessee vs. Memphis

When, where: Saturday, 6 p.m. CST, Neyland Stadium, Knoxville

TV, radio: ESPNU, WREC-AM (600); WMFS (680 AM/92.9 FM)