Memphis makes strong impression in Showboats' return, despite loss to Stars

Keith Taylor, sporting a Maniax jersey and a RiverKings cap, came up from Hernando, Miss.

Others showed up to Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium on Saturday wearing Tennessee Oilers or Memphis Tigers or Grizzlies or Express regalia. But they all came to see the new Showboats — the latest incarnation of professional sports in Memphis, with Tiger great Brady White at quarterback – usher in the 2023 USFL season against the Philadelphia Stars.

The Showboats, who played last season as the Tampa Bay Bandits, lost 27-23. Case Cookus compiled 212 passing yards and threw three touchdowns to lead the Stars. He outplayed White (16-of-29 for 182 yards with two touchdowns and an interception), and former Arkansas star running back Alex Collins (14 carries, 63 yards and a score).

But the moment, for the estimated crowd of more than 15,000 — the Showboats do not announce official attendance figures — was nearly 40 years in the making. The Showboats still occupy a special place in the hearts of many Memphians.

Ken Brasel is one of them.

He moved to the Mid-South in 1977 and graduated from Millington in 1982. When the original Showboats came to town in 1984, Brasel was hooked.

On Saturday, he watched from his seat eight rows back near the 40-yard line, decked out in a throwback Showboats jersey, which he had made in honor of the team’s coach Pepper Rodgers. He wore an oversized throwback Showboats decal on an oversized chain around his neck. Underneath the replica jersey, he wore a T-shirt with a close-up shot of Rodgers’ face.

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“Isn’t that cool, man?” Brasel asked rhetorically as he showed off his DIY-style T-shirt. “If you knew Pepper Rodgers, he was the original (Bill) Belichick. Hair was all messed up, looked like he was drunk when he was coaching. But this is great, man.”

Todd Haley was understandably not enamored by the outcome, blaming mistakes in critical situations. White’s interception at the Stars’ 10-yard line on the Showboats’ opening drive of the game could have cost his team at least 3 points. Trailing 27-17 after three quarters, White completed just 5 out of 15 pass attempts in the fourth quarter and Showboats kicker Alex Kessman missed a field goal attempt and an extra-point try.

But the hometown crowd left an impression on the former Kansas City Chiefs head coach and longtime NFL assistant.

“It exceeded all expectations,” Haley said. “What they were doing during timeouts, we’re focused on other things, but you’d have to be dumb not to realize what’s going on around you."

Kimberly Cohen is not from Memphis. But, on Saturday, her passion and enthusiasm held up against anyone else’s.

A Warner Robins, Ga., resident, Cohen’s son, Karrheem Darrington plays cornerback for the Showboats. The 26-year-old Darrington played college football at Bethel University in McKenzie. He has spent the past few years playing football in Mexico and working as a mechanic on 18-wheelers in the offseason.

Darrington got an opportunity from the Showboats to further his football career, and he seized it, making his mark as a special teams ace. On Saturday, Darrington blocked two kicks (an extra point and a field goal).

Cohen, after connecting with Ingrid Rowland (whose son, Ryan, caught a touchdown pass for the Stars in the first quarter) in line at one of the concession stands, got emotional.

“My whole family’s here – it’s like 25 of us,” said Cohen, sporting a T-shirt with “His mom” on the front and “Darrington” on the back. “I wasn’t surprised when he blocked those kicks, but that’s why I can’t even really talk right now. I had him when I was 14 years old and he’s been through a lot. But he stayed focused and I’m just very proud.”

The Showboats have work to do and room to grow. White was hard on himself after the game. In the locker room, he shouldered the blame for the loss.

“You gotta make plays,” he said. “It’s a team game, everyone can say that. But, as a quarterback, I feel the weight of the plays I did not make.”

But Memphis was on full display Saturday − down to the officiating crew, where former Tigers quarterback Martin Hankins served as the back judge for the game − and left a lasting impression.

“The atmosphere was awesome," Haley said. "The crowd support, the energy. That’s something our team’s gonna be able to use.”

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis makes strong impression in Showboats' return to the gridiron