MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 26, 2024) — The two greatest Showboats in history will be honored Sunday when the Memphis Showboats play host to the Michigan Panthers at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m.
The Showboats will hold a halftime ceremony to honor legends Reggie White and Pepper Rodgers. Reggie White was an all-USFL defensive lineman for the Showboats in the 1985 season, while Pepper Rodgers brought his genius to the sidelines as the Showboats’ head coach. During the team’s two seasons during the original iteration of the USFL, the Showboats captured the minds and hearts of the Memphis community, winning a playoff game against the Denver Gold in 1985.
White passed away in 2004 after a Hall of Fame career in which he won a Super Bowl and was twice named NFL Defensive Player of the Year. White went on to play for the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers. Rodgers passed away in 2020. In addition to his time with the Showboats, Rodgers was also head coach at Kansas, UCLA, Georgia Tech and the CFL’s Memphis Mad Dogs. He finished his career as vice president of football operations for the Washington NFL team.
In addition to the tribute to White and Rodgers, the Showboats will be giving away rally towels, thunder sticks and roster cards at this week’s game. Each has a limited quantity. But the tribute to the 1984-85 Showboats will not stop with the ceremony. Throughout the game, fans will be treated to trips down memory lane with music, trivia and more.
This is the second of five home games in the 10-game regular season. The top two teams in each of the UFL’s conferences reach the playoffs. The Michigan Panthers currently sit in second in the USFL Conference, one game ahead of Memphis, meaning Sunday’s game has serious playoff implications.
The Showboats will have a quick turnaround following Sunday’s game, and will host rival Birmingham on Saturday, May 4 at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. The rivalry started in the 1980’s and continues today, as the two teams battled it out last season for a playoff spot. Next week’s game is slated for 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 4 and fans will receive a free Showboats bobblehead, while supplies last.
All season long, Memphis Showboats home games will feature:
Fan festival area in the concourse, featuring a prize wheel, fun games for the kids, face-painting, photo booth, and more
Single game tickets starting at just $10
$6 draft beers during the first 45 minutes after gates open
National TV telecasts on ESPN, ABC, FOX, and FS1, and a local radio broadcast live on News Talk 98.9, the Roar of Memphis
