The calls are getting louder, and patience is wearing thin. Penny Hardaway’s tenure as Memphis’ head coach, once a story of hometown glory, is now under siege. Another March Madness failure has turned up the heat, and what was once unthinkable – firing a city legend – now seems inevitable. The debate isn’t just about loyalty anymore; it’s about results. And right now, Memphis doesn’t have them.

Memphis’ recent tournament letdown has poured gasoline on an already heated argument. The fifth-seeded Tigers fell to Colorado State 78-70 in the opening round of the men’s NCAA tournament Friday at Climate Pledge Arena, another early exit for a storied program that has failed to advance to the Sweet 16 since Hardaway took over at his alma mater in 2018. Even with his knack for recruiting top talent and strong connections to the program, Penny Hardaway’s Tigers keep falling short when it matters most. Fans and university higher-ups are running out of patience. He has gone 1-3 in NCAA tournaments with Memphis. More and more people are calling for a shakeup, and Penny Hardaway’s once-solid job now looks shaky at best.

In light of the recent exit, a video spawned on X, shared by @CBSSports. In the video, Charles Barkley can be seen crossing off Memphis on his bracket. He says, “Memphis is gone, thanks Penny,” reaffirming the early exit. The post was captioned simply, “Charles Barkley crossing Memphis off on his bracket:  “Thanks Penny [Hardaway]” 😅,” as the simple one-liner spoke volumes about the ongoing crisis with the Tigers and Penny Hardaway. 

Everyone’s starting to question if Penny Hardaway is the right person to lead Memphis forward. Critics are increasingly calling for his dismissal. Fans online are shouting for a coaching change, and some former players are suggesting it might be time for a fresh start. Let us see what the fans have to say.

The Fans’ reaction to the Penny Hardaway crisis

Fans expressed noticeable upset over the Tigers’ direction, and understandably so. One fan commented, “Love Penny, but this isn’t working. We can’t keep underperforming in the tournament every year. Time for a fresh start.”  being a longtime season ticket holder and fan they voiced frustration over Memphis’ repeated struggles qualifying. Another fan commented, “Recruiting stars is great, but coaching wins championships. We need someone who can take this talent and deliver results.” pointing out the major concerns that have arisen over Penny Hardaway’s game management. A fan of the Memphis Tigers commented, “No more waiting for ‘next year.’ We’ve been saying that for too long. It’s time for results now.”  reflecting the growing impatience within the Memphis community for eons.

But, there is solace in the midst of the storm as some fans were quick to defend Hardaway in his moment of crisis.  A fan commented, “Penny is Memphis. He’s had obstacles every year. Give him time, and he’ll figure it out.”  defending Hardaway’s leadership and his connection to the city. Another fan commented,  “Who else would come in and do better? He’s brought in top recruits, and we just need to be patient.”  pushing back against the calls for firing that have surrounded Penny.

A fan also commented, “This man bleeds blue. He’s built a program that can compete. Let’s not be too quick to forget that.” weighing in on Hardaway’s importance to the team’s identity and showing confidence in his vision for the future. A supporter of the Memphis Tigers commented, quite lengthily, “We fire Penny, then what? Risk going back to irrelevance? He deserves a chance to prove himself again. It’s been a tough ride, but replacing him isn’t the answer. Let’s tweak the staff, not remove the heart of the program.” advocating for changes in the coaching staff rather than firing Penny Hardaway altogether.

The college must make a tough call. Penny Hardaway’s strong connection with the town and team turns the choice to fire him into a touchy subject. Yet, in the world of hoops, it’s all about the scores, and Memphis hasn’t lived up to the hype. The heat is on for the moment. Hardaway’s reputation in Memphis is still solid, but his gig as a coach? It’s barely clinging on.