After what transpired near the tunnel leading to the locker rooms at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Saturday, perhaps it’s time to proceed with plans to build that new locker room on the opposite end of the stadium.

Some Ole Miss fans gathered at the mouth of the south tunnel leading to BOTH locker rooms at the stadium. The Rebel fans had come to the congested area to cheer their team as it exited the bus and walked to the locker room.

But Memphis arrived first and, according to Tiger coach Tommy West, some of the Rebel fans harassed his team as it walked to the locker room. West responded, defending his team and, at the same time, offending some younger Rebel fans.

Since the stadium opened in the mid-1960s, both locker rooms have been in the same tunnel, creating a potentially dangerous setting, not only as the teams arrive at the stadium, but as they exit at halftime and at the end of the game. It’s remarkable there haven’t been more incidents in those crowded conditions.

There were plans in place a few years ago to renovate an existing building near the north tunnel for the U of M. If the city decides not to build a new stadium and renovate Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium instead, hopefully a Memphis locker room — in the north tunnel — will be a priority.