As the University of Memphis football fan base continues to lament this season’s progress, it’s apparent its frustration stems, in part, from a lack of success inside Conference USA.

While the Tigers appeared in three straight bowls from 2003 to ‘05, they never won C-USA. Their best finish since the league formed in 1996 has been second place: in 1999 under Rip Scherer (4-2 in league play), in 2004 under Tommy West (5-3) and in 2005 under West (5-3). The 2005 result was as a member of the C-USA East Division, the first year the league split into divisions.

In fact, outside the three straight 5-3 league finishes from 2003 to ‘05 and the 4-2 mark under Scherer, the Tigers haven’t had a winning year in C-USA play.

When C-USA formed in 1996, six charter schools — Cincinnati, Houston, Louisville, Memphis, Southern Miss and Tulane — formed the football league. Each of those schools won at least one C-USA regular-season title in the first six years with the exception of Memphis.

Cincinnati and Louisville departed for the Big East two years ago and were replaced by, among others, Tulsa. Tulsa won the league crown in 2005. UCF, also a league newcomer, won the East Division title in 2005 for the right to meet Tulsa in the title game. TCU won a C-USA title in 2002 shortly before leaving for the Mountain West.