“During the game, Wes Kraker texted me pictures of people jumping off cliffs,” Hardgrave said before taking the plunge.

Nervous laughter followed. But Hardgrave put on a brave face.

“Sure, yeah, let’s go excited,” he said.

Moments later, Hardgrave – accompanied by his son Gavin; Tigers athletic director Ed Scott; and thrill-seeking Memphis fan Beth Wilson – took a purposeful, deep breath, said, “let’s do this,” and swam the few hundred yards to the geological formation. The group climbed to the approximately 15-foot-tall peak and then jumped into the Pacific Ocean.

Many members of the Memphis basketball team (including PJ Haggerty, Moussa Cisse, Nicholas Jourdain, Baraka Okojie and Jared Harris) came to the beach and watched their fearless leaders face their fears in celebration of their victory. Several of coach Penny Hardaway’s staff members also joined the group of spectators.