| Memphis Tigers News Archives |
| August 2008 |
| 08/31/08 |  |
Freshman Shannon Helps Lead Tigers to 4-3 Win over Oral Roberts -- The Memphis Tigers rebounded from an opening day loss to defeat ORU; Thomas Shannon, a freshman, celebrates birthday with his first two goals of his career (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis won an offensive-laden game over Oral Roberts, 4-3, on Sunday night at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in the final game of the Memphis Diadora Tournament. Memphis moved to 1-1 on the season. Oral Roberts is now 0-2 after losing on Friday to UAB.
"We are really pleased to get the win tonight," said Head Coach Richie Grant. "We made it a little close, but a win in our division is always difficult. We are pleased with the outcome. We are disappointed in the fact that we gave up three goals. We are pleased in getting four goals and a couple of those goals were off of set plays."
The Memphis Tigers set the pace early on as they created many opportunities for themselves in the early going in Sunday night's contest vs. the Golden Eagles. In the 11th minute of the game freshman Thomas Shannon, a native of Broken Arrow, Okla., scored the first goal of his young career as a Tiger when he headed the ball past ORU goalkeeper Andrew Techanchuk. Shannon gathered the ball off of a corner kick from the right side from fellow freshman and Oklahoman, Jason Brooks.
Memphis struck again not more than a minute later, when junior forward Brian Farrell brought in the ball from an assist by sophomore Ryan Ruble who had obtained the ball off of a cross by midfielder Jordan Lynn. Farrell put the ball past Techanchuk for his first goal of the season.
ORU got on the board in the 36th minute of play in the first period. Taylor Cluff, a freshman from Plano, Texas, took the assist from Jordan Tatum and put the ball out of the reach of Memphis goalie Michael Goodlett.
After 15 minutes of scoreless play coming out of the gate for the second half, Brooks and Shannon struck again, when Shannon headed in another Brooks corner kick past Tekanchuck to put the Tigers ahead 3-1.
Nearly five minutes later Dale Calvert, a freshman from Indianapolis, Ind., struck the ball from the right side for a Tiger shot which was rebounded by Ruble, who put the ball into the net.
Down, 4-1, the Oral Roberts' Golden Eagles mounted a comeback, scoring a goal in the 70th minute when Michael Lind rebounded a Carlos Pinto goal attempt in the box past Goodlett.
Now down, 4-2, the Golden Eagles scored when Tatum took a double assist from Pinto and Chang to score the goal.
The Golden Eagles would have several other opportunities, but the Tigers would come away with the 4-3 victory.
Goodlett earned his first victory of the season, moving to 1-0, while Techanchuk received the loss, moving his record to 0-2.
Shannon and Memphis defender Rick Alleman were the Tigers' two representatives on the All-Memphis Diadora Tournament Team. Shannon scored his first two career goals in the Blue and Gray on Sunday night.
"It was a perfect birthday present for Thomas (Shannon) to score two goals today," Grant said. "His header was super today. He has put in two solid performances over the weekend. The lad has a bright future."
Shannon commented on his and fellow freshmen's performance in Sunday night's contest
"I think the younger players stepped up and played pretty well this weekend considering the situation," Shannon said. "My performance tonight could have been better defensively, but I can't complain much since I got two goals. I think I need to personally work harder. The team is beginning to get where we should be in order to win the conference championship. It is just going to take us building on what we learn. We need to keep this win streak alive, we have one right now."
Bradley won the Memphis Diadora Tournament on Sunday with a victory over UAB on Sunday afternoon. Chris Cutshaw of Bradley was named the Memphis Diadora Tournament MVP after scoring three goals.
The Tigers will travel to Burlington, Vt., next weekend for the Smith Barney/Nike Classic where they will face Vermont on Friday at 1 p.m., and New Hampshire on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Final Tournament Standings 1. Bradley 2. UAB 3. Memphis 4. Oral Roberts All-Tournament Team Chris Cutshaw, Bradley, MVP Drew Van Kampen, Bradley Grant Campbell, Bradley Travis English, Bradley Two-Boys Gumede, UAB Trey Gregory, UAB Carlo Schiavoni, UAB Rick Alleman, Memphis Thomas Shannon, Memphis Carlos Pinto, Oral Roberts Jordan Tatum, Oral Roberts |
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| 08/31/08 |  |
Questions abound for Calipari's team -- Team has numbers, but roles are uncertain (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Dan Wolken (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Sunday, August 31, 2008 John Calipari recently stood in front of 400 University of Memphis basketball supporters and asked how many of them expected the Tigers to win 30 games for a fourth consecutive season. Much to his terror, practically every hand in the room went up. "So now it becomes like it's supposed to happen," Calipari said. There's no doubt Calipari has created a monster at Memphis, where the Tigers are 104-10 over the past three years. But at some point in every monster story, there's a mystery. And with just seven weeks until practice begins for the 2008-09 season, mystery is the operative word around the Finch Center. With last week' s addition of 22-year old freshman C.J. Henry -- a highly-regarded high school point guard who hasn't played organized basketball in three years -- Calipari once again has a lot of pieces at his disposal. But unlike past years, there's almost a remarkably fragile sense of how they will fit together. "Trying to figure out who's who and who's where and how we're going to play and what we're going to do defensively -- we've got so many things to work out," Calipari said. "We're longer than we were a year ago. We're not as physically tough. We can't be as athletic as we were a year ago, but I think we've got good players." What made the Tigers so formidable last season during their run to the NCAA championship game went far beyond just talent, depth and athleticism. It was the innate acceptance of roles among a core of players who had forged their identities together over multiple seasons. The ease with which Memphis glided into and out of every key stretch of the season -- and win games even when things weren't totally working the right way -- was a testament to the deep sense of confidence and experience the 2007-08 Tigers had from Day 1. Memphis is under no illusions that such definitions will be as clear this time around. "I don't know if I'm playing the 'five' or the 'four,'" junior forward Shawn Taggart said. "We don't know if Rob (Dozier) is playing the 'three' or 'four.' We don't know if Pierre (Niles) is going to start at the 'five' or come off the bench. Is Willie (Kemp) playing the point? Is (Antonio Anderson) playing the point? We don't know, but as we go we're going to have to figure each other out and keep coming together." Taggart merely scratched the surface of the questions Calipari will face once practice begins on Oct. 17 with a Memphis Madness celebration at FedExForum. Just consider the evolution of the roster since the Final Four: Within a week of the season ending, Memphis added Tyreke Evans, a guard who should be among the Tigers' leading scorers but is unproven at the college level. Then, the Tigers signed Wesley Witherspoon, a lanky 6-foot-8 prospect ranked among the top 50 players in the country. Witherspoon can play any one of four positions in the Tigers' offense. Then, after it appeared Memphis was done signing players, junior guard Doneal Mack announced he would transfer. Immediately, Calipari moved to sign junior college guard Roburt Sallie -- who can also play the point -- to give him some insurance on the wings. Mack then decided to come back after briefly enrolling at New Orleans, suddenly giving Memphis a glut of shooting guards. Freshmen Angel Garcia and Matt Simpkins, whose academic eligibility appeared to be in some question throughout the summer, now seem likely to be cleared by the NCAA. Niles, a non-factor his first two years due to being overweight, has dropped more than 40 pounds and appears on his way toward contributing if he continues to progress. Then last Tuesday, Henry said he would enroll at Memphis as a walk-on (the Yankees, who drafted him in baseball, are paying for his college education). Henry is a bigger wild card than perhaps anyone given his lack of recent performance. "It's going to have to come pretty quick because they're going to kill me every day in here," Henry said. "The good thing is, I'll get better every day." In all, Memphis will go into the season with 14 players on the roster (including walk-on Chance McGrady), and only two of them -- Anderson and Dozier -- are truly known quantities as primary contributors. Others, like Evans and Taggart, seem to be solid bets as starters. Everyone else? It's five rookies, two former role players and two others in Niles and Jeff Robinson who didn't get much of a chance last year. "I think we're going to be pretty good," Evans said. "We're really not missing too much." |
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| 08/31/08 |  |
Ole Miss rolls to fourth straight win over Memphis with balanced attack (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Saturday, August 30, 2008 OXFORD, Miss. -- There were back-to-back victories, including one over an Eli Manning-led Ole Miss team, followed by three straight losses by four or fewer points. What had been a close, hard-fought battle in this traditional Mid-South college football opener for the University of Memphis deteriorated into a lopsided affair Saturday night at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium as the Tigers unraveled defensively -- and offensively -- in a 41-24 loss. An Ole Miss team re-energized by new coach Houston Nutt overpowered Memphis before 56,127 behind a balanced attack that included its share of creativity and an effective use of the "Wild Rebel" formation -- direct snaps to mostly receiver Dexter McCluster lining up at quarterback. Texas transfer quarterback Jevan Snead tossed two touchdown passes and running backs Cordera Eason, Brandon Bolden, Enrique Davis and McCluster combined for 203 yards rushing as the Rebels amassed 438 total yards. Memphis was unable to halt a Rebel offense under the direction of former Ole Miss quarterback and 2007 Canadian Football League coach of the year Kent Austin. Ole Miss scored on six straight possessions after Memphis's only first-half touchdown. "We acted like we were never ready to play,'' Tiger coach Tommy West said, referring to his defense. ''We know what to do. We played at a very slow pace defensively.'' And West had little praise for an offense, that despite his criticism, outgained Ole Miss, 453 to 438. West said the Tiger offense, led by junior college transfer quarterback Arkelon Hall, couldn't sustain the tempo at which it played early in the game. ''Offensively, I'm extremely disappointed,'' West said. ''We'll watch the tape, but I don't believe we executed our offense well all day. I don't care how many points were on the board, we didn't execute and put the ball where it had to be and do the things we needed to do.'' West didn't have a problem with his team's tempo offensively, but couldn't accept the pace at which his defense played. ''When they were on the line getting ready to snap the ball, we're standing around looking around like we don't know what we're doing and that's not the case,'' West said. ''They know what to do.'' Hall, who attended the College of the Sequoias in California, completed 15-of-27 passes for 159 yards and rushed seven times for 38 yards in his debut. Tiger running back Curtis Steele, a junior college transfer also making his debut, rushed for 83 yards on 15 carries. And Will Hudgens, the Tigers' backup quarterback, passed for 102 yards and two touchdowns. They, however, were outshone by the Rebels' balance. No Rebel back gained more than 76 yards, but each contributed, as did Snead, who passed for 185 yards. The 41 points scored by the Rebels represented the most by Ole Miss in this series since 1980, when Ole Miss finished with 61. ''It was good,'' Nutt said. ''I was really proud of our first showing. I was really proud of the execution.'' The Tigers, who open their Conference USA season Saturday at home against Rice, matched the Rebels point for point in the second half, but the damage had been done. Memphis trailed 27-10 at the half, victimized by the speed of McCluster and the creativity of Austin. ''We did a variety of formations and our players loved it,'' Nutt said. ''It was exciting (although) we stopped ourselves on a couple of occasions.'' McCluster rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown in the first half and also caught three passes for 54 yards. In all, Ole Miss amassed nearly 300 yards in the first half. After a slow start, the Rebels scored on five straight possessions to pull away. |
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| 08/31/08 | |
Tigers-Rebels postgame (Commercial Appeal) |
| -- Phil Stukenborg, Scott Cacciola, Marlon W. Morgan and Dan Wolken Big man on campus Dexter McCluster, a star for Ole Miss against Memphis two years ago, once again led the Rebels. McCluster rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 61 yards. Operating out of the Wild Rebel -- a formation in which the ball is snapped directly to him -- McCluster faked a handoff left and raced untouched around right end for 32 yards and a touchdown late in the first quarter. The game changer As Memphis drove late in the second quarter with an opportunity to cut into an Ole Miss 14-point lead, Tiger quarterback Will Hudgens' toss to the end zone on first-and-10 from the 21 was picked off by Rebel safety Kendrick Lewis. Lewis returned the interception 33 yards to set up a 26-yard Joshua Shene field goal for a 24-7 lead. Odds and ends Ole Miss junior cornerback Cassius Vaughn was struggling even before he left the game in the first half with an apparent ankle injury. After being flagged for three penalties (two pass interference, one hands in the face), Vaughn limped off the field and did not return. "I heard it was an ankle," defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix said. "I hope it's something small and minor so we can get him back soon." Nix and head coach Houston Nutt gave Ole Miss's defensive unit mixed reviews. "Some good and some bad," Nix said. "A lot of room for improvement." The Tigers piled up 453 yards of total offense, 25 more than Ole Miss. But the Rebels were opportunistic on defense, highlighted by Lewis' end-zone interception. "Anytime you make a play like that, it's big," Nix said. "Gives us a chance to turn the momentum of the game around. I actually think we should have had a couple of more picks, but didn't come down with the ball." Though Memphis's offense is not designed to challenge the play clock very often, coach Tommy West said the Tigers nearly got caught a couple times by the new rule change in which teams have 40 total seconds from the end of the previous play rather than 25 seconds after the referee places the ball. "Even though we're in no-huddle, it's different," West said. "It didn't get us, but I had to call a timeout once to keep it from getting us. But it's a lot faster game now, and that makes it hard (to come from behind)." West was quick to pinpoint where the Tigers' defense buckled against Ole Miss, which gained 216 rushing yards and 222 passing yards. "They beat us running the ball," West said. "And that's disappointing." Though West felt that the interior defense held up well, the Tigers were exposed when Ole Miss was able to get the ball outside the tackles. "It was more our edges defensively, they were poor, which means our safeties were poor," he said. "When the ball went outside, we were not good." Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead gave Nutt some mild heartburn when he caught a 37-yard pass from freshman running back Brandon Bolden, a switcheroo that energized the crowd. But as Snead scampered upfield, he tried for some additional yardage. "I was getting ready to get mad at him when he thought about cutting across the grain, toward the middle of the field," Nutt said, laughing. "Get out of bounds!" Snead finished the game as Ole Miss' third-leading receiver, behind juniors Shay Hodge (79 yards) and McCluster (61), but he also looked sharp throwing the ball, finishing with 185 yards and two touchdowns on 10-of-22 passing. "I was really proud of Jevan," offensive coordinator Kent Austin said. "He had a lot of pressure on him, a lot of high expectations. He threw the ball pretty well. I know he rushed a couple of throws, but he made plays when he needed to." When Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher stepped onto campus four years ago, the former Briarcrest Christian School star made a statement that he wanted to go undefeated against the University of Memphis. After Saturday's 41-24 trouncing of the Tigers, Oher fulfilled his prophecy. ''I'm 4-0, 4-0,'' the senior said. ''That's what I said when I got here and that's what happened. It's been a lot of battles, but I won. So good for me.'' Tiger quarterback Arkelon Hall, making his debut, left the game midway through the third quarter after gaining six yards and a first down. Hall got up clutching his leg because of cramps and was taken to the locker room and administered an IV. Hall returned to the game in the fourth quarter and finished with 38 rushing yards and 159 yards passing. Tiger kicker Matt Reagan's 39-yard field goal to end the first half was the longest for the junior from Knoxville since hitting a 42-yard in the 2006 season finale at UTEP. Tiger left tackle Brent Todd, who injured his foot in a practice two weeks ago, did not start. Todd was replaced in the lineup by Cody Stubblefield, a 6-4, 295-pound senior, who was making his first start. Lester Lawson, a redshirt freshman who attended Germantown High, made his first career start for the Tigers. Lawson, 6-2 and 235 pounds, started ahead of sophomore Jeremy Longstreet at outside linebacker. Tiger athletic director R.C. Johnson said Saturday that East Carolina's 27-22 upset victory over 17th-ranked Virginia Tech was a boost for Conference USA. It was the league's first win over a nationally ranked Bowl Championship Series team since 2002. ''I think it's great,'' Johnson said. ''We knew they were going to be good and we needed something like that. Virginia Tech is an established program and they were ranked 17th in the country." The Pirates beat No. 22 Boise State in the Hawaii Bowl to end last season. Johnson said nearly $1.9 million has been raised toward the $3 million needed for a new Tiger football weight room. ''I'd like to get the weight room (fund-raising project) wrapped up by the end of September,'' Johnson said. Audible ''Did I even hit the ground?'' -- Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead, praising his offensive line and its protection. Snead was pressured, but not sacked. |
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| 08/31/08 | |
Rebels have weapons, style -- and a QB who can pass (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Geoff Calkins (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Sunday, August 31, 2008 OXFORD, MISS. -- Wide receiver Dexter McCluster took the direct snap from center, handed the ball to running back Brandon Bolden, who then whipped it downfield to quarterback Jevan Snead for 37 yards. That's wide receiver-to-running back-to-quarterback, for those scoring at home. Houston Nutt is boring? Ole Miss fans will take this sort of boring all season long. "We look like the Ole Miss of Johnny Vaught!" said one Ole Miss booster, on the phone from the press box. Which is crazy, of course. Johnny Vaught didn't get to play this Memphis defense. But you get the general idea. Ole Miss celebrated the debut of their new head coach with a 41-24 thumping of Memphis at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Saturday night. If it wasn't quite reminiscent of Vaught, it served as blissful reassurance that the Ed Orgeron era is a thing of the past. In three years, Orgeron's teams never scored 30 or more points against a Divison 1 opponent. Nutt's team did it in three quarters. And, yes, Memphis qualifies as a Division 1 opponent, though it's understandable if the defense had you confused. This was a butt-whipping. You could call it an old-fashioned butt-whipping, except there was nothing old-fashioned about it. What's old-fashioned about a 5-8, 165-pound waterbug lining up at quarterback? But there was McCluster, taking direct snaps from center and creating happy chaos for Ole Miss. Nutt calls the formation the Wild Rebel. Which sure beats the heck out of Orgeron's Wild Boys. Ole Miss ran the play eight times for 117 yards in the first half. It's not like it felt all gimmicky, either, not with the impressive cast Ole Miss has assembled to run the thing. There's McCluster, the waterbug. There's Bolden, the sledgehammer back. And there's Snead, the quarterback, who can actually -- ready, for this Ole Miss fans? -- pass the ball. Yes, it's true. It's remarkable to watch. Snead cocks his arm, then moves it quickly forward and the ball travels, spiraling, into a receivers's hands. Who knew an Ole Miss quarterback could master such a tricky maneuver? And do it time and time again? Snead completed just 10 of 22 for 185 yards, but he had two touchdowns and no picks. The guy has got to have some Manning blood in there. So Ole Miss fans were understandably giddy when it was done. Memphis fans, well, let's go right to the message board: "OK -- defense is awful." "I wish I had something stronger than liquor." "FIRE JOE LEE DUNN!" Those crazy Tiger fans. Dunn was fired as defensive coordinator two years ago. Then Rick Kravitz was fired. Now Tim Walton is giving it a whirl. "He's a good coach, but he doesn't tackle," said Memphis coach Tommy West. Apparently, neither do his defensive backs. None of which means that the Tigers can't rebound from the loss and put together a respectable season. When a team plays in Conference USA, a bowl game is never out of reach. But at some point, don't the Tigers have to stop someone? Don't they have to give their fans a reason to believe they're a real team? It's easy to overreact to the first game of a football season. Two years ago, after the Memphis-Ole Miss opener, some moronic columnist -- OK, it was me -- suggested the teams would meet again in the Liberty Bowl. Ole Miss finished 4-8 that season. Memphis finished 2-10. One game does not a season make. But one game can shape expectations, and create momentum and give fans a reason to believe. "We look like the Rebels of Johnny Vaught!" said the Ole Miss booster. Which sure beats the Memphis defense of the last few years. |
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| 08/31/08 | |
Nutt tenure starts with rout of Tigers -- Ole Miss fans like what they see, but it's expected (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Marlon W. Morgan (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Originally published 12:03 a.m., August 31, 2008 Updated 10:28 p.m., August 30, 2008 OXFORD, Miss. -- Herb Montgomery was as excited as anyone in the crowd of 56,127 at Ole Miss's Vaught-Hemingway Stadium Saturday evening to witness the start of the Houston Nutt Era. But as far as the Rebels' convincing 41-24 win over the University of Memphis in the season opener for both teams, well, that was to be expected, according to Montgomery, an Oxford native and Ole Miss fan. ''We're supposed to beat Memphis,'' Montgomery said. ''They know it, and we know it.'' More than anything, Ole Miss fans were on hand for what they hope is a return to better times for their football program. After a 3-9 season a year ago, which included an 0-8 record in the Southeastern Conference, Ole Miss fired coach Ed Orgeron after just three seasons and replaced him with Nutt, who had just resigned at Arkansas. Rebels fans are hoping Nutt can lead Ole Miss to its first SEC championship game, like he did three times at Arkansas, where he was 75-48 in 10 seasons, including 24-8 in SEC games. ''It's a new era for Ole Miss and coach Houston Nutt's got 'em ready to go,'' Montgomery said. ''He's an experienced coach. He's an experienced recruiter. He knows how to do the job right and he's proven it.'' The Rebels' win over Memphis was their fourth straight in the series. It's a series that will take a hiatus after next year's game at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone and UofM athletic director R.C. Johnson have agreed to discuss later this season whether to resume playing at some point. A meeting after next season, though, would likely not be a season opener as the last five have been. ''In the initial phases of this, there has been some very good season openers," Boone said. "But I do think it got kind of stale for both fans. I don't think we had quite the group that we normally have in Memphis last year. And I don't think Memphis fans have been quite as strong the last few years as they were when they started. Those are signals to me that it's growing stale.'' Johnson said he's in favor of resuming the series. ''I'd like to keep it going and I know (Coach) Tommy (West) would, too,'' Johnson said. Equally as impressive in its debut was Vaught-Hemingway's monstrous $6 million high-definition video display board, on which Nutt was the first person to ask the familiar pregame question, ''Are you ready?'' There were plenty of UofM fans on hand, included new convert Rick Stavrum of Brighton. Stavrum was attending his first Memphis game, but his primary reason wasn't to root for the football team. It was to see his daughter, Rachel, a freshman in the color guard of the Tigers' marching band. Stavrum had been a fan of the University of Tennessee. Now that he's switched allegiances, he will undoubtedly take some ribbing when he returns to work at Memphis International Airport. ''I've got friends at work that are big Ole Miss fans,'' Stavrum said. ''We've got a little rivalry going, which is always good when you've got football games.'' |
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| 08/31/08 | |
College football: Ole Miss takes down Memphis in opener (Jackson Sun) |
| By MATT VINES mvines1@jacksonsun.com • August 31, 2008 OXFORD, Miss. - The Memphis-Ole Miss series had produced tight contests in the previous five seasons, especially in the three years under former Rebels' coach Ed Orgeron. Enter first-year coach Houston Nutt, and everything seemed to change. Nutt traded a hog call for "Hotty Toddy" and changed shades of red, and coached the Rebels to a 41-24 victory Saturday in front of 56,127 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in his highly-anticipated Ole Miss debut. "It's always good to win the first one," Nutt said. "I had butterflies all the way up until (kickoff). "You are scared to death and don't know what to expect because they haven't played." The Tigers had lost the past three games to Ole Miss by a combined nine points, but Ole Miss scored on six of its first seven possessions (four touchdowns) that took Memphis out of the game at 34-10 with eight minutes left in the third quarter. Memphis head coach Tommy West said the Rebels' offense was more prepared than his defense when the ball was snapped. "Our defense, especially in the first half, was standing and looking around when Ole Miss snapped the ball," West said. "Our defensive tempo was just not good tonight. "We knew our defense wasn't going to automatically get better with a new coordinator, but we looked like a defense that was running a new system." Most of Ole Miss' damage was done by halftime, taking a 27-10 advantage behind Dexter McCluster's 119 first-half yards, including a 32-yard scamper from a formation called 'Wild Rebel,' which features McCluster at quarterback. The Tigers' defense held McCluster to just one catch for six yards in the second half. "Our defense was OK up the middle, but it was our run support on the edges that cost us," West said. "They had some big passing plays, but our secondary's run support is what I am most disappointed in." Brandon Bolden led a trio of Ole Miss running backs with 76 yards on the ground, helping the Rebels' rushing total to 216 on 36 carries and three touchdowns. "We stank it up," said Memphis defensive lineman Clinton McDonald. "We were not as physical as we need to be." West said the major turning point in the game was the Tigers' first possession of the second half. After a well-executed 2-minute drill netted a Matt Reagan 39-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 27-10, the Tigers had seemingly rumbled deep into Rebel territory on a screen pass. But a clipping penalty called the play back and killed the possession when Memphis could not execute with second down and 20 to go from its own 28-yard line. "I took that field goal at halftime knowing that we got the ball back in the second half," West said. "We had a nice play that looked like it would set us up for a score. We score there, and its a ball game again." Ole Miss marched the ball 64 yards on the insuing possession, capped by quarterback Jevan Snead's 15-yard pass to Shay Hodge. Snead, a transfer from Texas, finished the night just 10-of-22 passing for 185 yards, but threw two touchdowns. Four of Snead's passes were at least 15 yards and also caught a 37-yard pass from Bolden. Hodge caught Snead's other touchdown as well, the first a 64-yard pass in which Hodge evaded the Memphis man-coverage to sprint into the end zone. Those were the only two passes Hodge caught for 79 yards. The Tigers moved the ball fairly well in the first half, but first-half interceptions by quarterbacks Arkelon Hall and Will Hudgens halted Memphis drives. "They flat out beat us tonight," Hudgens said. "We weren't clicking tonight." Three of six Tiger drives ended in Ole Miss territory without any points. "I was extremely disappointed in our offense," West said. "I don't believe that we executed our offense very well," Hall saw most of the action, finishing 15-of 27 for 159 yards as well as 39 rushing yards. Hudgens tossed two touchdowns as well as ran in a third, finishing 8-of-15 for 102 yards. Memphis' offense started to find its groove in the second half, outgaining the Rebels 265-142 yards. The majority of the yardage came on the ground, with Curtis Steele compiling 87 yards on 15 carries despite just having 10 yards at the half. Ole Miss was able to hold Memphis for most of the game without standout defensive lineman Peria Jerry and Greg Hardy But two more Memphis drives ended with no points in Rebel territory. The series will be put on hold after the 2009 season. West said the defense will need to be ready for the "point scoring" Conference USA. Memphis starts league play this coming Saturday when they host Rice, who dropped 56 points on SMU this past week. |
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| 08/30/08 | |
Memphis Falls to Ole Miss in Season Opener -- Arkelon Halls finishes with 159 yards passing (GoTigersGo.com) |
| OXFORD, Miss.-- Football coaches around the nation preach that turnovers are the deciding factors between winning and losing games. In early season games -- especially season openers -- coaches realize their squads will make mistakes. However, their hope is the mistakes will not prove costly. That was not the case for Memphis head coach Tommy West and his Tigers for a second-straight season opener versus the Rebels. After five turnovers gave Ole Miss a 23-21 win in the 2007 opener, the Rebels turned the 2008 game's only two turnovers into six points just before halftime to break open a tight game en route a 41-24 victory. The six points off the two turnovers didn't seem devastating on the stat sheet, but they were on the field, as the two miscues took the steam out of the Tigers' sails before the intermission. Down 21-7 with over eight minutes remaining in the second quarter, Memphis put together an impressive drive that had the Tigers on the doorstep of cutting the Rebel lead in half. The Tigers started on their own 29 and moved the ball to the Ole Miss 25, where they faced a 4th-and-1. West decided to go for the first down, and Memphis got it on a Will Hudgens' four-yard run. With a 1st-and-10 at the Rebel 21, Memphis had all the momentum. However, on the next play, Hudgens' pass to the end zone was intercepted and returned to the Ole Miss 33 by Kendrick Lewis. Eight plays later, Rebel kicker Joshua Shene booted a 26-yard field goal through the uprights for a 24-7 Ole Miss lead with only 1:59 left in the first half. The Tigers began the ensuing possession on their own 24 and hoped to regain some momentum heading into halftime. However, on the drive's third play, the turnover bug bit Memphis again. This time, the Rebels' Dustin Mouzon -- who returned an interception 99 yards for a touchdown in last year's game -- picked off an Arkelon Hall offering at the Memphis 35 yard line with 1:37 left. Four plays later, Shene blasted a 47-yard field goal for a commanding 27-7 advantage. Memphis put together a five-play, 37-yard drive just before the first half buzzer that ended with a Matt Reagan 39-yard field goal. The Rebels, however, had a 27-10 halftime lead and the momentum. Ole Miss also dominated the first half in terms of total yardage with a 292-188 advantage. After the intermission, Memphis received the opening kick-off and hoped to get back in the contest. But, penalty miscues halted the Tigers' second-half opening drive, and Memphis punted the ball to the Rebels. On the next drive, Ole Miss put the contest out of reach with a nine-play, 54-yard scoring drive that ended with a Jevan Snead-to-Shay Hodge 15-yard touchdown strike for a 34-10 lead. The Tigers, though, did not fold and scored two touchdowns in the final quarter, but the Rebels took the win. The play in the first quarter made it seem as if fans were in for an enjoyable back-and-forth contest. Ole Miss struck first when Snead and Hodge connected on a 64-yard scoring play for a 7-0 Rebel lead. Memphis answered on the next drive when Hudgens hit Earnest Williams from three yards out to tie the score at 7-all. Ole Miss then responded on its next possession when Dexter McCluster hit paydirt from 32 yards out for a 14-7 Rebel lead. The second quarter, though, proved to be the turning point with the Rebels outscoring Memphis 13-3 to take control of the contest with a 27-10 advantage. Hudgens, who returned for his final season at Memphis after being selected in this past summer's MLB Amateur Draft, accounted for all three Tiger touchdowns (2 TD passes, 1 rushing TD). He was 8-of-15 passing for 102 yards, and also rushed the ball nine times for 26 yards. Transfer quarterback Arkelon Hall made his first start in a Tiger uniform and was 15-of-27 passing for 159 yards. Hall also gained 38 rushing yards on seven carries. Carlos Singleton and Williams each had six receptions to lead the Tiger receiving corps. Singleton led all receivers in the game with 89 yards. Curtis Steele led the Memphis ground attack with a game-high 83 yards on 15 carries. Brandon Patterson (8 hits) and Alton Starr (7 hits) led the Tiger defense. Snead, who made his Ole Miss debut, passed for 185 yards and two scores. Brandon Bolden led the Rebel rushing game with 76 yards and one touchdown. Jamarca Sanford paced the Ole Miss defense with 13 total tackles. |
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| 08/30/08 | |
Memphis-Ole Miss Post Game Notes (GoTigersGo.com) |
| • Today's captains for Memphis were seniors Brandon Pearce, Clinton McDonald and Corey Mills. • Several players had their first career starts today including redshirt freshman Lester Lawson (OLB) and junior Deante' Lamar (CB) on defense, and junior Arkelon Hall (QB), senior Cody Stubblefield (LT), junior Curtis Steele (RB). • Junior Carlos Singleton hauled in a 42-yard reception in the first quarter to mark his fifth consecutive game with a reception of 40 or more yards. He also extended his active receiving streak to 22 games. Singleton finished the game with six catches for a team high 89 yards. • Senior Will Hudgens came in off the bench in the first quarter and had two rushes before hitting Earnest Williams from three yards out for a touchdown with 3:07 remaining in the first quarter. It was Hudgens' ninth career touchdown pass and Williams' ninth career TD reception. Williams has now caught a TD pass in his last three consecutive games dating back to the 2007 regular-season finale versus SMU. • Junior receiver Duke Calhoun extended his receiving streak to 25 games with his 23-yard reception in the second quarter. Calhoun has now caught a pass in all 25 games he has played in. He missed the UCF game last season with a knee injury. Calhoun finished tonight's game with four receptions for 43 yards. • Junior kicker Matt Reagan booted a 39-yard field goal to end the second quarter. It was his ninth make over 30 yards, and the longest since hitting a 42 yarder in 2006 against UTEP. Reagan is now 9-of-13 from 30-39 yards out. • Arkelon Hall, who started his first game for the Tigers tonight, passed for 159 yards and completed 15 of 27 passes. He left the game in the third series of the third quarter suffering from cramping. He returned to the game with just under nine minutes left in the game. Hall transferred to Memphis from the College of Sequoias and enrolled at the U of M this past January. • Maurice Jones caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Will Hudgens at the start of the fourth quarter for Hudgens' longest pass since 2005 (vs. Chattanooga). This is the third time in his career that Hudgens has tossed two touchdown passes in a single game. The last time he did it was versus Marshall in 2007. Hudgens came in for Hall who left the game in the third series of the third quarter. The 43-yard TD catch by Jones marked the fifth TD reception of his career. • Will Hudgens scored his third rushing touchdown of his career in the fourth quarter on a one-yard rush. It is his first since scoring against SMU in 2007. The three touchdowns responsible for are a career high (2 pass, 1 rush). • Duke Calhoun moved into seventh place among all-time leading receivers at Memphis with his four catches. He now has 108 career receptions. Earnest Williams moved into sole possession of 12th place with six catches and now has 82 in his career. Carlos Singleton moved into a tie for 13th with his six receptions and now has 79 career catches. • Duke Calhoun moved into sixth all-time Memphis in receiving yards with his 43 yards giving him 1,614 in his career. • The 41 points was the most allowed to the Rebels since a 61-7 Memphis loss in Oxford in 1980. |
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| 08/30/08 |  |
Tigers' Cross Country Team Finishes First Meet of '08 Friday Night -- Men's Cross Country Team Places 3rd and Women Finish 6th at Arkansas Tech Twilight Invitational (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Russellville, Ark. - Friday night, Arkansas Tech hosted their Twilight Invitational in Russellville, Ark. The race format was slightly different than a regular cross-country meet. The women ran a shorter, 2 mile version starting at 6:30 p.m. and the men ran a 4 mile course at 7:00 p.m.
Memphis Men's Cross Country Team placed 3rd at Arkansas Tech Twilight Meet behind a 7th place 20:48 by Edwin Kipkorir and a 12th place 21:28 by Jacob Chapman.
On the women's side, Emily Malinowski was the top finisher, placing 20th for the Lady Tigers running a 12:58 in the two-mile run. Distance coach Toby Reep was pleased with the effort from both the men's and women's cross country team.
"We have only had four days together as a team," said Reep. "The result was pretty good. We still have lots of work to do and much to improve on, but I was satisfied with the full effort we gave. We just have to go to back to work this week and prepare for the next meet.
Both teams have two weeks to train before their next race, the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic on September 13th. Women's Team Scores 1. Arkansas-Little Rock 39 2. Arkansas Tech 59 3. Arkansas State 60 4. Hendrix 104 5. Central Arkansas 113 6. Memphis 152 7. Henderson State 169 8. Arkansas-Monticello 239 9. Ozarks 256 Men's Team Scores 1. Arkansas-Little Rock 25 2. Central Arkansas 68 3. Memphis 79 4. Ozarks 131 5. Arkansas State 133 5. Henderson State 133 7. Hendrix 136 7 Edwin Kipkorir 20:48 12 Jacob Chapman 21:28 18 Jorgen Ekdahl 21:48 25 Sam James 22:38.50 26 Joe Coneo 22:49 36 Curtis Gibbs 24:39 20 Emily Malinowski 12:58 25 Joslynne Serna 13:12 27 Jasmine Darden 13:22.24 28 Lauren Everhart 13:23 52 Kriti Moore 15:13.50 55 Ashley Janiello 16:21 |
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| 08/30/08 |  |
Volleyball Splits Saturday Action; Claims Runner-Up in Memphis Invitational -- Freshman Casey Sines and sophomore Emily Underwood named all-tournament (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Match One McNeese State (0-2) 24 16 15 Memphis (2-0) 26 25 25 Match Two UALR (3-0) 25 25 20 25 Memphis (2-1) 18 23 25 22 Memphis got the day started with a sweep of McNeese State, but was plagued by errors in the nightcap en route to dropping a 3-1 decision to UALR in the 2008 Memphis Invitational title match on Saturday night at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The Tigers finish as the tournament's runner-up for the second consecutive year. Memphis middle hitters freshman Casey Sines and sophomore Emily Underwood were named to the 2008 All-tournament team. The Tigers will return to action Friday, September 5 when they take on Iona in the 2008 Tiger Invitational. First serve is slated for 11:30 a.m. 2008 Memphis Invitational All-Tournament Team Rose Corneille L Alabama A&M Sarah Cartie S McNeese State Casey Sines MB Memphis Emily Underwood MB Memphis Amila Barakovic OPP UALR Amy Hafner L UALR MOP: Anita Bucur OH UALR |
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| 08/30/08 | |
U of M senior class seeking to end skid against Ole Miss (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Saturday, August 30, 2008 They have accomplished much during their football careers at the University of Memphis. The 11 Tiger fourth- and fifth-year seniors who are scheduled to be in the two-deep today when the UofM opens its season against Ole Miss at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium have: Participated in bowl games in Detroit and New Orleans; Contributed to back-to-back Conference USA road victories at Southern Miss -- the program's only consecutive wins at Hattiesburg in the 73-year history of the series; And been involved in snapping a burdensome seven-year losing streak to UAB. As for what they've yet to do? None of the 11 has been involved in a victory over a Southeastern Conference school. Those Tigers have gone 0-5 vs. the SEC during their careers -- including 0-3 against Ole Miss -- and all but one of the games has been decided by four or fewer points. The only lopsided game during the five-game winless streak came in 2006 when Tennessee dealt the Tigers a 41-7 defeat. Of the 11 seniors, nine are from the Memphis area and, thus, familiar with the buzz and interest this traditional Mid-South opener generates. ''It's still a big game,'' said Tiger defensive back Brandon Patterson, a former Germantown High star. ''We're only about an hour away from each other and there's a lot of Ole Miss fans in Memphis and there's some Memphis fans in Mississippi." Memphis won rare back-to-back games in the series versus Ole Miss in 2003 and 2004, before dropping the last three by close margins: 10-6 in 2005; 28-25 in 2006 and 23-21 last season. The Tigers have outgained the Rebels in each of the past three games, but been victimized by turnovers. ''We can't do like we did a year ago,'' Tiger coach Tommy West said. ''We can't give the game away with six turnovers.'' The Tigers are hoping a strengthened running game -- led by newcomers Curtis Steele and Charlie Jones -- and one of Conference USA's best receiving corps will operate error-free. In last year's game, the Tigers had four passes intercepted and lost their only fumble. The Rebels scored on one of the interceptions, returning it 99 yards for a touchdown in the closing seconds before the half. Ole Miss also turned a blocked punt into a TD. Despite its mistake-prone ways, Memphis rallied from a 21-0 halftime deficit and nearly sent the game into overtime, missing on a two-point conversion pass with 31 seconds left. ''We've been just one play away,'' Patterson said. ''But we've made way too many mistakes, which have cost us the game the past couple of years. It would be nice to reverse that trend, make some plays and not beat ourselves.'' For some, the succession of close losses has been a source of frustration. In the UofM's four-point loss in 2005, the Tigers committed three turnovers, including a third-quarter interception that led to go-ahead, game-winning 12-yard touchdown run. ''Yeah, I would say it's been frustrating,'' said Tiger defensive end Corey Mills, whose career began at Ole Miss. ''But it's a great rivalry. There are so many Ole Miss and Memphis fans who live in Memphis. That's why the game gets hyped so much.'' The hype will end after 2009. The series, which has been played on a consistent basis since the 1950s with only several small breaks, will be discontinued after next year's game in Memphis. Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone asked for the series to be delayed last year because of scheduling issues for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. He also mentioned the series had become ''stale'' for the Rebel fans. Boone said the two remaining games on the contract would be scheduled at a later date, but no agreement has been reached. If it isn't renewed, an entertaining, marquee non-conference Mid-South game -- one that recently attracted ESPN coverage -- will end. ''This will be my fourth Ole Miss game,'' said Tiger defensive tackle Clinton McDonald. ''We've been close the last three years. They came up here when we had DeAngelo (Williams) and they beat us, then we went down there and they got us with the fake (a trick play in which Dexter McCluster scored on a 31-yard run). ''We've been two or three points away from winning the game and that all comes down to mental focus, being focused enough to do the right things.'' |
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| 08/30/08 | |
Memphis-Ole Miss storylines (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Scott Cacciola (Contact) and Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Saturday, August 30, 2008 Can Arkelon Hall handle the 1-A spotlight? Hall, signed by the University of Memphis in December out of a California junior college, makes his 1-A debut. According to Tiger coach Tommy West, Hall shouldn't be intimidated by the big-time college atmosphere. But can the former Washington State and College of the Sequoias quarterback run the Tiger spread offense efficiently? How strong is Memphis' defensive front? This is the strength of new coordinator Tim Walton's defense. Walton, the former defensive coordinator at the University of Miami, inherited a veteran group, led by starters Corey Mills, Freddie Barnett, Clinton McDonald and Jada Brown. The second group -- Greg Terrell, Joel McCleod, Brandon Douglas and Steven Turner, should play, too, along with third-team inside guys Charlie Bryant and Frank Trotter. Memphis struggled to stop the run last year and didn't put much pressure on opposing quarterbacks. How well this group plays could determine the team's success tonight and throughout the season. Memphis' size, depth and experience at wide receiver There's not a better group of receivers in Conference USA and probably not 25 better in the nation. The Tigers present a matchup nightmare with 6-8 Carlos Singleton and 6-4 Duke Calhoun sharing one position and 6-4 Maurice Jones and 6-3 Steven Black manning another spot. None of Ole Miss' cornerbacks in the two-deep is taller than 6 feet. A perfectly placed pass to Singleton in the end zone is difficult to defend. Can Memphis hang on to the football? During Ole Miss' three-game winning streak in the series, the Tigers have outgained the Rebels in each instance, including by nearly 200 yards in last year's game (467 to 275). But the number that has mattered most is the turnover total. The Tigers had five giveaways last year, including four interceptions, to negate the huge advantage in total yards. A turnover in the 2005 game led to Ole Miss' go-ahead touchdown. If Memphis can play error free, it has an opportunity to snap the three-game skid. WHO WILL CARRY THE BALL FOR THE REBELS? One of the more intriguing storylines of the preseason at Ole Miss was the competition at running back, which continues still. Junior Cordera Eason, who seldom played his first two seasons in a backup role to BenJarvus Green-Ellis, has emerged as the starter, but coach Houston Nutt said four others -- freshmen Enrique Davis, Brandon Bolden and Devin Thomas and sophomore Derrick Davis -- will have opportunities to show what they can do. Eason, who appears to have overcome some fumble issues, has little margin for error. HOW WILL OLE MISS FARE AGAINST THE U of M'S RECEIVERS? The Rebels are thin in the secondary. Senior Dustin Mouzon and junior Cassius Vaughn have emerged as reliable cornerbacks, but the depth chart drops off after that. Mouzon (5-11) and Vaughn (5-10) also will be contending with a tall Memphis receiving corps. "That's the toughest matchup there is right now," Nutt said. "We've got to do a great job defending those guys." WILL JEVAN SNEAD LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS? The sophomore quarterback, after two years away from the spotlight, will make his long-awaited debut for the Rebels. He sat out last season after transferring from Texas, but he has looked outstanding in Ole Miss' open scrimmages. Offensive coordinator Kent Austin said Snead has a tendency to get almost too pumped up, and he wants to make sure Snead maintains his poise. All eyes will be on him. |
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| 08/29/08 | |
No. 21 Bradley Defeats Memphis, 4-0 -- The Memphis Tigers opened their season with a 4-0 at the hands of a Bradley who made the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament last season (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The No. 21 Bradley Braves defeated the Memphis Tigers men's soccer team, 4-0, in the second game of the Memphis Diadora Tournament on Friday, Aug. 29. The Tigers open the season with a 0-1 record, while the Braves begin the season with a 1-0 mark. In the first game of the tournament Memphis' conference rival UAB defeated Oral Roberts, 2-1. Bradley came out of the gate on fire. The Braves had two goal chances within the first minute of the game, scoring on their second chance when Christian Meza took an assist from Grant Campbell and striked it into the left side of the goal past Memphis goalie Jordan Leedle, a freshman from Franklin, Tenn. The Memphis squad had made several good runs at the goal in the first half of the game, but struggled for chances in the second period. Three freshmen, Cody McCoy, Thomas Shannon and Dale Calvert each had two shots on the contest for the Tigers. Bradley came out with a quick goal in the second half, much like they did in the first half. Justin Bigelow rebounded the ball off of a previous goal attempt and got the ball to Bryan Gaul who put the ball past Leedle. The game wouldn't see a goal again until in the 86th minute when Chris Cutshaw dribbled into the goal box and connected on his first goal of the season. Cutshaw would strike again four minutes later when he dribbled half the field, streaking past the Memphis defense and put the ball past Leedle for his second goal of the game and of the season. "I thought the timing of the goal was really the critical factor in tonight's game," said Head Coach Richie Grant. "To give up a goal so early in each half had a big influence on the match. I thought the lads battled and worked hard. I thought we could have been in the match. The timing of goals is critical in the game of soccer and tonight they came at very bad moments." The Tigers were playing with a short staff on Friday night. Several Memphis men's soccer players have been suspended from the team for a violation of team rules, which meant that several players saw increased roles in the match against Bradley. "I thought Parker (Duncan) caused them a lot of problems in the first half up front," Grant said. "I also think that Rory (O'Connor) really played a solid game for us on the defensive end. Thomas Shannon continues to get better game by game. There is some real optimism about some of our young players. These guys will continue to battle for positions all season long." Drew Van Kampen earned the victory in goal for Bradley, while Freshman Jordan Leedle earned a loss in his first start in goal for the Memphis Tigers. Prior to the game against Bradley, Memphis presented Pablo Lujan Flores, a leukemia patient at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, with gifts from the Memphis program. Lujan Flores visited Thursday's Memphis practice where the Tigers helped the Make-A-Wish Foundation present Pablo with a laptop, iPod and digital camera. Lujan Flores, an avid soccer fan, went through several drills with the team as they prepared to face Bradley. |
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| 08/29/08 | |
Memphis Men's Soccer Team Helps Make Young Boys Wish a Reality -- Pablo Lujan Flores, an 11-year-old who has been stricken with Leukemia, practiced with the Men's Soccer team on Thursday afternoon (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - When 11-year-old Pablo Lujan Flores was asked by the Make-A-Wish Foundation what he wanted as his wish he responded,"God willing ... I wish that I could have a laptop computer so that I can communicate with my friends in Honduras." On Thursday afternoon, the Memphis men's soccer team helped make that wish a reality for the young boy from Honduras who has been battling leukemia. Pablo moved to Memphis with his family one year and four months ago from Honduras in order for Pablo to be in the care of the staff at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis. Pablo was diagnosed with leukemia while his family was still living in Honduras. He started chemo treatments in Honduras, but his family amazingly got the opportunity to come to the United States in order to help their son. Pablo's doctor in Honduras got in contact with some doctors at St. Jude and St. Jude decided to accept Pablo as a patient, which was a feet in itself. St. Jude rarely accepts patients who have already had chemo treatments, but Pablo became the exception. In order to enhance Pablo's wish, the Make-A-Wish Foundation worked with Jeff Hink, a former Memphis men's soccer player from 1984-88, to help enhance Pablo's wish. Pablo, a soccer fan, thought he was just coming to the soccer fields at the Park Avenue campus on Thursday to practice with Richie Grant's soccer squad but little did he know that he would also receive his laptop along with several other gifts including an iPod, a digital camera and several video games. Grant also presented Pablo with a mini Memphis soccer ball, a t-shirt and a blue warm-up shirt. "Pablo is a special kid," Grant said. "It is great having him out here with our lads today. We look forward to him coming to the game tomorrow. We are confident that Pablo is in a special place at St. Jude. It is great to have a place like that in our city. The 11-year-old did get the chance to partake in several drills with the Tigers. He also tried his hand at scoring goals on three of Memphis' goalkeepers. He was successful on almost all of his attempts rocketing the ball past goalkeepers Michael Goodlett, Harrison Cheatham and Jordan Leedle. "Having the opportunity to meet Pablo was truly extraordinary," said Tiger senior captain Robert Sausaman. He is so young, yet so strong. Personally I admire Pablo for the way he handles himself in the face of such adversity. It is rewarding to be able to make someones wish come true, seeing the smile on his face is something I will never forget. I can speak for the team when I say we enjoyed having Pablo at training and we wish him the best as he continues to fight his illness." Pablo and his family will make an appearance before tonight's men's soccer game vs. No. 21 Bradley. The Tigers will present Pablo with more gifts tonight. |
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| 08/29/08 | |
Lady Tigers Soccer Team Battles Crimson Tide to a 1-1 Tie -- Memphis could not break though in double overtime (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. – The University of Memphis women’s soccer team took on the University of Alabama tonight at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. Two overtime periods was not enough to decide a victor in tonight’s contest. The result of the game was a 1-1 tie as the defenses prevailed tonight. Head coach Brooks Monaghan commented about a very solid Crimson Tide team as well as the Lady Tigers’ performance tonight. “I have to give credit to Alabama tonight,” Monaghan said. “They are a great team. They are a well organized team which is much better than last year. I am proud of our kids because they fought hard. We were a little unfortunate to not finish some great chances. We had a few hit off the post and some unfinished scrappy things. But, I was pleased with our offense. We worked a lot this week with staying wide and I was pleased with their discipline.” Both teams had several opportunities to score, but could not capitalize on any scoring chances. The first goal of the game was netted by sophomore Victoria Frederick with 16:44 in the first half putting the Crimson Tide up 1-0. Seven minutes and two seconds in to the second half Laura Laufenberg tied the game with a goal from the left side being assisted by teammates Krista Turner and Ashley Berra. Monaghan wants his team to continue to improve as the season progresses. “I thought today’s performance was better than last Friday even though we didn’t see the result,” Monaghan commented. “We just have to take something from this and keep getting better every game.” Head coach Brooks Monaghan has a full week to prepare his team for the upcoming weekend. The Lady Tigers head south to Oxford, Miss. to take on the Ole Miss Rebels on Friday, Sept. 5. and come back home to host the Miami Hurricanes Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. |
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| 08/29/08 | |
Cross Country Teams Begin Season at Arkansas Tech -- The men's and women's CC teams will run tonight at 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. respectively (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. - The men's and women's cross country teams begin their 2008 campaign tonight as they travel to Russellville, Ark. The Arkansas Tech meet will be run this evening. The meet will feature nine schools and will begin with a women's 2-mile run at 6:30 p.m. and will conclude with a men's 4-mile run beginning at 7 p.m. Among the school's competing in both the women's and men's races are Arkansas-Little Rock, Arkansas State, Central Arkansas, Henderson State, Hendrix College, Lyon College, University of Memphis, University of Ozarks, while Tech and Arkansas-Monticello will run just women's teams. With hire of distance coach Toby Reep the Memphis distance and cross country program begins a new era with a new outlook of success. "Our objective is to be better than what we have been in the recent past. I think being top five for both women and men is a very reachable goal," Reep said. "The possibilities are limitless for us as far as the season goes. It is entirely up to our athletes as to how good they want to be." The men's cross country team returns all of its runners from last season and adds two more runners who should make big contributions for the Tigers. Edwin Kipkorir a sophomore transfer from division II Adams State and Aaron Evans an incoming freshman from Bermuda look to be a solid addition for the group. Track and field head coach Kevin Robinson expects him to step on campus at Memphis and immediately enter an important role for the team. Robinson is eager to see just how much progress his team has made from the 2007 campaign. "We look for our guys to have made leaps and bounds of improvement from last season, said Robinson. "We are going to have a really good shot at being competitive at the regional level. As far as pinpointing the level of competitiveness we haven't been able to evaluate that, but we're really looking forward to seeing what our guys are capable of." The women's side includes a host of newcomers. Six new athletes will run for the Lady Tiger's cross country squad this year including three freshmen, two juniors, and a senior. The sole returner is Emily Malinowski, a senior from Slingerlands, N.Y. The coaching staff believes her to be the leader for the women's squad this season. Reep knows she has the ability to have a big impact in her senior campaign. "Emily is the lone returning athlete who has had some pretty phenomenal performances in the past," Reep said. "This will be her last great opportunity to do something very special this year. We believe she has a pretty good chance to qualify for nationals. I do not think that is out of the realm of possibilities for her." As the student-athletes dive into the new school year this week, they also head immediately to a cross country meet this weekend. The opening Arkansas Tech meet is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 29 at Russellville, Arkansas. "The first meet is obviously a measuring stick for us," Reep said. Overall the coaches are thrilled about the direction the cross country program is heading. "This should be the best cross country team we have put out in a long while, Robinson stated. "I believe in the kids we have and I know they are going to work hard to succeed and I believe that this is a perfect time for these athletes to be a part of this program." |
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| 08/29/08 | |
Tiger Volleyball Mauls Alabama A&M in April Jauregui's Coaching Debut -- Lauren Thompson leads Tigers with 11 kills (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Alabama A&M (0-1) 10 9 8 Memphis (1-0) 25 25 25 The University of Memphis volleyball team got the April Jauregui Era started in fine fashion as it dismantled Alabama A&M 3-0 in the season opener on Friday night at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. Memphis got off to a fast start and never slowed down, limiting the Bulldogs to a combined 17 points--10 in set one, nine in the second and eight in the final frame. Lauren Thompson led the way offensively, pounding a match-high 11 kills and hitting .500 on 20 attempts. Senior setter Laura Côté ran the offense with 32 assists. Rebekah Strickland hit .636 on seven kills to help Memphis hit .421 in the match. Sophomore Emily Underwood downed eight kills and hit .429. The Tiger defense was solid behind the play of libero Christine Bach. Bach led all players with 18 digs. Emily Underwood added five blocks to help Memphis limit Alabama A&M to a -.053 offensive night. Memphis will continue its quest for a Memphis Invitational title on Saturday. The Tigers will play a doubleheader, taking on McNeese State at 11:30 a.m. and UALR in the nightcap at 7 p.m. |
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| 08/29/08 | |
Hall took long road before landing job as Tigers' QB (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Friday, August 29, 2008 From the moment he stepped on the University of Memphis campus last December, quarterback Arkelon Hall looked as if he belonged. He flashed a relaxed, easy smile and displayed an upbeat, outgoing nature. Nearly nine months later -- on the eve of his Division 1-A debut -- nothing has changed. There's not a hand he won't shake, a teammate he won't hug or a stranger he won't acknowledge as he strolls into the Murphy Athletic Complex before a UofM practice. A junior college transfer from the College of the Sequoias in California, Hall (6-3, 220) is scheduled to start Saturday night in Oxford, Miss., when the Tigers open their season against Ole Miss. It's an atmosphere, and a situation, Hall relishes. ''I'd be really surprised if he gets at all mesmerized by a big stadium with a lot of people,'' Tiger coach Tommy West said. ''Matter of fact, I'd be shocked if he doesn't thrive on it. He likes attention. He likes being the guy.'' Considered one of the nation's top 10 quarterbacks by ESPN.com coming out of high school in California, Hall was the guy when he signed with Washington State. But he never played for the Cougars, transferring after a redshirt season to COS. The circuitous route he took from Edison High in Fresno, Calif., to Saturday night in Oxford has made him slightly impatient. ''I'm anxious, I'm ready for it to happen, I'm ready to get to Oxford,'' Hall said. Saturday, teammates will see a different side of him -- a side that surfaced during spring and preseason scrimmages. ''The guys know how I like to joke around and have fun,'' Hall said. ''But when we're on the field, it's game time.'' At COS last season, Hall passed for 2,398 yards and 13 touchdowns and threw for more than 300 yards in each of his final two games, including a 350-yard effort. West said Hall has ''progressed'' within the Memphis system since being introduced to it last March. West likes Hall's quick release and his mobility. In West's eight seasons as Tiger coach, few of his quarterbacks -- outside of Matt Malouf -- have shown such dual-threat ability. Malouf, who transferred to 1-AA Samford after last spring, had the team's longest run from scrimmage (38 yards) last season. Hall signed with the UofM in December and participated in spring practice, battling for the starting job with Malouf. Hall and Malouf, a sophomore, were tied atop the depth chart after spring practice. West named Hall his starter when preseason camp opened. Hall appreciated West's vote of confidence, which he said gave him a stronger voice as a leader of the offense. ''I'm very comfortable with where he is,'' West said. ''In our system, the quarterback doesn't make (many) decisions for us as far as changing the play at the line. I'm paying (offensive coordinator) Clay (Helton) a decent salary to make those decisions. He just has to run the game.'' West said for the offense to be effective, Hall will have to give the Tigers some rushing yards. Last fall at COS, he rushed for 144 yards and five touchdowns. But his primary role will be to run a spread offense that averaged nearly 30 points a game last season. ''We've got to help him a little bit,'' West said. "Our wideouts can take pressure off of him. Arkelon is a strong-armed guy who is used to making a lot of plays (on his own). He doesn't have to make a lot of plays for us. If he'll get the ball in the right places, our guys will make plays for him.'' West said he knew from the first time he watched video of Hall playing in junior college that he could fit the Tigers' spread offense. ''I think it helped Arkelon that he played (at COS) in somewhat of a similar system,'' West said. ''We knew when we saw him on tape that he had the kind of arm to make all the throws we make. We were (recruiting) another guy out there and got off him because Arkelon fit us perfect." While several have compared Hall's physique and style to former UAB quarterback Darrell Hackney, Tiger defensive tackle Clinton McDonald said Hall reminds him of former UofM receiver/quarterback Maurice Avery. Because of injuries at quarterback, Avery made a midseason switch from receiver during the 2005 season and helped the Tigers to a bowl game. ''I think (Hall) has improved a lot since coming in from a junior college and not knowing the system too good,'' McDonald said. ''From practicing against him, he moves good, he throws the ball good, and he's a focused player." |
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| 08/29/08 |  |
Presason C-USA football rankings (Commercial Appeal) |
| 1. Tulsa (10-4 overall in 2007, 6-2 C-USA): The march toward 12-0 and C-USA BCS glory begins. This week: Saturday at UAB, 3 p.m. 2. Southern Miss (7-6, 5-3): Larry Fedora may not win as much as Jeff Bower, but his offense will be much more entertaining. This week: Saturday vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, 6 p.m. 3. East Carolina (8-5, 6-2): We're uncertain whether Pirates' scheduling is brave or stupid. This week: Saturday vs. No. 17 Virginia Tech at Charlotte, 11 a.m.; ESPN 4. UCF (10-4, 7-1): Kevin Smith's monster rushing numbers will be tough to replace ... but not against South Carolina State. This week: Saturday vs. South Carolina State, 5 p.m. 5. Memphis (7-6, 6-2): Only thing fired Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron did well? Beat the Tigers. This week: Saturday at Ole Miss, 6 p.m. 6. Houston (8-5, 6-2): This weekend's conference slate so bad not even CBS College Sports would broadcast a game. This week: Saturday vs. Southern, 6 p.m. 7. SMU (1-11, 0-8): June Jones cements savior status tonight by matching team's 2007 win total. This week: Today at Rice, 7 p.m.; ESPN 8. UTEP (4-8, 2-6): The first game of coach Mike Price's last season in El Paso. This week: Thursday, lost to Buffalo, 42-17 9. Marshall (3-9, 3-5): The first game of coach Mark Snyder's last season in Huntington. This week: Saturday vs. Illinois State, 3:30 p.m. 10. Rice (3-9, 3-5): Eager football fans across the nation may make this the season's most-watched C-USA game. This week: Today vs. SMU, 7 p.m.; ESPN 11. Tulane (4-8, 3-5): Can't help but think that this off-week might be more helpful later in the season. / Next game: Sept. 6 at Alabama 12. UAB (2-10, 1-7): It takes some doing to stay at the bottom of this league. Good luck, Blazers! This week: Saturday vs. Tulsa, 3 p.m. |
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| 08/29/08 | |
Memphis-Ole Miss notebook (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Friday, August 29, 2008 Secondary Tiger's primary concern He's a record-setting kick return specialist for the University of Memphis, but Michael Grandberry is mostly looking forward to becoming a regular in the Tiger secondary this season. Grandberry, a senior defensive back from Covington, has one career start. As a sophomore, he started the season finale at cornerback against UTEP and finished with nine tackles. In that same game, Grandberry also returned two kicks for 118 yards, including a long of 60 yards. A few weeks earlier, he returned a kick 60 yards against UCF. ''Most of the time on kickoffs something is going to go bad so you just have to make a move and do what you can,'' he said. Grandberry has made the most of those moves, establishing school records for career returns (81) and career return yardage (1,826). But he hasn't scored on a kickoff return since his senior year in high school, when he took a Germantown High kick back 100 yards. He'd like to be the one to end a kickoff-return scoring drought at Memphis that enters its 12th year. No Tiger has returned a kickoff for a touchdown since 1996, when Kevin Cobb ran back a Tennessee kickoff. Grandberry has been slowed during the preseason by a hyperextended elbow, but is expected to play against Ole Miss. He said it was difficult being idle for more than a week. ''I don't like to watch,'' Grandberry said of practices. ''I feel I can be in there and getting better and my spot may be taken (away) because I'm not playing.'' DT may miss season Tiger coach Tommy West said junior college defensive tackle Tim McGee likely will miss the season because of a shoulder that may require surgery. McGee (6-4, 300) signed with Minnesota last spring, but was granted his release and transferred to Memphis during the summer. McGee injured his shoulder in a preseason scrimmage Aug. 18 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. ''We're going to hold him,'' West said, indicating a redshirt season for McGee. ''Boy I'd like to have had him out there because he's really good.'' McGee, who hasn't used a redshirt year during his career, played last season at East Mississippi Community College and was heavily recruited by the Tigers before choosing Minnesota. He'll have two years of eligibility remaining at Memphis. Encouraging sign The U of M's Matt Reagan enters his junior season as a candidate for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation's top kicker. Reagan led the Tigers in scoring with 80 points last season and had a solid preseason camp. Reagan's field-goal percentage (68.2) dropped slightly his sophomore year. He connected on 70.6 percent of his kicks as a freshman. ''He's about the second or third kicker I've been around where his second year wasn't as good as his first year,'' West said. ''Maybe it's me. But he's been much better. Matter of fact, he's been really good in our camp." Reagan finished the 2007 regular season strong by scoring 13 points in a triple-overtime win against SMU, including the game-winning 32-yard field goal. Backup plan Tiger senior quarterback Will Hudgens, who spent the summer pitching for the Cincinnati Reds' Rookie League team in Billings, Mont., will serve as starter Arkelon Hall's backup Saturday. But, as West has said on numerous occasions during the preseason, Hudgens will play. ''There's gonna be situations -- some third-down things or fourth-down things -- where Will is going to be the quarterback,'' West said. ''But, outside of that, I want to see Arkelon do well. The only reason I could think I'd pull Arkelon is if he was struggling.'' West said it's a luxury of have a player of Hudgens' experience as the No. 2 quarterback. Hudgens appeared in each of the team's 13 games last season and started twice in place of injured Martin Hankins. ''Will has been there and he has done it,'' West said. ''I have no problem throwing Will in the game at anytime. He got thrown in this game two years ago here when he wasn't anywhere near ready . . . and he did OK." |
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| 08/28/08 | |
Brother of top recruit signs with Tigers (Daily Helmsman) |
| By: Joseph Russell Issue date: 8/28/08 The best baseball player on campus won't be swinging for the fences when he suits up for the Tigers this fall - he'll be taking the floor at FedExForum with a basketball in his hands. C.J. Henry, the older brother of top Tiger recruit and possibly the best shooting guard of 2009, Xavier Henry, enrolled at The University of Memphis Wednesday and will join the basketball team as a walk-on, according to a report in The Commercial Appeal. As a member of the class of 2005, the 6-3 point guard originally signed with Kansas Jayhawks, but instead chose to pursue a career in baseball. As a shortstop, he was selected with the No. 17 pick in the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft and is now a member of the New York Yankees. The convenient thing for the Tigers coaching staff is that since he is a professional, he won't take up a potential scholarship spot. The Yankees are contractually obligated to pay for his college education. C.J. Henry, who in 2004 averaged 26 points per game as a senior at Putnam City High School in Oklahoma City, is expected to immediately help Willie Kemp in running the Tigers' offense. How much he'll be able to help will depend on if he can shake off the rust in his return to the court after a three-year hiatus. After batting .234 in 20 games this season with the Yankees' High Single-A affiliate in Tampa Bay and suffering a few set-backs along the way, C.J. Henry decided it was time to try a comeback in basketball. "I've had a couple injuries and been thinking about basketball, and Sunday I kind of felt like I wanted to do this," the 22-year-old told The Commercial Appeal. His decision came as a surprise, especially since he wasn't even a recruiting target of the Tigers. "Really, it was just a quick decision kind of, but it was thought out enough," he said. "I had left Tampa Sunday and was driving home and just thinking about where I wanted to go to school, and I was thinking about Kansas and Memphis." The two schools, which fought it out in last year's national championship game, are still competing, but this time the trophy is the prize of 2009 - Xavier Henry. While C.J. Henry will enroll at The U of M, it will leave some wondering if his decision will affect where his younger brother will end up. While the siblings played on the same high school and AAU teams, Xavier Henry is supposedly still torn between Kansas and Memphis. The arrival of C.J. Henry in a Tiger uniform couldn't hurt John Calipari's chances of landing the 6-6 shooting guard. Both schools have ties with the Henry family, which is why many suspect it's come down to those two - their father Carl Henry was a player at Kansas when Calipari was an assistant coach there. This isn't the first team Memphis and Kansas have competed over prospects. Most recently, the Jayhawks nabbed the Morris twins, Marcus and Markieff, ranked No. 29 and 50 in the Class of 2008. While the two were heavily recruited by The U of M, the Jayhawks got revenge on Calipari from when Derrick Rose committed to be a Tiger. Not to mention both schools are still in the hunt to sign No. 1-ranked point guard of 2009 John Wall. While Kansas and Memphis continue to battle over the nation's top recruits, the Tigers seem to have taken the lead with C.J. Henry's commitment. |
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| 08/28/08 |  |
Donations to The University up $8 million (Daily Helmsman) |
| By: Nikki Bussey Issue date: 8/28/08 Last year was a good year for donations to The University of Memphis. For the 2008 fiscal year, $26.4 million was raised. Around $19 million was raised for UM Foundation in Academics, and around $8 million was raised for the Athletic department. The numbers jumped from previous years. In 2006, around $19 million was raised in total - $12.5 million for to academics and almost $7 million for athletics. A year later, $25 million was raised with $13 million going to academics and a little over $7 million went to athletics. Since fiscal year 2001, the number of donations has doubled from $13.2 million to $ 26.4 million. "We have witnessed an increase in the number of donors," said Bobby Prince, assistant vice president of development. "We increased 36 percent (8,057 people to 10,962 people) since last year. We are very proud of that accomplishment." Prince, who is new to his position, said he has noticed an increase in donations to academics. He also said the two departments are not in competition with each other. "I think there are some donors who cross over (to both), but fundraising is donor driven," Prince said. "You are going to have some who only give to one. We know that one department builds upon another. Sometimes if a donor gives to athletics, we try to engage them in academics." Athletics is also noticing an increase this year. The amount raised for athletics is divided into two parts. One is Annual Gift, or Tiger Scholarship Fund, which is a scholarship given to the more than 350 student athletes that covers tuition, housing, books and food, and the other is gift-in-kind. "We set a record for the Tiger Scholarship Fund of over $6 million dollars," said Bill Lansden, associate athletic director external affairs. "We received around $1.6 million for the gift-in-kind, which is strictly material donations. It's a new record. We had a good year." The Athletic Department also receives restricted gifts that are not reflected in these numbers. They go to specific programs, like baseball or volleyball. These numbers were not immediately available to The Daily Helmsman. This year's $6 million Annual Gift was the highest raised in Conference-U.S.A. - by a million dollars, according to Kenneth Siegfried, assistant athletic director for development. He said that record is due to the basketball and football programs. He said he considers sports the "front porch of The University. "It's the most visual," Siegfried said. "When a student is trying to make a decision as to what school to go to, they look at the athletics. What they see more than anything is how good the basketball team is or how good the football team is. Sports are all over the news." Lansden also said the record numbers were due to football and basketball. "It's because our football made it to the bowl game, and our football team made it to the national championship, without question," he said. Their goals for next year are to raise $6.5 million and around 1.6 million for the gift-in-kind donations. Prince said there is no limit for how much The U of M needs, especially with the state budget cuts. The best way to increase donations to The University of Memphis is to better connect with the Alumni. "People give to organizations they believe in," Prince said. "We need to tell our story and further engage our alumni. If they feel more engaged they feel more inclined to give." Anyone who wants to make a donation to The University of Memphis can go to www.memphis.edu/give or www.gotigerso.com/tsf. |
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| 08/28/08 | |
Lady Tigers win season opener (Daily Helmsman) |
| By: Joseph Russell Issue date: 8/28/08 The Lady Tigers soccer team began their 2008 season Friday with a 2-0 victory over the University of Arkansas-Little Rock at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. Senior forward Kylie Hayes, the team's leading scorer last year, opened up the scoring after her header in the 13th minute found the back of the net. They gained a cushion goal with nearly six minutes left in the game, when freshman midfielder Lizzy Simonin scored the first goal of her career. The Lady Tigers' defense held their opponents to just three shots all game, all of which missed, earning freshman Elise Kuhar-Pitters the clean sheet. Their next game is 5 p.m. Friday against the University of Alabama at Mike Rose Soccer Complex. |
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| 08/28/08 | |
Henry Enrolls At Memphis, Joins Tiger Basketball Program -- The 6-foot-3 guard comes to Memphis after three seasons of professional baseball (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - C.J. Henry, a 6-3, 205-pound guard, took his first classes at the University of Memphis Thursday and joins the Tiger basketball program as a freshman for the 2008-09 campaign. Henry starts his collegiate career after spending the last three years playing professional baseball. "I'm happy that a player of C.J.'s caliber would choose to play for our program and pursue his college degree at the University of Memphis," said Tiger head coach John Calipari. "I'm anxious to see where C.J. is with his conditioning. He is an exciting addition to our team." Prior to his stint in professional baseball, Henry was a basketball standout at Putnam City High School for head coach A.D. Burtschi from 2002-05. In his career, Henry scored over 1,500 points and finished his prep playing days as the school's second all-time leading scorer. He is second on Putnam City's all-time scoring list to Alvan Adams, who went to a 13-year NBA career with the Phoenix Suns. As a senior in 2004-05, Henry helped lead the Pirates to a 25-2 overall record and the Oklahoma Class 6A Tournament semifinals. He averaged 23.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.4 steals, while shooting 58 percent from the field, 36 percent from the arc and 80 percent from the free throw line. Henry earned All-State, Super 5 and Daily Oklahoman Big All-City Team honors, and also was named the Metro Athletic Conference Most Outstanding Player for a second-straight year. In his junior campaign in 2003-04, Henry averaged 22.4 points, 6.1 boards and 4.4 assists as the Pirates finished runner-up in the Oklahoma Class 6A Tournament. Henry was named to the Oklahoma Class 6A All-Tournament Team, and was also selected the Metro Athletic Conference Most Outstanding Player. Henry earned All-State Underclassmen recognition for a second-consecutive season. As a sophomore, Henry averaged 19.9 points and helped Putnam City to a runner-up finish in the Oklahoma state tournament. He received All-State Underclassmen distinction. Henry played on the varsity squad as a freshman and averaged 9.4 points in 2002-03. The Pirates won the Oklahoma Class 6A title that season. On the diamond, Henry hit .481 with 13 home runs, 51 RBI and 21 stolen bases his senior season in 2005. He was named to the 2005 EA SPORTS Baseball All-America team as an infielder, and also was selected to 2005 Louisville Slugger's preseason high school All-America baseball first team as a shortstop. A year earlier, Henry was picked to play in the 2004 AFLAC All-American Baseball Classic, which was held at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, Md., in August 2004. In the summer of 2005, Henry was a first-round pick (overall No. 17) of the New York Yankees in the MLB Amateur Draft. Henry made pro debut with the Gulf Coast League Yankees and hit .249 in 48 games. His professional career also had him play with the Charleston RiverDogs and Lakewood BlueClaws. |
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| 08/28/08 | |
Tigers Travel to Oxford For Season Opener -- Kickoff slated for 6 p.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - The University of Memphis Tiger football team will make the short drive to Oxford, Miss., Saturday to take on the Ole Miss Rebels in both teams' season opener at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.
The game is not being televised live, but a replay of the game will be carried on CSS Sunday, Aug. 31, at 1 p.m. CT. The audio feed of the Tiger Radio Network broadcast with Dave Woloshin and Bob Rush will be streamed on Memphis' official website, www.GoTigersGo.com, through the Tigers All-Access subscription service.
Saturday's Labor Day weekend encounter between the two Mid-South rivals will be the 58th all-time meeting. The Rebels lead the series 45-10-2, and also hold a commanding 17-2 advantage in games played in Oxford. Last year, Ole Miss posted a hard-fought, season-opening 23-21 win over the Tigers at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The last meeting in Oxford came in the 2006 campaign, and the Rebels took a narrow 28-25 victory over the Tigers.
The last Tiger victory in the series -- and also the last Memphis win in Oxford -- was a 20-13 win in the 2004 season opener at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium/Hollingsworth Field. Did You Know? The Labor Day weekend Mid-South encounter is the 31st time Memphis opens a campaign against Ole Miss. In fact, five of the Tigers' 10 victories in the series came when Memphis faced the Rebels in the season opener. Those victories came in 2004 (20-13), 1987 (16-10), 1983 (37-17), 1976 (21-16) and 1967 (27-17). The first time the two schools met in a season opener was the 1921 campaign. The Rebels won that contest 82-0 on Oct. 1, 1921. The most consecutive years Memphis opened a season playing Ole Miss was seven-straight years from 1964-70. Saturday's encounter is the fifth-consecutive year the Mid-South rivals face-off on college football's opening weekend. On the other side, Ole Miss has opened a season playing the Tigers 36 times in its history (Aug. 30 game is the 37th time). West vs. Newbies Memphis head coach Tommy West is 8-2 against opposing coaches in their first year at their respective programs, since taking over the Tigers in 2001. This season, he is facing new head coaches at Ole Miss, Southern Miss and SMU. Below is a chart detailing West's games versus new head coaches. Year Team (Coach), Result 2007 Rice (Bailiff), W Tulane (Toledo), W UAB (Callaway), W 2006 N/A 2005 Ole Miss (Oregeron), L East Carolina (Holtz), W Marshall (Snyder), W 2004 Cincinnati (Dantonio), L 2003 Houston (Briles), W East Carolina (Thompson), W Louisville (Petrino), W 2002 N/A Close Calls Recent meetings between the two Mid-South schools have been close, and in turn, the rivalry has grown even more heated. The last five meetings have been decided by 10 or fewer points, and the average margin of victory in those contests was 5.2 points. The last time the Memphis and Ole Miss had a longer series of games decided by 10 or fewer points was from 1972-79. The average margin of victory in that seven-game span was 5.3 points. A Win Is A Win Is A Win Memphis has won 10 games in the series against Ole Miss, but the victories have been close calls. In the 10 wins, the Tiger margin of victory has been 8.7 points per win. Of the 10 victories, six have been less than double figures. The Tigers' largest margin of victory was 20 points (37-17) in the 1983 season opener. |
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| 08/28/08 | |
Memphis Women's Soccer Battles Crimson Tide Friday -- Lady Tigers face Alabama at Mike Rose Friday at 5:00 p.m. between Memphis Diadora Tournament games (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. - The Memphis women's soccer team faces off against the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and new head coach Todd Bramble at Mike Rose Soccer Complex on Friday, Aug. 29 at 5:00 p.m. This game marks the regular season opener for the Crimson Tide. The only exhibition match for Alabama was played in the preseason at home against Jackson State. The Crimson Tide scored four goals in the opening half and recorded a shutout. Sophomore forward Victoria Frederick posted a hat trick on five shots and notched an assist in the 5-0 contest. The Lady Tigers opened up the 2008 regular season Aug. 22 with a 2-0 victory over the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans. The brightest star of Friday night was freshman Lizzy Simonin who notched her first career assist and netted her first collegiate goal to put the game out of reach. Kylie Hayes headed the initial goal for the Lady Tigers 12:44 into the game. Memphis is coming off a single game weekend and prepare for only Alabama this weekend. Coach Monaghan spoke about his preparation throughout the week and how he is gearing his team up for the rest of the season. "We're still ironing out some things and getting used to playing with one another," Monaghan noted. "Right now we have not had an enormous focus on Alabama, but more on ourselves and our own personal framework. By no means does that mean we are taking Alabama lightly because they play in a fantastic conference and we expect them to be very good, but right now we're still focusing in on ourselves. We feel like if we do everything that we are capable of that we'll have a good chance to win games." The success of new Crimson Tide head coach Todd Bramble can not go overlooked though. Bramble had an outstanding tenure at the helm of the Clemson women's soccer program. Monaghan spoke about the success of Bramble and how he is preparing the Lady Tigers for the Crimson Tide. "Alabama is going to be a team that will be hard to get a good grasp of because they haven't played a lot of games," Monaghan said. "Coach Bramble had several accomplishments within the ACC which is one of the top conferences in the country for women's soccer. Even though we have faced them in the past, it is difficult to pinpoint how they will play because their new coach brings new ideas and a new style of play to Alabama." The contest will be the third for Memphis who has already faced three formidable opponents including Soccer Buzz No. 2 and NSCAA No. 5 Notre Dame. This will be the first game of the year for the Crimson Tide and the commencement of Bramble's era at Alabama. Monaghan knows the Crimson Tide will be ready for the weekend. "I guarantee that they are going to be fired up because we are their first game," Monaghan said. "Alabama has always had a strong program and I expect that coach Bramble to have them well prepared for us. We know for sure that we will have a battle on our hands Friday evening." The Memphis Diadora Tournament is also this weekend. The women's game against Alabama is set between two of the tournament games. At 3:00 p.m. on Friday UAB faces off against Oral Roberts, the Lady Tigers take on Alabama at 5:00 p.m., and immediately following Memphis men will take on Bradley at 7:30 p.m. in their first regular season contest. |
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| 08/28/08 | |
Volleyball Set to Open 2008 Season in Memphis Invitational -- Tigers begins quest for eighth consecutive season of .500 or better volleyball (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis volleyball team will get its 2008 season underway on Friday, August 29 when it hosts Alabama A&M at 7.p.m. to wrap up day one of the Memphis Invitational. In the first of two home preseason tournaments for the Tigers, they will take on McNeese State and UALR on Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., respectively. Memphis has not opened the season at home since the hosting the Memphis Invitational to kickoff the 2004 season. Carrie Yerty's crew swept Tennessee State, Alabama A&M, Delaware State and Illinois-Chicago in four consecutive matches to win the tournament. Friday's season opener versus Alabama A&M will mark the beginning of a new era for Memphis volleyball as former University of Memphis assistant coach and All-American player April Jauregui will walk the sidelines of the Elma Roane Fieldhouse after taking over for the U of M's longest tenured and all-time winningest coach Carrie Yerty, who took the top spot at the University of Wyoming in late January. With the departure of two of the program's most successful players in Shelby Burton and Ashley Liford, the country's 24th winningest program will take on a new look in 2008. Led by 2008 Preseason All-CUSA setter Laura Côté, the Tiger roster showcases just five players with significant Division I experience. After a record setting freshmen season, Sophomore libero Christine Bach returns to anchor the back line of the Tiger defense. A native of Dresden, Germany, Bach picked up a U of M freshmen record, 489 digs in 2007. That total was the second highest on Memphis' single season digs list. Bach also set the program single match record with 35 digs against SMU on Nov. 11, 2007. Bach will be joined by defensive specialist Becky Shaffer in the back row. Local talents Rebekah Strickland and Lauren Thompson will be counted on to provided much of the offensive firepower. Thompson is the top returning hitter after downing 125 kills in 2007. The U of M roster also touts a group of five talented newcomers--four of which are true freshmen. Alabama A&M enters the 2008 season looking for its eighth consecutive SWAC tournament title and appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Second-year head coach Nedra Brown, a graduate of LeMoyne-Owen College, earned SWAC Coach of the Year honors in 2007 after leading the squad to a 15-10 mark. AAMU was swept by No. 8 UCLA in first round action of the 2007 tournament. Picked to win the SWAC East Division in the league's preseason polls, Brown's Bulldogs return seven letterwinners, including four starters from last years team that ousted Grambling in straight sets to earn the SWAC tournament title. A&M has a good shot to prove the early-season predictions right as they retain the likes of Brittani Lewis, Natalie Rodriguez, Madinah Abdulah and Rose Corneille. The '08 SWAC Preseason Player of the Year, Lewis is a highly decorated perfomer. The three-time All-SWAC player was tabbed the 2007 SWAC Tournament MVP, along with first team honors last season. Lewis led the team with 341 kills in 2007. She paced the squad with 36 service aces and 66 blocks. The league's preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Corneille earned Preseason second team accolades after leading the 2007 team with 342 digs. Abdulah joined Corneille on the second team and Rodriguez was named to the preseason first team. Rodriguez was recognized as the SWAC Newcomer of the Year last season. Memphis is 3-0 against AAMU with all three wins coming via the sweep (2004, 2005, and 2006). The Tigers blanked the Bulldogs The Cowgirls went 19-14 in 2007 but return as a much more experienced side in 2008. Picked to finish fourth overall and second in the Southland Conference East Division, head coach Dale Starr welcomes the return of nine lettermen and four of its six starters. Starr's squad will be led by junior setter Sarah Cartie. Cartie had a solid sophomore campaign in '07, dishing out 1,283 assists to go with 361 digs and 143 kills. Cartie will be flanked by senior Alyson Jones. Jones garnered preseason All-Southland second team honors after leading the way offensively with 359 kills. The McNeese team does showcase a bit of youth as they bring four freshman into the program. The 2008 meeting with the lady cowgirls will mark the first time that Memphis and McNeese State have met on the volleyball court. The Tigers biggest rivalry of the weekend, UALR makes the trip to Memphis to participate in one the Tigers' two preseason tournaments for the fourth straight season. The Trojans won the Memphis Invitational in 2007 and went on to finish the year with a strong 22-9 record. Longtime head coach Van Compton guides a veteran club that returns five starters from last year with hopes of a Sun Belt title. The Trojans were picked to finish third in the Sun Belt Conference West Division in the league's 2008 preseason poll. Senior Amila Barakovic was tabbed a preseason All-Sun Belt Team honoree. The two-time All-Sun Belt player, Barakovic will lead the way for the Trojans after downing a team-high 402 kills (3.65 k/s) and picking up 2.44 digs per set last season. She will get solid support from 2007 Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year, Amy Hafner. Saturday's matchup with the Trojans will be the twelthf in the all-time series. Memphis holds and 8-3 advantage versus UALR) and has won four of the last six matches. However, the Trojans defeated Memphis 3-1 the last time the two teams met on Sept. 8, 2007. The Trojans victory clinched the Memphis Invitational tournament championship. Fans can track the play-by-play action of the Memphis Invitational via gametracker. |
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| 08/28/08 | |
Face to face: First meeting on field -- and personally -- for West, Nutt -- First meeting on field -- and personally -- for West, Nutt (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Ron Higgins (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Thursday, August 28, 2008 It's rare that two college football coaches who have spent all of this decade in neighboring states have never met. But so it is for Tommy West of Memphis and new Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt, who just finished 10 years guiding Arkansas. "We've never met," West said, "but Houston did a good job over there (at Arkansas)." "I've kept up with Tommy from afar," Nutt said. "I know his teams have always played hard and he's done a good job wherever he has been." They'll meet at 6 p.m. Saturday when the Tigers travel to Oxford, Miss., to face the Rebels in the season opener. Though the coaches have never shaken hands, their professional relationship already seems more amicable than the one West lacked having with former Rebels' coach Ed Orgeron. Orgeron was fired last year after going 10-25 (with just three SEC victories) in three seasons. But one of the few things he did accomplish was beating Memphis all three years, by a combined nine points. Two months before coaching his first game at Ole Miss, Orgeron guaranteed at a booster meeting at the Memphis Botanic Garden that he'd "build a fence around Memphis" when it came to recruiting. "I never even got to know the other guy," West said of Orgeron earlier this week. "We didn't talk before games. "It'll be easier (now) for us to get down there from Memphis without having to go through that fence." There are a couple of links between West and Nutt. The first is Justin Crouse, the Tigers' director of player personnel. Crouse played one year for Nutt at Murray State, then spent the first 10 years of his coaching career with Nutt, first at Murray and then at Arkansas. He was tight ends and receivers coach at Murray from 1994 to 1997, then made the jump with Nutt to Arkansas, where Crouse was assistant recruiting coordinator and eventually Nutt's personal assistant. Crouse left Arkansas in 2004 to become an area scout and a personnel assistant with the NFL's New England Patriots. He came to Memphis a year ago from the University of Miami, where he was assistant director of football relations. "It's funny that (West and Nutt) have never met each other before," Crouse said, "but they are both similar in a lot of ways. "They are both real enthusiastic with the players, and the players are always ready to play. Both are great recruiters because they both are very personable." The second West-Nutt connection is Reggie Herring, now linebackers coach with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Herring was on West's staff at Clemson for five seasons (1994-98) when he was the Tigers' head coach. After coaching stops with the NFL's Houston Texans and North Carolina State, Herring spent the last three seasons on Nutt's staff at Arkansas as defensive coordinator. It was through his conversations with Herring last season that West felt great empathy for Nutt, who despite winning was being torn to pieces by disgruntled Arkansas fans who didn't like his run-oriented attack. Nutt, 75-48 overall (42-38 in the SEC) at Arkansas, finally resigned under pressure shortly after the end of the regular season in which he went 8-4 (before the Cotton Bowl loss coached by Herring). The resignation came a year after Arkansas went 10-4, played in the 2006 SEC championship game and led eventual national champion Florida in the third quarter of that game. West knows what it feels like to win, but not necessarily win enough to satisfy the voracious appetites of fans and boosters. Three straight winning seasons (8-4, 7-5, 7-5) and three straight bowl games was not enough to save West's Clemson job after a 3-8 record in 1998, the same year Nutt became head coach at Arkansas. "Three guys I felt for last year who lost their jobs -- Houston, Chan Gailey (at Georgia Tech) a year after his team played in the ACC championship game, and Jeff Bower (at Southern Miss)," said West, who was 31-28 at Clemson and is 41-44 at Memphis. "Why people like you or don't, I don't know. Maybe we stay in places too long. This is my eighth year (at Memphis) and I've always said that for every year you stay, two or three more people don't like you, or don't like your style of coaching. Over a period of time, people think the grass is greener on the other side." And now that West has watched every Arkansas game film from last year to get an idea of Nutt's offensive philosophy, he's baffled why fans were angry. "I can promise you this," West said. "If I had those running backs (first-round NFL draft choices and all-Americans Darren McFadden and Felix Jones), our fans would have also been mad at me for not throwing as much. It's just unbelievable watching those backs. "That Jones kid is just as good as McFadden, so I don't blame Houston for what he did. "He did win eight games, didn't he?" |
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| 08/28/08 | |
Cancer no match for Tiger fullback Jones -- He's back on sidelines after 18 months (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Dan Wolken (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Thursday, August 28, 2008 Stacy Jones doesn't feel like the same football player he was before he underwent treatment for cancer. He feels better. And stronger. And more purposeful. "Mentally and physically, I've gained so much strength," Jones, a Columbus, Miss., native, said. "I'm just a better person. I'm in a better state." Just 18 months after being diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his neck, Jones will be back on the sidelines Saturday playing fullback for the University of Memphis. On two fronts, it's a remarkable accomplishment. Not only is Jones now healthy despite a daunting initial diagnosis -- the form of cancer he had is rare and carries just a 20-percent survival rate -- but he's already playing football and poised to contribute to the Tigers in 2008. "I thought I was going to be off my treatment in a year and back in football a year after that," Jones said. "But actually I got done with my treatment in six months, and I'm back on the field in a year." How did Jones do it? Prayer, family and the desire to play football again, he said. Jones' diagnosis, after all, came just a couple months after he finished a redshirt freshman season in which he played 10 games and showed significant promise toward the end of the season. But instead of preparing for a larger role during the Tigers' spring football session in 2007, he was undergoing chemotherapy at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Though Jones felt tired and sick for a few days after treatment, he responded remarkably well. He said he never lost his appetite, kept up his weight and thought often about playing football again. "It was something personal, something I wanted to do," he said. "I think that's the reason I got through it so quick, to make it back out here. This is my love and it's what I like doing and I can bring inspiration to a lot of people and spread my story." After the rest of the tumor was surgically removed, Jones went through radiation therapy throughout the summer and was released by doctors to return to school last fall. Though Jones said his first few cancer-free months were marked by fears that the disease might return, they were eventually overtaken by a renewed work ethic and hope that he would be able to resume his playing career. That hope came to fruition last spring when he practiced for the first time. "It really pained me to sit on the sideline last year and watch them play. So it was kind of awkward, but I was glad to be living," he said. "It was breathtaking (to get back on the field). I fell off a little bit as far as keeping up with the game speed, game shape, but I didn't fall off that much." Though coach Tommy West offered a realistic assessment of Jones' chances to contribute right away, just getting Jones back with the team is the Tigers' biggest victory this season. "It's exciting to see what he's done and what he's fought through to get back out here," West said. "Stacy still has a ways to go from a conditioning level. But just for him to be back out here and practicing ... it's great to see him out here." Jones said he's willing to "fill the holes" and do whatever is asked of him to get on the field. But given how quickly he overcame life's toughest challenge, it probably won't take him long to find a role. "(The illness) really helped me turn a corner into a new light -- be a better citizen, a better Tiger, a better brother," he said. "Whatever my title was to anybody, I became a better man for going through this." Game televised ... on tape delay Saturday's Memphis-Ole Miss game is not on live television, but a replay will be shown on CSS (Ch. 6 on Comcast cable, not available on satellite) at 1 p.m. Sunday. |
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| 08/28/08 | |
Memphis-Mississippi Notes (Commercial Appeal) |
| Thursday, August 28, 2008 -- Scott Cacciola and Phil Stukenborg Tigers' Barnett a Nutt fan Freddie Barnett will glance across the field at some point during Saturday night's pregame warmups at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and be reminded of a highlight from his prep football career. Barnett, a senior defensive tackle for the University of Memphis, was recruited by first-year Rebel coach Houston Nutt when Nutt coached at Arkansas and Barnett was a highly regarded prospect coming out of Texarkana, Ark. Nutt made an impression on Barnett from an early age, a time when Barnett was considerably smaller than the 6-2, 300-pound nosetackle who will line up Saturday night. ''He seems like a real good guy,'' Barnett said of Nutt. ''He recruited me since the ninth grade.'' Barnett signed with Arkansas after a standout career at Arkansas High, where he was listed as the state's No. 5 prospect by Rivals.com. But Barnett failed to meet the Southeastern Conference school's academic requirements and enrolled at Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College. He signed with Memphis in January 2007. Barnett said he'd grown up a fan of the Razorbacks and had dreams of playing in Fayetteville, a city tucked away in the northwest part of the state that Barnett describes as ''beautiful.'' ''It's big for any prospect in the state to be recruited by Arkansas,'' Barnett said. ''I was looking forward to going there. I was looking forward to playing with my brother.'' Barnett's brother, Brandon, is a 5-10, 206-pound junior running back for the Hogs, who was a member of the 2005 Arkansas signing class but started his college career at Butler County (Kan.) Community College. He had limited playing time last season behind future NFL Draft picks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, but is expected to be much more involved in the offense this fall. Slowly mending Tiger offensive tackle Brent Todd, who injured his foot late last week in a practice at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, has not practiced this week. Todd, the team's starting left tackle, could be ready by game time. ''Shoot, if we can get Brent ready by Friday he knows what to do,'' Tiger coach Tommy West said after Wednesday's practice at Christian Brothers High. ''And we'll play him in the game if he's ready.'' As for his team's preparations for Saturday, West liked what transpired Wednesday during a nearly two-hour workout. ''Man, I thought we looked really good today,'' West said. ''We were really sharp throwing and catching. There was a confidence out here throwing and catching the ball. ''I know we've got to run the ball to get some yards in this game, but, man, I love to throw and catch it. Now it's a (case) of not making mistakes, we'll play hard.'' Tickets available As of Wednesday afternoon, about 4,000 tickets remained for Saturday's game. Tickets that are ordered at OleMissSports.com will be available at will-call at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium starting at 3 p.m. Saturday. Sideline and south end zone seats are available for $50 apiece, and north end zone seats are available for $35. For more information, call the Ole Miss ticket office at 662-915-7167. U of M officials announced Wednesday that there are also a limited number of tickets in the "Memphis" sections for Saturday's game. Orders for the tickets, which are $50 apiece, can be placed at the ticket office at 570 Normal or by calling 678-2331. Online sales are not available. Pump it up Nutt pumped some loud music -- an eclectic mix of hip-hop and country -- out onto the practice field behind Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. "Noise factor," he said. "And hopefully create a little bit of energy." But Nutt was clear: His players and his staff are ready for a game. The preseason has been long. "About time to play a ball game," he said. "It's been a good camp, but it comes to a point where you've got to put 'em out on the field, and that's where we are." Tigers have height advantage Nutt has a high opinion of Memphis' receiving corps, which he assessed as "the toughest match-up there is right now," especially because of the Tigers' size. Juniors Carlos Singleton (6-8) and Duke Calhoun (6-4) will present some challenges for Ole Miss' secondary. The Rebels' starting cornerbacks, Dustin Mouzon (5-11) and Cassius Vaughn (5-10) will be tested. "You've got to be great, fundamentally sound technicians," Nutt said. "That's the key: Everybody's got to do their part. It's no secret. You know their height, you know their weight and you know they're very good receivers. That's their strength. We've got to do a great job of defending those guys." |
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| 08/27/08 | |
Just stopping by (Memphis Edge) |
| Posted by Phil Stukenborg It’s been interesting the past two days to see former Tigers Chris Powers — yes, the tight end who caught the game-winning touchdown pass to beat Tennessee in 1996 — and former offensive lineman Jeff King attend U of M practices at Christian Brothers High. Their observations? Powers was impressed with the play of the quarterbacks, especially the arm strength of backup Will Hudgens. Powers, an airline pilot, said he didn’t know the Tigers were working out at CBHS, but noticed as he drove past the stadium on Walnut Grove that the group practicing was much bigger than high school players. King, who played from 1991 to ‘93, marveled at the overall size of the team, joked he’d have been one of the smallest on the offensive line. King played on the ‘93 team that featured an impressive array of talent, including quarterback Steve Matthews and receivers Mac Cody and Isaac Bruce. As for Tiger coach Tommy West, he seemed particularly pleased that his receivers, probably the strongest bunch in Conference USA, and quarterbacks Arkelon Hall and Will Hudgens were in synch Wednesday. |
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| 08/27/08 | |
Limited Number of Ole Miss Tickets Available (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - A limited number of tickets located within the Memphis sections have not been claimed to date and will be offered through the University of Memphis Ticket Office to Tiger fans who have an interest in attending the Aug. 30 matchup between the Tigers and Rebels in Oxford. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m., and there is no live television broadcast for the contest. Cost of the tickets is $50. Orders can be placed at the ticket office or by calling 901-678-2331. Online sales for this game are no longer available. Tickets can be picked up in the ticket office at 570 Normal, Wednesday - Friday, or at will call at Gate 17 on Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. |
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| 08/27/08 | |
Memphis Men's Soccer Hosts Diadora Tournament This Weekend -- Richie Grant and his Tigers will face his former college rival Jim DeRose and his No. 21 Bradley Braves on Friday Night (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Friday night's soccer match-up between the Memphis Tigers and the Preseason NSCAA No. 21 Bradley Braves will see two former Mayflower Conference foes face-off as coaches for the first time in the first game of the Memphis Diadora Tournament at 7:30 p.m., on Friday. The game will follow the women's game against the Alabama Crimson Tide at 5 p.m. Richie Grant and Jim DeRose have faced each other as players before. Grant, a former defender at Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vt., and DeRose, a former goalkeeper at Johnson State College in Johnson, Vt., competed against each other as conference rivals when Grant was a defender for the Eagles and DeRose was a goalkeeper for the Badgers. "It is a pleasure to meet up with Jim as coaches after all of these years," Grant said. "Jimmy taught us a lot about what it took to win when we played against each other during our college soccer days. It is no surprise to me that he has a team that wins. It is interesting how his personality as a player is coming out in his team as a coach. What Bradley did last season is an inspiration to a program like ours that is aspiring to get to where Bradley was last year." Grant and DeRose have made their way through the coaching ranks. Grant has been at Memphis for the last nine years where he has led the Tigers to a Top-25 ranking in each of his last four seasons. At Memphis, Grant has been named the C-USA Coach of the Year on two occasions, in 2000 and in 2004, when he led Memphis to the conference title. Grant was previously the head coach at Lambuth University at Jackson, Tenn. Prior to that he was an assistant at Bloomsburg University. DeRose has been at Bradley for 12 seasons. Last season he was named the Soccer America National Coach of the Year. During his stint at Bradley, the Braves have won four Missouri Valley Conference titles. Prior to Bradley, DeRose spent time as an assistant at Richmond and Illinois State. "Richie was a great player at Green Mountain College and we played at two of the better schools in the region," said DeRose. "We both got into coaching and it has taken us this long to finally get the schedule to work out for this to happen. We are excited about playing there and we are excited about Memphis coming to Peoria to play in our tournament next year. It is going to be nice to look down the sideline and see Richie and know that we'll be playing against a team full of hard workers that we respect a lot. We are both very excited about it and I look forward to being able to catch up when it is all over." DeRose helped lead the Bradley Braves to the NCAA College Cup quarterfinals last season. The Braves defeated their opponents from DePaul, No. 6 Indiana and No. 19 Maryland to make an improbable tournament run to face-off with the 10th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. The Buckeyes,defeated the Braves, 4-0, in the quarterfinal match. Ohio State would go as far as the National Championship game where they lost to the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. Bradley has already kicked off its 2008 season, coming into Friday's game with a mark of 1-1. In the first game of the season, The Braves took Wisconsin-Milwaukee into overtime, but they were defeated by the Panthers, 1-0. The Braves bounced back from the loss to defeat SIU-Edwardsville, 4-1. Friday's match will be the first of the regular season for Memphis. The Tigers finished their exhibition slate last weekend with a 2-0 loss to No. 19 Saint Louis. Memphis held the Billikens scoreless for 62 minutes, but gave up two goals after that. In their first exhibition match, the Tigers defeated Christian Brothers University, 4-2. Fans can catch five games at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex this weekend. The first game of the Memphis Diadora Tournament will pit Memphis' C-USA rival, UAB vs. the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles at 3 p.m., on Friday. That game will be followed by the Lady Tigers' match-up against Alabama at 5 p.m., on Friday. Friday night's action will conclude with the men's match against the Braves at 7:30 p.m. Action will pick up again on Sunday with the third game of the Memphis Diadora Tournament where UAB will face Bradley at 3 p.m. Memphis will take on Oral Roberts in the final game of the tournament at 7:30 p.m., on Sunday. Fans can purchase one ticket for all of Friday's games. Tickets will be $5. For Sunday's session, fans have to purchase a ticket for each individual game. Friday will be a Football Filled Weekend for the Memphis Tigers. Fans under the age of 12 receive free admission to Friday's games. The first 300 fans will receive football and soccer posters. |
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| 08/27/08 |  |
Memphis Softball Adds Former All-American Catcher to Coaching Staff -- Killian Roessner joins Tiger staff as an assistant coach (GoTigersGo.com) |
| For Immediate Release Contact: Brandon Kolditz wkolditz@memphis.edu, (901) 871-5475 MEMPHIS - Former LSU standout All-American catcher Killian Roessner begins her coaching career with the University of Memphis softball program, joining the team as an assistant coach. "It's what I've always dreamed of doing; I've always wanted to be a coach," Roessner said. "I love working with the pitchers and catchers, and this job just seems like the perfect opportunity." Memphis head coach Windy Thees said Roessner is the perfect person to complete her staff, and she is thrilled for what she brings to the table. "We're really excited that Killian's coming to our program," she said. "She brings that youthful excitement that you have when you finish college and are ready to coach. It's something that she's always wanted to do." A four-year starter with the LSU Tigers (2005-08), Roessner finished her collegiate career batting .288 with 21 home runs, 109 RBI and 64 runs scored. The Manasquan, New Jersey, native started 214 of her 236 games played and holds the school record at LSU for most runners caught stealing and lowest stolen base percentage against. Roessner was named a 2007 NFCA First-Team All-American after hitting .354 with six home runs and 23 runs scored as a junior. Roessner was named the 2007 Diamond Sports National Catcher of the Year for NCAA Division I catchers. She also ranks fourth in LSU history in sacrifice flies, seventh in doubles, 10th in home runs, 11th in hits and total bases and 12th in RBIs. As a senior in 2008, Roessner was named the SEC Player of the Week on March 17 after hitting .500 with six RBIs, three doubles and two home runs for a 1.063 slugging percentage. In her final season at LSU, Roessner hit 10 home runs and recorded walk-off two-run homers to defeat Auburn and Pacific. She was named a preseason ESPN first-team All-American and was a member of the USA Softball Player of the Year Watch List heading into the 2008 season. Roessner spent four seasons (2004-07) as a catcher/designated hitter on the Stratford Brakettes, one of the premiere softball dynasties in the Amateur Softball Association of America's highest division. The summer program out of Stratford, Conn., has won 28 Women's Major Fast Pitch national championships. The team had three alumni and a coach on Team USA at the Summer Olympics in Beijing, including Cat Osterman who Roessner caught while playing for the Brakettes. With the Brakettes, Roessner hit .351 in 147 games played with 10 home runs, 102 RBI and 75 runs scored. Roessner earned three letters in softball at Lawrenceville Prep School before transferring to Wall High School, where she earned one letter. She was named the 2003 Prep Player of the Year and was a first-team all-state selection for three years. After catching some of the top pitchers in softball with the Brakettes and LSU, Roessner will work with the pitchers and catchers at Memphis. "I'm excited to hand over a lot of the pitching responsibilities to her and put my focus more on the entire team," Thees said. "With someone like Killian, I have no problem doing that." |
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| 08/27/08 | |
The Memphis Cross Country Team Begins 08 Season -- The first meet is this Friday, Aug. 29 at Arkansas Tech (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. - Students filing back into the classrooms signifies the beginning of the 2008-09 school year. With the new academic year also comes a brand new fall athletic season. With hire of distance coach Toby Reep the Memphis distance and cross country program begins a new era with a new outlook of success. "Our objective is to be better than what we have been in the recent past. I think being top five for both women and men is a very reachable goal," Reep said. "The possibilities are limitless for us as far as the season goes. It is entirely up to our athletes as to how good they want to be." The men's cross country team returns all of its runners from last season and adds two more runners who should make big contributions for the Tigers. Edwin Kipkorir a sophomore transfer from division II Adams State and Aaron Evans an incoming freshman from Bermuda look to be a solid addition for the group. Track and field head coach Kevin Robinson expects him to step on campus at Memphis and immediately enter an important role for the team. Robinson is eager to see just how much progress his team has made from the 2007 campaign. "We look for our guys to have made leaps and bounds of improvement from last season, said Robinson. "We are going to have a really good shot at being competitive at the regional level. As far as pinpointing the level of competitiveness we haven't been able to evaluate that, but we're really looking forward to seeing what our guys are capable of." The women's side includes a host of newcomers. Six new athletes will run for the Lady Tiger's cross country squad this year including three freshmen, two juniors, and a senior. The sole returner is Emily Malinowski, a senior from Slingerlands, N.Y. The coaching staff believes her to be the leader for the women's squad this season. Reep knows she has the ability to have a big impact in her senior campaign. "Emily is the lone returning athlete who has had some pretty phenomenal performances in the past," Reep said. "This will be her last great opportunity to do something very special this year. We believe she has a pretty good chance to qualify for nationals. I do not think that is out of the realm of possibilities for her." Reep is also unsure but optimistic about the strength of his incoming girls. "I think we have a pretty young group for the most part," Reep said. "As far as the new individuals on the women's team there is really no telling. We have some pretty incredible talent available and they have potential to be very good." Track and field head coach Robinson shares the same feelings of his young team but is confident in each individual's abilities especially his only returning senior. "We are very young, but Emily, our only returning athlete, has been the leader since she has been here," Robinson stated. "We have a pretty good supporting cast that I believe stands to do a pretty good job here in the near future. I think with experience, time, and proper training we will be an excellent team." As the student-athletes dive into the new school year this week, they also head immediately to a cross country meet this weekend. The opening Arkansas Tech meet is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 29 at Russellville, Arkansas. September brings a tough schedule as the teams will run in the Memphis Twilight Classic on Sept. 13, head to Vanderbilt for the Commodore Classic on Sept. 20, and back home to Memphis to compete in the Rhodes Invitational on Sept. 27. Reep believes this series of meets will provide some great evaluations of where the team is going to be by the end of the year. "The first meet is obviously a measuring stick for us," Reep said. "By the time we get to the Twilight Meet on Sept. 13 we really need to be clicking. Those three meets in a row in September are still at a point in the season where we're training extremely hard. Our runners will still be very fatigued, but that is ultimately where they are going to improve themselves and make the biggest strides during the year." Memphis travels to one more meet in October before they play host to the Conference USA Championships. "That will be a point in the year when we should really be on our "A" game," Reep commented. "We'll be recovered. That is a preparation phase for the conference meet. We should know pretty much where we stand going into the conference based on that meet." The coaching staff is very excited about hosting the conference championships. Reep anticipates that hosting the meet will draw support of the community giving his runners a competitive edge. "We are going to take full advantage of hosting the Conference USA Championships," Reep said. "I hope we get everybody in the community to come out in a sea of blue along the course to support our athletes." Overall the coaches are thrilled about the direction the cross country program is heading. "This should be the best cross country team we have put out in a long while, Robinson stated. "I believe in the kids we have and I know they are going to work hard to succeed and I believe that this is a perfect time for these athletes to be a part of this program." The Conference USA Championships will be held on the morning of Saturday Nov. 1 at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex in Memphis, Tenn. This will mark the first time Memphis has hosted the cross country conference championships. |
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| 08/27/08 | |
Freshman Tyreke Evans' trainer to join Tiger basketball staff (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Dan Wolken (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Tuesday, August 26, 2008 The University of Memphis basketball program has added Lamont Peterson, Bilal Batley and Jason Walberg to administrative staff positions, coach John Calipari confirmed Tuesday. Peterson's hiring will reverberate in the basketball world, since he is well-known as the Philadelphia-based personal trainer of Memphis freshman Tyreke Evans. Peterson, who has trained Evans since age 15, also worked with Evans' high school team at American Christian in Aston, Pa. Though some might interpret Peterson's hiring as being part of a "package deal" to help recruit Evans, Calipari said he only recently considered adding Peterson to the staff and pointed out that he did not have any openings when Evans committed to the Tigers. Evans said he would attend Memphis at a press conference on April 16. A week later, assistant coach Derek Kellogg left to become head coach at UMass. Shortly thereafter, Memphis lost Andy Allison (assistant director of basketball operations), Shyrone Chatman (assistant to the recruiting coordinator) and Tyrone Weeks (director of basketball operations) off the administrative staff. Peterson's official title is administrative assistant, Batley is the assistant director of operations/manager, while Walberg will be the assistant to the recruiting coordinator/manager. In a university release, they were called "non-benefit, eight-month appointments." Rod Strickland, meanwhile, moved up from director of student-athlete development to director of operations. "These are stipend positions," Calipari said. "They're not making much money. They're not getting benefits. You're talking video, office, equipment. They're all entry-level positions that can't make recruiting calls, and they can only be on the court as managers. That had nothing to do with (Evans) coming here. We already had Tyreke signed, and we didn't have a position." The notion of "package deals" has been at the forefront of the recruiting scene lately. Baylor recently hired Dwon Clifton, the AAU coach of top-ranked point guard John Wall, to a staff position. Wall is still considering Memphis along with Baylor and other schools. Ronnie Chalmers, the father of Kansas guard Mario Chalmers, recently resigned from his position as director of operations off Bill Self's staff. Chalmers left Kansas a year early to enter the NBA Draft. And, of course, Memphis fans are familiar with the recruitment of Dajuan Wagner, whose father, Milt, joined the staff in Calipari's first season. As Calipari always points out, however, Milt Wagner stayed six years at Memphis -- Dajuan stayed just one as a player -- and is now an assistant coach at UTEP under Tony Barbee. In June, Peterson told The Commercial Appeal that he was considering a move to Memphis this season to monitor Evans' progress but did not indicate a possibility that he might join the staff. Peterson, who trained several elite basketball players in Philadelphia, including Grizzlies guard Kyle Lowry, was not available for comment. Calipari said Peterson's job duties will include monitoring the receipt and distribution of equipment and serving as a liaison with the school's compliance office on things like phone call logs and receipts for recruiting trips. "I feel really good because Lamont is responsible older guy, which is what I wanted," Calipari said. "But he had to be able to come in and (let) me tell him what the position is. It's nothing more." Batley graduated from Oklahoma in 2007 and was a graduate manager at Indiana under Kelvin Sampson. More recently, Batley has been working in Houston with John Lucas at his basketball academy. Walberg, the son of former Pepperdine coach and current UMass assistant Vance Walberg, played for Pepperdine last season. |
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| 08/27/08 | |
C.J. Henry taps U of M for hoops rebound -- Ex-Kansas signee also brother of target recruit (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Dan Wolken (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Here's how good of a recruiting day it was for the University of Memphis basketball program. The Tigers got a verbal commitment from a player they didn't actively recruit. Who happens to play at a position of need. Who is talented enough potentially to help the Tigers get back to the Final Four this year. Whose younger brother is arguably the top recruit in the country. And best of all, Memphis didn't even need to use a scholarship to get him. All of that happened in a swift and surprising way Tuesday when C.J. Henry, a 22-year old minor-league baseball player in the New York Yankees organization, told The Commercial Appeal that he will enroll at Memphis today to resurrect the promising basketball career he left behind in 2005. But that's not all. Henry, a 6-foot-3 point guard from Oklahoma City who originally signed with Kansas, happens to be the older brother of shooting guard Xavier Henry, the Tigers' top 2009 recruiting target and arguably the No. 1 player in the country. C.J. Henry, who will continue to play baseball during the summer, will be officially listed as a walk-on because the Yankees are contractually bound to pay for his college tuition. "I've had a couple injuries and been thinking about basketball, and Sunday I kind of felt like I wanted to do this," he said. "Really, it was just a quick decision kind of, but it was thought out enough. I had left Tampa Sunday and was driving home and just thinking about where I wanted to go to school, and I was thinking about Kansas and Memphis." Because of the Henry family's ties to both schools -- father Carl Henry played at Kansas when Tigers coach John Calipari was an assistant there -- Memphis and Kansas are the two primary schools fighting it out for Xavier Henry. However, C.J. said he didn't know how his decision would impact his brother. "He's still going to make the best choice for him ...," C.J. said. "At first glance, yeah, everybody's going to say he's a lock (for Memphis). But he'd tell you the same thing. He's still doesn't know. He's still 50-50." After getting drafted No. 17 overall by the Yankees and receiving a $1.6 million signing bonus as a shortstop, it was no surprise that Henry chose to play professional baseball rather than enroll at Kansas in 2005. But his progress has stalled several times due to injuries, and he was hitting .234 in 20 games this season with the High Single-A affiliate in Tampa. His inability to break through the minor-league system, combined with Xavier Henry's ascendancy into the national spotlight, has led to chatter over the past year that C.J. would attempt a basketball comeback. He said he started thinking about it seriously, however, only in the past four months. But why Memphis, especially given that he originally signed with Kansas? "That was three years ago, and I've had chance to grow up, mature and just become a man, really," he said. "I just looked at both situations, and they both were good. I couldn't go wrong with either choice. Ultimately I decided with the personnel, the coach and the coaching staff along with my goals and the chance to win a national championship. This is where I need to be." The question is how effective Henry will be, given that he hasn't played competitively in more than three years. Though Henry admitted he will have to work to get into playing shape, he said he has spent part of every baseball offseason working on his basketball skills. "Just to get away from (baseball), I played (basketball) for a month, two months straight every day just to get some running to stay in shape," he said. "I get back to the point where I can go, 'OK, I'm ready, now let's get back into baseball mode.' I've been getting ready and kept myself ready. I made sure I kept myself ready." |
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| 08/27/08 | |
Former University of Miami back ready to show off his strong game in Tiger backfield (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Wednesday, August 27, 2008 For Charlie Jones, one of the nation's top running backs coming out of high school four years ago, the almost 20-month wait should end shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday night at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Miss. Charlie Jones was a heavily recruited high school player. After playing at Miami, where he finished his degree, he's doing graduate work and adding punch to the Tiger running game. Charlie Jones was a heavily recruited high school player. After playing at Miami, where he finished his degree, he's doing graduate work and adding punch to the Tiger running game. That's when the former University of Miami running back will officially restart his career, bringing his powerful, aggressive running style to the University of Memphis backfield. The timing, for the Tiger football program, couldn't be better. Last year's starting running back, Joe Doss, graduated and T.J. Pitts, the team's No. 2 rusher a year ago, remains sidelined. Pitts underwent multiple surgeries on his ankle after breaking it in the New Orleans Bowl, and Tiger coach Tommy West doesn't expect Pitts back until at least the middle of September. Their absences created openings, filled by starting tailback Curtis Steele, a junior college transfer, and Jones, the nation's No. 5 high school running back in 2004 according to Rivals.com. ''I'm excited to get started,'' Jones said. ''I can't wait to get out there. I've been waiting on this moment.'' Jones, who had offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State, Tennessee and Florida as a prep senior, should complement Steele's quickness and breakaway ability, giving the Tigers an opportunity to improve upon what has been lackluster rushing the past two seasons. Memphis averaged 112 yards per game in 2006 and 138 last year. At Miami, Jones rushed for 713 yards and 10 touchdowns in three seasons. He played as a true freshman in 2004, ranked second on the team in rushing in 2005 and gained 206 yards, with four touchdowns, in 2006. He broke his foot at the start of Miami's 2007 preseason camp, forcing him to miss the season. ''It's 100 percent,'' he said. ''I don't have any problems on it. I've been cleared ever since last November.'' After the season Jones, a senior, decided to take advantage of an NCAA rule passed in April 2006. Upon earning his bachelor of science degree in education in May, he transferred to Memphis. The two-year-old NCAA rule grants a waiver to student-athletes who have graduated and enrolled at a school in a graduate program (physical education) not offered by their previous school. A Miami native, Jones chose Memphis and Conference USA because of several factors, including the league's recent success sending backs to the NFL. ''I knew the offense up here was productive, I knew they had a good passing game,'' he said. ''And in this conference last year, three running backs (Chris Johnson, Kevin Smith and Matt Forte) got drafted in the top two rounds. ''Then the surrounding cast here, you couldn't ask for anything more with (quarterback) Arkelon (Hall) and the receivers we have. I just like being surrounded by a good group of guys and with us spreading the field, I'll be able to get some yards running the ball.'' While West has been pleased with Jones' ability, he's been as impressed with the transfer's demeanor. ''He really handles his business,'' West said. ''He practices every day ... hurt, not hurt. He comes to work every day. I pulled him out of practice the other day. He's had shin splints. I held him. I made him not carry his helmet down (to the practice field).'' West said defensive coordinator Tim 'Pup' Walton, who held the same position with the Hurricanes last season, and Tiger director of player personnel Justin 'J.C.' Crouse, assistant director of football relations at Miami in 2007, provided some background on Jones. They highly recommended him. ''Pup and J.C. were exactly right,'' West said. ''They both knew him. They said 'Coach, he's your kind of guy. He's a shut-up-and-work kind of guy. He won't say a word, and he will work like a train.' "That's what he's been. He doesn't ever say anything. He just does his job and works like a horse. He's real serious about his business." It's an attitude that hasn't gone unnoticed during Jones's brief time at the UofM. Film sessions have provided reminders. "He's got a motor," Tiger receiver Maurice Jones said. "And coach points out on film that no matter how bad, or how good Charlie's feeling, he gives all he's got. It makes everyone else want to work as hard as he does." If his attitude, work ethic and ability help the Tigers establish a running game that has been lacking since the departure of All-American DeAngelo Williams three years ago, Memphis may find itself back in the postseason for the fifth time in six seasons. "Charlie Jones brings good speed and good tempo (to the running game)," said Tiger defensive lineman Clinton McDonald. "Anyone who goes to The U (University of Miami) must be pretty good. "But to see it in person (since preseason camp), he cuts good for a big guy. He runs good for a big guy. He runs with good leverage and pad level. He can run aggressively, and he can run with finesse. He can bring the mail." Recruiting flashback: 2004 Rivals.com ranked Charlie Jones as the nation's No. 5 running back in the Class of 2004. Here's how things are working for that quintet: 1. Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma 2007 NFL Rookie of the Year with Minnesota 2. Marshawn Lynch, Cal Rushed for 1,115 yards as 2007 rookie in Buffalo 3. Bobby Washington, N.C. St. Finished career at Division 1-AA Eastern Kentucky 4. Thomas Brown, Georgia Drafted in 2008 sixth round by Atlanta 5. Charlie Jones, Miami Transferred to Memphis after 713 career yards at Miami Game televised ... on tape delay Saturday's Memphis-Ole Miss game is not on live television, but a replay will be shown on CSS (Ch. 6 on Comcast cable, not available on satellite) at 1 p.m. Sunday. |
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| 08/27/08 | |
Tigers-Rebels football notebook (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Scott Cacciola (Contact) and Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Wednesday, August 27, 2008 West wants to keep rivalry Tiger coach Tommy West remains an outspoken booster for the Ole Miss-Memphis series, which is scheduled to end after next year's game in Memphis. Saturday's game will be the seventh straight played between the schools and the 58th in the series' history. Ole Miss leads, 45-10-2. West is 2-4 against the Rebels, having led the Tigers to back-to-back wins in 2003 and '04. ''I like the game,'' West said. ''I've politicked as much as I can to try and keep it. I think it's a really good game. I know they don't like to call it a rivalry game, but, for some reason, we fill the stadium every place we play. Up until some (Ole Miss-Memphis) TV games were turned down, it had become an (annual) ESPN game, which are the things you look for. ''We're 2-3 in the last five years. The three losses were four points, three points and two points, so they've been great games, fun games to watch. And it has been proven that, win or lose the game, it doesn't disrupt your season. We beat them and they won 10 games. They beat us and won nine. I just like the game. It's easy for our fans to get (to Oxford), but this will be, I guess, the next-to-last game.'' Back to high school Heavy rains Monday made the Murphy Athletic Complex football practice fields unplayable Tuesday. Instead, the Tigers boarded buses and conducted their practice on the artificial surface at Christian Brothers High School. The Tigers normally practice on the artificial surface at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium when their fields become unplayable, but the Liberty Bowl surface was being cleaned. The cleaning will take all week, West said. ''It's a little bit frustrating right now,'' he said. ''But we've just got to make the best of what we've got.'' Wet fields forced the Tigers to practice 14 of 15 spring sessions at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, West said. While the team worked out at a different venue Tuesday, it didn't adversely affect the UofM's preparation's for Saturday's opener. The practice was crisp. ''We had good energy,'' West said. ''I thought it was a good practice.'' Watch out for them The Tigers have placed three more players on national award watch lists. Memphis defensive lineman Clinton McDonald and offensive lineman Brandon Pearce were announced as Lombardi Watch List members, and kicker Matt Reagan made the preseason Lou Groza Award Watch List. The trio joins center Philip Beliles, who last week was announced as a member of the Rimington Trophy Watch List. The Lombardi Award honors the top lineman in NCAA Division 1-A. The Groza Award honors the nation's top kicker. Mystery man for Rebels U of M quarterback Arkelon Hall, a junior college transfer, pretty much remains a mystery for Ole Miss' defensive staff, which has watched tape of him from his time at the College of the Sequoias. "You don't learn a whole lot from that, other than that he has a lot of ability," Ole Miss defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix said. "Some of these kids who come from junior college can come up here and pick up on it real quick, and some of them struggle. So I guess Hall, for them, has done an outstanding job." Getting healthy Senior wide receiver Jacarious Lucas missed Tuesday's practice for Ole Miss because of academic issues, coach Houston Nutt said. But he was the exception rather than the rule. Practices in Oxford have seemed more heavily populated over the past week or so. "Starting to get healthy, starting to get healthy," Nutt said. "I told the guys Sunday night, we've had all our injuries for the year. That's all over." Rotation is the key Two defensive starters -- junior defensive end Greg Hardy (foot) and senior defensive tackle Peria Jerry (knee) -- remain sidelined with injuries, but Nix said he still hopes he can rotate bodies into Saturday's game. "Hopefully we're not out there an extended period of time, get on and off the field," Nix said. "But we're going to rotate them every three or four plays, try to keep them fresh." |
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| 08/26/08 | |
Tough competitions from C-USA in 2008 |
| Conference-USA comes off a banner year, sending six of its 12 teams to bowl games in 2007. This season looks to be more competitive than last year, as many teams have only gotten better.
Houston and Southern Miss have new coaches calling the shots, while teams like Tulsa and Southern Methodist University pack explosive offensives that have the ability to score on anyone. Southern Miss may have the best running back in the conference with Damion Fletcher and the best defensive player in linebacker Gerald McRath. UCF's pass defense is spectacular, while East Carolina comes in as the overall favorite to win the conference title. East Carolina Pirates Coach: Skip Holtz 2007 Record: 8-5 The Pirates come into the 2008 season with aspirations of improving on their 8-5 season from a year ago, but open the season with a brutal couple of weeks at No. 17-ranked Virginia Tech, following that with a home bout with No. 8 West Virginia. Of the five losses dealt to the Pirates last season, three of those were losses to Bowl Championship Series schools. Returning at WR is big-play threat Jamar Bryant, who led the team in receptions with 48 and averaged 14.7 yards per catch. Bryant also found pay dirt six times. On the other side of the ball sits LB Pierre Bell, who was an All-Conference-USA Honorable Mention selection a year ago. He was second on the team last with 97 total tackles, including a career-high 12 tackles against Houston. The Pirates were dominant in conference games last season, winning by an average of 15.5 points per game. A bad loss to Marshall, a team that only won three games last season, cost them the division title. But with 20 returning starters on both sides of the ball, the Pirates have a solid chance at challenging for the conference championship. Houston Cougars Coach: Kevin Sumlin 2007 Record: 8-5 Like ECU, Houston also won eight games in 2007, going 6-2 in conference play. Now they have a new coach and a new system, and, if judging by the Cougars spring game, are working like a well-oiled machine. Quarterback Blake Joseph put up video game numbers to the tune of 37 for 41, 421 yards and five touchdowns. There are questions at wide receiver, however. Houston lost its top three wide outs from a year ago, leaving players like Chris Gilbert and L.J. Castile the opportunity to step in. The defense must improve from last year when they allowed nearly 30 points per game. Defensive end Phillip Hunt, listed on the Lombardi Award and Nagurski Trophy Watch Lists, plans to change that. Hunt led the team in tackles for loss, sacks and pass breakups last season and his numbers should only improve with former NFL star Jim Jeffcoat as his position coach. Marshall Thundering Herd Coach: Mark Snyder 2007 Record: 3-9 Mark Snyder's seat may be getting warmer if he doesn't find a way to turn around the Thundering Herd in his fourth season. In three seasons, Snyder has guided Marshall to a 12-23 record, including an embarrassing 2-16 record on the road. The schedule isn't helping Snyder's cause either, as the Herd plays on the road against powerhouses such as Wisconsin and West Virginia. First Snyder must decide on a starting quarterback, and right now, it looks to be freshman Mark Cann. Behind him is a crowded backfield consisting of running backs Darius Marshall, who compiled 631 yards rushing and an average of 5.1 yards per rush in 2007. Chubb Small and Terrell Edwards will also see action. After missing the entire 2007 season, defensive end Albert McClellan is back and healthy. In 2006, McClellan was a terror, recording 77 tackles to go along with 11.5 sacks. He was named the league's defensive player of the year, and if he can return to form, should make the defense much stronger. Rice Owls Coach: David Bailiff 2007 Record: 3-9 The Owls come into the season with Jeramy Goodson switching from wide receiver to running back. This change should compliment the passing attack led by quarterback Chase Clement. Clement was solid last season, passing for 3,377 yards and 29 touchdowns. His 535 yards on the ground didn't hurt either. Wide receiver Jarrett Dillard had an outstanding 2007 campaign with 79 catches for 1057 yards and 14 scores. With his quarterback returning, there is no reason to think he won't put up similar numbers. Rice's passing game is the bread and butter of this team. On defense, the Owls boast senior linebacker Brian Raines, who is on the watch list for the Lombardi Award. Raines comes into his third season as a starter and as a team captain, looking to add to his total of 224 tackles in all three seasons at Rice. Defensive end Scott Solomon and linebacker Terrance Garmon look to cause problems on defense. SMU Mustangs Coach: June Jones 2007 Record: 1-11 June Jones has his work cut out for him as he looks to improve the Mustangs' record of 0-8 in conference play. Having wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders will help, as he caught 74 passes for 889 yards and nine touchdowns last season. His quarterback, Justin Willis returns after throwing for nearly 3,000 yards and 25 scores a year ago. The defensive secondary looks to be solid as the team's interception leader Bryan McCann returns to anchor a group of playmaking defensive backs. The Mustangs expect Derrius Bell to improve on his freshman season. Strong safety Rock Dennis will also be in the mix after sitting out the 2007 season with a shoulder injury. SMU suffers on the offensive line, as they lost three starters from a year ago, including both of their tackles. The Mustangs will need to give their quarterback time if they hope to make any splash in the conference. Southern Miss Golden Eagles Coach: Larry Fedora 2007 Record: 7-6 The Golden Eagles boast one of the most dynamic players in the country in running back Damion Fletcher. The 5'10, 175-pound back has totaled over 2900 total yards and 26 touchdowns in his two seasons at Southern Miss. Where Fletcher lacks speed he makes up in toughness and is an excellent receiver out of the backfield. In the spring game Fletcher carried the ball 13 times for 108 yards and caught six passes for another 78 yards. He will be the focal point of the offense. The defense returns only four starters, which is a concern for Coach Larry Fedora. But they are anchored by 6'3, 220-pound linebacker Gerald McRath, who always seems to be around the ball. McRath led the team with 139 total tackles last season, but will find it more difficult this year with a brand new front four in front of him. Defensive backs C.J. Bailey and Eddie Hicks return in the secondary to shut down opposing passing games. Tulane Green Wave Coach: Bob Toledo 2007 Record: 4-8 Matt Forte and his 2,127 rushing yards are gone, but the Green Wave have Andre Anderson in the mix to replace him. Anderson played well in their spring game, amassing 136 yards on the ground, an average of about 7.2 yards per carry. Jeremy Williams returns at receiver, leading the team with 773 yards and five scores last season. He looked good in the spring game, returning the opening kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Tulane retains seven starters on defense, but lost both starting defensive tackles Antonio Harris and Avery Williams. They combined for 10 of the Green Wave's 28 sacks last season, so the Green Wave is looking for sophomore Tony Bryant to step up. The offense has the capability of being explosive, but there are questions at the quarterback position and along the offensive line they need to be addressed if they are to compete for the conference title. Tulsa Golden Hurricane Coach: Todd Graham 2007 Record: 10-4 Tulsa had the most explosive offense in the conference last season, averaging 543.9 yards per game and scoring a total of 79 touchdowns. Coach Todd Graham looks to continue that same success with running back Courtney Tennial, who ran for 845 yards and caught 31 passes in 2007, bringing his touchdown total to 16 on the year. Senior Tarrion Adams is also sure to get time in the backfield. The Golden Hurricane will benefit from a non-conference schedule that isn't too testing. The only team likely to give the Tulsa problems is Arkansas, who is in a rebuilding phase of their own. But this cake-walk schedule may end up biting them in the end. University of Alabama-Birmingham Blazers Coach: Neil Callaway 2007 Record: 2-10 Joe Webb will be the guy at quarterback this season, after splitting time as the signal caller and lining up to catch passes a season ago. As quarterback last season, Webb threw for 679 yards and five touchdowns. He should have a solid receiving group to help him out with sophomore Frantrell Forrest and senior Sylvester Mencer on the outsides, along with tight end Zach Lankford. The Blazers have to improve on their 104th-ranked rushing attack last season as sophomore Dexter Barnett and junior Justin Brooks will both look to solidify the backfield. Joe Henderson anchors the defense at linebacker, earning all-conference honors each of the past two seasons. Henderson ranked second on the team in tackles last season with 109, and led the team in tackles for loss with 9.5 and sacks with five. He is expected to be a top defender in the conference again. University of Central Florida Knights Coach: George O'Leary 2007 Record: 10-4 The loss of running back Kevin Smith to the NFL draft leaves a giant hole to fill. Originally, Phillip Smith was to replace the now-Detroit Lion, but was kicked off the team last July. Enter Ronnie Weaver, a redshirt freshman who joined the team as a walk-on. The offensive line isn't the veteran unit it once was and with three new starters this season, it will make Weaver's job even harder. However this defense is stellar, returning nine starters and boasting depth at the linebacker position. The defense backfield is loaded, led by standouts Joe Burnett and Shar'eef Rashad. Both started all 14 games a year ago and Burnett, a ball hawk, tied for the team lead with six interceptions while Rashad recorded 103 tackles. Sharing the interception lead is returning cornerback Johnell Neal, making this unit incredibly difficult to pass against. University of Texas-El Paso Miners Coach: Mike Price 2007 Record: 4-8 The Miners expect quarterback Trevor Vittatoe to continue to develop and improve on last season's numbers of over 3,000 yards passing and 25 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. He'll have a sure-handed receiver to throw to in junior Jeff Moturi. Moturi tied for fourth nationally last season with 14 touchdown catches, making this a combination with heavy fire-power. The Miners have to fix the defense however, if they are to make any noise in the conference. Coach Mike Price brought in defensive coordinator Osia Lewis from New Mexico to shore up this defense, which ranked 117th in the nation last season. They return nine starters, but that might not necessarily be a good thing. There is promise for this young offense, as Price looks to spread open offense for Vittatoe with receivers like Moturi and junior Tufick Shadrawy. |
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| 08/26/08 | |
Yankees minor leaguer C.J. Henry joins Memphis basketball team -- He's the brother of elite Class of 2009 recruit (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Dan Wolken (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Tuesday, August 26, 2008 In one of the most surprising recruiting turns of the year in college basketball, guard C.J. Henry – the older brother of top recruit Xavier Henry and a former elite prospect in his own right – told The Commercial Appeal on Tuesday he is enrolling at the University of Memphis for the 2008-09 season. Henry, who signed with Kansas out of high school in 2005, chose to sign a professional baseball contract with the New York Yankees organization rather than play college basketball. Henry never closed the door on returning to basketball and said he began thinking about it seriously within the past four months. “Really, it was just a quick decision kind of, but it was thought out enough,” the 6-foot-3 Henry said by phone. “I had left Tampa Sunday and was driving home and just thinking about where I wanted to go to school, and I was thinking about Kansas and Memphis. “ I’ve had a couple injuries and been thinking about basketball, and Sunday I kind of felt like I wanted to do this. When I got here I talked to my family and my parents and my brother about it, Memphis was pretty much the best situation for me right now.” Henry, 22, will officially be a walk-on since the Yankees are contractually bound to pay for his college education, per the terms of the deal he signed out of high school. Thus, Memphis will gain a potential impact point guard immediately but won’t have to use its last open scholarship on him. Henry said he’ll continue to play baseball professionally in the summer. Though Henry admitted he will have to work hard to get into playing shape, he said he has spent part of every baseball offseason working on his basketball skills. “Just to get away from (baseball), I played for a month, two months straight every day just to get some running and stay in shape,” he said. “I get back to the point where I can go, ‘OK, I’m ready, now let’s get back into baseball mode.’ I’ve been getting ready and kept myself ready. I made sure I kept myself ready.” Henry said he didn’t know how his decision to attend Memphis will impact his brother, who is the Tigers’ top recruiting target and the No. 1 player in the country according to some scouting services. Xavier Henry is also considering Kansas and Memphis. “He’s still going to make the best choice for him if I’m there or not or if he goes to a different school,” C.J. Henry said. “At first glance, yeah, everybody’s going to say he’s a lock (for Memphis). But he’d tell you the same thing. He’s still doesn’t know. He’s still 50-50.” |
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| 08/26/08 | |
August showers turn up the heat (Memphis Edge) |
| Posted by Phil Stukenborg The Tiger football team was chased from the Murphy Athletic Complex on the Park Avenue Campus Tuesday because heavy rains Monday rendered the four practice fields unplayable. Unplayable is becoming unacceptable for a program trying to take the next step and compete for Conference USA championships, potential BCS bowl berths and, ultimately, inclusion in a BCS conference. Memphis, which is in the process of raising $3 million for a new football weight room, might want to increase that fund-raising effort and include about a million more for an outdoor artificial practice field. It’s overdue. Tuesday’s trip to CBHS marked the third time the Tigers have had to use the high school’s field to practice. The Liberty Bowl, the alternative when the Murphy Athletic fields are wet, was `closed’ Tuesday because of extensive cleaning of the facility’s artificial surface. The Liberty Bowl won’t be available to the Tigers this week as the cleaning process continues through Thursday. CBHS was gracious enough to allow the Tigers to work out ahead of the Purple Wave’s practice. A similar arrangement may be followed Wednesday if the Murphy fields remain too wet. The change of venue isn’t unique. The Tigers encountered similar problems with their fields during the spring, when 14 of the 15 allotted practices were relocated to the Liberty Bowl. An indoor practice field is in the long-range fund-raising plans for the football program, but an uncovered artificial surface needs to be in the short-range plans. |
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| 08/26/08 | |
Interesting day in Tigerland (Memphis Edge) |
| Posted by Dan Wolken I’ll just reprise the lede of my story for tomorrow’s paper, since I think it gives pretty good context to the importance today of C.J. Henry’s surprise commitment to Memphis: Here’s how good of a recruiting day it was for the University of Memphis basketball program. They got a verbal commitment from a player they didn’t actively recruit. Who happens to play at a position of need. Who is talented enough to potentially help the Tigers get back to the Final Four (italics) this year (end ital). Whose younger brother is arguably the top recruit in the country. And best of all, Memphis didn’t even need to use a scholarship to get him. All of that happened in a swift and surprising way Tuesday when C.J. Henry, a 22-year old minor-league baseball player in the New York Yankees organization, told The Commercial Appeal that he will enroll at Memphis today to resurrect the promising basketball career he left behind in 2005. But that’s not all. Henry, a 6-foot-3 point guard who originally signed with Kansas, happens to be the older brother of shooting guard Xavier Henry, the Tigers’ top 2009 recruiting target and arguably the No. 1 player in the country. C.J. Henry, who will continue to play baseball during the summer, will be officially listed as a walk-on because the Yankees are contractually bound to pay for his college tuition. Folks, I have no idea what C.J. Henry is going to do for this team, this year. He hasn’t played competitively in three years. But I know he was once good enough to play for Kansas. I know he’s a point guard, a position where the Tigers would like a little more depth (possibly allowing Tyreke Evans, Antonio Anderson, etc., to play off the ball). And most of all, I know that when the brother of the top player in the country calls you and says he wants to come - and you don’t even have to give him a scholarship - you don’t turn it down. I think Henry will also add a layer of maturity. He’s a 22-year old adult. He’s been on his own. He’s been a professional athlete. And though I don’t know C.J. well — today was the first time I’ve spoken with him — the Henry family is as good as it gets. I’ve gotten to know the Henrys a little bit because I’ve written about them so many times over the past couple years, and Carl Henry and Xavier Henry are class people all the way. In other developments today, Memphis officially released the coaching staff additions this afternoon after I wrote about them this morning. The one staff addition that will draw some attention is Lamont Peterson. I wrote a lot about Peterson earlier this summer as part of my feature story on Tyreke Evans. Peterson has been Evans’ personal trainer for a few years (he’s trained a bunch of big-time players in Philly) and is a bone fide member of “Team Tyreke.” I wrote my story today the way I wrote it because I knew that once word of Peterson’s hiring came out, a few people would start throwing arrows at Memphis and claiming that it was a “package deal.” I don’t think that logic necessarily applies in this case. For one thing, the Tigers were long considered the favorite for Evans, and he committed a week before there was an opening on Memphis’ coaching staff. Second, if it were important for Evans to be close to Peterson, he could have simply chosen to stay home and go to Villanova, which was his second choice. Third, the job Peterson is taking with Memphis amounts to basically a low-paying internship without benefits. |
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| 08/26/08 | |
Lady Tigers to put youth, talent at the net in '08 (Daily Helmsman) |
| By: Joseph Russell Issue date: 8/26/08 When it comes to the sports world, the word "inexperience" gets tossed around a lot. When used to describe the Lady Tigers volleyball team, it's not just an overused word - it's the truth. With only one senior and three returning starters from 2007's squad, this year's newcomers won't have much time to get used to college volleyball. They'll be expected to step into playing time almost immediately. As the lone senior, team captain Laura CĂ´té has made it a personal goal to make sure everyone is on the same page once the season starts. "I'm just trying to help them feel as comfortable as possible," she said. "I want to make sure they don't fall behind with what we do in practice, and keep everyone up to speed." While CĂ´té is the only senior in this year's lineup, the team will also have leadership from the two other captains - Christine Bach and Lauren Thompson. Thompson, a junior outside hitter, likened this year's team to a puzzle - getting all of the pieces together and then trying to figure out where they fit. "We have to train hard every day, and expect every player to come out and do their best," she said. "Then hopefully we can start to put it all together." CĂ´té, a two-time All-Conference-USA selection, will once again lead the Lady Tigers' offense from the setter position, which she called the "quarterback" position on the court. In 2007, CĂ´té ranked third in C-USA in assists per game with 12.63, a number which was good enough to put her at 38th in the nation. Named to the preseason All-C-USA Team for 2008, CĂ´té said the only stat she cares about is if the team wins or not. "I just want to go out and have as much fun as I can," the three-year starter said. "I also want this team to be the best that we possibly can be. If awards come my way during the process, it's just an added bonus." After losing three hitters last season, the outside of the Lady Tigers lineup will have to face the problems that come with putting younger players on the court. Thompson will return as the team's leading outside hitter, after downing 125 kills in 2007. She will be joined by junior Rebekah Strickland, who will spend some time on the right side in addition to holding down the middle blocker position. The coaching staff expects sophomore Katlin Inglish to see "significant action" as a passer in the Lady Tigers' serve-receive game. Incoming freshmen Altrese Hawkins and Kelsey Knoche will also see playing time in the outside hitter rotation. When middle blocker Shelby Burton graduated last season, first-year Coach April Jauregui said The University of Memphis lost "one of the most highly decorated players in program history." Making up for the loss of such a player won't be easy, but Jauregui said she doesn't feel there will be a huge drop-off in production. With two years under her belt, Strickland will be expected to step up and help fill the void left by Burton's departure. After tallying 56 blocks in 2007, the coaching staff feels there's no reason to keep her from producing huge numbers in 2008. Joining her in the middle will be sophomore Emily Underwood, who compiled 20 blocks in just 43 games last season. Also filling the middle will be junior Rachel Theard, who started six of the nine games she played in last season, before her season was cut short by illness. Even though two sophomores will be starting at the libero spots, it's one of the more experienced positions the Lady Tigers will have on the floor. With Bach returning to the back row, along with Becky Shaffer, they're expected to be one of the top defensive units in the conference. With 242 combined starts in 2007, they'll be the backbone of the squad for the second year in a row. Last season, Bach, a C-USA Defensive Player of the Week, totaled the second-highest number of digs in U of M volleyball history with 489. Against Southern Methodist University, she claimed the top spot for digs in a single game with 35. Shaffer made over 250 digs last season and has been training all summer to return from a knee surgery in the offseason. Also seeing playing time at libero will be junior Sarah Chambers, who gives the coaching staff yet another option for lineup changes. Joining the Lady Tigers in 2008 is a group of four freshman and one four-year college transfer, all of which are expected to contribute immediately. Carolyn Baker and Casey Sines will both add depth to the middle blocker position, while potentially fighting for starting jobs. Lauren Trouy, a transfer from Lambuth, will play on the back line and provide leadership for the young team. Saturday, the team held their annual Blue-Gray intra-squad volleyball game, where all of the players got to show what they had against one another. According to Jauregui, the freshmen players held their ground. "Our freshmen are so talented," said Thompson. "They work hard, they show intensity - they fit right in. Even though the freshmen had a good showing playing against their teammates, the coaching staff said there's nothing that compares to playing in a real game. "When you put a group of freshmen out on the court, you can never tell what's going to happen," Jauregui said. "Practice is one thing, but an actual game is completely different." One group of people who aren't so sure about the team's chances is C-USA coaches. In the preseason poll, the conference's coaches voted that the Lady Tigers would finish ranked seventh in the league. "I don't look much into that. My freshman year, they ranked us eighth in the conference. We ended up going on and playing in the conference finals," Bach said. Since there are so many players adapting into different roles and new people coming on board, Jauregui said it was no surprise to see they were ranked so low. "When you lose the people that we did, there's not much surprise that we were picked seventh. That's just because nobody knows what to expect from us, so they put us low," she said. The Lady Tigers kick off their season Friday against Alabama A&M in the Memphis Invitational held at the Elma Neal Roane Fieldhouse. By the end of the year, they will have come full circle when the C-USA tournament will be held on campus in November. They hope that students will come out in force to help support them the whole way. "We're a lot of fun. This team is the most fun I've ever had playing with, and I hope that people will come out to cheer us on," Bach said. With students coming out to support them, Thompson said, there's "no limit" to what they can achieve. Bach even recited this year's team creed: "Our very best is what we're trying to be. A legacy is what we're trying to leave." |
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| 08/26/08 | |
Strickland Named Tiger Basketball Director Of Operations -- Peterson, Batley, Walberg joins Calipari staff (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - After hiring two new assistant coaches in the early portion of the summer, University of Memphis head coach John Calipari announced Tuesday that he has finished rounding out his staff for the 2008-09 season. Rod Strickland has been elevated to Director of Basketball Operations, while Lamont Peterson, Bilal Batley and Jason Walberg all are additions to the staff. Peterson's position is the program's Administrative Assistant, while Batley is Assistant Director of Operations/Manager and Walberg is Assistant to the Recruiting Coordinator/Manager. All three are non-benefit, eight-month appointments. The changes occurred this past spring after Chuck Martin and Derek Kellogg took head coaching positions at Marist and UMass, respectively. Tyrone Weeks (Tigers' Director of Basketball Operations for 2007-08) joined Chuck Martin's staff as an assistant coach, and Andy Allison (Assistant Director of Basketball Operations) and Shyrone Chatman (Assistant to the Recruiting Coordinator) moved to Amherst, Mass., to be on Kellogg's basketball operations staff. "I'm ecstatic for Rod, and he deserves this promotion," said Calipari. "Rod has been with us through our last two successful runs we've had, and it's good for the program to have that stability and continuity. "Lamont, Bilal and Jason each brings something different to the program. Lamont gives us maturity, while Bilal and Jason both bring a high energy and high-work capacity to their two spots." Strickland, who joined the Memphis basketball family in the summer of 2006, was promoted to Director of Basketball Operations from his previous position as Director of Student-Athlete Development. In his new role, Strickland is in charge in several "behind-the-scenes" areas for the Tiger program, among them monitoring the student-athletes' academic progress, assisting with travel plans and coordinating recruits' on-campus visits. Strickland's time with the Tiger program has been quite a successful ride. During his two years on the Memphis bench, the Tigers posted an amazing 71-6 record (.922 winning percentage), won back-to-back Conference USA regular season and tournament titles and reached the 2007 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and 2008 NCAA Tournament championship game. The 71 wins are the second-most by a program in NCAA Division I basketball over a two-year span (Montana State won 72 games from 1928-29). This past year, Memphis set an NCAA Division I record and a school mark for victories in a single season with 38 wins (38-2 record). The Tigers swept the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles and won the NCAA Tournament South Region crown en route to the NCAA Tournament championship game. Memphis' run to the Final Four was the program's first since 1985 and the NCAA title game appearance was its first since 1973. Peterson joins the Memphis basketball program after working the last three years as Director of Discipline at American Christian School in Philadelphia, Pa. He also worked with the strength and conditioning program at American Christian. Outside of his duties at the school, Peterson served as a personal trainer, working with several Philadelphia area athletes such as Kyle Lowery (Villanova University/NBA's Memphis Grizzlies), Sean Singletary (University of Virginia/NBA's Sacramento Kings), Crystal Langhorne (University of Maryland/WNBA's Washington Mystics), Mustafa Shakur (University of Arizona), Wayne Ellington (University of North Carolina), Gerald Henderson (Duke University) and Tyreke Evans (University of Memphis). This past summer, Peterson served as an assistant coach for the United States team in the 2008 Junior World Championships in Douai, France. The U.S. squad won silver at the tournament. Batley takes over the spot as Assistant Director of Basketball Operations/Manager, while also continuing graduate studies toward a master's degree in Sports and Leisure Commerce. A 2007 graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Batley comes to Memphis after a year as a graduate manager at Indiana University. Prior to Indiana, the Houston, Texas, native served as a student manager at Oklahoma for two seasons and as a student assistant at Navarro College for three years. For seven summers, Batley worked as an assistant coach/personal assistant at the John Lucas Pre-Draft Camp in Houston. Walberg comes to Memphis as the Assistant to the Recruiting Coordinator/Manager after completing his collegiate playing career at Pepperdine last season. In two seasons in Malibu, Walberg averaged 9.8 points, 2.6 assists and 2.1 rebounds. He played in 22 career games for the Waves and started seven. Before transferring to Pepperdine, the Fresno, Calif., native spent two years (2004-05, 2005-06) at Saint Mary's. In the 2004-05 campaign, Walberg played in all 34 games and made 20 starts. He averaged 4.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in helping lead the Gaels to the NCAA Tournament. Walberg played only four minutes of Saint Mary's NCAA Tournament first-round game versus Southern Illinois, suffering a knee injury that forced him to redshirt the 2005-06 season. Earlier in the 2004-05 season, Walberg scored 11 points in an 81-66 loss to Memphis in the Coaches vs. Cancer semifinal in New York City. Walberg earned his bachelor's degree in Communications from Saint Mary's in 2006 and his master's degree in Educational Technology from Pepperdine in 2007. The Tigers' grand-opening to the 2008-09 season - Memphis Madness - is scheduled for Oct. 17 at FedExForum. |
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| 08/26/08 | |
Three More Tigers Land On National Award Watch Lists -- Pearce and McDonald are candidates for the Lombardi Award, while Reagan is up for the Lou Groza Award (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - Three more Memphis Tigers are receiving recognition on national award watch lists, including the Rotary Lombardi Award and the Lou Groza Award. Senior defensive lineman Clinton McDonald and senior offensive lineman Brandon Pearce are both on the Lombardi Award Watch List, while junior kicker Matt Reagan is again on the preseason Lou Groza Award Watch List. These three Tigers join center Philip Beliles who was announced as a member of the Rimington Trophy Watch List last week. The 39th annual Rotary Lombardi Award, presented by Wachovia, honoring the top lineman in the Football Bowl Subdivision and benefiting the American Cancer Society, will be presented in Houston on Dec. 10. Down lineman on either side of the ball, including tight ends, and linebackers who line up within five yards of the ball are eligible for consideration from the Rotary Lombardi Selection Committee. This committee is comprised of more than 500 members, including all past winners and finalists, all Football Bowl Subdivision head coaches and a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. McDonald, a native of Jacksonville, Ark., was selected as a permanent captain last season as a junior. He started all 13 games on the defensive front, and has played in 37 straight games. In 2007, he led the team in TFL with 9.5 for minus 31 yards. He also registered a team-high four sacks for minus 22 yards and ranked fifth on the team in tackles with 55. Pearce, a native Memphian, was named to the All-C-USA Preseason team by league coaches this summer. He was part of an offensive line that led C-USA in fewest sacks allowed with 14 for the fourth-straight year and ranked 10th nationally, while also paving the way for a Tiger offense that ranked 13th nationally in passing offense and 23rd in total offense. He started all 13 games at right tackle in 2007, and has started 33 of his 36 career games for the Tigers. The Lou Groza Award, which is sponsored by the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, is presented to the nation's top kicker. The 30 kickers on the Lou Groza Award Watch List were chosen based on statistics from the 2007 season and 2008 preseason expectations. Weekly, beginning Sept. 8, the award recognizes the three outstanding kickers of the week based on the previous week's play. Accomplishments are tabulated throughout the season and the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award announces its 20 semi-finalists on Nov. 11. From this list, a panel of over 300 experts selects the top three finalists for the award by Nov. 26. That same group then selects the national winner which will be announced on Dec. 11 during the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show broadcast live from Orlando. Reagan, of Knoxville, Tenn., was twice named the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week in 2007. He led the Tigers in scoring with 80 points, and averaged 6.2 points per game. For the year, he hit 15 of his 22 field goal attempts and converted 35 of his 38 PATs. He finished the season ranked fourth in C-USA in field goals made per game and ninth in scoring by kickers. Reagan, who hit multiple field goals in four games, finished the season tied for 60th nationally in field goals. In just two seasons in a Tiger uniform, Reagan ranks 13th all-time in scoring with 141 points. |
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| 08/26/08 | |
No room for more injuries on Tiger line -- Rapidly dwindling depth worries West (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Tuesday, August 26, 2008 He'd barely finished re-adjusting his offensive line to account for several preseason camp injuries when yet another linemen hobbled off the field. University of Memphis coach Tommy West is accustomed to dealing with injuries -- they are a part of the preseason -- but he was hoping the rash of setbacks would subside after losing left guard Terrence Echols and his backup, Michael Denning, within days of one another. Then reserve centers Lionel Henderson (foot) and Ronald Leary (ankle) were sidelined last week. And in a workout last Friday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, starting left tackle Brent Todd limped off the artificial turf playing surface near the conclusion of practice. The developments have left West with no margin for (additional) injury as the Tigers prepare for Saturday's season-opener at Ole Miss. Kickoff is 6 p.m. ''The good thing is it's not a 1 o'clock game,'' West said. ''Being 6 o'clock, at least it will be a little bit cooler. ''Normally, offensive lineman play a lot of plays. You don't sub as much there. But the scary thing for us right now is if we get an injury or two in the game, then we are really getting depleted.'' West has other understandable concerns as the Tigers open their eighth season with him at the helm. Quarterback Arkelon Hall, a junior college transfer from California, will be playing in his first game at the Division 1-A level. Tailback Curtis Steele, also a junior college transfer, will be stepping into the starting role after sitting out last season as a redshirt. ''They haven't been on this stage before,'' West said. And defensively, West will be hoping a defense that ranked among the nation's worst last season -- 103rd rushing and 100th overall -- will play like the unit he observed during the preseason camp, a group that did a better job ''chasing the ball'' and played with more intensity. ''I'm looking forward to watching them play,'' West said. ''I think they've come a long way in a short period of time. We'll see how they do when they get up against somebody else.'' But his main concern is the depth of an offensive line that has been ranked among the nation's best in sack denial since 2005. The Tigers ranked third (only nine sacks allowed) in 2005 and have been ranked in the top 10 each of the past two seasons. ''The hard thing has been not having guys out there (at the same),'' West said. ''I think there are two groups that need to play together and that's the offensive line and the secondary. They've got to kind of feed off each other a little bit. ''Our offensive line has not been intact. Still, we can't use that as a crutch. We've got to play well there.'' Memphis, which earned a New Orleans Bowl berth a year ago, opened preseason camp touting an offensive line with veterans: seniors Brandon Pearce, Philip Beliles and Todd, along with juniors Echols and Malcom Rawls. ''I know that Echols and Denning will not be available for this game,'' West said. ''And then Brent Todd hurt his foot and is day-to-day right now. Ron Leary and Lionel Henderson, I'm waiting to hear (on their status). I'll know more (today) and Wednesday if we'll get them back. ''I'm concerned. I think we'll be OK with our five starters, but I'm really concerned from a depth standpoint at that position.'' In last year's game, the Tigers ran a school-record 96 plays, a test for the most fit and healthy of offensive lines. ''Hopefully, we're going to run 80 to 90 plays in the game if our tempo is good,'' West said. To add depth to the offensive line before the injuries hit, West moved Henderson, a redshirt freshman from Mobile, Ala., to the offensive line in the spring. Jenkins, a sophomore and a former Mississippi State signee, made the same transition during the fall. ''Thank goodness we've done that,'' West said of moves of Henderson and Jenkins. ''Everyone has these injuries and you just hope they don't all (happen) at one position. But you've got to move on. You've got to play with what you've got out there.'' Filling in for Echols and Denning will be Dominik Riley, a sophomore who started at left guard last season. ''We're gonna be OK,'' West said. ''We're gonna get all these guys back in a short period of time. It's just not going to be for this game . . . and it's a fairly important game.'' |
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| 08/26/08 | |
Memphis-Ole Miss notebook (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Scott Cacciola (Contact) and Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Tuesday, August 26, 2008 Secure at safety Josh Weaver's stay at safety has been extended. University of Memphis coach Tommy West said Weaver, who entered camp as a linebacker, will remain at safety. Weaver missed most of preseason camp recovering from spring shoulder surgery, and when he returned to practice last week he was relocated again. Weaver, who played defensive end his first two seasons, gives the position some needed depth. Upon making the move, West said he would ''train'' Weaver (6-3, 210 pounds) at safety for three days. ''I'm going to leave him there right now,'' West said. ''He picks up things quick. He does a good job. ''Josh is (210) pounds and he's really fast. And he's back pretty quick from that type of surgery, and I thought putting him at safety might help the wear and tear on that type shoulder surgery. (I thought) the further we moved him from the line of scrimmage, probably the less stress on his shoulder.'' West said he expects Weaver to be ''100 percent healthy'' in about three weeks. Furr on the field Defensive back DeRon Furr will practice with the University of Memphis for the first time today since transferring from Auburn. Furr, a 6-3, 217-pound freshman, enrolled at Auburn in January after graduating early from high school and participated in spring workouts. Furr attended the start of Auburn's preseason camp, but was involved in an altercation on the first day of practice and later announced his intentions to transfer. Family members said Furr was not leaving Auburn because of the fight, but because of his familiarity with Memphis defensive coordinator Tim Walton and his reputation for developing defensive backs. Furr, also recruited by Miami, Florida State and Georgia Tech, will have four years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2009. He has to sit out this season per NCAA transfer rules, but is allowed to practice. School day Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt gave his team Monday off from practice. It was the first day of fall classes. "They were only supposed to come over here if there was treatment involved," he said. "Otherwise, enjoy the day as a student, sit in the first three rows, turn in your homework, all those things." D-line play delightful Depth at defensive line, once thought to be one of Ole Miss' strengths, has become a concern because of injury woes. Junior defensive end Greg Hardy will be sidelined for at least another four weeks after undergoing foot surgery, and senior defensive tackle Peria Jerry underwent arthroscopic knee surgery last week. But Nutt sounded optimistic about the way his younger players have performed during camp. "I feel pretty good about our defensive line, as far as where we are and how good of shape we're in," Nutt said. "The second group has come a long way, especially the last seven or eight days. I think Jerrell Powe has come a long way. Everybody asks about him. He's been away from football a long time. He's gotten in better shape and improved." Powe, a freshman defensive tackle, sat out the last three seasons as he sought academic eligibility. Nutt has him listed on the second-team depth chart. Rebel gone wild? At Arkansas, Nutt was known for employing the "Wild Hog" on occasion, a formation that featured running back Darren McFadden taking the snap under center. At Ole Miss, Nutt has slotted junior wide receiver Dexter McCluster in the "Wild Rebel" during preseason practices. Nutt was asked whether the play was ready for game situations. "I don't know if I should answer that," he said, smiling. "I've got to have an advantage on that deal just a little. We're still working on it. I think it's a good formation." He paused. "I'd rather just hold it and see," he said. "I don't want to answer that." Do I hear $500? The Sixth Tiger Classic Reception and Auction will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Holiday Inn on the UofM campus. Among the items to be auctioned include dinner for eight with Tommy West, a Tiger men's basketball trip to Puerto Rico and the opportunity to be an assistant coach for one game with Tiger men's basketball coach John Calipari. All proceeds go to the Tiger Scholarship Fund. |
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| 08/25/08 | |
From My Seat: Memphis Football ‘08 -- A Higher Standard (Memphis Flyer) |
| AUGUST 25, 2008 - 09:53 AM Frank Murtaugh As Year Eight of the Tommy West era at the University of Memphis kicks off this Saturday, the words "Tommy West era" seem more appropriate than they once did. Now the dean of Conference USA coaches, West has three more seasons under his belt at Memphis than any of his 11 C-USA counterparts can claim at their current institutions. (And how about this for U of M stability: no school in C-USA or the SEC has had the same football and men's basketball coach as long as the eight years Memphis has had West and John Calipari in charge.) The catch, though, in evaluating West's growing legacy for the Tiger program is that he has yet to win a conference title or to even reach the C-USA championship game. Of course, with all the turnover in this "mid-major" league, UCF's George O’Leary -- coach of last year's champs -- is the only current coach who has had his hands on the trophy. West -- and anyone associated with the Tiger team -- would like to see matters change in 2008. Having taken the program to four bowl games in five years (twice the number Memphis had seen in its history prior to his arrival), West recognizes a league championship as the necessary next step in closing the gap between a perennial C-USA contender and the big boys that compete for national championships. Says West, "I want to have this program positioned so if we get in a BCS conference, we don't struggle for five or six years; we're ready to compete." A victory in Oxford this Saturday would be a stride or two in that direction. Sure to be energized by the arrival of former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt, Ole Miss will treat the Tigers like SEC teams always have: as the snot-nosed cousin begging for a backyard brawl, but hopelessly underweight. The Rebels, though, are not expected to contend in the SEC's top-heavy western division, so the underweight cousins will consider Vaught-Hemingway Stadium a staging ground for their own launch party. Tiger fans will get their first glimpse of Arkelon Hall, the junior-college transfer West insists is a pass-first quarterback, one blessed with a receiving corps that could be the envy of C-USA. Mobile for a big guy (6'3", 220), Hall will supplement a green backfield led by transfers Curtis Steele and Charlie Jones. But his primary responsibility will be finding an open receiver among the pack led by juniors Duke Calhoun and Carlos Singleton and seniors Earnest Williams, Steven Black, and Maurice Jones. An experienced offensive line -- led by preseason All-C-USA pick Brandon Pearce at tackle -- should keep Hall's adjustment to Division I-A football relatively free of grass stains. (Memphis allowed but 14 sacks a year ago, and hasn’t allowed as many as 15 sacks since 2003.) West says his chief concern is his defensive backfield. Memphis was ninth in pass defense among C-USA teams last season and will face an early test when Rice comes to the Liberty Bowl -- with all-conference quarterback Chase Clement and wideout Jarett Dillard -- on September 6th. With four seniors in the secondary mix (Brandon Patterson, Tony Bell, Michael Grandberry, and LeRico Mathis), experience may reduce the big-play susceptibility that kept West's teeth grinding last year. West considers UCF the team to beat in C-USA's East division. (The Knights were picked to play Tulsa for the league championship in the preseason coaches' poll.) So circle November 22nd on your calendar, Tiger fans. Any visit to Oxford is a big game for the Memphis Tigers. UAB, Louisville (prime time, Friday night!), and Southern Miss are always grinders. But if a league championship has become the top priority for the dean of Conference USA coaches, beating the champs is the top challenge for 2008. "I want to coach until I can't compete anymore," says West. "And I want to win a championship here. That was my goal when we started. I want to see that through." |
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| 08/25/08 | |
Coach Tommy West Press Luncheon Quotes - August 25, 2008 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Opening Remarks It is good to be back. I think we have had a good camp. I feel that offensively we have definitely made progress during camp. My only concern is the fact that it will be Arkelon Hall's first big-time NCAA game at the quarterback position. Curtis Steele, our running back, will be experiencing his first NCAA game as well. Charlie Jones has played Division I football before at the University of Miami. We are concerned about seeing improvement in our running game this season. I don't want to be here three or four weeks into the season talking about how we need to get better running the ball. We went from 130 yards-per-game last year to 160 yards-a-game last year. We just want to continue to take the next step move that up to 180 or 190 yards-per-game. If we do that, combined with our passing game, it should make this offense as good or better than any offense we have had since we have been here. Defensively, we definitely got better as camp progressed. We were chasing the ball better, and we have been playing quite a bit harder on defense. I'm looking forward to watching the defense play. Our strength should be our depth on the defensive line. We are going to try and play two deep on the D-Line and maybe three deep inside, for the purpose of trying to keep our guys fresh. The defense has come a long way in a short period of time, since we began camp a few weeks ago. We will see how they do when they get up against another team. Third down is definitely still a concern, it is important to stop opportunities to get the ball back in the hands of the offense. We have definitely seen some improvement in our third down defense since the start of camp. Can you talk about the challenges of getting ready to face Houston Nutt's Mississippi squad? Nutt ran a different system that consisted of a lot of different players while he was at Arkansas. What do you have to do to prepare for Ole Miss? Offensively, it is a bit of a crap shoot. It is a little bit hard to judge since last year Nutt had the backs like Felix Jones and Darren McFadden at Arkansas. So I am sure he did some things with his offense to accommodate the fact that he had such good running backs. Now, he has the quarterback (Jevan Snead), that sounds like is a really good player for them. We just have to be ready for anything they throw at us. You have to kind of feel your way and adjust our defense for whatever they are doing as the game goes on. Defensively, we aren't watching much tape of Arkansas, but we have definitely been diving into Arkansas' offensive game film. Offensively, it is a little bit hard to judge. On the defensive side of things, we have been watching South Carolina game film, since that is where Tyrone Nix was at before he became the Defensive Coordinator at Ole Miss. What is the scouting report on Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead? I don't know him and I really don't have any way to know him. I watched their spring game on television. I am sure he is an outstanding player. How has the rivalry changed with Houston Nutt as the coach, as opposed to Ed Orgeron? I don't really think that it has changed that much. I like the game. It is easy for our fans to get to Oxford, but this will be the next to the last game that we play against Ole Miss. I politicked as much as I can to keep this game, but I don't have that much pull. I think that it is a really good game to have on our schedule. At times, I know Ole Miss doesn't like to call it a rivalry game, but we fill the stadium any place we play. It had been an ESPN game, which is what you look for. We are 2-3 in the last five games that we have played against Ole Miss. The three losses were four points, three points and two points. They have been great games, fun games to watch. It has been proven that win or lose, the game doesn't disrupt your season. We have won this game before and Ole Miss went on to win 10 games and they have beat us and we went on to win nine games. So it is a game that doesn't make or break your season. Would you prefer to play this game as the second or third game on your schedule, opposed to the first? Not really. I am just fine playing Ole Miss as our first game of the season. It is both teams' opening game. Everybody says you should play a 1-AA team for a warm-up game, but I like the prospect of going out and playing some tough competition right out of the gate. We know that we will have to play well. We can't do like we did a year ago. We can't give the game away with six turnovers and a blocked punt for a touchdown. You know you have to play well. You know you have to be fundamentally sound. I like starting out with a game like that where you have to be ready to go from day one. With all the games being so close last year, do you feel that you have to work on end of game situations more, especially with the new clock rules? For us, we are lucky because the new clock rules are not going to affect us at all because we are a no-huddle offense. We have put a clock on our scrimmages and we are snapping the ball with 20 seconds remaining on the clock. We will be fine, clocks are not going to effect us as much as the teams who have to make substitutions and get in the huddle, as well. We try to play a fast, up-tempo game. Do you have in your mind yet when you would like to put Will Hudgens in to the game at quarterback? There are certainly going to be situations where Will comes into the game. However, right now, as far as putting Will in as the quarterback for the third series, I'm not thinking that way right now. Arkelon is our quarterback and I am comfortable with that situation. Will is going to play. There will be situations, some third down opportunities and some fourth down opportunities where we might put Will into the game. I want to see Arkelon do well. I will pull Arkelon if he is struggling and I can see that it is getting to him. It is very comforting having a guy like Will who has a lot of game experience. Will has been there and he has done it before. How do you think Arkelon (Hall) has handled being the starting quarterback and what have you done to help him out? Like any rookie quarterback, we aren't going to throw everything out there in the first series. I would like to try to help him get things started. Normally, if they have some success early, our wideouts can take some of the pressure off of him. Arkelon is a strong armed guy who won't have to make a lot of plays for us. If he can get the ball in the right places, our receivers will make plays for him. The big thing will be if we can run the ball some to take even more pressure off of Arkelon and the receivers. That would be the perfect scenario for us. |
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| 08/25/08 | |
Memphis Men's Soccer Blog -- Senior captain Robert Sausaman will be making blog updates throughout the 2008 season (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Robert Sausaman, a senior defender for the Memphis men's soccer squad, will be commenting on his experiences in his last season as a member of the Tiger soccer team throughout the 2008 season, giving the fans some insight into what goes into being a member of the Memphis Tigers men's soccer team.
Sausaman, along with his five fellow seniors, was named a team captain for the 2008 season. He hails from Gainesville, Fla., and has been a key member of Richie Grant's U of M soccer program for the past three seasons. Sausaman is also a standout in the classroom. He was named to the NSCAA/Adidas Scholar All-South Region Second Team as a junior. Following his sophomore season, Sausaman was named to the CoSIDA Academic All-District IV Team.
Look for Sausaman to continue to be an important part of the Tigers' defensive backfield in 2008, along with fellow seniors Michael Coburn and Thomas Hyland and junior Rick Alleman.
Check the following link to view Robert Sausaman's first blog entry for the 2008 season written concerning the Tigers' exhibition road trip to St. Louis, Mo., where they faced the NSCAA Preseason 19th-ranked Saint Louis Billikens. http://gotigersgo.cstv.com/ot/blog-08-sausaman.html |
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| 08/25/08 | |
Women's Soccer Player Selected to Attend Training Camp for National Team -- Julia Ignacio chosen to tryout for Canadian national team (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. - The University of Memphis women's soccer team notched its first victory of the season Friday night against Arkansas-Little Rock. On a great opening weekend for the Lady Tigers, they also lose one of their starters from Friday night's opener. Freshman forward Julia Ignacio returned to Canada over the weekend to participate in a training camp for the U-17 Canadian National Team. Forty of Canada's best U-17 soccer players have been assembled for a training camp beginning on Aug. 24 and running through Sept. 1. Eighteen players from the pool will be selected at the tryout to comprise a team that will represent Canada in the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in New Zealand from Oct. 28 through Nov. 16. "It feels phenomenal," stated Ignacio on receiving an opportunity to represent her country. "It is a tremendous honor and I am proud to be representing Canada." If Ignacio is selected to the Canadian team, she will participate in a series of additional training camps with her new squad and then compete the U-17 World Cup. She would be practicing and competing with the Canadian team throughout the entirety of the Memphis women's soccer season and would receive a redshirt for her freshman year. Memphis head coach Brooks Monaghan is excited for Ignacio and her opportunity "I think it's a great honor, not only for her, but our entire program to have someone representing their country on an international level," Monaghan said. "Anytime a kid gets an opportunity to represent their country it is definitely something very special. We are in full support of her going. Our hopes for her are that she gets picked for the World Cup team. There are kids that dream of that, and there just aren't that many people that get that opportunity. We're ecstatic for her and we wish her the best and I'm sure she will do well." Despite leaving less than a month after her arrival in the Bluff City, Ignacio talked about how she likes being at the University of Memphis. "It feels awesome to be a Memphis Tiger," Ignacio stated. "Coach Monaghan is a tremendous coach who knows his stuff. I have learned a lot even in the short time that I have been here. All the girls are incredibly nice. I feel like if I had gone to a different university that I wouldn't get the same treatment." Canada, the final team to qualify for the 2008 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup New Zealand, have been paired with the hosts, Colombia and Denmark in Group A of the tournament. |
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| 08/25/08 | |
Tiger offensive lineman happy to be back home -- Malcom Rawls didn't fit in at Knoxville, but will start vs. Rebels (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Dan Wolken (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Monday, August 25, 2008 Malcom Rawls always heard that college was supposed to be the best time of his life. But when the East High product arrived at the University of Tennessee in 2005, he could tell immediately that something was wrong. "I realized early that I didn't really like it," Rawls said. "I was in Knoxville, and I wasn't happy." One of the top offensive linemen to come out of this area along with Ole Miss' Michael Oher, Rawls knew something had to change. But he also knew that doing what was in his heart -- transferring to the University of Memphis -- would likely begin a long climb back into the spotlight. On Saturday, Rawls will complete the journey when he starts for the Tigers at right guard against Ole Miss. "It's good to come back home and be a part of it," Rawls, now a junior, said. "I get to represent Memphis, and that's a big deal to me." Much has changed for Rawls since he chose Tennessee over Memphis and a number of other Southeastern Conference schools three years ago. Once focused on engineering as his major, he's now studying Spanish. Once a can't-miss prospect, he's now fighting to establish himself as a legitimate college player. But coach Tommy West believes one thing hasn't changed: The talent that was so evident to recruiters from some of the top programs in the country. "Malcom has a lot of ability, a lot of God-given talent," West said. "The thing that's holding him back right now is a conditioning level. He's got to get his conditioning to a level where he can play at a pace for a period of time. If he does that, he can be an outstanding player. Right now he can play three or four plays as good as anybody, but he gets tired after that." Memphis, however, will be as patient as possible with Rawls' conditioning because his potential to make an impact is so promising. Listed at 6-foot-5, 315 pounds, Rawls fits perfectly into West's desire to get bigger on the offensive line in recent years. But West also wants to play an up-tempo game on offense, which could test Rawls' staying power. As a backup last season, Rawls was on the field for 56 snaps against Rice as a replacement for the injured Dominik Riley but played sporadically in the other eight games he participated in. "It's just keeping him fresh. (If he's tired), we'll put somebody else in," West said. "I think mentally he's fine with our system." Rawls' mental strength has always been one of his biggest attributes. He turned down opportunities in high school to play at prestigious prep schools in the Northeast and was recruited by most of the academically elite Division 1 football powers. During the recruiting process, in fact, Rawls said his top two choices were Notre Dame and Stanford. But as fate would have it, the coaches at both schools -- Tyrone Willingham and Buddy Teevens, respectively -- were fired before signing day. So when Rawls settled on Tennessee, it was not based on enthusiasm as much as process of elimination. "I just never liked Knoxville," he said. "It was a difficult adjustment, not liking the city. Coming out of high school my major was civil engineering, and I jumped right into some difficult classes, physics, calculus and trying to learn the playbook. It was a difficult adjustment." Rawls commiserated often during his redshirt year with defensive tackle Dan Williams, his friend and former teammate at East, who was also struggling to adjust. While Williams stuck it out at Tennessee and has had a successful career, Rawls decided to come home. Though it's taken three years to become a Division 1 starter, Rawls said it's been worth the wait. "I tell people every time I can that I love it here," he said. "I just have to work hard and continue to go over plays, talk to offensive line coach (Rick) Mallory. If you listen to the coaches, they have so much experience they'll prepare you. Everything they ask, I try to do it to the best of my ability. That's the best way to get on the field here." |
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| 08/24/08 | |
Memphis continues to find talent that didn't crack recruiting lists (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Sunday, August 24, 2008 When Duke Calhoun completed an outstanding prep football career in 2006, the season was far from over for the Raleigh-Egypt star. The competition simply took on a different form. Ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the state by Rivals.com -- and the nation's 33rd-ranked wide receiver -- college scholarship offers and phone calls were coming in at a furious pace. Calhoun was pursued heavily by Ole Miss. Tennessee offered. So did Arkansas. His signature on a National Letter of Intent was considered the prize of the Memphis recruiting class, much like that of running back DeAngelo Williams four years earlier. But for every Duke Calhoun and DeAngelo Williams who has chosen the UofM, there are those whose stars don't shine as brightly in high school, whose cell phones don't ring as often, whose names don't populate college message boards and recruiting Web sites. They chose Memphis when few were interested in choosing them. During the past several seasons, they have developed into key contributors, complementing the high-profile signees and helping the Tigers become a postseason regular. For a non-BCS program like Memphis, the evaluations of those 'under-the-radar' prospects must be on target for the Tigers to succeed. When the Tigers open their season Saturday night at Ole Miss, several of those formerly unsung prospects are expected to play key roles. Carlos Singleton, a 6-9, 220-pound receiver from Brownsville, Tenn., returns for his junior season after leading the team with 11 touchdown receptions. Brandon Pearce, a 6-6, 290-pound offensive tackle from Memphis, returns for his senior season having grown into one of Conference USA's most decorated linemen. Brandon Patterson, a 6-1, 195-pound defensive back from Germantown, returns for his senior season -- his third straight as a starter -- after tying for the team lead in interceptions (three). And center Philip Beliles and tight end Brett Russell, two former Christian Brothers High standouts, also are back for their final season, Beliles as a candidate for a national offensive lineman honor and Russell as an honorable mention all-conference player. ''We got a lot of those guys,'' Tiger coach Tommy West said. ''I don't want to hurt any of our guys' feelings, but we've got a lot of those guys that nobody really wanted. ''I love that. It doesn't matter to me. I always say you can get all fired up about recruiting, but evaluating is more important. Don't worry about who you don't get, make sure the ones you do get can play.'' Pearce, who should have an opportunity to play at the next level, said he was flattered to be considered a prospect -- by anyone -- as he entered the final year of high school. He didn't project himself to be what he has become. ''Brandon Pearce was 240 pounds coming out of high school,'' offensive coordinator Clay Helton said. ''Coach (West) saw the athleticism, he saw his frame and he saw his work ethic, saw he was a smart guy. He said, 'You know what? If we redshirt this guy, then a couple of years down the road we're going to have something really, really special at tackle.' You look up, and I wouldn't trade him for any tackle in our league.'' Patterson said Eastern Michigan and Navy expressed interest in him, but the only BCS school to show him some attention was Arkansas. ''I wasn't highly recruited in high school,'' Patterson said. Patterson considered Eastern Michigan's offer because they wanted the former Germantown High quarterback to play the position in high school. But he picked Memphis because they had shown interest for the longest time. ''I really liked the coaching staff,'' Patterson said. ''I really liked coach West. I believed in him. When I got here I've tried to work hard every year to be the best I possibly can.'' Singleton was, by his own admission, attracting more doubters than believers in high school. College recruiters weren't certain a tall, thin, lanky basketball star would be able to handle the rigors of college football. There were no offers from BCS programs. Arkansas State and Middle Tennessee were among his suitors. ''When you start going through it, we've got guys that weren't necessarily household names (coming out of high school),'' West said. ''Everybody goes off these star(-rating)s. We've got guys that didn't have any stars. They weren't even on (recruiting) lists, but they are good players for us.'' Singleton, a nightmare for defensive backs in the red zone, will enter the season having made at least one reception in 21 straight games. In his final four regular-season games last fall, he averaged five catches and 95 yards per game and scored seven touchdowns, including the game-winner at Southern Miss on a 52-yard reception with 64 seconds left. ''On signing day I said 'I love this guy,''' West said of Singleton. ''But he was a guy that I said will be one of the biggest busts ever, or he'll be a guy that everyone plays against and says, 'Man, I want one of those like Memphis has.' ''Those were my exact words on signing day. And he's become a guy that everyone we play against would like to have ... or someone just like him.'' Singleton said he was intent on playing football in college, although few recruiters believed he'd follow through. They thought he was too thin. ''To be able to see a skinny basketball player and have him come to camp and have coach West have the foresight to realize if this guy buys into the weight room in a couple of years, he's got incredible ball skills,'' Helton said. ''What a tremendous weapon this guy could be. Coach is one of the best evaluators of talent I've ever seen.'' West said he and his staff thought Beliles and Russell had ''great upsides'' too. Beliles worked his way into the starting lineup late during his sophomore year. Russell will be a starter for his fourth straight year. ''It's turned out (Beliles is) a dang good college center,'' West said. ''And I thought Brett Russell could be exactly what we wanted in this offense, because he could run, he could catch and as he became a little bit bigger he'd be able to block. He had good feet." As long as the UofM is competing for talent mainly in the Southeast -- a hotbed for recruiting, especially for the Southeastern Conference -- the ability to project what players can become will be a necessity. ''We know what we are looking for to fit our system, and we know the kind of people who do well in our program,'' West said. ''And I think we coach 'em good. I think we coach 'em to be good at what we do and we coach 'em to play great fundamentals. Others may be great at schemes, we try to win with fundamentals. We try to win by not making mistakes and doing things the right way.'' Memphis at Ole Miss When, where: 6 p.m. Saturday at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford TV, radio: No TV, WREC-AM (600), WHBQ-AM (560) Tickets: Call (662) 915-7167 or go to olemisssports.com The grand tour of: Memphis Rewind: Memphis recovered from a 2-4 start to go 5-1 and earn the program's fourth bowl invitation in five years. Quarterback Martin Hankins, who quietly etched his name alongside Danny Wimprine's as the most prolific passer in school history, finished strong to get the Tigers into the New Orleans Bowl. During the UofM's 5-1 second-half run, it defeated Southern Miss in Hattiesburg -- a rarity for the Tigers -- and defeated Tulane at the Superdome in the closing minute. Defensively, the Tigers struggled, and West hired a new defensive coordinator -- the third in three seasons -- after the bowl game loss to Florida Atlantic. Fast forward: The Tigers enter the season with a quarterback, Arkelon Hall, who had a decorated prep career in California, signed with Washington State and transferred to a junior college, where he played last fall. Hall has a quick release, the ability to run and should fit well into the uptempo, no-huddle spread attack. But Hall has yet to take a snap at the NCAA Division 1-A level. The Tiger running game should be strong with newcomers Curtis Steele (a juco transfer) and Charlie Jones (a Miami transfer) and there won't be better receivers in C-USA. Defensively, new coordinator Tim Walton, a former Tiger assistant and Miami's defensive coordinator, is expected to inject a "Swarm and Punish" attitude behind a deep, talented defensive front. Questions remain in the secondary, which was a shortcoming a year ago. |
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| 08/24/08 | |
Circling Conference USA (Commercial Appeal) |
| Best offensive players 1. Jarett Dillard, WR, Rice: Dillard enters the season as the NCAA's active leader in catches, yardage and touchdowns. He has scored a touchdown in 17 of his last 18 C-USA games and his 40 career TD receptions make him one of eight in NCAA history to reach the milestone. 2. Damion Fletcher, RB, Southern Miss: Fletcher, a junior, ranks fourth in Golden Eagle history with 2,974 yards in only two seasons. Fletcher, 5-10 and 175 pounds, set a school record with 1,586 yards last season and has 16 100-yard rushing games in his career. He needs 622 yards to become the program's career rushing leader. 3. Brennan Marion, WR, Tulsa: In his first season in C-USA, Marion earned Newcomer of the Year honors. By averaging 31.9 yards per reception, he also broke a 30-year-old NCAA record for highest average gain per reception. Marion finished with a team-best 1,244 yards on 39 catches and was one of three Golden Hurricane receivers to top 1,000 yards. Best defensive players 1. Phillip Hunt, DE, Houston: A first-team all-conference selection a year ago, Hunt put up numbers one would expect from a rush end. Hunt had 10.5 sacks to lead C-USA, and his 18 tackles for loss ranked second in the league. Active and athletic at 6-2 and 260 pounds, Hunt's 10 pass breakups were tops among the nation's defensive ends. 2. Gerald McRath, LB, Southern Miss: The league's reigning Defensive Player of the Year, McRath was picked as the favorite to repeat according to the league's head coaches. McRath led the conference in tackles (139), a total that included 12 for lost yardage. A preseason candidate for the Lombardi Award, McRath had seven games with 10 or more tackles in 2007, including a career-best 21 against UCF. 3. Albert McClellan, DE, Marshall: The league's defensive player of the year in 2006, McClellan sat out last season with a torn left ACL. When he won the league's defensive award two years ago, McClellan had a conference-best 11 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. Best first-year impact player Charlie Jones, RB, Memphis: Jones spent three seasons playing at the University of Miami, starting seven games and rushing for more than 700 yards and 10 touchdowns. He comes to Memphis via a 2006 rule in which the NCAA grants a waiver to student-athletes who have graduated and enrolled at a school in a graduate program not offered by their previous school. The rule sounds complicated, but the running back isn't. He's a no-nonsense veteran who, at 5-10 and 220 pounds, adds a punishing inside runner to the Tiger backfield to complement Curtis Steele. Best coaches 1. June Jones, SMU: The offseason addition of Jones to Conference USA attracted its share of national attention to the non-BCS league. Jones came to SMU from Hawaii, where he led that non-BCS program to six bowl games, including an appearance in a BCS bowl last season. In nine years at Hawaii, Jones resurrected a downtrodden program, leading it to 76 wins and a top-10 ranking a year ago. 2. Todd Graham, Tulsa: In two seasons as a coach -- one season at Rice, the other at Tulsa -- Graham has led his programs to bowl games. At Rice, it was the first postseason appearance for the Owls in 45 years. In his first season at Tulsa, he directed the Golden Hurricane to their first 10-win season since 1991. 3. Tommy West, Memphis: When West took over a struggling Tiger program in 2001, it hadn't been to the postseason in 30 years. Not only did he snap the string with the team's 2003 New Orleans Bowl appearance, he has taken the Tigers to bowl games in four of the past five years. Coaches on the hot seat 1. Mark Snyder, Marshall: A former player for the Thundering Herd, Snyder came to Huntington, W.Va., in 2005 and has had three straight losing seasons. Last year's three-win season was the first since Sonny Randle's 1982 team went 3-8. It's been difficult for the Marshall fan base, which was accustomed to playing for national championships as a Division 1-AA member (titles in 1992 and 1996) and bowl games upon joining Division 1-A (seven in eight seasons under Bob Pruett from 1997 to 2004). 2. Mike Price, UTEP: Price may have worn out his welcome with an offseason pursuit of the Washington State job. He angered school officials with the move and, coupled with back-to-back losing seasons, may need a rapid turnaround to keep his job. He went 8-4 and to bowl games his first two years, but has gone 5-7 and 4-8 since then. |
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| 08/24/08 | |
U of M's confident new defensive coordinator aims to put teeth back into defense (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Sunday, August 24, 2008 Numbers don't lie and, in some cases, they sting. Last fall, the Tigers ranked near the bottom of the NCAA statistics in several defensive categories, finishing 74th in pass defense, 96th in scoring defense, 100th in total defense and 103rd in rushing defense. In the team's 44-27 bowl loss to Florida Atlantic, the Tigers allowed 30 first-half points and 465 total yards. In a late-season home loss to East Carolina, the Tigers yielded 641 yards, including 301 rushing to future Tennessee Titans back Chris Johnson. Coach Tommy West quickly sought to rectify the situation, bringing in former University of Miami defensive coordinator Tim Walton to replace Rick Kravitz. Once Walton -- who worked under West at Memphis in 2000 when West was Tiger defensive coordinator and 2001 when he was head coach -- became available, West was relentless in his pursuit. ''We're on the same page defensively,'' West said. ''We've always been on the same page. When Tim became available I wasn't going to let him pass me by, because I believe in the guy. We're taking (the defense) to the next step.'' A former defensive back at Ohio State in the early 1990s, Walton, 37, spent two seasons at Memphis as defensive backs coach before making stops at Syracuse, LSU and Miami. When Miami dismissed Walton after last season, West offered Walton the defensive coordinator's job at Memphis for the second straight year. Walton accepted. ''Me and coach West are very close,'' Walton said. 'I learned a lot of football from Coach West. We have the same type of mindset, or approach, to the game. I appreciate the things he taught me when I was here before. ''Even now I'll ask Coach's opinions on a lot of things. We were excellent here when he was running the show.'' There's a confidence Walton exudes when discussing a return to a defensive mindset that existed eight years ago. In 2000, the Tigers ranked first nationally in rush defense and fifth nationally in total defense. During that season, only two Tiger opponents rushed for 100 or more yards. West has said he hired Walton to bring back the swagger that existed on the defensive side in 2000. The players, introduced to Walton last spring, have begun to see how it'll be done. ''Coach Walton came in last spring and made, basically, a 180-degree turn with this defense,'' said defensive tackle Clinton McDonald. ''It wasn't about us getting physically beat on the field as much as it was us getting beat mentally. We weren't prepared. We busted calls, we busted coverages. Coach Walton is going to make us a lot more responsible to ourselves and our teammates.'' The beginnings of the UofM's defensive transformation began nearly two years ago. Four games into the 2006 season, West fired defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn and took over the unit, forgoing the three-man front and installing a 4-3 defense. Memphis will continue to work out of a base 4-3 alignment, but it may look different to Tiger fans this fall. ''People are going to see a group of guys that play hard, play together, have fun and chase the football,'' Walton said. ''It's not about what you do, it's how you do what you do and do it well. ''You can have a good scheme, but if you don't play hard and you can't tackle and can't cover, then all that goes out the window. We're trying to make sure we emphasize those little things and we play like a unit.'' Walton spent four seasons at Miami, the last as coordinator of a unit than ranked 33rd nationally in total defense. In 2005, as the Hurricanes' secondary coach, Miami ranked first nationally in pass defense. In 2004, it ranked ninth. ''What I learned (at Miami) in that role is that you must have great guys around you and guys that buy into the same philosophy, the same approach,'' Walton said. ''Everybody, players and coaches, have to fit in.'' At Memphis, Walton will inherit a defense that ranked 10th in Conference USA in rushing defense and 11th in pass efficiency defense in 2007. West said he felt the defense was better than it played, that it underachieved. ''I enjoy the challenge,'' Walton said. ''I love our guys. I think we have a great group of guys on defense and a great group of coaches. I love working with them. It's fun. They are team guys. They all care about one another. That makes it easy. All we have to do is keep learning fundamentals and everything else will take care of itself.'' Slowed by a digestive disease last spring that required post-spring practice surgery, Walton has recovered. But that doesn't mean he'll be a loud presence on the practice fields at the Murphy Athletic Complex. ''It's easy to go out there and yell when they mess up,'' he said. ''I will get on them. I also try to make sure I do a good job, and our coaches do a good job, of teaching. The better we are as teachers, hopefully the better they'll learn and comprehend what we are trying to get done. ''You want to get to the point where you don't have to yell as much. When you're not yelling as much, things are getting done.'' West has seen enough to know Walton is getting his message across. The team's first scrimmage of preseason camp revealed a defensive unit that will play with greater intensity. ''What I like about Tim is he is going to hold them accountable,'' West said. ''He's going to get in their face when they need that and he's going to hug their neck when they do something good. But he's going to hold everybody on that defense accountable to each other. ''But that's defense. Defense has to play together, they've got to swarm the ball, and chase the quarterback like crazy. Tim is going to bring a confidence and he's not going to be satisfied without them bringing everything they've got.'' West has said on several occasions he's got the two best coordinators -- including Clay Helton on offense -- he's had since becoming a head coach. If the Tiger defense can be as productive as the offense -- Memphis was third in total offense last season in C-USA -- the program can begin to take the next step: competing for the league title and a spot in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. ''Defense is an attitude, too,'' West said. ''That's the big thing. Defensively we didn't have an attitude last year. We didn't have that strut about us. ''You've got to keep believing you are going to make the stops, that you are going to chase the ball like a wild man, and have fun playing the game. That's what we haven't done. That's what we've got to get back to. We've just got to cut it loose and play and have fun playing.'' |
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| 08/24/08 | |
1st and $10 million: Success on the field, spending off the field go hand in hand (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Sunday, August 24, 2008 As the Conference USA football coaches and members of the media settled into their seats at the league's media day last month at The Peabody, C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky briefly addressed the gathering. Banowsky discussed the progress of the league's football programs, pointing out the highly publicized hiring of former Hawaii coach June Jones at SMU, the April NFL Draft that saw several C-USA running backs selected in the early rounds, and the success of relative newcomers Tulsa and UCF, who played for the league title a year ago. Then Banowsky talked about the amount of money C-USA schools have spent on upgrading their football programs during the past decade -- a staggering total approaching $250 million. ''If you don't make those investments, you end up losing ground,'' he said. As the 2008 kickoff approaches, Banowsky's comment has validity. C-USA teams have recognized the connection between investing in their programs and succeeding on the field. UCF, which has spent $68.1 million during the past decade, won the 2007 C-USA title in only its 11th season in Division 1-A. Most of the money was spent on a $54 million on-campus stadium that opened last fall. Tulsa, last year's runnerup, has spent $24 million on the renovation of its on-campus stadium and spent $10 million on the Case Athletic Complex that opened in May 2007. Southern Miss, a perennial bowl participant and former league champion, has spent $37.2 million since 2002, the bulk of which has gone to additions and improvements to its on-campus stadium. And East Carolina, which has gone to back-to-back bowl games under coach Skip Holtz, has spent $19.2 million on football-related improvements since 2000. Another $25 million has been allocated for stadium upgrades to be completed by 2010. Steve Orsini, the athletic director at SMU, held the same position at UCF when its program was getting a major influx of cash for its football program. A 110-yard indoor practice facility, costing $5 million, sits adjacent to UCF's Bright House Networks Stadium. ''It is the first indoor practice facility in the state of Florida,'' Orsini said. ''How about that? It's at Central Florida. And there are practice fields next to the workout facility. It has, so far, paid off dividends.'' Orsini said the benefit to the program, outside of impressing potential recruits, is the fact that football coach George O'Leary can walk outside of his office and, within a minimal number of steps, be at either the stadium, the indoor facility or the practice fields. ''It's a neat complex,'' Orsini said. Orsini said he visited SMU several years before becoming its AD to inspect the Mustangs' on-campus stadium, built for $60 million, and glean ideas for the UCF facility. ''When you show the commitment from an administration and an athletic department, it sends a message to the fan base and the recruits and to the people working at the program that we want to do things the best way possible,'' O'Leary said. ''And at whatever the cost.'' O'Leary said he's not one to ''keep up with the Joneses,'' but as a program, one must always seek ways to make improvements. ''Especially when you are dealing with the student-athletes,'' he said. ''There needs to be bells and whistles, something that catches their eyes when they walk in.'' Memphis, which has spent about $6 million on football-related upgrades since 2000, recently announced plans to add a $3 million weight room to the east end of the Murphy Athletic Complex. The complex was upgraded at a cost of $6 million in 2003, including new meeting rooms, coaches' offices and locker room. There are also plans, as part of a second phase to the weight-room project, to enclose one of the complex's four outdoor practice fields and make it an indoor facility with a turf field. Every program in the league's East Division has built a new weight room since 2003. For Memphis, building a weight room and an indoor practice field will cost $10 million to $12 million. School officials said $1.5 million has been raised toward the $3 million weight-room cost. Former Shelby County mayor Bill Morris, chairman of the weight-room fund-raising campaign, expects to have the money raised by late October. ''I think the next phase is a weight room,'' Tiger coach Tommy West said. ''You have to do that in phases. Obviously, we can't go and get $12 million right now. But there is a plan in place.'' West said to win the East Division of C-USA, such projects as a new weight room are a must. ''We are second in wins and second in bowl games to Southern Miss the past five years on our side (East Division) without being on a level playing field,'' he said. ''Southern has won 35 games and we've won 33. Give us a level playing field ... and we're going to beat them.'' Tiger athletic director R.C. Johnson, who announced the next phase of football improvements at a booster club banquet in early August, understands the need to keep facilities updated. ''I've seen a change over the years in this league,'' Johnson said, regarding the arms race among football programs. ''SMU went out and got June Jones. We've kicked up our coaches' salaries dramatically. Other programs have done so, too. It's a never-ending process.'' Or, as incoming Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora says, noting the Golden Eagles' commitment to football before his arrival: ''If you don't have the financial backing, it's going to be tough for you to be successful.'' |
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| 08/24/08 | |
Three downs and out: Memphis Tigers (Commercial Appeal) |
| -- Phil Stukenborg Tigers will step up if ... 1. New coordinator Tim Walton's defense brings back the unit's ''swagger'' -- as head coach Tommy West terms it -- and allows Memphis to compete with East Carolina and UCF in the C-USA East. 2. The league's top receiving corps -- led by juniors Duke Calhoun and Carlos Singleton and seniors Earnest Williams, Steven Black and Maurice Jones -- takes another leap in production, improving on last year's totals: 225 catches, 3,141 yards, 22 touchdowns. 3. The 1-2 punch of running backs Curtis Steele and Charlie Jones -- and the running ability of quarterback Arkelon Hall -- give the Tigers their best rushing attack since the departure of DeAngelo Williams. Tigers will step down if ... 1. The quarterbacks -- two of the top three have not taken a Division 1-A snap -- struggle to run the spread offense and take advantage of a strong group of receivers. 2. Injuries affect a key position, much like last year at linebacker where starters Winston Bowens and Greg Jackson succumbed to knee problems. 3. The secondary, which struggled a year ago, fails to improve. The unit was exposed in the 44-27 New Orleans Bowl loss to Florida Atlantic, and the U of M pass defense ranked ninth in the 12-team league. |
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| 08/24/08 | |
Coach Speak: Tommy West of Memphis Tigers (Commercial Appeal) |
| Tommy West: 41-44 (.482) in seven seasons at Memphis; 76-79 (.490) in 13 seasons overall Q: You changed your defense two years ago and decided to recruit bigger offensive linemen and dual-threat QBs. What went into those decisions? A: It's a process if you want to build something that will be there and stand the test of time. I don't believe in those one-hit wonders. I don't like 'em. We built this thing a certain way and broke it down to restructure and now we're in the process of getting (closer) to a championship. It's really been kind of fun to watch, to be honest. It was kind of scary two years ago. I really felt we could stay and be a six-, seven- or eight-win team. But I didn't think we'd ever be a 10- or 11-win team. Q: Former quarterback Martin Hankins had a great second half of 2007 throwing the ball, but he wasn't a running quarterback. How important, in this spread offense, are running quarterbacks? A: In what we do, your quarterback has to give you rushing yards, particularly in the red area. That's where we struggled a year ago. A lot of that I attribute to our quarterbacks not being runners. All four of these guys (Arkelon Hall, Will Hudgens, Brett Toney and Tyler Bass) can run ... that's why I'm really optimistic about this offense.'' Q: Much has been said, and written, about the defense's struggles last year, yet you've built depth on the defensive line. How good can your defensive front be? A: I think they've got a chance to be special. I thought a year ago they had a chance to be pretty good. I think they've got a better disposition about them. They were good workers a year ago, but they just weren't tough enough last year. They weren't physical enough up there. I think they are a little bit more physical ... I think we should be much improved. |
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| 08/23/08 | |
Tiger Basketball Notes (Commercial Appeal) |
| To reach reporter Dan Wolken, call 529-2365; e-mail: wolken@commercialappeal.com. Sunday, August 24, 2008 Penny's charity a special case -- U of M roots run deep for local star who made it big The question everybody wanted to ask Thursday was whether Penny Hardaway's $1 million donation to the University of Memphis would trigger a wave of former Tiger athletes giving big money to their alma mater. Don't bet on it. That's no knock, by the way, on the M Club for former athletes or its director, Tim Duncan, who did much of the groundwork on Hardaway's donation. But even within the relatively small group of athletes who have hit it big in their post-Memphis careers, Hardaway is an extremely special case. Just consider his personal story. Growing up in Binghampton, Hardaway's academics were so poor that he barely was allowed into school and had to sit out his first year of college due to NCAA rules. He parlayed his basketball success into an NBA career in which he made more than $100 million and became a Nike superstar with his "Li'l Penny" commercials. And now that he's retired, he is once again calling Memphis home. Whereas Memphis was an eight-month vacation for someone like Derrick Rose, it's deeply personal for Hardaway. That much was evident during the last couple NCAA Tournaments, when Hardaway was easily identified in the stands wearing his letterman's jacket. "I got in (to school) by the skin of my teeth and took advantage of it and came back and did what my grandmother and mom wanted me to do which is to graduate," Hardaway said. "I got my degree, and it's all a dream come true. (Looking at) where I started and where I am now is a blessing from God." In his post-NBA incarnation, Hardaway has almost become a mascot -- famous enough to be easily recognizable as the face of the program but in an accessible way that easily connects his era of prominence in the early 1990s with the current one. "You think of it -- Penny Hardaway," coach John Calipari said. "There's the Andre Turners, the Keith Lees; you have those names, but no one stands out like Penny Hardaway. And he hasn't changed. He's still the shy kid he was when he played here." Hardaway's generosity -- and no doubt, $1 million is generous no matter his personal wealth -- is unlikely to be matched any time soon. Though athletic director R.C. Johnson said he'd "be lying if I didn't hope there was some spinoff," professional athletes are usually hard-pressed to give large donations to their alma maters since they often pursue charitable interests in the towns where they live. That won't stop Memphis from using Hardaway as an example. "I got one in mind," football coach Tommy West quipped, referring to Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams. "He does too. I haven't left him a message, but I'm going to and just let him know what Penny did. That was great. Penny is a class guy. He's great. He's a friend of the program, and he's good to everybody." Eligibility update With classes starting Monday, the Tigers are proceeding ahead with the enrollment of freshmen Angel Garcia and Matt Simpkins, though neither player has been declared eligible yet by the NCAA Clearinghouse. The NCAA is currently in the process of looking at the files of players who had to complete summer work and results are trickling out little by little. Calipari indicated that Garcia's file was probably further along in the pipeline and he felt the skilled 6-foot-11 forward would be "fine." Top preps on display A number of Memphis recruiting targets, including verbal commitment Nolan Dennis, participated in the third Boost Mobile Elite 24 game at Rucker Park in New York on Friday. The inaugural game was the inspiration for the documentary film "Gunnin' For That No. 1 Spot," which prominently featured Memphis freshman Tyreke Evans. Part of the charm of the Boost Mobile game is the narration from the public address announcer, who bestows nicknames on the players. It's where Evans got a couple of his nicknames, "Too Easy" and "Reke Havoc." According to various reports, Tiger recruit John Wall -- the nation's No. 1 player according to Rivals.com -- was branded "Make 'em Fall" and "Ammo." They will be rebroadcast on Monday at 11 p.m. on ESPN2. Other participants of interest to Memphis fans were Abdul Gaddy, Derrick Favors, Dominic Cheek, Karron Johnson, Kenny Boynton, LaQuinton Ross and Tony Wroten Jr. Scheduling Calipari said the Tigers are still looking to add one more non-conference game before they're ready to release the schedule. This is not an uncommon problem in college basketball these days, and Calipari said some programs are still looking for two or three games even at this late date. Scheduling has become so difficult, Calipari said he's gotten a call from "a top-20 team" offering to play at Memphis this season for a guaranteed payday without requiring the Tigers to return the favor-- the kind of deal Memphis would normally do with schools like Arkansas State or Jackson State. Calipari wouldn't reveal which team had made that offer because he's still not sure whether to pass and look for an easier game. Memphis' concern, at this point, is over-loading the schedule early in the season given the relative youth and inexperience of the roster. New home Interesting note last week from The Republican, a newspaper in Western Massachusetts: Former Tiger assistant and new UMass head coach Derek Kellogg has purchased the home of his predecessor in Amherst. According to documents with the Registry of Deeds, Kellogg recently bought a 3,135 square-foot home from Travis Ford for $755,000. Ford left UMass to take the Oklahoma State job. It wasn't so long ago that Kellogg and I were practically neighbors in an apartment complex downtown scratching out rent checks. Congrats to Kellogg, his wife, Nicole, and new son Maximus Antonio, whose middle name was chosen in honor of San Antonio, since he was born just days after the Final Four. |
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| 08/23/08 | |
Preseason Camp Wrapup (Memphis Edge) |
| Posted by Phil Stukenborg The Tigers broke camp Saturday after a workout at Christian Brothers High School. It’s been a camp filled with too many injuries (losses at left guard of starter Terrence Echols and backup Michael Denning to MCL sprains; hamstring problems for junior college transfer running back Gregory Ray; hyperextended elbow for cornerback Michael Grandberry; shoulder injury for juco transfer defensive lineman Tim McGee and continued rehab from offseason surgery for running back T.J. Pitts and linebacker/defensive back Josh Weaver). But preparations continue for the season and Saturday’s season-opener at Ole Miss. Here’s a quick recap of preseason camp: MUST BE THE FEET: Speaking of injuries, Tiger coach Tommy West said his team has been beset by foot injuries, with a number of people spending various amounts of time in protective boots, among them receiver Steven Black and defensive tackle Freddie Barnett. “We’re having a lot of those for some reason,” West said. Black has returned to practice and Barnett should be ready Tuesday when the team reconvenes for Ole Miss preparations. WHEN WILL T.J. PLAY? It’s a question West was asked once every several days as junior running back T.J. Pitts was unable to practice. Pitts did not practice once during camp. Instead he spent time on the sidelines rehabbing from three ankle surgeries following a broken ankle in the New Orleans Bowl. So when will he return? “It’s hard to put a time on T.J. I know he’s better now than when we started practicing. But I don’t know. I don’t anticipate him playing in the opening game. I hope to have him back by the third game.” MOST TELLING CONCERN: West is concerned about an offensive line that was considered a strength entering preseason camp, but has been hampered by injuries. In addition to Echols and Denning, several others are battling minor problems. “I’m concerned about it right now, I really am. I hope to get some people back. (Ronald) Leary and Lionel Henderson (are hurt), Brent Todd hurt his foot (Friday).” MOST IMPRESSIVE VETERAN OF THE CAMP (OFFENSE): Tiger offensive lineman Brandon Pearce, who not only brought focus and intensity each session, but displayed vocal leadership, too. MOST IMPRESSIVE VETERAN OF THE CAMP (DEFENSE): Tiger defensive lineman Clinton McDonald, who brought the same tangibles to the defensive front. MOST IMPRESSIVE NEWCOMER (OFFENSE): Tiger true freshman receiver Marcus Rucker, who attended Whitehaven High, put together his own highlight film during the three-week session. MOST IMPRESSIVE NEWCOMER(S) (DEFENSE): Defensive backs Clay Lee, a freshman from Orlando, and D.A. Griffin, a transfer from Itawamba (Miss.) Community College, showed up repeatedly in scrimmages and practices. FUNNIEST STORY OF PRESEASON CAMP: West was asked about juco transfer Tim McGee’s scheduled MRI during the final week of camp. Said West: “Believe it or not, they first couldn’t do the MRI because they couldn’t fit him in there. His shoulders were too big. Then they took him to an open MRI and he’s so big they couldn’t get a read on his (shoulder). Now we’re going to do a test where they put dye in him.” BEST EXCHANGE OF THE CAMP: West was joking with reporters after a late-week practice at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium about always having questions, but never any answers. He was asking if the media had any strength-and-conditioning tips for preventing foot injuries: “You guys are no help whatsoever. You’ve just got questions, you ain’t got any answers. I want your job.” Reporter: Can we get your salary? West: No . . . that was a good one. I liked that. SECOND-BEST EXCHANGE OF THE CAMP: West commented on Penny Hardaway’s $1 million donation to the school Thursday that will go toward the constructions of an athletic Hall of Fame and Hardaway’s class. And then he was asked if knew of anyone who had played for him at the U of M (see: DeAngelo Williams) that would be so inclined to give back: “I got one in mind. I haven’t left him a message, but I’m going to and left him know what Penny did. (DeAngelo’s) tight now. But I still have some things I can probably threaten him with.” THIRD-BEST EXCHANGE OF THE CAMP: West, after being told the Ole Miss Rebels seem to lose a defensive lineman at the same rate the Tigers are losing offensive linemen: “That’s awful nice of them . . . I appreciate that.” |
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| 08/23/08 | |
No. 19 Saint Louis Defeats Memphis in Exhibition Match, 2-0 -- Michael Goodlett and the Memphis Tigers held the Billikens scoreless for the first 62 minutes of the contest (GoTigersGo.com) |
| ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The Memphis men's soccer team finished off their 2008 exhibition season with a 2-0 loss to the NSCAA Preseason No. 19 ranked Saint Louis Billikens. The Tigers finish the exhibition season with a mark of 1-1, after defeating Christian Brothers University last weekend, 4-2. "I think it is fair to say that the better team won the match today," Head Coach Richie Grant said. "We are a better team now because of this game. I think we really got a good idea tonight on where we are at as a team and what we need to improve on in the coming weeks." The Tigers held the Billikens scoreless for 62 minutes, until Scott Wisniewski, a junior from Dallas, Texas, scored from 12 yards out off of a Rob Viviano assist. "I thought our back four really played a good game tonight," Grant said. "They really minimized Saint Louis' scoring chances. This team has a real fight in them when it comes to protecting the goal." Saint Louis solidified a victory in the final minute of play when Jimmy Holmes dribbled the ball in and scored on a shot from 15 yards out against Memphis backup goalkeeper Jordan Leedle, a freshman from Franklin, Tenn. Michael Goodlett, the starter in goal for the Memphis Tigers, played 79 minutes in goal for the U of M. He recorded five saves and allowed Wisniewski's goals for the Billikens. In the 54th minute, Goodlett won a one on one dual with Saint Louis' Dado Hamzagic. Hamzagic dribbled the ball into the box and attempted to get the ball past Goodlett, but Goodlett stopped Hamzagic in his tracks. The Billikens took 12 shots compared to the Tigers' two. Pat Disbennett earned the victory in goal for Saint Louis, while Goodlett received the loss. Grant addressed his concerns about Memphis' lack of scoring opportunities "We need to be more creative with the ball," Grant said. "We also need to be more careful with the ball. Tonight the guys gave the ball away very easily. This is just one of the things that needs to be worked on. We have learned a lot of things about this team in both of our exhibition matches and will work on those issues heading forward into the regular season." Memphis will open the regular season on Friday with a 7:30 match against NSCAA Preseason No. 21 Bradley. Bradley is 0-1 on the season after a loss to Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The game marks the first match for Memphis in the Memphis Diadora Tournament. |
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| 08/23/08 | |
Gray Outlasts Blue in Volleyball's Blue-Gray Scrimmage -- Tigers to open season vs. Alabama A&M on Fri., Aug. 29 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis-Gray 25 16 25 23 15 Memphis-Blue 19 25 22 25 13 The University of Memphis volleyball team completed its lone dress rehearsal for the 2008 season with its annual Blue-Gray scrimmage tonight. Led by eight kills from freshman Altrese Hawkins, the Gray squad edged the Blue 3-2. After giving up a lead late in the fourth set, the Gray side broke an 11-11 tie with a Blue squad service error, a service ace from Sarah Chambers and a kill by Rebekah Strickland in successive serves. With a 14-11 cushion the Gray was able to hold off the Blue for a 15-13 win in the final set. Former Tiger star Heather (Watts) Klepko dished out 32 assists and picked up nine digs for the Gray team. Volunteer assistant coach Jenn Miller added seven kills and a match-high tying 12 digs. Freshman Carolyn Baker pounded seven kills and made four blocks for the Gray squad. Baker finished the night with 13 kills overall after putting away six kills in the Blue uniform. Sophomore libero Becky Shaffer made nine digs for the Gray team. Katlin Inglish hammered nine kills on the night, including putting down six kills in three sets in a Gray team uniform. Junior outside hitter Lauren Thompson led all players with 11 kills and was one dig shy of a double-double. Senior setter Laura Côté handed out a match-high 43 assists and made seven digs. Libero Christine Bach made 11 digs, while freshman Kelsey Knoche chipped in with 12 digs to lead all players on the Blue team. Sophomore Emily Underwood led the Blue defense at the net, making five blocks to go with eight kills. Strickland spent much of her night on the Blue side. She downed two kills for the Gray in the final set, but slammed eight kills in the first four frames with the Blue team. Both offenses struggled in the match. The Gray side hit .060 for the match, while the Blue team hit .112. The two squads combined to commit 30 service errors (17 for the Blue and 13 for the Gray). The Tigers will suit up for their season opening contest on Fri., Aug., 29 when they host Alabama A&M in the Memphis Invitational. |
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| 08/23/08 | |
Tigers shoring up defensive front wall -- Experience, numbers turn weak link around (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Saturday, August 23, 2008 Ask University of Memphis football coach Tommy West the last time he's entered a season with such an abundance of depth on the defensive line and he doesn't hesitate. ''Never,'' West says. For someone who's in his 14th season as a head coach -- and 29th overall in college -- "never" carries significant meaning. When the Tigers open the season next Saturday at Ole Miss, they are expected to play more than their first eight defensive linemen. Veterans Corey Mills, Freddie Barnett, Clinton McDonald and Jada Brown likely will start at end, nosetackle, tackle and end, respectively, backed by, in order, Greg Terrell, Joel McCleod, Brandon Douglas and Steven Turner. Third-teamers Charlie Bryant (nose), Frank Trotter (tackle) and Tommy Walker (end) should see the field too. ''We're lucky right now that's the deepest place we are,'' West said. ''I wouldn't have any hesitation going three deep. In our scrimmages, we've played (the) ones, twos and threes. I just want them to be relentless chasing the ball up front.'' Nonstop pursuit from the group might help the Tigers with what was a deficiency a year ago. As a rush-defense unit, the U of M allowed 202.5 yards per game to rank 10th in the 12-team Conference USA and 103rd nationally. An inability to stop the run contributed to the defense allowing 441.5 yards per game, which ranked 110th. While the faces are familiar across the first-team front, Brown said it's a better unit, one that has benefited from another year of experience and the hiring of new defensive coordinator Tim Walton. ''We are actually a good front, we're not just some guys you can knock around,'' Brown said. ''We really have size. We really have ability and athleticism.'' And, of course, depth. So deep is the group that it has withstood several moves. Lionel Henderson moved to the offensive line in the spring and Colton Jenkins joined him during preseason camp. Henderson (6-4, 275) is working as the No. 2 center and Jenkins (6-6, 290) is backing up All-Conference USA right tackle Brandon Pearce. ''We've got really good depth, the best depth I've been around,'' said U of M defensive line coach Brent Pry. ''Everybody has worked and practiced in the rotation with the plan that they'll play. ''We are fortunate that Coach (West) has been bringing in a lot of linemen. We are in a situation where we should be able to keep some fresh people out there and, secondly, absorb injuries a little better.'' Pry said West's philosophy in recruiting linemen who can play on either side of the ball has created a good situation for both the offensive and defensive lines. The offense's only shortcoming during preseason camp has been dealing with several injuries, including a hard-hit right guard position. ''Coach likes to recruit linemen, period, and then kind of see where they fit,'' Pry said. ''So I feel real fortunate right now to have the group I have.'' Last season the Tiger defensive line recovered from what Pry termed a ''slow start.'' The group, he said, played much better from the midpoint of the season to the end. He said the group remains a ''work in progress'' but is strengthened by the leadership of Clinton McDonald. McDonald said the defensive line's depth is what will strengthen the position. ''Everyone knows the D-line controls the game,'' he said. ''How we go out and carry ourselves -- if we go out and strike our keys and play hard -- that is going to determine if the rest of defense follows.'' McDonald said he's seen the group play more physical, more focused and with more confidence during the preseason. ''I'd say we're playing with more purpose as a defensive line and we are playing more physical,'' Pry said. ''We have a little more experience in the group, laden with veterans, and more guys that understand the position. ''And in Clint, I don't think I've met anyone more determined than Clint. He goes 110 (percent) every snap out there. He is very, very determined and very mature in how he approaches his position on this team.'' Tiger football fan fest today When: 3-5 p.m. Where: U of M Park Avenue Campus, Park and Getwell. Enter next to the guardhouse off Getwell Road and follow signs to the baseball facility. Festivities will be in the baseball stadium parking lot. Admission: Free, but fans are asked to bring a new board game to provide to Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center's Bunny Room. Details: Head coach Tommy West, assistant coaches and players will be available for autographs and photos. There will be inflatables for the children, face-painting and giveaways throughout the afternoon. Coming Sunday The 2008 season will kick off in less than a week so it must be time for our annual special section previewing the SEC and Conference USA. Look for it in Sunday's editions of The Commercial Appeal. |
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| 08/23/08 | |
Editorial: 'Penny' gives back (Commercial Appeal) |
| Saturday, August 23, 2008 Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway's $1 million donation to the University of Memphis carries several inspiring messages. The university announced this week that the former U of M basketball All-American and four-time NBA All-Star has given the school the money to help fund an athletic hall of fame on campus that will bear his name. The new 30,000-square-foot building will cost an estimated $4 million. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall. Hardaway's donation was the largest to the university by a former Tiger athlete. His generosity to the university that opened the door for his NBA stardom and riches is a lesson for all of us to never forget those who helped us along the way. Hardaway's success teaches other lessons. The Olympic gold medalist, who grew up in Binghamton, didn't have the test scores coming out of high school to enroll at the university. He was granted a presidential exemption. He went on to become a Dean's List student and finished his degree in 2003. He realized the importance of an education. And, in a world where so many former professional athletes and celebrities have made and squandered millions, it's refreshing to see that Hardaway apparently has been watching his pennies. The donation demonstrates that there is a lot more to Hardaway than basketball. |
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| 08/23/08 | |
Ex-Tigers bid for Pyramid -- Former football players with NFL investment group may be too late (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Jim Masilak (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Saturday, August 23, 2008 A group of professional athletes led by former University of Memphis football players Reggie Howard and Michael Stone is backing the latest offer to buy or lease The Pyramid. Atlanta-based Allied Athlete Group LLC, an investment vehicle owned by about 70 current and former NFL players, has teamed with Memphis-based DSG Capital Realty Group Inc. on a $12.8 million offer to buy the vacant Downtown arena from the city and county. "Our interest is not from an operator standpoint, it's more from a lease-own standpoint," said DSG president Brian Saulsberry, who expects AAG's involvement to "resonate" with the community. In addition to co-founders Howard and Stone, AAG investors include All-Pro Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, New York Giants cornerback Sam Madison and veteran cornerback Duane Starks, a Super Bowl winner with the Ravens who played most recently for the Oakland Raiders. Together, DSG and AAG want to transform The Pyramid into a family-oriented entertainment venue. The group's plans, which have been sent to the city and county mayors and were obtained by The Commercial Appeal on Friday, call for a minimum seven-story facility featuring convention and retail space, halls of fame honoring Memphis music and barbecue and space for a "world-class" aquarium and restaurant operators. "We're willing to put forward the money for infrastructure that will be needed to lease out to those other operators," Saulsberry said. DSG has proposed a minimum 75-year lease with renewal options and would secure the $30 million needed for renovations to the facility, thereby eliminating the need for city and county taxpayer dollars. That, in part, is where AAG comes into play. Marc Koretzky, AAG's director of business operations, said the group's athlete investors are "committed to figuring out ways in both the long and short term to get involved in the community." "Based on discussions we've had with Brian and his group, this is something our guys are very interested in getting involved in," Koretzky said. "(Reggie and Michael) want to see The Pyramid revitalized and refurbished. They see The Pyramid as a focal point of Memphis." Robert Lipscomb, the city's project manager for Pyramid redevelopment, said he received details of DSG's offer this week but had no comment on it. With Bass Pro Shops president and chief operating officer Jim Hagale due to make presentations before both the Memphis City Council and Shelby County Commission on Monday, DSG's proposal has likely come too late. The Springfield, Mo.-based outdoors retail giant has been negotiating with city and county officials since December 2005 to turn The Pyramid into a megastore, and a deal appears near. "We're going to get it out front so everybody can see it. We want to make sure it's transparent," Lipscomb said of Monday's presentations. "I'm very excited about what we're doing. I think it's going to be good for Memphis." DSG's Pyramid proposal follows offers from theme-park proponent Greg Ericson and Cummings Street Missionary Baptist Church to redevelop the arena. While Bass Pro Shops would be offered use of The Pyramid's first floor under DSG's proposal, Saulsberry said conversations with local business leaders suggest that "people are not 100 percent enthused about Bass Pro as a sole operator," and he is skeptical a deal is imminent. Contact Jim Masilak at 529-2311. To read more stories by this reporter, click on "Contact Us" at commercialappeal.com, then on the reporter's name. |
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| 08/22/08 | |
Phreshman Phenom? (Memphis Edge) |
| Posted by Phil Stukenborg Tiger coach Tommy West has spoken repeatedly during preseason camp about Marcus Rucker, the talented freshman receiver from Whitehaven High. And with each practice, Rucker is making matters difficult for West. Ideally, West would like to redshirt Rucker because of the abundance of veteran receivers the Tigers will play this season. But Rucker has had a solid camp, impressing in workouts and scrimmages. In a `Blitz-pickup’ session Wednesday, Rucker made a spectacular one-handed grab near the sideline to pick up a first down. And a few minutes later, he freed himself from his defender, caught a pass in stride, and raced for what would have been a 70-yard touchdown. Still, it will be hard for Rucker to find a spot if the receiving corps of Duke Calhoun, Carlos Singleton, Steven Black, Maurice Jones, Earnest Williams, Carlton Robinzine, Steven Joachim and Brian Hall stays healthy. |
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| 08/22/08 | |
Fan Fest Moved to Parking Lot in Front of Nat Buring Stadium -- Field One is soaked after two days of rain (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Following two days of heavy rain and with more rain in the forecast, Tiger Football Fan Fest has been moved from Field One to the parking lot in front of the Nat Buring baseball stadium. Fan Fest will take place from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Saturday and admission is free, although fans are invited to donate a new board game which will be collected and given to the Bunny Room at LeBonheur Children's Medical Center. The Highland Hundred, the Tiger Scholarship Fund, the M Club, Pouncers Pals and the ticket office will all have tents at Fan Fest. They will not be inside the facility as earlier planned before of the location change. Fan Fest will feature inflatables, balloons, face painting, visits from the Tiger Spirit Squads, including Pouncer, as well as autograph opportunities with all the Tiger players and coaches. Champion Awards will also be on hand to sell Tiger merchandise. The Park Avenue campus is located on the corner of Park Avenue and Getwell Road. Enter next to the guardhouse off Getwell Road and follow signs to the baseball facility. |
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| 08/22/08 | |
Memphis Men's Soccer Heads to No. 19 Saint Louis on Saturday -- The Tigers are set to take on their former C-USA foes in their final exhibition match (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis Tigers men's soccer squad is set to face-off with the NSCAA preseason 19th-ranked Billikens of Saint Louis University at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23 at Hermann Stadium in Saint Louis. The Billikens are coming off of a season in which they finished 12-2-5 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Coach Richie Grant's Memphis Tigers capped off the 2007 season with a mark of 10-5-4, finishing fifth in Conference USA. Memphis and Saint Louis are former C-USA rivals. The Billikens lead the series with a record of 15-5-1 over the Tigers. However, in the two teams' last two matches as C-USA foes, Memphis came away as the victor. Memphis defeated the then 21st-ranked Saint Louis team, 2-0, on Oct. 23, 2004, and then again on Nov. 13, 2004, in the Conference USA Tournament, on the Tigers' way to capturing the 2004 C-USA Conference Championship. The U of M returns a team of seasoned veterans in 2008. The Tigers are led by their six senior captains who will set the pace for the rest of their teammates this season. Michael Coburn, Sean Goulding, Tripp Harkins, Thomas Hyland, Jordan Lynn and Robert Sausaman have combined to start 267 games for the blue and gray. Coburn, a senior defender from Dundalk, Ireland, returns as the Tigers' only remaining player from the 2004 Conference USA Championship squad. Memphis will only go as far as their six seniors take them in 2008. Coburn earned Second Team All-C-USA honors last season. Goulding, a native of Arbroath, Scotland, earned Third Team All-C-USA accolades. Though experience is the name of the game for the Tigers this season, look for several freshman to make their contributions known. Thomas Shannon, a freshman midfielder from Broken Arrow, Okla., and Parker Duncan, a freshman midfielder/forward from Johnson City, both kicked their Memphis careers off by scoring goals in the Tigers' first exhibition game against Christian Brothers. Duncan also added an assist to his opening game statistics. Their opponent, the Saint Louis Billikens, boasts three players; Calum Angus, Kyle Patterson and Eric Sweetin, who made the Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy Watch List heading into the 2008 campaign. Saint Louis' three nominees ties Wake Forest and UCONN for the most players on the Hermann Trophy Watch List. Wake Forest was the NCAA National Champion in 2007. Angus, a senior from Portsmouth, England, and Patterson, a senior from Birmingham, England, were also named to College Soccer News' Preseason All-American team. Angus scored two goals in 2007, while anchoring the Billiken defense. Angus was a Second Team NSCAA All-American last season and was named the Atlantic 10 Defensive Player of the Year. Patterson anchored the Saint Louis offense in his junior season. He led Head Coach Dan Donigan's squad with 10 goals and four assists. Patterson was named the 2007 Atlantic 10 Offensive Player of the Year. The Billikens opened their exhibition season on Wednesday with a 1-0 win over the DePaul Blue Demons. The game between Memphis and Saint Louis will be streamed live on the Saint Louis website for free. Visit http://slubillikens.cstv.com/ to catch the live kickoff at 7 p.m., on Saturday, Aug. 23. |
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| 08/22/08 | |
Memphis Downs University of Arkansas-Little Rock, 2-0 -- Lizzy Simonin scores first career goals as Tigers get their first win of the season (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. - The University of Memphis women's soccer team began the 2008 regular season with a victory tonight at Mike Rose Soccer Complex with a 2-0 victory over Arkansas-Little Rock. Head coach Brooks Monaghan spoke about the Lady Tigers' first victory of 2008. "We definitely wanted to get the first one under our belt," said Monaghan. "There are still things we need to work on but I felt like we controlled most of the game. I would have liked to finish a few more chances and especially in the final third, but we didn't expect perfection today. We're just taking it one step at a time and we can take a lot from today to make ourselves better for next Friday." The two Memphis goal scorers were Kylie Hayes whose goal came off of a header 12 minutes and 44 seconds into the first period and Lizzy Simonin who connected with the Tiger's second goal with 6:01 left in the game. The goal marks the first of her collegiate career. Simonin spoke about her first goal to put the game away for the Tigers. "It was a good feeling, said Simonin. "We as a team didn't want to stop at 1-0 and we needed another goal." Monaghan gave his thoughts on having Simonin in an important role for the Lady Tigers. "Lizzy is playing at a different position for us than she is used to at center forward and she's going to be a great one," Monaghan noted. "She has a lot to learn, but I was definitely impressed with her. She keeps getting better and better as the preseason has gone. She is learning quickly and we are very pleased with her and have high expectations for her." Simonin also talked about her feelings on being a part of the Lady Tigers' soccer team. "Coach (Monaghan) is a great coach and we have great girls on our team," Simonin commented. "They work hard every minute of every day. That is what I'm here for and I'm very happy to be here." The Lady Tigers look to continue on a winning path next weekend when they take on the Crimson Tide from the University of Alabama. The game will be played on Friday, Aug. 29 at 5:00 p.m. at Mike Rose Soccer Complex sandwiched between the two games of the men's soccer Memphis Diadora Tournament. UAB takes on Oral Roberts at 3:00 p.m., followed by the Lady Tigers facing off against Alabama, and finally the Memphis men battle Bradley University in the night's finale. |
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| 08/22/08 | |
Memphis Softball to host Tuesday Night Hitting Clinics -- Four clinics available beginning in September (GoTigersGo.com) |
| University of Memphis head softball coach Windy Thees and her staff will host four Tuesday Night Hitting Clinics beginning on September 23 for middle school to high school senior age groups.
The clinics will be held on Sept. 23, Sept. 30, Oct. 7 and Oct. 21 and are limited to 40 people per session. The four clinics will each focus on a different aspect. September 23 - Left Handed Slapping and Bunting September 30 - Hitting the Inside & Outside Pitches October 7 - Everyday Drills to Make You a Better Hitter October 21 - Five Most Common Hitting Mistakes and How to Fix Them Each clinic will last an hour and a half and are $25 per person. Check in time is at 5 p.m. with the clinic running from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Tiger Softball Complex located at the U of M Park Avenue Campus. To pre-register for the clinics e-mail Memphis assistant coach Ashley Blanton at ablantn1@memphis.edu or call her at 901-678-1195 or 901-734-0260. |
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| 08/22/08 | |
Tiger Volleyball's Blue-Gray Scrimmage Set for Saturday -- Volleyball set to wrap up pre-season preparation (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis volleyball team will get its only opportunity to play in a game-like atmosphere on Saturday, August 23 in the annual Blue-Gray scrimmage. Match time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Elma Roane Fieldhouse. The 2008 edition of Tiger volleyball will be led by first-year coach April Jauregui. Her squad will be guided by senior setter and tri-captain Laura Côté. Côté ranks third on Memphis' all-time assists list and earned 2008 Preseason All-C-USA honors. She will be flanked by tri-captains outside hitter Lauren Thompson and Christine Bach. Bach led the team and ranked in the top-10 in C-USA with 489 digs in 2007. Bach's digs total ranks second on Memphis' single-season ledger. Thompson returns as the team's most experienced outside hitter after putting away 125 kills in her sophomore season. After going 23-12 for its seventh-straight seven with a .500 or better record, the Tigers return nine letterwinner. Memphis, who was picked to finish seventh in the 2008 C-USA preseason poll, will get the 2008 season underway in the Memphis Invitational on August 29. They will take on Alabama A&M at 7 p.m. |
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| 08/22/08 | |
U of M notebook: Soccer, Track, Football (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Friday, August 22, 2008 Lady Tigers have high expectations -- Coming off big year, soccer team facing tough challenges For the first time in coach Brooks Monaghan's nine years leading the University of Memphis women's soccer program, the Lady Tigers will find themselves the hunted. When the UofM opens its season today against Arkansas-Little Rock at 5:30 p.m. at Mike Rose Soccer Complex, it will be as the defending Conference USA champion and the league's preseason pick to repeat. The Lady Tigers went 17-4-1 last season, setting a school record for victories and earning their first NCAA Tournament invitation. ''We're getting a lot of respect,'' Monaghan said. ''But it doesn't matter if we don't get the job done on the field. It's all about getting everyone on the same page. If we do, we can compete with anyone on our schedule.'' Eight of 11 starters return, led by three players who earned preseason all-conference recognition: midfielders Emiko Schwab and Vendula Strnadova and forward Kylie Hayes. Schwab, a senior from Highlands Ranch, Colo., was voted the team's most valuable player last year after finishing as the UofM's second-leading scorer. Strnadova, a sophomore from Las Cruces, N.M., was named C-USA Freshman of the Year and was a first-team all-conference selection. ''Vendula is a tireless worker,'' Monaghan said. Strnadova, a member of the Czech Republic under-19 national team since 2006, was selected to her country's national team this summer, but she was unable to compete because of a knee injury. The injury will force her to miss today's game, but she's expected back next Friday when the Lady Tigers play host to Alabama. Hayes holds the school record for goals (37) and was the team's top goal scorer a year ago with 11. The schedule for the Lady Tigers is filled with programs known for their football success. Memphis, which played at Notre Dame in a preseason game last week, plays home games against Alabama (Aug. 29), Miami (Sept. 7), Oklahoma (Sept. 12) and Colorado (Sept. 14). ''When you hear about those schools, (you) think football,'' Monaghan said. ''(But) their soccer teams are great, too.'' Monaghan, named the league's coach of the year in 2007, is looking forward to a 2008 season in which 21 of 28 letter winners return. ''I think, on paper, this team is as strong as last year's,'' Monaghan said. ''We're ready to get the season under way.'' Ex-Tiger competes in Olympics Former Tiger track and field athlete Daniel Kiss, a native of Hungary, competed for his country in the summer Olympic Games in Beijing earlier this week. Kiss had a time of 13.61 seconds in his preliminary quarterfinal heat of the 110-meter hurdles. He narrowly missed qualifying for the semifinals: His time of 13.63 in his next heat left him one place shy of advancing. Kiss, who attended the UofM in 2004 and '05, holds school records in the 110-meter hurdles (13.49 seconds) and the 60-meter hurdles (7.84). Odds and ends The Tommy West radio show moves to Thursday nights this season on WREC-AM 600. The first of the one-hour shows with the Tiger football coach will air Thursday at 7 p.m. from the Variety Club on Sycamore View. ... Sivan Aballi and Steffen Nerdal, members of the U of M track team, have earned spots on the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division 1 All-Academic team. |
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| 08/22/08 | |
Tigers' Weaver revved up over shift to safety -- Move to secondary 'pretty cool' for junior (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Friday, August 22, 2008 For the first time since last spring, Josh Weaver finds himself practicing for the University of Memphis football team. Weaver, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery, returned this week, participating in two workouts Wednesday at the Murphy Athletic Complex and in Thursday's afternoon practice at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. And if he has seemed out of place during those two days, it only partially has to do with his lengthy absence. A defensive end his first two seasons, and a linebacker in the spring before a shoulder injury intervened, Weaver has spent the past two days getting a crash course at safety. In a football career in which he has lined up at nearly every position since junior high, safety is a position he hasn't played. ''(Head) coach (Tommy) West and coach (defensive coordinator Tim) Walton talked to me (Tuesday) at practice and said 'we're going to try and see you at safety,''' Weaver said. ''I said 'That'll be pretty fun.' ''Moving from defensive tackle in high school to end in college to linebacker and then safety. ... It's crazy. I guess they're trying to keep me away from that line of scrimmage." After missing the first two weeks of preseason camp as he rehabbed his shoulder, Weaver said ''it felt good to be back out there'' regardless of feeling a bit out of place. ''It's good to have him back,'' West said. ''He's high-energy and always positive.'' For Weaver, the move sends him to yet another position. In middle school, Weaver said he played receiver and guard before moving to center, a position he played through his sophomore year of high school in Marietta, Ga. As a junior, he moved to the offensive line and played there as a 195-pound right guard. As a senior, he relocated to tight end. ''(Making this move) will probably make me a better player,'' Weaver said. ''I'll get to learn the defense better. I wasn't comfortable as a safety, but just putting on the pads and running around and doing 7-on-7 drills and tackling drills, it was pretty cool to be back out there.'' Weaver, who weighs 212 pounds, got to about 225 when he made the move to linebacker last spring. He said after the injury -- he tore his labrum -- he lost most of the weight he had gained. ''I'm gaining some of it back,'' he said. ''Now I'm kind of maintaining in the 210 to 212 area. That's pretty good. You don't want to be too small back there. Coach said he was going to check it out for the next few days.'' Weaver has been seeking tips from veteran defensive backs at practice. Occasionally, as was the case during Thursday's workout, a mis-step drew the ire of Walton. ''(The possible change) was tossed out there a few weeks ago,'' Weaver said. ''This is going to help me out as a player. It will help me out in the future if I do coach. If I coach, it's good to have a lot of football knowledge.'' West said the move likely won't be permanent. Last year, Weaver, playing at defensive end, started 12 games and finished with 32 tackles, including five for losses, and two sacks. He ranked third on the team in sacks. As a freshman, Weaver appeared in 12 games and was one of only two Tiger true freshmen to play in each of the team's 12 games. In his first appearance on defense as a freshman, he had three tackles against Tennessee and forced a fourth-quarter fumble recovered by the Tigers. Memphis opens its season Aug. 30 at Ole Miss. ''I believe he could help us at end, if we need it, he can help us at linebacker, if we need it, and I'm going to try to train him for three days as a safety just because we are thin there,'' West said. ''But in case we had a disaster there in a game, at least I'd have a guy to put back there.'' Coming Sunday Get ready to kick off the 2008 college football season with our annual special section previewing the SEC and Conference USA. |
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| 08/21/08 | |
Penny Hardaway donates $1 million to University of Memphis -- Ex-Tiger's name to grace athletic hall of fame (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Dan Wolken (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Thursday, August 21, 2008 Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, whose path from Binghamton to NBA riches went through the University of Memphis in the early 1990s, has given the school $1 million to help fund an athletic hall of fame on campus that will bear his name. The new 30,000-square-foot building will sit on the south side of the Athletic Office Building on Normal Street and will cost an estimated $4 million. Athletic director R.C. Johnson said Thursday it is being funded through private contributions, and construction is scheduled to begin this fall with a planned completion early in 2010. "Hopefully I'm still living when this building goes up because it will be great to be riding around campus and see a building with my name on it," Hardaway said Thursday. "That's something I've always wanted, and that dream is coming true." Hardaway also becomes the 34th member of the Ambassadors Club for athletic boosters who give $500,000 or more. It is the largest donation from a former Tiger athlete. "We've been working on this for probably a year and a half," Johnson said. "Some Ambassadors are friends of his, and he said at the Final Four, 'R.C., I really want to do something. I need to think about what it is and you think about what you'd like us to do.' We felt like putting his name on the Hall of Fame made about as much sense as anything else, and he was receptive to it." While playing professionally, Hardaway said he felt something of a disconnect from the Memphis basketball program, which he led to the Elite Eight in 1992. Over the past two years, however, Hardaway has been more visible. Recovering from injury in 2007, he often worked out at the Finch Center. After attempting an NBA comeback with the Miami Heat last season, Hardaway was once again in the stands cheering for the Tigers through their run to the NCAA finals. "Being around the team the last couple years got the juices going again," he said. Hardaway, who was a McDonald's All-American out of Treadwell High, enrolled at Memphis in 1990 but had to sit out his first season because of academic problems. He was also robbed at gunpoint that year and shot in the foot by a stray bullet, which briefly put his career in question. The 6-7 Hardaway recovered, however, both on the court and off. He was a Dean's List student and turned professional after averaging 22.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game as a junior. He was the No. 3 overall pick in the NBA Draft and finished his career as a four-time All-Star and Olympic gold medalist in 1996. He earned more than $120 million in his NBA career, which was derailed by knee injuries beginning in 2003-04. Hardaway, who finished his degree in professional studies in 2003, said he hopes his donation inspires other former Tiger athletes to follow suit. "It's never too late to give," he said. "Anybody that's fortunate enough to be able to help the school, you should do it because it's going back to student-athletes. That's what I'm all about, so I'm glad I'm able to do this." Coach John Calipari said this isn't Hardaway's first act of generosity toward the program. "He's been great for our kids, he's been great for our staff, he's helped with camps," Calipari said. "And now he gives $1 million? He doesn't have to do that." The Ambassadors A look at the U of M athletic department's Ambassadors Club, a group of super donors founded in 1997 with two members -- FedEx chairman Frederick W. Smith and First Horizon National Corp. chairman Mike Rose. Commitment: $500,000, payable over four years Number of members: 34 Newest member: Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, who donated $1 million for creation of a Sports Hall of Fame Membership perks: the right to buy prime seats, increased access to coaches, regular meetings with athletic director RC. Johnson and president Shirley Raines, among other benefits |
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| 08/21/08 | |
"Penny" Gives a Million to the University of Memphis (Memphis Flyer) |
| AUGUST 21, 2008 - 03:43 PM -- Frank Murtaugh A Penny has never had greater value to the University of Memphis. In a hastily called but heavily attended press conference at the U of M's Athletic Office Building, Tiger athletic director R.C. Johnson announced that Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway has donated $1 million to the athletic department. In appreciation, the university will name its yet-to-be-completed athletics hall of fame in honor of Hardaway. "As all of you know, this is not the best of times financially for anybody," said athletic director R.C. Johnson before making the announcement. "We have said repeatedly that what we are trying to do as an athletic department is to do things with class, dignity, and style. If anyone personifies that, it's Penny Hardaway." Hardaway electrified Tiger basketball fans during the first two years the team played at The Pyramid. After leading Memphis to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament in 1992, Hardaway was an All-America in 1993 and, that same year, was the third selection in the NBA draft. As a member of the Orlando Magic, Hardaway was an All-NBA selection and reached the 1995 NBA Finals. He was also a member of the gold-medal-winning U.S. basketball team at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. "Today is a great day," said Hardaway. "Growing up 10 minutes from here, having a dream of playing in the NBA, going to college here, playing with so many great teammates ... to be able to live out that dream, and now come back and give something to the school, it's another dream come true for me. As a little kid, a lot of people told me I couldn't do things. But I set my dreams high, and I accomplished a lot of things people told me I couldn't. I'm so thankful to be able to give back to the school and this program." |
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| 08/21/08 | |
Penny Hardaway Sets Record With Assist To Tiger Athletics -- The University of Memphis Hall of Fame will be called the Anfernee Penny Hardaway Hall of Fame (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Former University of Memphis and NBA star Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, who amazed fans with his on and off court abilities for the Tigers from 1991-93, has donated $1 million to the Athletic Department to construct a Sports Hall of Fame. Hardaway's gift is the single-largest donation ever made by a former Tiger athlete to the department. The announcement was made on Thursday afternoon during a press conference in the University's Athletic Office Building. The Hall of Fame will be a part of a new building phase which will increase the size of the AOB by nearly 20,000 square feet to approximately 88,000 square feet. "This is an exciting time. As all of you know, this is not the best of times financially for anybody, and everyone is certainly looking for any type of help they can get. One of our most distinguished alums, and certainly one of our best basketball players, Mr. Penny Hardaway, has informed us that he wants to help and he wants to do something that's pretty significant for us and our school," Athletic Director R.C. Johnson said. "We have said repeatedly that what we are trying to do at the athletic department we are trying to do with class, dignity and style. If anybody personifies that, it's Penny Hardaway. With what Penny is doing today, he will become our 34th ambassador, which is unbelievable and we appreciate it. Additionally, we will unveil our Hall of Fame. With this donation, we have decided to name the Hall of Fame after Penny Hardaway." Hardaway, who has long been considered one of the greatest players to every wear the Blue and Gray, received his degree in Professional Studies from Memphis in 2003. Driven by a vow he made to himself and to his family prior to enrolling at Memphis, Hardaway continued taking classes at the University after entering the NBA following his junior season. Hardaway's donation is something he has been working on for over a year and a half with Johnson and fellow Ambassador Alan Graf. The AOB expansion is part of a capital fundraising campaign called "Building for Today's and Tomorrow's Tigers." The campaign includes the finished softball stadium, the currently-under-construction Frank L. Flautt Golf Center, the renovations of the Tiger baseball facility and the new tennis center, which is also currently in its fundraising stage. "Today is a great day. It is a dream come true for me after growing up ten minutes from here and having a dream to make it to the NBA," Hardaway said. "To be able to go here, go to college, Dr. (Thomas) Carpenter allowed me to have the opportunity to come here. To have a great career, to play with so many great teammates, have great fans and great coaches, and to be able to live out a dream and come back and do something like this for the school, it's priceless for me. Little kids that grow up in neighborhoods where people tell you that you can't do things, well a lot of people told me that I couldn't do things and I didn't listen to them. I kept my dreams high and my goals high and I accomplished a lot of things that a lot people didn't think that I was going to be able to accomplish. So I'm so thankful for that and to be able to give back to the school and to the program is something that I'm so glad that I'm able to do." The Tigers' second consensus All-America first team pick, Hardaway, as a junior in 1993, earned that national recognition from Associated Press, The Sporting News, Basketball Weekly, U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA), John Wooden and Scripps Howard. As a sophomore in 1992, the Memphis, Tenn., native took home All-America honors from Associated Press and Playboy. During his two years wearing the Blue and Gray, Hardaway swept every Great Midwest Conference (GMC) award possible. He was the Great Midwest Conference MVP in both 1992 and 1993 and also was named to the All-GMC first team both years. Hardaway received the Great Midwest Conference Newcomer of the Year award in 1992 and was selected to the league's GMC All-Newcomer Team that same season. A seven-time Great Midwest Conference Player of the Week recipient, Hardaway was named to the 1992 and 1993 GMC All-Tournament Teams. An all-around performer, Hardaway led the Tigers in scoring, assists and steals both seasons and led the squad in rebounding in 1992-93. He is in the No. 14 spot on the Tiger career scoring chart and is ranked among the top 10 on the all-time assists and steals lists. In his two seasons, Hardaway helped guide the Tigers to a 43-23 record (.652), to eight wins over nationally-ranked teams and recorded the school's first-ever and only triple-doubles. Hardaway's Tigers earned two NCAA Tournament appearances, and the 1991-92 team took a magical trip to the Elite Eight. Following the 1992-93 campaign, Hardaway declared for the NBA Draft and was the third overall pick by the Golden State Warriors, but was later traded on draft night to the Orlando Magic. He also had playing stints with the Phoenix Suns, New York Knicks and Miami Heat. In the 1993-94 season, Hardaway was invited back home to the Bluff City, where on Jan. 23, 1994, his number 25 became the seventh basketball jersey retired by the University. In the summer of 1996, Hardaway was a member of the USA Olympic basketball squad, which brought home the Gold medal from Atlanta, Ga. |
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| 08/21/08 | |
Memphis Center Philip Beliles Is On Rimington Trophy Watch List Again This Fall (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - University of Memphis senior Philip Beliles has been tabbed as a member of the Rimington Trophy 2008 Fall Watch List as announced by the committee Thursday afternoon. Beliles, who was earlier named to the spring list of candidates, is one of four Conference USA centers who were selected as players to watch heading into the 2008 season. Joining Beliles from C-USA were Houston junior Carl Barnett, SMU junior Mitch Enright and UTEP senior Robby Felix. Beliles took over the center position in 2007 and started all 13 games for the Tigers. He worked 92 percent of the team's offensive plays and was instrumental in Memphis ranking 13th nationally in passing and 23rd in total offense. Beliles, A Memphis native who prepped at Christian Brothers High School, was part of a Tiger offensive line that ranked 10th nationally and led Conference USA for the fourth straight year in sack denial, allowing only 14 in 13 games. While more than a dozen All-America football teams are selected annually, the Rimington Trophy committee uses these four prestigious teams to determine a winner; the American Football Coaches Association, the Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News and the Football Writers Association of America. The committee counts all players who play primarily the center position for their respective teams even though they may be listed as guards or tackles on the four All-America teams. The winner will be honored at the Rimington Trophy Presentation banquet at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Nebraska on January 17, 2009. The Boomer Esiason Foundation presents the nine-year-old trophy. Past recipients include Nebraska's Dominic Raiola, Ohio State's LeCharles Bentley, Miami's Brett Romberg, Virginia Tech's Jake Grove, co-winners Michigan's David Baas and LSU's Ben Wilkerson, Minnesota's Greg Eslinger, West Virginia's Dan Mozes and Arkansas' Jonathan Luigs. Since its inception, the Rimington Trophy has raised over $1.3 million for the award's benefactor, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, which is hosted by the Boomer Esiason Foundation that to date has raised over $65 million for CF research. Rimington, the award's namesake, was a consensus first team All-America center at Nebraska in 1981 and 1982, during which time he became the John Outland Trophy's only double winner as the nation's finest college interior lineman. The Rimington Trophy is a fully accredited member of the National College Football Awards Association. |
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| 08/21/08 | |
Fall Football Camp Winding Down -- Tigers worked out at the Liberty Bowl Thursday evening (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - With just nine more days until the Tigers take to the field for the season opener against Ole Miss, fall football camp is winding down. The squad has spent the last two days trying to dodge the rain. Head coach Tommy West worked his team outside in the light rain Wednesday morning, but was forced to utilize the indoor turf room for the evening session. The offense met for the first hour while the defense spent time in the facility, and the groups switched after about 12 periods of practice. West moved Thursday's workout to the Liberty Bowl because the fields at the Murphy Athletic Complex were still too wet by the afternoon. The team bused to the stadium at 3:15 p.m. in order to beat the storm that was approaching. The timing proved to be spot on as it began to storm as the Tigers were heading to the parking lot. Several players continue to be held out of practice with injuries. Offensive linemen Michael Denning and Terrence Echols were both on crutches after suffering MCL sprains. Both are expected to be out for 4-6 weeks. West said that he was pleased with practice today and the team is expected to practice again on Friday and Saturday as camp officially ends on Saturday. The players will return to the complex after Saturday morning's session to spend time with the fans at the annual Football Fan Fest that will be held on Field One behind the Murphy Athletic Complex building. The event is free, and open to the public and will be from 3-5 p.m. on Saturday. All players and coaches will be available for autographs and photos. "This was a good practice," said West. "I think we are in pretty good shape right now. We just have too many guys out right now. But, as far as the team overall, we have picked our pace up. It is not where I want it, but it is better than it was. Tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday, we are really going to work on our tempo both sides of the ball because when that ball comes over, we are going to play fast. That is our advantage, to play quick." |
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| 08/21/08 |  |
Beth Harrelson Named Lady Tiger Women's Golf Coach -- Former Lady Tiger golfer returns to the fold (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Beth Harrelson, a lifelong Memphian and a former Lady Tiger letter winner in both golf and volleyball, has been hired as the new women's golf coach for the University of Memphis. Harrelson, a 1999 inductee into the M Club Hall of Fame, assumed her duties effective August 18 and will meet her team this weekend as student-athletes return to campus. A graduate of Briarcrest High School, Harrelson signed a volleyball scholarship with the University of Alabama before deciding to attend the U of M. She arrived on campus in 1982 and played for coach Diane Hale during the fall season. After redshirting for a year, she made the transition to golf in 1984 and received the team's "Most Improved Player" Award following the 84-85 season. She competed in eight tournaments as a sophomore and made great strides in her game prior to her junior campaign. Her stroke average improved dramatically during the 1985-86 season and she completed the season with the second lowest average among her Tiger teammates. In addition, with her strong play, Harrelson help the Lady Tigers to a fifth place finish at the Metro Conference Championship that same season. As a senior, Harrelson was selected as captain of her team and posted the team's lowest scoring average. After graduating with a Journalism degree, Harrelson participated on the Futures Tour for two years before moving to Scottsdale, Arizona, to work as an assistant professional at the TPC of Scottsdale during the winter and at Stonebridge Golf Club during the remainder of the year. In 1987, the talented player won the Memphis area Women's Golf Association tournament and the Double Eagle Golf Tournament. She was also the medalist in the 1988 Tennessee State Tournament. She returned to Memphis permanently in 1990 and accepted as full-time position as the assistant pro at Stonebridge Golf Club. She became the golf instructor at Stonebridge in 1991 and held that position until 1998 when she moved to Quail Ridge Golf Club in Bartlett as the golf instructor. While working at Stonebridge Golf Club she earned her PGA Class A membership into the Professional Golfers Association in 1995. The personable Harrelson remained at Quail Ridge GC for six years leaving in 2003 to become an instructor at Memphis National Golf Club in Collierville, TN. In addition to her duties as a teacher of the game at Memphis National, Harrelson became the head coach for St. Mary's High School in Memphis. Harrelson, a 2006 inductee into the Briarcrest High School Sports Hall of Fame, and her husband Tim have three children, daughter Megan, who is a student at Arkansas State University, son Jon, who is a freshman at the University of Memphis and daughter Grace, age 10, is a student at Briarcrest. |
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| 08/21/08 | |
Hardaway will donate $1M to U of M (Memphis Business Journal) |
| Former Memphis State University and NBA star Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway is donating $1 million toward a new $4 million athletics hall of fame on the University of Memphis campus. The building, which will be named the Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway Hall of Fame, will be located on Normal Street and should be open by 2010. Hardaway, who was drafted in 1993 by the Golden State Warriors and traded to the Orlando Magic, played at then-Memphis State from 1991-93. He played for Orlando, the Phoenix Suns and New York Knicks during his 13-year career. During the 2007-08 NBA season, Hardaway played 16 games for the Miami Heat before being waived. |
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| 08/21/08 | |
Tiger Football Notebook (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Thursday, August 21, 2008 Tiger cornerback Grandberry needs rest University of Memphis coach Tommy West said Wednesday that cornerback Michael Grandberry, whom West had indicated might return to practice later this week, will need a few more days to recover from a hyperextended elbow. Grandberry, a senior from Covington, was injured in practice last week and was unable to participate in Monday's full-scale scrimmage at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. West expects Grandberry to be available early next week. "I think he'll practice Monday and play in the (Ole Miss) game,'' West said. Grandberry came to the UofM as a wide receiver, but was moved by West to defensive back in October 2006. Although he's only had one career start -- it came in the 2006 regular-season finale at UTEP -- Grandberry had a strong spring to move atop the depth chart entering preseason camp. At Memphis, Grandberry has made his mark as a return specialist. He holds school records in kickoff returns (81) and kickoff return yardage (1,826). Last season, he set Conference USA records for single-season returns (59) and single-season return yardage (1,286). Fan Fest Saturday The Tiger Football Fan Fest, an annual preseason tradition, will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday and the Murphy Athletic Complex practice fields. There is no charge for the public to attend the event, which will allow fans the opportunity to meet the players and coaching staff. Fans are asked to bring a new board game for the Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center Bunny Room. Several organizations will have tables set up inside the Complex, located on the Park Avenue Campus at the corner of Park and Getwell. The UofM ticket office will have representatives there, along with the M Club and Tiger Scholarship Fund. The TSF will have information regarding the capital campaign for a new, $3 million weight room. Tiger athletic director R.C. Johnson said approximately $1.75 million has been raised for the weight room, which would adjoin the southeast corner of the Murphy Athletic Complex. He said nearly $23,000 was collected shortly after the project was announced during the annual Highland Hundred football booster group banquet Aug. 8. Ticket updates Johnson said Wednesday that 18,500 football season tickets have been sold for the seven-game home season that begins Sept. 6 against Conference USA opponent Rice. The total, Johnson said, represents about 1,000 more season tickets more than were sold a year ago. The Tigers also have home games against Nicholls State, Arkansas State, Louisville, Southern Miss, Central Florida and Tulane. As for the the Tigers' Aug. 30 season-opener at Ole Miss, Johnson said about 4,000 tickets were sold out of the Tiger ticket office. All fans interested in buying tickets now must go through the Ole Miss ticket office. |
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| 08/20/08 | |
The big announcement (Memphis Edge) |
| Posted by Dan Wolken The Memphis athletic department put out a press release earlier this afternoon that a “major press conference” will take place tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon at 3 p.m. I’ve been making phone calls since then to see what I can find about the nature of this press conference. For some reason, Memphis people are being EXTREMELY tight-lipped about this thing (at the instruction of R.C. Johnson/Bob Winn) and information has been unusually hard to come by from people outside the athletic department who usually know about such things. I hate giving partial news, and even at that, what I’ve discovered is pretty vague. I’m hearing from a couple people that the press conference is in regards to a major donation. By whom, how much and for what? I don’t know. According to the press release, Memphis anticipates that the announcement “will receive national attention.” So what kind of donation would fall into that category? A former well-known player, perhaps? Penny Hardaway? Derrick Rose? Bill Laurie? Or on the football side, someone like Mike McKenzie, Isaac Bruce or DeAngelo Williams? I guess we’ll find out tomorrow afternoon. If I hear anything else, I’ll update the blog ASAP. |
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| 08/20/08 |  |
Amar Claims New York-Penn League Home Run Derby Title -- Big slugger continues to find success in affiliated baseball (GoTigersGo.com) |
| TROY, N.Y. - Four of the eight participants combined to hit a total of five home runs in the New York-Penn League All-Star Game Home Run Derby, but it was former University of Memphis slugger Adam Amar who emerged victorious, hitting two blasts in the one-round contest at Joe Bruno Stadium in Troy, N.Y. "It was a great honor to be selected to participate in the Home Run Derby with the best home run hitters in the league," Amar said. "The conditions weren't great with the wind blowing in as hard as it was, but it was a great experience to get the trophy and be named the 2008 New York-Penn League Home Run Derby champion." Amar hit seventh in the eight-man field. After four outs, the 6-4 Lake Mary, Fla., native, connected for his first homer. He fought strong winds and broke the four-way tie with his second blast just three swings later. The designated hitter/first baseman for the Auburn Doubledays (Toronto Blue Jays), Amar leads ranks among the New York-Penn League's top home run hitters, with nine. He ranks third in league with a.337 batting average. He ranks among the top five players in the NYPL in total bases, hits, slugging, on base percentage and doubles. As for the game, the National League All-Stars scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to complete a 4-3 win over Amar and the National League All-Stars. Amar went 0-for-2 in a reserve role in the game. |
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| 08/20/08 | |
Coach Tommy West Radio Show Moves to Thursday Nights -- Fans invited to join the audience for the live broadcast at The Variety Club (GoTigersGo.com) |
| The Memphis Radio Network announced today that the Events by Hicks Convention Services Coach Tommy West Radio Show will air this season on Thursday nights from 7-8 PM on WREC AM600. The first show will air Thursday, Aug. 28th. Coach West will be joined by the Memphis Radio Network's studio host, Forrest Goodman to preview the coming week's game and take your calls to talk Tiger Football. Radio listeners can call (901) 535-WREC or 1-800-474-WREC to be part of the show, and all fans are invited to join the live audience. The first show will be Thursday, August 28 live from Variety Club (1648 Sycamore View Road) and shows will follow each Thursday night prior to a game. The Show will move to Tuesday night (September 30) prior to the Thursday night clash with UAB on October 2. The Show will move to Wednesday, November 26 the week of Thanksgiving. Be sure to join fellow fans Thursday nights this year for the Coach Tommy West Radio Show. Go Tigers Go! |
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| 08/20/08 | |
Men's Soccer Scrimage Ends In a 0-0 Tie -- Defense shines in preseason scrimmage (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis men's soccer team took the field at Mike Rose Stadium for the first time this season to face each other in an intersquad match-up. In a game that pitted Assistant Coach Mat Santoro's "Smurfs", also known as the blue squad vs. Assistant Coach Nick Glaser's "First Teamers", also known as the white squad. The game ended in a 0-0 draw between the blues and the whites. "I was pleased that the scrimmage was so competitive," said Head Coach Richie Grant. "We have been working on defending for the last six days and I think you saw that in the game. A lot of the time you do these games and they are wide open and there are lots of goal scoring chances. We did a great job of preventing those opportunities tonight." The blue team had 12 shots on goal overall with Brian Farrell taking four. "The blues had most of the chances tonight," said Santoro. "The finishing isn't quite where it will be come the regular season, but it will be there in a couple of weeks." The blue squad welcomed back two Tiger alums for the scrimmage. Former goalie and Lady Tiger Assistant Coach Sebastian Vecchio logged minutes for the blue squad in the second half. Vecchio played for Grant in 2003-04, and holds the lowest career goals against average in Memphis men's soccer history. Also rejoining the squad for one game for the blue team was former Tiger forward Jared Britcher who took two shots for Santoro's team. Glaser's white team got the opportunity to play alongside two of their coaches, as Glaser and Grant entered the game in the second half of play. Late in the second half, Grant got his chance to untie the game. The 38-year-old former NAIA All-American defender at Green Mountain College took a shot on goalie Cody Gibson, but the goal went way left and the score remained tied. "I had a chance tonight to be the hero and I slipped up," said Grant. "Like I say to the lads, forget about it and get the next one." The Tigers will continue with practice to get ready for a tough opponent in the form of the NSCAA preseason 19th-ranked Saint Louis Billikens on Saturday, Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. |
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| 08/20/08 |  |
Former Memphis Track and Field Athlete Competes in Olympics -- Daniel Kiss competes for Hungary (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. - Daniel Kiss, a former University of Memphis track and field athlete competed this week for his native country of Hungary in the games of the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing, China. Running in the fifth preliminary heat of the 110 hurdles on Aug, 18 at 11:42 a.m. Beijing time, Kiss crossed the finish line with a time of 13.61 which was good enough to grant him bid to the quarterfinal heats. The quarterfinals took place at 9:02 p.m. Beijing time on Aug. 19. Kiss missed qualifying for the 110 meter hurdle semifinals by one place, running a time of 13.63. Kiss holds Memphis school records in the 110 hurdles (outdoor) with a time of 13.49 and 60 meter hurdles (indoor) with a time of 7.84 which he ran at the C-USA Indoor Championships. University of Memphis track and field head coach Kevin Robinson spoke about his former athlete. "Daniel (Kiss) has done a phenomenal job in representing himself, Hungary, The University of Memphis, and The University of Memphis Track and Field program," Robinson said. "Seeing a former Tiger athlete perform this well at the Olympic games is indicative of where we are trying to take our track and field program. It is my hope that we will see many more tiger athletes at the next Olympic games." The 110 hurdle semifinals take place tonight in Beijing, China. |
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| 08/20/08 | |
C-USA Champs Memphis Women's Soccer Team Kicks Off Season -- Lady Tigers Open Against Arkansas-Little Rock on Friday Aug. 22 at Mike Rose (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Memphis, Tenn. - The reigning Conference USA Champion Lady Tigers look to start their 2008 season off right. In its 13th season, the Memphis women's soccer program begins the year as the favorite to repeat as conference champs and looks to return to the NCAA College Cup to head deeper into the tournament in `08. The Lady Tigers wrapped up their preseason last night with an intersquad scrimmage. Both sides pushed each other to the limit the entire game and battled to a 1-1 tie. The Lady Tigers' repeat campaign gets underway at 5:30 p.m. this Friday, Aug. 22 when they face off against Arkansas-Little Rock at Mike Rose Stadium. Memphis is coming off a tough preseason where they took on reigning Big East Conference champion, Final Four qualifier and NSCAA No. 5 ranked Notre Dame and Sun Belt Conference champion Western Kentucky. Memphis returns 19 people to their line-up that just one year ago won the C-USA Tournament and tied for first atop the conference standings with UCF. They followed up their conference titles with their first appearance in the NCAA College Cup. The Lady Tiger's first taste of the College Cup was a short one as they were defeated by UNC Greensboro in the first round in a heartbreaking 1-0 loss. It's a new year for the Lady Tigers and C-USA coaches voted Memphis as 2008 preseason No. 1. With the addition of nine talented new faces coupled with a plethora of experience and leadership, the Lady Tigers also have high expectations for themselves and are confident in their ability to repeat. Head Coach Brooks Monaghan and assistant Jodi Grant commented on the upcoming season for the Lady Tigers. "We would like to invite the fans and media to join us for the commencement of the 2008 season at Mike Rose this Friday, Aug. 22 at 5:30 p.m. when we take on the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans. The coaching staff and players hope the Memphis soccer community will help support us through this season in our pursuit of another C-USA title and NCAA College Cup experience." |
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| 08/20/08 | |
Pair of Memphis Track Athletes Earn USTFCCCA Academic Award -- Sivan Aballi and Steffen Nerdal of Memphis earn spots on the 2008 USTFCCCA Division I All-Academic Track and Field Team (GoTigersGo.com) |
| NEW ORLEANS - The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the men's and women's 2008 Division I All-Academic Track and Field team. A record total of 468 student-athletes representing 140 Division I institutions composed the women's 2008 All-Academic team. Another record total of 266 student-athletes representing 111 Division I institutions made up the men's 2008 All-Academic team. Sivan Aballi a former Memphis women's track and field athlete and a senior on last year's team was the only Lady Tiger who qualified for the 2008 All-Academic Team. Aballi, from Holon, Isreal, competes in the shot put, weight throw, and discus for the Lady Tigers. Steffen Nerdal another Memphis thrower and native of Bergen, Norway was the only qualifier from the men's team for the 2008 All-Academic Team. Nerdal is a senior who competes in the discus, weight throw and hammer throw for the Memphis men's track team. The USTFCCCA honors Division I individuals for their academic and athletic achievements during the indoor and outdoor track and field seasons. To qualify for the USTFCCCA All-Academic Track and Field Team, the student-athlete must have compiled a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have met either the NCAA Division I Indoor automatic or provisional qualifying standard or the NCAA Division I Outdoor regional or national qualifying standard in their respective event. To view the complete listing of all the athletes who qualified for the USTFCCCA Division I Men's All-Academic Track and Field team visit the USTFCCCA website by clicking on the link below. The 2008 USTFCCCA Division I Men's All-Academic Track and Field Team To view the complete listing of all the athletes who qualified for the USTFCCCA Division I Women's All-Academic Track and Field team visit the USTFCCCA website by clicking on the link below. |
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| 08/20/08 | |
U of M's offensive line reorganized -- Experienced pair hurt; West seeks solution (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Asked Tuesday to review his team's overall performance in Monday's full-scale scrimmage at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium -- after he had the day after to review the workout -- University of Memphis coach Tommy West seemed to have relatively few complaints. If only he had relatively few injuries to work around. The Tigers returned to the practice field Tuesday with several changes on the offensive lines, alterations that were caused by knee injuries at left guard and a shaky outing by a second-team center. Starting left guard Terrence Echols suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in camp last week and his replacement, Michael Denning, suffered the same injury late in Monday's scrimmage. Denning, a redshirt senior from Southaven, was injured on the 72nd play of the 83-play scrimmage. Both Echols and Denning, a pair of former Northwest (Miss.) Community College players, are expected to miss four to six weeks. As a result of the two being sidelined -- along with reserve center Michael Antonescu struggling with his accuracy on shotgun snaps Monday -- West made several changes Tuesday. He moved tackle Lionel Henderson, a redshirt freshman from Mobile, Ala., to No. 2 center. ''We'll look at that for a few days,'' West said. And he moved Antonescu, a redshirt freshman from Ridgeland, Miss., to right guard. Dominik Riley moved into the vacancy at No. 1 left guard. ''I'm going to look at (the changes) through Friday and see where we are,'' West said. ''We're thin. That's the problem now. We're not having much luck at the left guard spot.'' Losing veterans like Echols and Denning will be difficult. Echols played in 12 games last year and worked his way into the starting lineup by the end of the season. In the UofM's final two regular-season games, the Tigers rushed for 265 and 196 yards, far above their season average of 137.8. Denning, whose brother, Steven, plays on the offensive line for Oklahoma State and is considered one of the nation's top guards, played in all 13 games last season for the Tigers. He played on special teams and was in on 128 snaps last season. As for Riley, he has had experience at the position. He started seven games as a redshirt freshman last season, all at left guard. Riley suffered a broken rib in the Marshall game and did not start the team's following games against Middle Tennessee and Rice, but came in as a reserve. Named to the Conference USA All-Freshman teams, Riley was chosen as an honorable mention Freshman All-American by The Sporting News. Henderson is accustomed to change. He has been on the move since joining the program last season. He worked with the Tiger scout team defensive line last fall as a redshirt, but moved to the offensive line in the spring. West said he hasn't had too many situations during his eight-year run at Memphis where he's had to deal with a rash of offensive line injuries. Besides the injuries, West said he's been pleased with the camp and noticed some progress after reviewing Tuesday's scrimmage. ''Offensively, I thought we were pretty good, outside of the (errant) snaps with the (No. 2 offense),'' West said. ''We missed a couple of (passes), but we were OK. I'm OK with where we are right now on offense. ''Defensively, we played pretty good except at linebacker. We're not playing as good at linebacker as I want. We've just got to pick our pace up a hair at linebacker. Overall, I think we're improving. We're getting a little better every day. I'm OK with the progress so far.'' Note: West said after Tuesday's practice that junior linebacker Josh Weaver, who has been sidelined since the start of fall camp while recovering from a shoulder injury he suffered last spring, is scheduled to return to practice today. ''They're going to let us look at him and see how he is,'' West said. Weaver missed most of spring practice with a torn labrum. |
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| 08/19/08 | |
Tiger football: Post-scrimmage wrap-up (Memphis Edge) |
| Posted by Phil Stukenborg Although QB Will Hudgens has begun to look more comfortable running the spread offense tossing deep passes (and not fastballs) since returning to football (he played baseball from early spring to late July), I don’t think there’s a question about the U of M’s starting quarterback. Coach Tommy West named junior college transfer Arkelon Hall the starter heading into the preseason camp and Hall appears to be making strides. He is beginning to get his timing down with the receivers and in Monday’s scrimmage at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium he looked as sharp as he’s looked since putting on a Tiger uniform last spring. In his first two series Monday, Hall completed 9-of-12 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns. He made every conceivable throw during the stretch — screens, slants, deep balls — and was perfect on a 43-yard TD pass to Maurice Jones. Of his incompletions during the stretch, one was a dropped pass and another was a ball he was forced to throw away. His only bad throw of the 12 was the dreaded overthrow in the end zone. |
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| 08/19/08 | |
Memphis Baseball Set to Hold 2008 Fall Instructional League -- Register online at www.memphistigerbaseballcamps.com (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - University of Memphis head baseball coach Daron Schoenrock and his staff will hold the fifth annual Fall Instructional Baseball League from Sept. 2 to Oct. 2 at Nat Buring Stadium. Available for players in grades 8-12, games for the 10-session league will be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. at "The Nat". Coach Schoenrock and his staff will provide individual fundamental instruction in all facets of the game, including individual defensive, offensive and pitching elements through controlled scrimmages. All players will receive instructional information and league schedules at the league's organizational meeting at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 2 at Nat Buring Stadium. Players will be placed in a time slot to form league teams. Participants will not be allowed to choose their time slots. For more information on the Fall Instructional League, contact University of Memphis Assistant Baseball Coach/Camp Coordinator coach Cory Barton at 901-678-5041 or email at cbarton1@memphis.edu. Potential participants can also register online by logging on to the Tiger baseball Camps website at www.memphistigerbaseballcamps.com. |
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| 08/19/08 | |
Fans Invited to Come Out For Tiger Football Fan Fest Saturday (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - The annual Tiger Football Fan Fest is scheduled for Saturday, August 23, from 3 p.m. - 5 p.m. at the U of M Park Avenue Campus. The event is free and open to the public. Fan Fest will be the first opportunity for the Tiger faithful to meet the players and staff. The event will take place on Field 1 at the Murphy Athletic Complex. There will be inflatables for the children, face-painting and giveaways throughout the afternoon. Head coach Tommy West, the entire team and all of the assistant coaches will be available for autographs and photos. Fans are asked to bring a new board game for the Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center Bunny Room. The games will be collected at the front entrance of the Murphy Complex as well as on the field. Champion Awards, the official merchandiser for the U of M Athletic Department, will be at Fan Fest selling Tiger gear on the main field. In addition, the Highland Hundred booster club will have a table set up for anyone interested in joining the group. On the back patio of the building, there will be a table set up for anyone looking to join Pouncer's Pals, an organization for children 12 and under. Pouncer's Pals members typically are invited to do a pre-game walk-through with the band and cheerleaders prior to one home football game. Inside the Murphy Complex, the Ticket Office, Marketing Staff, M Club and Tiger Scholarship Fund will all be set up with information. The Ticket Office staff will be selling football media guides as well as taking orders for football tickets. They will not be able to take money on site for tickets, nor will they be able to check specific seats or print tickets on site. The M Club will be collecting contact information on any former student-athletes for its database. They will also be distributing information on the M Club Hall of Fame Weekend, Sept. 5-6, and answering questions about how to become a member. For more information, please contact Tim Duncan at 901-678-4878 or taduncan@memphis.edu. The Tigers Scholarship Fund will be set up with information regarding the capital campaign for the Tiger Football Weightroom. The new addition will be a $3 million expansion to the Murphy Complex that will give the Tiger football team a 12,000-square foot state-of-the-art strength facility. |
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| 08/19/08 | |
Revamped Tiger offense undergoing growing pains -- Miscues on passing plays concern West (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Tuesday, August 19, 2008 They lost their two-year starter at quarterback and their top two running backs from a year ago are not available, one having graduated the other rehabilitating from offseason ankle surgeries. It's forced the offense to regroup with new personnel in key positions, and the development continued Monday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in the University of Memphis' second full-scale scrimmage of the preseason. Junior college quarterback Arkelon Hall passed for 130 yards and two touchdowns and first-year running backs Curtis Steele and Charlie Jones combined for 10 carries for 51 yards as the Tigers conducted an 83-play scrimmage. The U of M receivers, the strongest unit in Conference USA, had a solid afternoon, led by senior Maurice Jones' four catches for 73 yards, including touchdown receptions of 10 and 43 yards. Steve Black had a scrimmage-best five catches for 53 yards and freshman Marcus Rucker of Whitehaven, who has been impressive since camp began, added two catches for 40 yards, including a difficult grab in the back of the end zone for a 25-yard score. ''Our quarterbacks were OK, (but) not good enough to win, I didn't think,'' Tiger coach Tommy West said. ''We've still got work to do at that position to be good enough help us win the game.'' What irked West was the Tiger quarterbacks missing open receivers -- open 6-foot-8 and 6-foot-4 receivers. ''We can't overthrow balls in the end zone, where we have touchdowns,'' West said. ''Where I was a little disappointed today was I didn't think we gave our guys the chance all the time. Just let our guy go get it, because he'll do it. But they can't catch overthrow balls. That's where I was a little disappointed today.'' West said enough time remains for the Tiger quarterbacks to be ready for the team's season-opener Aug. 30 at Ole Miss. ''I think the more reps we can get, scrimmage-type reps, will help,'' West said. ''I'm not going to scrimmage a whole bunch more, but I probably will do a little bit because (Hall) needs it and I think our defense needs it. We just have to pick our spots to get him 20 or 30 reps in practice in those situations to get him game ready.'' Hall was sharp on a 10-play, 60-yard scoring drive, completing 4-of-6 passes on the drive, including the final one: a 10-yard bullet to Jones inside the right pylon. Hall's TD pass came on a third-and-8 play. Rucker's touchdown reception, which he wrestled away from two defensive backs, came on third-and-13 on a pass from Will Hudgens. ''We made some plays offensively and we made some third-down plays,'' West said. ''I thought we were better in the red zone than we had been.'' Black, who was effective with gaining yards after the catch, said he was impressed by what he saw from the offense, a much better showing than last week's scrimmage at the Murphy Athletic Complex. ''We played with a lot of energy, we were up-tempo and guys were more focused on their assignments,'' Black said. ''We made plays from the get-go and stayed with it.'' He said he liked what he saw from Hall, who led the No. 1 offense to touchdowns on successive drives early in the scrimmage. ''I saw (Hall) put some passes in some places he hadn't put them before,'' Black said. Defensively, West said the first unit was solid, although he's awaiting the return of cornerback Michael Grandberry, whom he hopes to return later this week from a hyperextended elbow. ''Defensively I thought we continued to chase the ball fairly well. I think we are getting better getting around the ball. I think this team is about where I thought it would be right now. We've just got to keep trying to get them better.'' Charlie Jones, the transfer from the University of Miami, had the scrimmage's most entertaining gain, stopping quickly and reversing his field to pick up 20 yards. He and the Tigers backs are having to run behind an offensive line that West said has improved, but has had to deal with injuries. Starting left guard Terrence Echols is out for at least a month with a MCL sprain and West said backup Michael Denning may have suffered a similar injury in Monday's scrimmage. ''I thought (the offensive line) was a little bit better today,'' West said. ''If they'll give our backs a chance, our backs are pretty good. When Curtis Steele gets his shots, he can be pretty good. But I'm afraid we may have lost Denning with an MCL.'' |
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| 08/19/08 | |
Tiger football notebook (Commercial Appeal) |
| -- Phil Stukenborg The NCAA Clearinghouse has certified the eligibility of freshman running back Brandon Ross of Tuskegee, Ala. Ross, who attended Auburn High, signed with the Tigers last spring, but hadn't been cleared when the team began preseason camp Aug. 4. Ross' addition is welcome at a position that has been somewhat depleted by the offseason ankle surgery of junior T.J. Pitts and the hamstring injury of junior college transfer Gregory Ray. ''Brandon Ross is admitted,'' West said. ''He has been here two days and he'll be out in shells (today).'' Pitts, the team's leading returning rusher, hasn't practiced. Ray has seen only early limited work. Ross helped Auburn High to the Class 6A playoffs last year rushing for 1,275 yards and 10 touchdowns. Reagan solid Tiger kicker Matt Reagan had a solid day, hitting each of his three extra-point tries and making 3-of-4 field goal attempts. After missing from 47 yards, he hit from 38, 45 and 42 yards, the last one ending the scrimmage as the defensive players taunted him from a few yards away. Transfer scrimmages Freshman quarterback Tyler Bass, who transferred from Maryland, played in his first full-scale scrimmage, handling the final series of six plays. Bass, who is 6-3 and 220 pounds, completed 3-of-4 passes for 25 yards, including a nice throw while running to his left for a 6-yard gain to Henry Rodgers. ''I like him, he's miles away, but he's learning,'' West said. ''He's talented, he's got great feet. He can really run. He's the best runner of all of our quarterbacks. I think he's doing good. ''You know how I am with young quarterbacks. The worst thing you can do is throw them out there too fast. But I thought the little bit we gave him, he executed pretty good.'' Lineman injured Tiger left guard Michael Denning, who had replaced injured starter Terrance Echols, injured his knee on the 72nd play of the 83-play scrimmage. Denning hobbled off the field after a fourth-and-1 run by Curtis Steele and left the stadium with his knee in a brace. ''I'm afraid we may have lost Denning with an MCL,'' West said. ''It looks like he's out for the opening game. That's two left guards (gone). That really puts a damper on that side.'' Echols is out for at least a month with the same injury. Rucker shines Tiger freshman receiver Marcus Rucker, the former Whitehaven High star, has been making plays since preseason camp began. In the scrimmage, he caught two passes for 40 yards and a touchdown. ''I thought Marcus Rucker brought something to the table,'' West said. ''He's going to be an awful good player, we've just got to make a decision whether we're going to play him because we are deep there. ''Sometimes if I think a guy is really going to be a good player and I got two juniors sitting there, then I might hold him. We'll wait and see how it goes.'' Govan transfers Corderick Govan, who would have been a redshirt sophomore this fall, is no longer a member of the team. Govan, a 6-2, 234-pound linebacker from Cascilla, Miss., transferred to Northwest (Miss.) Community College during the summer with the intent of signing with another NCAA Division 1-A program after the season. Govan, who a redshirted as a freshman in 2006, appeared in 10 games last year, mostly on special teams. Govan's mom, Jewell Govan Franklin, said her son desired more playing time and made the decision to transfer late during the summer. He went through spring practice. ''He liked Memphis, he liked coach (Tommy) West and (assistant) coach (Clay) Helton, but he just wanted more playing time,'' she said. Govan was a three-year starter at Charleston (Miss.) High and ranked as the No. 23 prospect in the state by Rivals.com |
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| 08/18/08 | |
Tiger football: Three weeks in, three observations (Memphis Edge) |
| Posted by Phil Stukenborg ** Considered a strength of the offensive coming into this fall, the Tiger offensive line has been underacheiving. Beginning the third week of practice before the Aug. 30 opener at Ole Miss, Tiger coach Tommy West is looking for more from the veteran group. “I think, right now, our offensive line doesn’t have a personality,” West said. “They have got to develop an energy, a toughness and an enthusiasm about them as a group. Right now you’ve got Philip (Beliles) and Brandon (Pearce) trying to lead the thing right now and that’s about it.” Injuries to linemen Terrence Echols (leg) and Malcom Rawls (concussion) have limited the line, but West refuses to use their absences as an excuse for what’s missing from the group. ** Ask West who is bringing consistent effort and the doesn’t hesitate. “Clinton McDonald,” West said. “Clint’s playing every down right now. I really like him.” McDonald, a senior defensive lineman from Jacksonville, Ark., was the only junior in West’s first seven seasons at the U of M to be selected as a team captain. He has started 37 straight games. West also said defensive backs Deante’ Lamar, a 5-9 junior from Atlanta, and Alton Starr, a 6-foot junior from Decatur, Ga., along with defensive linemen Corey Mills and Jada Brown have impressed him with their efforts as well. “All those guys are playing every snap,” West said. ** While West inserted junior college transfer Arkelon Hall, who practiced in the spring, as his starter entering preseason camp earlier this month, senior Will Hudgens has begun to show off his arm strength, and accuracy, in practice scrimmage sessions. His 27-yard touchdown pass to Steven Black, in the left corner of the end zone Saturday at Christian Brothers High School was among the best balls thrown so far in the camp. |
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| 08/18/08 | |
Former Tiger Adam Amar Named to New York-Penn League All-Star Game -- Amar to participate in Home Run Derby in pre-game festivities (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Adam Amar has quickly found success in life in affiliated baseball. A member of the Auburn Doubledays of the New York-Penn League, the former Memphis Tiger first baseman will highlight a cast of six Doubleday players to be named to the 2008 NYPL American League All Star Team. Amar was named a DH for the contest to be played at 7:15 p.m. EST on August 19. "With all of the great players in this league, it is an honor for me to be named to the All-Star team and get the opportunity to hit in the Home Run Derby," Amar said. "All my work in the off-season and spring training is paying off." Amar leads Auburn with nine home runs and will represent his team in the League's Home Run Derby, scheduled for 6 p.m. prior to the All-Star Game. In addition to leading the Doubledays in homers, Amar tops the team in hitting (.337), total bases (107), hits (65), RBI (36) and doubles (15). He ranks among the top five players in the NYPL in homers, hitting, total bases, hits and doubles. For more on Amar, log onto www.auburndoubledays.com. |
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| 08/18/08 | |
Baseball to Host Labor Day Showcase Camp -- Campers can register online at www.memphistigerbaseballcamps.com (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis baseball program will host its Labor Day Showcase Camp on Mon., September 1 it was announced. The one-day clinic will be held from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Nat Buring Stadium. Camp fee is $150 per player, which includes lunch and a camp t-shirt. Space is limited so potential campers are encouraged to sign up soon. Cancelations will not be refunded. Camp participants should bring their baseball glove, hat, bat, pants, batting gloves, cleats, and tennis shoes. Campers will be instructed and evaluated by the U of M baseball staff as well as local college coaches and professional scouts. The camp, which is available to the serious high school baseball player ages 13-18, will consist of a pro-style workout, positional instruction and games in which campers can compete against one another. All participants will receive assessments from their workouts in addition to instruction on areas to improve on. At the conclusion of the session, a brief recruiting seminar will be held to give players an overview on what coaches are looking for and other areas of the recruitment process. For more information contact University of Memphis Assistant Baseball Coach and Camp Coordinator Cory Barton at (901) 678-5041 or email him at cbarton1@memphis.edu. Players needing hotel reservations can paste http://homewoodsuites.hilton.com/en/hw/reservations/index.jhtml?hotel=MEMPOHW&corporateCode=560048132 into their web browser to receive the Camp rate. Potential participants can also log on to the Tiger baseball camps website, www.memphistigerbaseballcamps.com to register online. |
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| 08/18/08 | |
Tiger Offense Scores in First Scrimmage At The Liberty Bowl -- Arkelon Hall tossed two TD passes to Maurice Jones during workout (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - The Tigers held their first full-scale scrimmage at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Monday. The workout lasted around an hour and a half and the scrimmage of 83 plays also included several field goal attempts. "I thought we did some good things today," said head coach Tommy West. "We need to continue to work tempo offensively. I thought we didn't start with great tempo, but we ended up with good tempo at the end." The offense came up with some big plays during the workout, including a 43-yard touchdown from Arkelon Hall to Maurice Jones. Jones led the receiving corps with four receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a 10-yard touchdown grab seven plays prior to his long reception for a score. Steven Black led the group in receptions with five, totaling 53 yards. He had long receptions of 11 yards and 22 yards tossed by Will Hudgens in the same series. Incoming freshman Marcus Rucker had a strong scrimmage with two catches for 40 yards and a score. He caught a 25-yard touchdown pass from Hudgens on the 68th play of the workout. He showed some strength in hauling in the ball off a jump ball with defender Clay Lee. Rucker's 15-yard reception was from freshman Tyler Bass who worked the final six plays under center. "Our wideouts looked awful good catching the ball," said West. "I thought Marcus Rucker brought something to the table today. He is going to be a really good player. I thought our quarterbacks were okay. Not good enough to win I didn't think again today, and we still have work to do there to be good enough to help us win. We can't overthrow balls there in the endzone." Hall completed 12 of 20 passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns, while Hudgens completed 9 of 16 attempts for 122 yards and a score. Bass was 3-of-4 for 25 yards. Hudgens, who was working with the twos, had some difficulty during his drives as the snaps were a bit erratic. Several were snapped over his head and resulted in lost yardage. On the ground, University of Miami transfer Charlie Jones led the charge with three carries for 28 yards, followed by Curtis Steele who had seven carries for 23 yards. Jones had the long run of the day with a 20-yard gain late in the scrimmage. "I thought our offensive line was better," West said. "If they will just give our backs a chance, our backs are pretty good. You can see that when Curtis Steele gets a shot, he can be pretty good." The scrimmage wasn't without its defensive highlights as lineman Lester Lawson came up with two tackles for a total loss of 14 yards, including a sack of Hudgens for a five-yard loss. Lawson also broke up a pass attempt by Hall. Greg Terrell and Ricky Holloway both registered sacks, and defensive backs D.A. Griffin, Curtis Echols and Bryan Wright all had pass breakups. Clinton McDonald tallied a TFL for a three-yard loss, and Tommy Walker also had a TFL for minus six yards. "Defensively, I thought we continued to chase the ball," said West. "We are starting to play with a little bit more energy. We just need to get some people healthy and get (Michael) Grandberry back and get our people who are going to play in the game." Matt Reagan was given the opportunity to kick today and was perfect on all three of his PATs. He missed his first field goal of the day, a 47-yard attempt, but hit all three of his next attempts from 38, 45 and 42. His 42 yarder with the defense taunting him less than five feet away sailed through and ended the scrimmage. |
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| 08/18/08 | |
Memphis Men's Soccer Picked Fifth in Preseason C-USA Poll -- Tigers picked to finish fifth, while Michael Coburn was named to the Preseason All-C-USA team (GoTigersGo.com) |
| IRVING, Texas - Richie Grant's Memphis men's soccer squad was chosen to finish in the middle of the pack in 2008. They have been pegged as the fifth-best team heading into the 2008 season, as released by the Conference USA office on Monday. The Tigers, who finished the 2007 season in fifth place, are expected to have a repeat performance in 2008.
Also on Monday, the 2008 All-C-USA Preseason Awards were released. Michael Coburn, the Tigers lone player remaining from their 2004 Conference USA Championship squad, garnered a spot on the Preseason All-C-USA team. Coburn, a senior from Dundalk, Ireland, is one of six Tiger seniors on the squad for 2008. Coburn will serve as a team captain in 2008, along with his five fellow seniors. Last season, he was named to the C-USA All-Conference Second Team.
The conference pick to finish first in the league is the Golden Hurricane of Tulsa. Tulsa finished last season as the Conference USA Champion and are expected to match that feet in the upcoming season.
Behind them in the standings are the SMU Mustangs, who in 2008 will not be accompanied by the familiar face of former head coach, Schellas Hyndman, who after 24 years with the Mustangs, has left to take the head coaching job for FC Dallas of Major League Soccer.
Following the Mustangs in the standings is South Carolina in third and Kentucky in the fourth spot. Kentucky will be led by the 2008 C-USA Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Barry Rice. Rice, a junior, was the 2007 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year.
Juan Guerra, of Florida International, has been named the 2008 C-USA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year. Guerra finished tied for second in the conference in goals scored last season, with eight. He led the league in shots with 67. 2008 C-USA MEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON AWARDS 2008 C-USA PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Juan Guerra, Jr., F, Florida International 2008 C-USA PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Barry Rice, Jr., D, Kentucky 2008 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM Juan Guerra, Jr., F, Florida International Barry Rice, Jr., D, Kentucky Masumi Turnbull, Sr., MF, Kentucky Michael Coburn, Sr., D, Memphis Ryan Mirsky, Sr., D, SMU Jimmy Maurer, So., GK, South Carolina Jeff Scanella, Jr., MF, South Carolina Chris Clements, Sr., D, Tulsa Eric DeFreitas, Sr., MF, Tulsa Jose Parada, Jr., F, Tulsa Ryan Roushandel, Sr., F, UCF |
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| 08/18/08 |  |
Where Are They Now? Alex Bucewicz -- Five questions for former Tiger men's tennis player Alex Bucewicz (GoTigersGo.com) |
| 1. First, off, where are we sending this email list of questions to? I am married (to former women's tennis player Marlene Dirnstorfer) and living in Australia at the moment, however Marlene and I will be making a move to Austria (Dirnstorfer's home country) in September. 2. What have you been doing back in Australia and what are the plans for the move to Austria? Pretty much with tennis, I just play pennant on the weekends. I have been playing grade 1 in Victoria's pennant league. In 2007 we made the final of our section (there are 3 sections in our grade, each consisting of 8 teams). My record has been quite consistent throughout the three years of competition. I have had more success really in life outside of sport the last three years. Marlene and I got married in her home country of Austria on July 21st, 2007, and went on our honeymoon to New Zealand in February of this year. We also just recently celebrated our first anniversary. As for work, after first returning to Australia, I worked as a personal trainer for a small studio for about 18 months where I worked my way into an assistant manager role. As part of that role I worked between two of the company's three studios. Eventually I grew tired of the early mornings and late nights and started a job working in the retail industry, where I still am today. I am currently a trainee manager for Australia's largest growing retail liquor company called Dan Murphy's. I have been here for about 16 months and been a trainee since September of 2007. I enjoy working there, but the next chapter of my life is about to begin. Marlene and I have decided to relocate to Austria to hopefully start and raise a family. The other great thing is that the future is uncertain. I don't have a job lined up (in Austria), so I see this as a great new challenge for me. I have a few options, so we just have to wait and see. As for Marlene, she has been working in Melbourne's CBD for the last 3 years in the finance industry. She is applying for jobs of a similar nature in Austria, so we just have to wait and see. Lastly, I have also been playing aussie rules football for 2 out of the last 3 seasons. I am still yet to play finals football both with my current club and my former club, but that has been more than made up as I get to take the field and enjoy playing alongside my mates each weekend. 3. So what advice would you give to student-athletes currently at the university regarding planning for a life after college sports? The best advice I can give is to just take life one step at a time. If I told someone before I started college that I would come out with a degree, a wife and a distinguished tennis career, those who know me would have laughed. You never know what challenges lie ahead once you have finished school, so you make the most of the opportunities that are presented to you. As my father used to tell me when I was growing up, "if you are going to do something, do it to 100% of your capability or don't bother doing it at all. 4. You were part of a run of tennis players from Australia on the Tiger roster for a while. Do you keep in touch with any of your former teammates? I try to stay in touch with the boys as often as possible. Australia is a large country and being that I was the only one from Melbourne it's sometimes hard to visit all the time. Having said that, both Alex Jago and Luke Campbell came down to Melbourne for this year's Australian Open grand slam and it was great to catch up. Also Marlene and I have been up to Sydney a couple of times to visit Nathan, Ben and Richard. It's far and few between, but we try to stay in touch as much as possible. The real challenge lies when Marlene and I head to Austria. 5. How often do you follow the Tigers since you live more than a few time zones away? I follow the tigers constantly. I am always on the internet looking up gotigergo.com to check out the latest results and player movement. I have kept in touch with both of my former coaches in Coach Chamberlain and Coach Goebel via phone and email conversations. I also use my facebook page, so although I have left the Tiger tennis team, the Tigers have never left me. |
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| 08/18/08 | |
Men's and Women's Soccer Host Intersquad Scrimmages on Tuesday -- The Memphis soccer teams will play intersquad scrimmages Tuesday at Mike Rose Stadium (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Memphis men's and women's soccer team will take on challenging opponents on Tuesday night, themselves. Both teams will play intersquad scrimmages at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex on Tuesday night. The women's team will kick things off at 5 p.m, while the men's team will start their intersquad matchup at 7 p.m. The men will have two mixed squads, with assistant coach Mat Santoro coaching one squad and assistant coach Nick Glaser coaching the other squad. Both scrimmages will be open to the public. Schedule cards,posters and programs will be available for players to sign before and after each scrimmage. |
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| 08/18/08 | |
Tigers to Host Fall Tournament in October -- Five area programs compete in exhibition tournament (GoTigersGo.com) |
| The University of Memphis softball team will host a fall exhibition tournament at the Tiger Softball Complex on Saturday, October 4.
The Tigers will play Central Baptist College at 3 p.m. followed by a match-up with Holmes Community College at 5 p.m. Also participating in the tournament is Northwest Mississippi Community College and cross-town program Southwest Tennessee Community College.
Five games are scheduled for the one-day tournament beginning at 9 a.m. All games have an hour and fifty minute maximum time limit. 2008 Tiger Fall Tournament 9 a.m. Southwest vs. Northwest 11 a.m. Central Baptist vs. Northwest 1 p.m. Holmes vs. Southwest 3 p.m. Memphis vs. Central Baptist 5 p.m. Memphis vs. Holmes |
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| 08/18/08 | |
2008 Memphis Volleyball Outlook: Continuing A Winning Tradition -- Possibilities limitless for inexperienced, but talented Tiger squad (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Introduction With just one senior and three returning starters from the 2007 squad, the goal of the 2008 Memphis volleyball team is to build to the future and take the program to the next step. The young Tigers will look to the three captains--Laura Côté, Christine Bach and Lauren Thompson--for confidence, much-needed experience and leadership. First-year head coach April Jauregui looks at her team's youth as a positive. "We have several players who have not seen a lot of court time, and we look at that as a positive because what you get from that is an excitement and a competition level where you can push your players to be better because there is something to fight for," said Jauregui. "There's no set lineup where you have a certain six players are guaranteed to be in the game, and that's what I like. I want them to fight for positions on the court. I think it gives everyone a chance to play and it's exciting to see what the team will do and how they push themselves to succeed. So there's no limit to what we can do." Memphis welcomes a strong recruiting class and returns a solid group of talent that is familiar with Conference USA and knows what the level of play is. That core group of Tigers have been a part of a championship level team and know what it takes to get to that point. It is now their chance to continue that tradition. Setter Entering her senior campaign, two-time All-C-USA setter Laura Côté will again lead the Tigers' offense as well as being the floor leader. Jauregui trusts her completely to lead this team. "Laura is great at controlling the flow of the game," Jauregui said. "Her biggest strength is that, having been a three-year starter for the Tigers, she knows the conference well and she knows her opponents which could be an advantage for our young squad. She's excited about the challenge of leading this young team." A year ago, Côté ranked third in the league in assists per game with 12.63, a figure that also ranked 38th in the nation. Côté was tabbed a 2008 preseason All-C-USA selection. Sophomore libero Christine Bach will back up Côté at the setter position, but will see her time primarily in the Tiger back row defense. Outside Hitter With the loss of three outsides from last year's squad, Memphis will be relatively inexperienced at the outside hitter position. Jauregui's challenge will be finding out who fits best and where. Tri-captain Lauren Thompson will lead the crew and will be the main contributor from the outside. Thompson returns as the team's top outside hitter after downing 125 kills in 2007. Junior Rebekah Strickland, who has spent a lot of time at the middle blocker position, will see time on the right side, while sophomore Katlin Inglish will see significant action. Inglish will be expected to step in as a passer in the Tigers serve-receive game. Memphis will add freshmen Altrese Hawkins and Kelsey Knoche to the mix of outside hitter options in 2008. Middle Blocker Memphis lost one of the league's top middle blockers, and possibly the best middle the program has ever seen in Shelby Burton. Filling the void she left vacant won't be easy, but Jauregui feels like the 2008 U of M middle blocking corps is up to the challenge. Strickland has two years of experience in the middle and made 56 blocks a year ago. She will see time in the middle alongside sophomore Emily Underwood. Underwood had 20 blocks in limited action in 2007, but had a solid spring season and appears ready to challenge for a starting job. Junior middle blocker Rachel Theard earned the starting nod in six of the nine matches she played in before her season was cut short by a severe illness. She has recovered and is ready to contribute as one of the team's few veteran players. One of the most athletic players on the team, Theard's versatility could earn her time on the outside as well. Libero/DS Despite playing a pair of sophomores in the back row, the Tigers are more experienced at the at libero and defensive specialist than any other positions on the court. With Bach and Becky Shaffer combining to play in 242 games last year, the Memphis back row defense should be as solid as any in Conference USA. Bach, a C-USA Defensive Player of the Week and All-Academic honoree in 2007, made the bulk of the starts at libero, while Shaffer took over the defensive specialist role. Bach posted the second-highest digs total in Memphis volleyball history a year ago (489 digs) and claimed the program's single-match record when she picked up 35 digs versus SMU. Shaffer, a fiery competitor, has trained hard to return from off-season knee surgery. She made over 250 digs a year ago. Junior Sarah Chambers returns and will add depth to the back row, as well as giving Jauregui an added option at the service line. Newcomers Memphis brings in a highly-touted group of four freshmen and one four-year college transfer to this year's club. Middle blocker Carolyn Baker is expected to fight for a starting position immediately, while fellow middle Casey Sines will add depth to the position. Jauregui also brings in a pair of talented outside/right side hitters in Hawkins and Knoche, who could both earn starting roles. A transfer from Lambuth, Lauren Trouy will give depth to the Tiger back line, while providing the team with experience and leadership. Staff With Jauregui taking over the controls of the program, coaching responsibilities have also been altered. The first-year coach retains assistant Anne Côté for a third season. "Anne's knowledge of the game and experience is invaluable to our coaching staff," Jauregui said. "It's always good to be able to discuss ideas with her and know that no matter what the situation, she has seen it." With the change of roles, Côté will handle recruiting within the U.S. and Canada and serve as the team's academic liaison. Jauregui welcomes a new face to the staff in Marko Majstorovic. A native of Serbia, Majsorivic will bring a new dimension and coaching style to the program. "Having coached at several levels in Europe, as well as coaching at the PAC-10 level at the Univesity of Oregon, Marko will bring different coaching techniques to our program," said Jauregui. Schedule The 2008 schedule is one that showcases a variety of levels of competition. Jauregui and her Tigers will host 17 home matches as well as two preseason tournaments in 2008. The highlight of the schedule will take place on November 20-23 when Memphis hosts the 2008 C-USA Championships. This year marks the first time since hosting the Great Midwest Conference tournament in 1991 that Memphis has held a conference championship. This year's slate looks to be a stronger one as the Tigers will play 12 teams that posted winning records in 2007, two squads that advanced to the 2007 NCAA Tournament and six that won 20 or more games a year ago. Memphis will open up the year with its two home tournaments before hitting the road for a pair of road tournaments at Mississippi State and UAB/Samford. "The 2008 season will give our squad an array of competitive experience," said Jauregui. "Our goal is to play a variety of teams in preparation for the C-USA regular season." |
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| 08/17/08 | |
Talented receivers the pride of Tigers -- West: Deep group does everything it's asked (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Sunday, August 17, 2008 It was toward the end of a practice during the University of Memphis' preseason football camp last week that Tiger coach Tommy West was asked a question regarding the depth of his receiving corps. The question forced him to step back, turn back toward the practice field, and silently punch the air with his index finger. West was asked how many receivers would he be comfortable throwing passes to in the team's season opener Aug. 30 at Ole Miss. After he finished his mental count, West confidently revealed his answer. "Nine,'' West said. Considered the strongest unit in Conference USA, Tiger receivers have been getting their share of preseason ink and should be attracting similar attention when they step on the field. When West appeared at last month's C-USA media day gathering at The Peabody, members of the media who stopped to ask him about the upcoming season spent most of the time collecting insight on the wideouts. Memphis returns its top five receivers -- Duke Calhoun, Carlos Singleton, Steven Black, Maurice Jones and Earnest Williams -- and tight end Brett Russell, who caught 22 passes for 157 yards and two touchdowns. The UofM's top five receivers -- seniors Black, Jones and Williams and juniors Calhoun and Singleton -- combined for 225 catches for 3,141 yards and 24 touchdowns last season. Of the top five, each had at least 33 catches. Calhoun had a team-high 62 receptions for a team-best 890 yards. Singleton, the 6-8 receiver from Brownsville, Tenn., had 51 catches and averaged 15 yards per reception. In a mini-scrimmage during Saturday's practice at Christian Brothers High, Singleton caught two short touchdown passes and Black had a 27-yard scoring reception. ''I've said it a bunch,'' West said. ''I love our wideouts. I love how they work. I love their toughness. I love watching them practice every day. They literally do what we ask them and that's (to) try to practice perfect. "They take coaching well. They know when you get on them that you are getting on them to help them. They are good players, good workers and solid people. They're just fun to be around. It's the best bunch I've ever been around.'' Before camp opened, West said he knew the group was special, but he received confirmation during the second week of workouts. It came after Black, a senior, witnessed a freshman wideout make a mistake. ''I heard him yell at (the young receiver) for busting a play,'' West said. ''And the player was trying to explain what he thought. Steven looked at him and said, 'Man, shut up and listen to the coaches.' ''You don't normally hear that. But that's kind of what they are. These older receivers don't mind telling someone to take coaching. The impact's unbelievable. That's how a lot of our older players are. They've been coached hard, they've been in three bowl games, so they know we have a decent idea what we're talking about.'' During a strong second half of the season that put the Tigers in their fourth bowl in five seasons, receivers came up big. Calhoun caught the game-winning pass at Tulane with 36 seconds left, going to his knees to clutch a short toss from former quarterback Martin Hankins. In a key road win at Hattiesburg -- a place the Tigers haven't succeeded historically -- Singleton caught a pass from Hankins on a slant, shook off his defender, and sprinted to the end zone for a 52-yard score to give the UofM the lead with 1:04 left. ''Those are two really talented guys ... Carlos and Duke,'' West said. ''It's good having wideouts that not only are talented guys but have experience. ''I think what separates our wideouts is the toughness they have. Normally I'm not a wideout fan because they can be prima donnas. But our wideouts work and they are tough guys.'' Said Calhoun, who is returning after undergoing offseason knee surgery: ''We want to be the toughest bunch out there.'' West talks about how the group was toughened under offensive coordinator Clay Helton, who coached the wideouts before taking over the coordinator's role last season. Helton said the group benefited from learning the value of blocking when All-American running back DeAngelo Williams was helped the Tigers to three straight bowls (from 2003 to '05). ''I know coach really praised them (early in camp) for being tough guys,'' Helton said. ''I think that's the way all of them grew up. I think if you remember when all of them were young (players like Jones, Carlton Robinzine, Williams), DeAngelo Williams was here. ''They had to learn how to be really, really physical blockers. Growing up that way has made them a tougher group. They take a lot of pride in blocking. They take a lot of pride in being physical at the line with their releases. Being tough is all mental and that group has the mental toughness right now that we need.'' Second-year receivers coach Darin Hinshaw said the group has benefited from the foundation built not only by Helton, but West. If the Tigers are to make another run at the postseason, the receivers will need to be as productive as they were a year ago. ''These guys are not only working hard, but they are doing the little things very, very well,'' Hinshaw said. ''And that makes the big things happen.'' Other developments Scrimmage moved: Heavy rains Friday that postponed a full-scale scrimmage at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, forced Saturday's practice to be held at Christian Brothers High. The practice fields at the U ofM's Murphy Athletic Complex were too wet and the Liberty Bowl was playing host to a back-to-school concert. CBHS has an artificial turf playing surface. ''Our fields were too wet to practice on and (CBHS football coach) Kevin Locastro was good enough to let us come out here,'' Tiger coach Tommy West said. ''I appreciate him letting us come. It was good to get a change of scenery.'' Several Tiger players -- Corey Mills, Philip Beliles, Brandon Pearce, Brett Russell and John McArthur -- returned to familiar scenery. They practiced at their high school for the first time since their prep days. West said the Tigers likely will reschedule Friday's postponed scrimmage to Monday at the Liberty Bowl. Hudgens sharp: The Tigers conducted a mini-scrimmage of about 40 plays Saturday, highlighted by backup quarterback Will Hudgens' touchdown passes of seven yards to Carlos Singleton and 27 yards to Steven Black. Starting quarterback Arkelon Hall tossed an 8-yard scoring strike to Singleton. Defensively, linebacker Winston Bowens came up with an interception at the goal line on a tipped pass. The defense had five tackles for loss during the session. ''I thought today are energy was little bit better,'' West said. ''We've got to be a high-energy, high-enthusiasm type team. I thought the defensive line had good energy today. I thought defensively we did some pretty good things today.'' |
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| 08/17/08 | |
Andre Turner a Tiger feel-good story -- After 22 years, 'Little General' getting a diploma (Commercial Appeal) |
| To reach reporter Dan Wolken, call 529-2365; e-mail: wolken@commercialappeal.com Andre Turner had a long to-do list on Friday. For the first time in 22 years, graduating from college wasn't on it. "I just picked up my cap and gown," he said. "So I'm ready." Today, Turner will receive a diploma in interdiscipli-nary studies from the University of Memphis during a graduation ceremony at FedExForum. While the personal difficulties of several Tiger players from the 1985 Final Four team have been well-chronicled -- just last week, for instance, Vincent Askew was arrested in Florida -- Turner's success has been an uplifting antidote. When Turner, now 43, completed his eligibility at then-Memphis State in 1986, he was 26 credit hours short of a degree. While playing pro basketball, first in the NBA and then overseas, finding time to finish school was difficult during the few offseason months he spent in Memphis. With his career winding down last summer, the "Little General" began taking classes again as both a transition to his post-basketball career but also to fulfill a promise he made to his grandmother. "She passed about four years ago, but she was extremely adamant about me finishing my degree," Turner said. "I always told her it was something I was going to definitely do, and it was on my mind." Turner decided to play one more season in Spain and took courses online while helping Zaragoza win its division championship. After lasting well into his 40s -- an improbable run for any player, much less a 5-foot-11 point guard, Turner is now content to move into a different phase of life, one that includes his diploma. "When I go and speak and I'm part of a group that's talking about how important education is, it just makes you more viable to be able to say it and prove it," he said. "I would like to think I did a pretty decent job in high school, being in the top 10 percent of my class, but college, if I could do it over, I definitely would have gone to summer school and would have made that extra effort to try to be able to walk after four years." Finishing his degree also opens up the possibility of Turner working in the Memphis athletic department, something he's talked about with both athletic director R.C. Johnson and coach John Calipari. Though Turner isn't sure yet whether his position would manifest itself in the coaching or administrative realm, he said discussions are ongoing. "Getting the phone call to go back overseas and play and finish up on the note that I did was kind of storybook," he said. "But now that I'm here, that's the idea, to sit down more with the university and see how I can work in the university because that's what we've talked about and that's what I want to do. I think I have some ideas that would be very helpful, especially to enhance the international side of the university. I think there are two or three different avenues." Another Dorsey Will Coleman, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Miami-Dade Junior College, knew exactly what he was getting into by committing to the Tigers on Thursday night. When he was on campus for his official visit earlier this month, he could hardly go anywhere without hearing the comparison to former Tiger Joey Dorsey and knows it will only get worse once he arrives on campus in the fall of 2009. Coleman, however, said he welcomes the association. "It feels pretty good to know that my work in the weight room is paying off," Coleman said. Though Dorsey famously said once that he could see muscles in his baby pictures, Coleman's chiseled 260-pound physique did not come quite as naturally. When he enrolled at Miami-Dade, he was just 220 pounds but underwent a physical transformation during his freshman season. Suddenly, a player who originally signed with Arkansas-Little Rock out of high school in Columbus, Ga., was getting recruited by the likes of Memphis, Pittsburgh and Connecticut. Miami-Dade coach Matt Eisle, who described Coleman as an "athletic freak," said he also is on track academically after some difficulties in high school. Coleman has a 3.0 grade-point average and goes into his sophomore year with 39 credits, so qualifying at Memphis shouldn't be a problem. Coleman averaged a double-double last season, but Eisle said the upcoming year will be more of a challenge since he'll be the one drawing double-teams instead of former teammate Steven Toyloy, who is now at Cincinnati. Eisle said Coleman will be the premier junior college post player in the country on a team that has a chance to win its national championship. As for the Dorsey comparison? "I think it's a great comparison," Eisle said. "He's only 19 years old, but I just know how Will's attitude and work ethic is, and he's going to go in there and buy into everything the coaches want. I see no reason why he shouldn't have the same success Joey did because he's as strong and athletic right now as Joey is." Etc. The second annual Rebounders' "High Tops" party at the Calipari residence will be held Sept. 11 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Anyone can attend for $500 (four $100 season tickets and a Rebounders membership) or $350 (two $100 season tickets and a membership). Also, all Rebounders members who have renewed for 2008 can get into the party for $25 per person. Call Harold Byrd at 382-6657 for more information. |
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| 08/16/08 | |
Tigers Practice at Local High School (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - The Tiger football team moved their Saturday practice to Christian Brothers High School because Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium was hosting a concert and the fields at the Murphy Athletic Complex were soaked from Friday's rain. Several players were back "home" as five Tigers played their prep ball at CBHS, including Corey Mills, Brandon Pearce, Brett Russell, Philip Beliles and John McArthur. CBHS recently had a turf field installed, which made the stadium a great alternate practice spot for the Tigers. "This was a little different atmosphere, but I thought it was good," said head coach Tommy West. "Our fields are just so bad. They won't drain and so they were too wet to practice on and Kevin Locastro good enough to let us come out here. I appreciate him letting us come out here today." The squad worked out for just over two hours, which included some scrimmage work for about 30 minutes. The team ended with special teams work on field goal and punts. There were quite a few onlookers in the stands as some people realized that it was the Tigers on the field while they were passing down Walnut Grove Road, and stopped in to catch a glimpse of the team. "I thought today that our energy is getting a little bit better," said West. "We have to be a high energy, high enthusiasm type of team and we are getting a little bit better at that. I thought the defensive line had good energy today. I was really pleased with them." The team will just have meetings on Sunday. The scrimmage that was originally planned for Friday and rained out is expected to be rescheduled for Monday evening. "We have too many people out right now with injuries," said West. "That's one reason that it didn't tear me up that we didn't scrimmage Friday. Hopefully we can get some people back for Monday." "I was wanting a few more days without school," West added. "This coming week is a big week for us because the following week we start school, it's game week and there are a lot of distractions." |
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| 08/16/08 | |
Memphis Soccer Upends Christian Brothers, 4-2 -- The Tigers kicked off the 2008 exhibition slate by defeating CBU (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn.- The Memphis men's soccer team kicked off their exhibition season by defeating their cross-town foes, the Christian Brothers Buccaneers, 4-2, at Echles Field on Saturday night. The game was moved to Echles Field from Signaigo Field on the CBU campus after Signaigo Field took on too much water from Friday's rain showers. "It was really nice to be back at Echles Field," Head Coach Richie Grant said. "It has been a couple of years and I thought the pitch played really well tonight." The game began with a ferocious pace for the Tigers, scoring three goals in the first 30 minutes of the first period. Parker Duncan, a freshman from Johnson City, started off the scoring, taking a throw in from the left side from Ryan Ruble and heading it in past CBU goalkeeper, Daniel Foster in the 17th minute. The goal was Duncan's first in a Memphis uniform. Thomas Shannon followed suit, with a volley off of a Duncan assist. The goal was also Shannon's first in a Memphis uniform. In the 29th minute, senior captain Jordan Lynn, rocketed a free kick into the goal past Foster to put the Tigers up 3-0. "I was very pleased with the way that we did in the first twenty minutes of the game," Grant said. "We were getting goals on set plays and moved the ball quickly." Christian Brothers finally put themselves on the board at the end of the first half, when Brenden Ross won a one-on-one battle with Memphis goalie Michael Goodlett. CBU ran with their momentum gained from Ross' goal, when Rasaq Kuteyi took a Ross assist and headed it in past Goodlett. Memphis ended the scoring in the 66th minute of the contest, when senior Brian Farrell headed the ball into the goal off of Lambuth transfer Rory O'Connor's free kick. "I was excited with the way that CBU came back in the second half," Grant said. "They made a good game of it." Goodlett, a junior from Bolton, Miss., picked up the win in goal for the Tigers. He had one save and gave up two goals to the Bucs. Goodlett notched 79 minutes in goal, while Memphis' Jordan Leedle, a freshman from Franklin, Tenn., finished out the game in goal. CBU's Foster picked up the loss in goal. He had no saves, while giving up all four of Memphis' goals. Saturday's game was the first game for 14 newcomers including, Duncan and Shannon who started the game for the Tigers. "Parker (Duncan) and Thomas (Shannon) both had good games," said Grant. "I was really pleased with them. Both Parker and Thomas really showed that they belonged tonight. It was what we expected when we recruited them, so it was really nice to see them live up to expectations out there tonight. They both have bright futures ahead of them." Memphis will continue preseason two-a-day practice next week. Head Coach Richie Grant's Tigers will battle each other in an intersquad scrimmage at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex next Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 7 p.m. The event is free to the public. The U of M will finish out the preseason with an exhibition match against the NSCAA preseason 19th-ranked Saint Louis Billikens on Aug. 23 at 7 p.m. in St. Louis. |
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| 08/16/08 | |
No slow summer for Tigers -- Players making late decisions to join team (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Originally published 12:03 a.m., August 16, 2008 Updated 10:08 p.m., August 15, 2008 In Tommy West's eight seasons as University of Memphis football coach, never has mid-summer felt so much like mid-winter. Tiger fans accustomed to a steady stream of recruiting news in the winter -- from junior college players signing in December to verbal commitments in January ahead of February's signing day -- have found this as active a period. Consider how busy the summer has been for the U of M. Freshman quarterback Tyler Bass, who signed with Maryland in February, asked for and received his release from the Terrapins. He signed scholarship papers with Memphis in July, getting to campus several weeks before the start of preseason camp. Sophomore linebacker Jamon Hughes, who originally signed with Mississippi State in 2007, joined the Tigers several days into preseason camp. Hughes, from Humphreys County High in Rolling Fork, Miss., played in nine games for the Bulldogs last season as a true freshman and earned Southeastern Conference All-Freshman honors. Junior defensive lineman Tim McGee was part of Minnesota's 31-member signing class last winter, but left to join Memphis, which was among his original choices. Junior college defensive back Chaz Russell, a 6-foot, 195-pound defensive back from Los Angeles Pierce Community College, was one of the few who got away. Russell, who visited the U of M last weekend, narrowed his choices to West Virginia and Memphis before choosing West Virginia earlier this week. He'll be eligible to play this fall. Freshman defensive back DeRon Furr, an Auburn signee, also visited the U of M last weekend and has indicated he'll transfer to Memphis once he receives his release from the Southeastern Conference school. He also would have to sit out this fall. ''I think what's happening is we've tried to recruit that guy,'' West said. ''In recruiting that guy, we might not have gotten him on the front end, but we're getting him on the (back end). ''Jamon Hughes is a great example. We worked really, really hard trying to recruit Jamon (out of high school). He decided he was from down there and he decided to go to Mississippi State. He had some problems down there and we were the first place he wanted to go. ''With Tyler Bass, it was the same thing. We recruited Tyler really hard. If we don't get 'em the first time, we found we've been pretty close so we get them the second time.'' Eligible to play this fall, Bass has been receiving a crash course in the Tiger spread offense from offensive coordinator Clay Helton. Bass, 6-3 and 220 pounds, is a dual-threat quarterback the U of M coveted last winter before he chose Maryland over such pursuers as Louisville, Purdue and Memphis. Rated the nation's No. 73 quarterback prospect by Scout.com, he passed for 1,203 yards and 12 touchdowns for Stockbridge High in Atlanta as a senior and rushed for 606 more. As a junior, he passed for 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns and possesses the ideal size and run/pass talent to prosper in the spread. Hughes withdrew from Mississippi State for the spring semester -- and would have been given the opportunity to walk on as a non-scholarship student-athlete -- but chose to transfer. Per NCAA guidelines, he'll have to sit out this fall. A former East Mississippi Community College standout, McGee had offers from Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Southern Miss before picking Minnesota. He was cleared to practice with Memphis late during the opening week of camp and will be eligible this fall. The summer success story has been a byproduct of several factors. West said hiring a recruiting coordinator -- Justin Crouse is the team's director of player personnel -- has had an impact, as has the program's recent success. Crouse, a former assistant director of football relations at the University of Miami, has been ''watching the waiver wire'' as West terms it. ''J.C. does a great job,'' West said. ''It doesn't matter to me how (players) get here, I just want good people and good players ... I don't care if they go somewhere else first.'' The Tigers' four bowls in the past five seasons -- after only two appearances in school history previously -- also has helped attract four-star athletes. ''We are recruiting a totally different guy from what we were five years ago,'' West said. ''And that's because of success. That's because we've won and played in bowls. (Recruits) want to win and play in bowls. That has more to do with it than anything. ''Now we can get in the door of some big-time players. The perception out there now of the guys we are recruiting (is the program is a success). The guys we're recruiting now were in the eighth grade when we first started going to bowls. They've seen us in a bowl every year but one. That's had a major difference.'' In other developments: A scheduled full-scale scrimmage at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium on Friday afternoon was canceled because of rain. It can't be re-scheduled today at the Liberty Bowl because of a back-to-school concert. Memphis will go through a normal practice today at the Murphy Athletic Complex. Tickets to the Aug. 30 Ole Miss-Memphis game in Oxford, Miss., will be on sale at the Memphis ticket office through Tuesday. The ticket office, located at the school's Athletic Office Building at 570 Normal, is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the week. After Tuesday, fans will have to purchase tickets to the game from the Ole Miss ticket office. For more information, call the Memphis ticket office at 678-2331 or access the Tiger athletic Web site: gotigersgo.com. |
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| 08/15/08 | |
Ten Tigers to Graduate Sunday -- Chris Gardner, Andre Turner and LaTonya Johnson to wrap up academic careers Sunday (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The University of Memphis will gain 10 more alumni and alumnae from the athletic department at Sunday's commencement ceremonies. Women's basketball will add three alumnae while football, men's basketball and men's soccer all have two graduates completing their Tiger academic careers. Volleyball rounds out the group with one graduate. The ceremonies will be held at 3 p.m. at FedExForum. Congratulations to the graduates listed below: Chris Garner, Men's Basketball: A four-year letterwinner from 1994-97, Garner completed his career as the school's all-time steals leader with 321 swipes - a record that stands to this day. Entering the 2007-08 campaign, Garner's 321 steals ranked 20th for a career in NCAA Division I history. The 5-foot-10 Garner, regarded during career as one of nation's quickest guards, also finished his career with 843 points and 639 assists. The 639 dimes are the second-most in Tiger basketball history. Garner led the Tigers all four seasons in assists and steals and is the only player in Memphis history to record 600 assists and 300 steals in a career. A 1994 Great Midwest Conference All-Newcomer Team pick, Garner was also named to the league's All-Tournament Team that same season. In his four years wearing the Blue and Gray, Garner helped lead the Tigers to a combined record of 75-49, three conference regular season crowns (one GMC, two C-USA) and three postseason tournament appearance (1995, 1996 NCAA; 1997 NIT), including a trip to the 1995 NCAA Sweet 16. After his college days, Garner signed as a free agent with the NBA's Toronto Raptors, and also had a stint with the Golden State Warriors. Garner earned his bachelor's degree in University College. Memphis, Tenn./Treadwell HS. Gresh Gorman, Volleyball: Gresh Gorman spent the 2007-08 season with the Tiger volleyball team after spending the 2004-07 seasons as a member of the women's basketball program...Gorman appeared in seven games with the volleyball team, adding 10 digs while playing in the back row...With the women's basketball team, Gorman appeared in 54 career games, including 25 career starts in her sophomore campaign...She averaged 3.1 points and 1.7 rebounds for her basketball career, adding 36 steals and 53 assists...She is receiving a degree in sport and leisure commerce and hopes to go in to coaching...Southaven, Miss./SBEC. Connie Hibbler, Women's Basketball: Connie Hibbler suited up for the women's basketball team from 1984-88, helping then-Memphis State to two NCAA tournament appearances and a 74-43 record...She still ranks 10th all-time in scoring with 1,529 career points...She played in 113 games, starting 95, and was a 47.2 percent shooter from the floor...She also ranks seventh in Memphis women's basketball career history with 349 assists and 95 starts...In 1987-88, as a senior, Hibbler played 990 minutes, still the sixth-best mark in school history...For her career, she played 3,421 minutes, second-best in Tiger history...Her 14 free-throws made against Florida State also still stands in the record book as the third-best single game performance...Memphis, Tenn./Memphis Tech HS. Aroha Jennings, Women's Basketball: Jennings capped a two-year women's basketball career after transferring from Dodge City CC...She averaged 10.0 points and 4.9 rebounds over her career, which saw her play in all 61 games, earning 42 career starts...She also knocked down 42 career three-point field goals and was an 84.1 percent free-throw shooter...A native of New Zealand, Jennings spent the summer of 2007 playing in international tournaments with her country's senior Olympic team...She is receiving her degree in sport and leisure commerce....Rotorua, New Zealand/Dodge City CC. LaTonya Johnson, Women's Basketball: The women's basketball team's first-ever WNBA draftee, Johnson still ranks third in the record book with 2,232 points....She also ranks among the school's career leaders in free-throws made (359), free-throws attempted (483), three-point field goals made (207) and rebounds (686)...She remains one of just two women's basketball players in school history to take a team to the NCAA tournament all four years of her career...A three-time All-Conference USA honoree and a Great Midwest Conference honoree as a freshman, Johnson was drafted by the Utah Starzz in the third round of the WNBA draft in 1998...She played for seven seasons in the WNBA and overseas before spending 2007-08 as a member of the women's basketball support staff, helping in the development of the team's Most Improved Player Award, Savannah Ellis...Winchester, Tenn./Franklin County HS. Adam Montgomery, Men's Soccer: A member of the Tiger soccer team from 2004-2007, Montgomery caps his Tiger career with four goals and five assists in 76 career matches played...The midfielder from Morristown, Tenn., was a Conference USA second team honoree last season and an all-freshman team honoree in 2004, when Memphis won a C-USA Championship...Montgomery also earned NSCAA/ADIDAS Scholar All-South honors in 2007...He was named to the Memphis Diadora All-Tournament team for back-to-back years in 2005 and 2006...Morristown, Tenn./Morristown HS. Rod Smith, Football: Smith had his playing career cut short following a severe neck injury in the 2006 Arkansas State game, where he fractured his C5 vertebrae and required surgery...Was back on the sidelines just four days after surgery...Played in 28 career games, starting 13...Finished with 89 total tackles over three seasons, including 56 solos and 33 assisted tackles...Also added five passes defended and two interceptions...Had 3.5 career tackles for loss and one sack...Received the Top Tiger Award in 2007 and a True Tiger Award at the 2006 Blue/Gray Game...Also received the Chris Faros Most Improved Award in the spring of 2005...Graduating with a degree in sport and leisure management....Milan, Tenn./Milan HS. Tyler Strom, Men's Soccer: A four-year letterwinner with the Tiger soccer team, Strom appeared in 44 career games...He posted a career goals against average of 1.17, the second-best career GAA for anyone who played in more than 1000 career minutes...He stopped 177 saves over four years...In 2007, Strom had a 0.91 GAA, the third-best single season mark in school history....In his senior season, he was also named to the Memphis Diadora All-Tournament team...As a sophomore, he recorded 15 saves against SMU, a feature that had not been accomplished by a Tiger player in 17 years...His .815 save percentage led C-USA in 2005 as a sophomore...Thornton, Colo./Horizon HS. Andre Turner, Men's Basketball: One of the most recognized players to wear the Blue and Gray, "The Little General" directed Memphis during one of the program's best runs in school history. From 1983-86, Turner was a member of Tiger teams that posted a combined record of 108-25, made four-straight NCAA Tournament appearances, three Sweet 16s (1983, 1984, 1985) and one Final Four (1985). A two-time All-Metro Conference pick (first team in 1986, second team in 1985), Turner was named to the 1985 NCAA Tournament All-Midwest Region Team, as he hit two last-second, game-winning baskets in victories over UAB and Boston College en route to the Final Four. The 5-foot-10 guard finished his career with 1,442 points, 763 assists and 272 steals, and is the only player in Tiger history to score 1,000 points, dish out 700 assists and have 200 steals. His 763 assists are the most in Tiger history, and his 272 swipes are the third-most. Turner was a third-round draft pick by the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers in 1986. He also played with the NBA's Washington franchise before playing most of his professional career overseas. Turner earned his bachelor's degree in University College. Memphis, Tenn./Mitchell HS. Ryan Williams, Football: Played in 10 of Memphis' games in 2007, finishing with four tackles...Played in 25 career games, starting two and finishing with 15 total tackles, including 10 solos...Added one blocked extra point attempt against UAB and one fumble recovery. Memphis, Tenn./Christian Brothers HS. |
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| 08/15/08 | |
Last Chance to Purchase Advance Tickets For Memphis-Ole Miss Football Game (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - Tiger fans intending to travel to Oxford, Miss., for the Memphis-Ole Miss football game on August 30, will have their last opportunity to purchase advance tickets to the game from the Memphis ticket office on Tuesday, Aug. 19. The ticket office is open 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., and is located at 570 Normal in the Athletic Office Building. Fans can also call 901-678-2331 or purchase online at www.GoTigersGo.com. The game is not slated for a television broadcast, and kickoff was recently changed from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Because of SEC multi-media policies, live streaming video of the game will not be available. After August 19, Tiger fans will have to contact the Ole Miss box office for tickets. In addition, tickets for the Tigers' seven home games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium are on sale now. Individual game tickets are $30 for prime seats and $10 for fun zone seats. All tickets for the Oct. 10 game versus Louisville are $30. |
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| 08/15/08 | |
Memphis Soccer Kicks Off Pre-Season Practice -- The Tigers take on Christian Brothers on Saturday in their first exhibition match (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS - Mid-80 degree temperatures and a cool breeze greeted the Memphis men's soccer team as they took to the practice field for the first time for two-a-day pre-season training. "I think this has been the coolest weather we have ever had in Memphis during the pre-season," said head coach Richie Grant. "It has always been a really challenging time of year, and that is not to say that it is not still hot, but it is a lot better than it has been in past years. That has made it a little bit more productive, in terms of getting more energy from the players. It has been great to be back in camp so far." Head Coach Richie Grant, his staff, and 26 players, new and old, said goodbye to summer and hello to the upcoming soccer season as they got right down to business preparing for the U of M's first pre-season match-up on Saturday night against cross-town competition, in the form of Christian Brothers University. "It is a super game. We know exactly what to expect from Christian Brothers, it will be a highly competitive match," Grant said. "Clint (Browne) does a great job with his lads. Overall, I just think it is a great game for the city of Memphis and for both of our programs to have in the pre-season. We are very fortunate that we don't have to go far at all to get the type of match that you need in camp." The match against the Buccaneers will take place at 7 p.m. at Signaigo Field on the CBU campus. Christian Brothers is coming off of a season in which they finished 11-6-2 in Browne's fifth season as the head coach for CBU. The Memphis grad has led the Buccaneers into the Top 25 once and has been named the Gulf South Coach of the Year on two occasions. Fans can keep track of Saturday's game live on Gametracker. Leading the way for the Tigers into the Christian Brothers match and beyond, will be six seniors who are no strangers to the grueling schedule that comes with playing soccer in Conference USA. Michael Coburn, Sean Goulding, Tripp Harkins, Thomas Hyland, Jordan Lynn and Robert Sausaman, look to bring the Tigers to heights that they have not reached in a while. It has been four years since the U of M's Conference USA title run. Only one member of that squad, Coburn, remains in the Blue and Gray uniforms of Memphis. Entering the season, Grant showed trust and respect for his six seniors by naming all of them team captains. "We really feel that each one of the seniors deserved the title of captain," Grant said. "They are all very unique individuals and are strong in their own way. However, as a coaching staff, we feel they are actually strongest as a group. As a unit, these six guys can really lead this team in the direction that we want. I think each one of their characters will come through for us at different points throughout the season. These six seniors have been through so much as members of this program. They have played the toughest schedule that this program has ever seen during the last four seasons. They will be a big help with all of the newcomers that we have added to the program." Coburn, the elder statesman of the Tiger seniors, talked about his role as one of six captains. "I have really just been trying to help the newcomers and the guys who have been around for the last two seasons by teaching them that it takes a lot of hard work to be the elite team in the conference," Coburn said. "I have been through it before as a part of the 2004 C-USA Championship team. You just need to work hard and the rewards will come after that." Under the guidance of the six seniors and other experienced Tigers, will be 14 newcomers to the U of M men's soccer program. Two of the newcomers got a head start on their Memphis careers by joining the team during the spring season. Mark Weldon and Harrison Cheatham, both transfers, got to experience what it is like to play for coach Grant and his staff. Joining Weldon and Cheatham, will be 11 freshman and another transfer. Dale Calvert, a freshman from Indianapolis, Ind., reflected on his experiences so far as a newcomer on the Memphis men's soccer team. "Practice has been pretty intense during the last two weeks, we have been doing a whole lot of running and different drills. All the hard work will definitely all pay off in the end," Calvert said. "We are coming in here. We are very excited coming in here as freshman. The first scrimmage is coming up tomorrow against Christian Brothers, so things have been pretty intense in practice. We are just ready to go out there and get after it." Calvert also gave his input on the role the six senior captains have played in helping the newcomers get acclimated to competing as a part of a Division I soccer program. "The six seniors have been a great help as far as leadership goes," Calvert said. "They have been showing us the ropes, and making it clear that we need to get used to all the new things that we are learning and break into everything fast." In order to be successful, the Tigers are going to have to beat the best. Grant did not shy away from scheduling tough opponents. Memphis will play four teams during the regular season that were ranked in the NSCAA Pre-Season Top 25; Bradley, Creighton and C-USA rivals, Tulsa and SMU. The Bradley Braves will be the first team that the Tigers take on that will count toward their overall record. Bradley will serve as the regular-season opener for the U of M at the Memphis Diadora Tournament. The Braves are coming off of a season in which they advanced to the NCAA regional semifinals in 2007 before losing to Ohio State. The 2007 season saw the Tigers finish the season in fifth place in Conference USA, with a record of 10-5-4. They return three all-conference honorees. Coburn was named to the C-USA Second Team and Goulding was named to the C-USA Third Team. Sophomore Ryan Ruble, the team's leading goal scorer, was named to the C-USA All-Freshman team. The Tigers will continue pre-season practice with two-a-days up until the U of M's final exhibition match against pre-season NSCAA ranked opponent, Saint Louis University on Saturday, Aug. 23 in St. Louis. Tiger fans can also catch the team when they play an inter-squad game in a Blue vs. Gray match-up at Mike Rose Stadium on Tuesday, Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. |
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| 08/15/08 | |
Softball to Assist Habitat for Humanity (GoTigersGo.com) |
| The University of Memphis softball team will aid Habitat for Humanity on Saturday, September 13 in building a home in the Memphis area. The Tigers will spend four and a half hours in the morning working on putting up the framing, roofing, doors windows initial blocking and furnace floor of the home. This is the second-straight year the U of M will assist Habitat for Humanity. Habitat for Humanity is an international ecumenical Christian housing ministry that aims to eliminate substandard housing and make safe, healthy and affordable shelter for all people a matter of conscience and action. Since its founding in 1983, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis (HFHGM) has built 309 homes in partnership with Memphis-area families and generous, community-minded businesses, faith-based organizations and individuals. HFHGM makes home ownership affordable for families who would not otherwise be able to achieve "The American Dream" by not charging interest or profit on the mortgage and keeping the cost of construction low through the use of volunteer labor. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis is still in need of volunteers for several dates in its fall 2008 building blitz that runs on the weekends from September 12 to November 1. For more information contact Erica Gorman at egorman@memphishabitat.com or 901-761-4771. |
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| 08/15/08 | |
Tiger coach Tommy West says team must refocus -- Coach expects to see hard play on every snap (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Friday, August 15, 2008 Few preseason college football camps are immune. At some point during the maze of drills, scrimmages and two-a-day practice sessions, bumps and bruises appear, tempers flare and coaches lose their patience with players unwilling to push themselves through different levels of adversity. The University of Memphis, which opened camp Aug. 4, may have hit what coaches refer to as ''the proverbial wall'' this week. It's a mid-August malady characterized by a decrease in intensity and a preponderance of injuries. ''Being play-hard guys, we've got to play hard ... every snap,'' Tiger coach Tommy West said after Thursday's practice, which he deemed better than Wednesday's effort that caused him to lose his patience. ''Sometimes I think we get into thinking schemes are going to win games for us. Playing hard is going to win games.'' Memphis, which has been to four bowls in the past five seasons under West, opens Aug. 30 at Ole Miss. Before the UofM is ready to play a game, it must refocus and rededicate itself over the course of the next two weeks. ''I've got to do a better job demanding that that's what we are (a maximum-effort team),'' West said. ''Right now, you've got Clint McDonald, defensively, that you could follow. I think he plays hard every play. And you've got Brandon Pearce on offense that plays hard every play. ''We've got some wideouts that play hard all the time and we've got some backs that play hard, but we don't have enough. We don't have everybody, every snap, chasing the ball and trying to finish the play. And that's what I want to get (today).'' Today at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, the Tigers will conduct their second full-scale scrimmage of the preseason. The scrimmage will be closed. During last year's run to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, the Tigers turned their season around with a strong second half, winning five of their final six regular-season games. They put together a similar finish in 2003 when they recovered from a 3-3 start to go 5-1 and earn their first New Orleans Bowl bid and snap a 32-year postseason drought. ''If we don't play hard, it won't matter,'' West said. ''Who are we kidding? That's what we've been. We've been a bunch that plays hard every week. ''I'm disappointed I'm talking about this to be honest with you. It's kind of embarrassing that I'm having to talk about playing hard two weeks into camp. But better now than after the first game.'' After Wednesday's evening practice session at the Murphy Athletic Complex, West expressed his displeasure at several players who weren't willing to push themselves through adversity or show proper intensity. ''There's just got to be a conscious effort to do those things (play hard every snap) and there has to be a penalty if you don't,'' West said. ''As coaches, we can't allow (lackluster effort).'' Tiger senior defensive end Corey Mills, a May graduate with a degree in finance, is in his fourth camp in five years. He was unable to practice with the team upon transferring from Ole Miss three years ago, but is familiar with the process of preparing for an upcoming season. ''There always comes that time in camp when coach is going to push you,'' Mills said. ''That's what camp is for. ''He's looking for intensity. Every camp I've been through there comes a time when it gets old and tiring. He's just waiting to see who will push through.'' As the U of M camp nears the end of its second week, the sidelines have become slightly more crowded with players battling injuries. Others, West said, haven't shown enough mental toughness. ''I'm just disappointed we don't have everybody pulling their weight right now,'' West said. ''It's too easy to just not practice right now. I want to see guys fighting for jobs because it's just like I told 'em: We don't have a first-team all-conference player out here. So you're not going to be treated like one.'' |
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| 08/15/08 | |
Tiger football notebook (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Friday, August 15, 2008 Walk-on in the running In his brief time in the University of Memphis's preseason camp, 5-8 walk-on running back Brandon Washington from Los Medanos, a community college in Pittsburg, Calif., has shown he's serious about competing for the third spot on the depth chart behind Curtis Steele and Charlie Jones. In Monday's full-scale scrimmage at the Murphy Athletic Complex, he led all rushers with 47 yards on 11 carries. In Wednesday's mini-scrimmage that ended practice, he busted through a gap in the line to scamper 65 yards for a touchdown. ''Brandon Washington is bringing something to the table right now,'' Tiger coach Tommy West said. ''If he keeps doing what he's doing, I'm starting to feel better about that. I'm not ready to say he's our third back, but he's catching my eye right now.'' Injuries have depleted the position during camp. T.J. Pitts, the team's leading returning rusher, is rehabilitating from ankle surgery and junior college transfer Gregory Ray is nursing a hamstring injury. Freshman Brandon Ross, from Auburn, Ala., is awaiting word from the NCAA Clearinghouse to begin practice. West expects to hear from the NCAA on Ross's status by today. Offense shines An 18-play mini-scrimmage during Thursday's practice was highlighted by two big-play touchdowns by the offense, both in third-down situations. On third-and-5 during the first half of the scrimmage, senior quarterback Will Hudgens zipped a short pass to Duke Calhoun, who made a one-handed grab and turned the completion into a 48-yard scoring play. On the final play of the scrimmage, Steele burst through the middle of the line and sprinted 31 yards for a touchdown. ''We came through (as an offense),'' quarterback Arkelon Hall said. ''Coach West kind of got on us, so we really tried to step it up a bit.'' No. 1 vs. No. 1 Monday's scrimmage consisted of about 82 plays, approximately the number of snaps West intended to put his team through. As for today's scrimmage, he's not putting a number on it. ''It's going to be enough plays that I feel like we're playing the way we are supposed to play,'' West said. ''I'm not going to rush. I'm going to take the time. ''I'll get the No. 1 offense and No. 1 defense out there and we're going to play hard on both sides of the ball. I want us to play like gangbusters.'' Weaver still waiting Tiger junior linebacker Josh Weaver had hoped to be able to participate in camp for the first time this week, but team doctors told him to delay his 2008 debut. ''Josh went to the doctor (Tuesday) and he's still a little bit weak,'' West said. ''He's not quite at the strength level where they feel it's safe (for him to play). So we're probably looking at another week. I really anticipate within a week we can have him back.'' West said Weaver will be able to recover the lost practice time. ''He can help,'' West said. ''He's been practicing, just without contact. He's a really smart player and he knows what we're doing and he can come right in.'' |
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| 08/14/08 | |
Top five sporting events no Tiger fan should miss (Daily Helmsman) |
| By: Jesse Morrison Issue date: 8/14/08 As an incoming freshman, college can seem like a daunting task. Friends go off to different schools, you have to get used to a new schedule of classes and sometimes Ramen Noodles are your only friend. Getting adjusted to this new environment can sometimes seem challenging, but there's always one thing that can bring together new friends when all else fails - sports. For an incoming freshman, these are a few things that will make the transition a little bit easier. Consider these the Top 5 Sporting Events Not To Miss in 2008: 1. University of Memphis vs. University of Louisville; Football Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium 10/10/08, 7 p.m. Broadcast nationally on ESPN, this match-up between the Tigers and the Cardinals is the first game in a home-and-home series between the two teams. Since the Conference-USA split in 2005, U of M fans have wanted some kind of showdown with their long-time rivals. Louisville, a former mainstay of the conference, jumped ship from C-USA to the Big East. Until earlier this year, it wasn't certain whether the two schools would play each other ever again. The last time The U of M and Louisville faced each other in football was Nov. 5, 2004 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in a shoot-out for the ages. Then ranked No. 14 in the country, the Cardinals escaped Memphis with a 56-49 victory. In front of an estimated crowd of 52,384, the two teams battled back and forth until the end of the game, with the score tied 49-49. Finally, with 37 seconds left on the clock, Louisville scored on a 1-yard run to take the lead and would go on to win the game. Now in 2008, gone is record-breaking quarterback Danny Wimprine, who threw for 361 yards and four touchdowns in that game. Gone is former Heisman hopeful DeAngelo Williams, who rushed for 200 yards and a touchdown. Going into this season, the Tigers will have to replace starters at both quarterback and tailback. Despite these uncertainties at key positions, one sure-thing is that they will put up a fight against Louisville. The Liberty Bowl will be filled up by Tigers fans wanting to exact revenge on their former conference rivals and as a freshman, it is one of the events that must be seen in person. Even though it'll be on ESPN, there's nothing quite like seeing such a huge game in person. 2. Memphis Madness FedEx Forum In October, U of M students will get the opportunity to see something nobody else in the country can - a sneak preview of their basketball teams. Each year the Tigers unveil the men's and women's basketball teams for the next season, followed by a Blue versus Gray scrimmage between the men's team. It's always a good chance for people to come out and see what kind of team head coach John Calipari has assembled. Fans will get the chance to see returning seniors Robert Dozier and Antonio Anderson take the floor, as well as incoming freshman sensation Tyreke Evans. Another major part of the evening is a dunk contest between a few of the players. Even though fans can see the team play and go through the offense during the scrimmage, there's nothing quite like a slam dunk competition, especially with the type of athletes the Tigers have suiting up. And last but not least, each year before any the festivities start, the team is available to sign autographs near the lobby of the Forum. So instead of asking Shawn Taggart to sign a t-shirt in line at the TigerDen or chasing Willie Kemp down outside the library, students can get the signatures from their favorite Tigers all in one place. From basketballs to posters, they'll sign it all. And if the Tigers win it all this year, it'll be a nice piece of history to stick in the trophy case at home. 3. University of Memphis vs. Tulane University; Volleyball, Elma Roane Fieldhouse, 10/03/08, 7 p.m. For students who don't want to spend another Friday night playing Xbox in the dorms, they can take a walk across campus to the Fieldhouse for a night of volleyball. Even for students who don't live on campus, it's worth the trip up to school to see this game. While some students might prefer FedEx Forum or the Liberty Bowl, there's nothing quite like catching a game at the Fieldhouse. As the only sports venue on the main campus, it gives students the chance to come together for a game without even having to drive anywhere. The volleyball team finished last season with a 23-12 record, and they protected home court with a record of 12-4. In a preseason poll voted by C-USA coaches, The U of M is predicted to finish seventh in the league. The Tigers lost several key players to graduation, but they return a pair of starters in sophomore Christine Bach and senior Laura CĂ´té, who was named to the Preseason All-Conference team earlier this month. Last season, CĂ´té finished third in the league in assists with 12.62 per contest, a number which was also 38th in the nation. She's the leader of a relatively inexperienced cast. The Tulane Green Wave, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. After a compiling a record of 28-6 in 2007 and returning all 13 players from last year's squad, they're slated to be a heavy favorite. Even if The U of M is the underdog, this match-up against the conference juggernaut should bring people out in masses to cheer their Lady Tigers to victory. 4. Intramural Sports Student Recreation and Fitness Center For the student who didn't receive a scholarship to play on the basketball team, intramural sports might be the right place to be. It's a good chance for freshmen, transfers and all students alike to join a team and try to win something together. It gives students the opportunity to meet and build friendships with other people who are interested in the same thing. For the fall, the Rec Center offers dodgeball and kickball tournaments, as well as leagues for flag football, indoor soccer and volleyball. Former high school stars, former elementary school stars and people who have never even played a sport in their lives - all can come together and find some type of league to join. There are different leagues for Greek life, co-ed, religious groups and independent groups among others. 5. Men's or Women's Soccer Game, Mike Rose Soccer Complex Even though it's a good 30 minutes away from campus, the drive out to Mike Rose Soccer Complex in Collierville is worth it to catch a game or two. With the women playing mostly on Fridays and Sundays and the men playing on Saturdays, the weekend is full of opportunities to drive out and see them play. The men finished last season with a record of 10-5-4 and have been ranked in the Top 25 for at least one week in each of the past four years. They return almost all of their players to the field, including a defensive unit which allowed the fewest goals in C-USA last year. The women's team finished last year with a record of 17-4-1 and won both the C-USA regular season and tournament championships. With a non-conference home schedule that includes Alabama, Miami, Oklahoma and Colorado, the Lady Tigers will look to continue their winning ways against some tough teams. |
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| 08/14/08 | |
As football season looms Liberty Bowl contract remains undecided (Daily Helmsman) |
| By: Joseph Russel Issue date: 8/14/08 With kickoff to football season less than a month away, the Tigers still don't have a lease to play in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. While a final contract is still "in review," neither side has reached an agreement. "As far as we know, no kinks are being worked out right now," said Elbert Jefferson, legal representative for the city of Memphis. "We're just reviewing the contract and taking care of our due diligence." University of Memphis legal counsel Sheri Lipman disagreed. "The hold-up right now is that we have a set amount of money we want to pay and the city wants us to pay more," she said. Lipman said she couldn't discuss the terms of contract negotiations, but said that the school will likely seek a deal lasting into 2012 or 2013. "Usually the contracts we have with them are around four or five years," she said. "I think the last contract we had was for two or three years. That's why we're entering these talks earlier than we usually would." U of M athletic director R.C. Johnson isn't too worried about the whole situation, because The University has been through a situation like this in the past. "A few years ago, the football team played three seasons of a five-year contract that wasn't signed until after the third year," said Bob Winn, associate athletic director of external affairs. While university officials hope there will be a lease officially signed by the time the Tigers' home opener against Rice on Sept. 6, they know they will still have a place to play football even if a deal can't be worked out before then. "The Liberty Bowl opened in 1965 and we've been playing football there ever since," Winn said. "We've never missed a season and there's no reason to think we will anytime soon." While Winn said he thinks the issue will be resolved without a problem, he doesn't know how deep both sides are into negotiation. "As far as the athletic department goes, we have not seen a written contract laid out in front of us," Winn said. "But I have enough faith in the legal counsel of the city and the legal counsel of The University that they'll get it taken care of. The city is a great friend to this institution and I'm certain this contract will get worked out." Even though Winn said the city and The University have been working together for a long time, he knows everything must come down to business when dealing with these kinds of circumstances. "I know we're still in negotiations and I'm sure it's a lengthy contract, so it'll be long-going until both sides reach an agreement," he said. "There's going to be a lot of give-and-take." Even with all of the uncertainties over when a deal will be struck or the details of the contract, both sides are confident that they'll get it taken care of. "The University and the city of Memphis are both governmental entities and we'll work together to find a solution. People shouldn't worry because we both keep the taxpayers in mind when we deal with these things," Lipman said. "We have faith in the city and they have faith in us that the situation will be resolved." |
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| 08/147/08 | |
Athletic department hit hard by rising gas prices (Daily Helmsman) |
| By: Joseph Russell Issue date: 8/14/08 As fuel prices soar, the cost of charted buses and airplanes only gets more expensive. In order to keep up with the slipping economy, the athletic department is working to cut back on its travel expenses. "As fuel prices go up, travel costs are going to go up," said Bill Lofton, assistant athletic director of finance. "We have to figure out ways to make it as least evasive as possible." For The University of Memphis athletic department, which expects to face a $500,000 budget cut from the state, the need to control travel expenses is at an all-time high. "Whether by bus or by plane, we are obligated to send our teams to compete," Lofton said. "Yes, the teams will have less money to spend, but right now our needs come first, wants come later." Each athletic director at The U of M met last month to decide the best way to approach this problem. "We have to go back and look at where each team is playing their away games, and what would be best for them," Lofton said. "For example, we could take a bus to Knoxville but if we took a bus trip to El Paso, the team would be in no condition to play once they're there. There are a lot of things we're looking at." Each team at The University has been given instructions on how to deal with the fuel crisis, including scheduling games that would create less strain on the travel budget. The only problem is that most contracts for upcoming games will be "set in stone" for up to two or three years at the least. "Coaches schedule games so far in advance - two, three, even four years. Right now we're scheduling football games for 2013, 2014 and 2015" said U of M athletic director R.C. Johnson. While some contracts to play other schools have been set in place for the next few years, Johnson said there's no reason they can't start preparing for the future. "With conference schedules, there's nothing we can do about that. One thing we're trying to do more than anything else is watch expenditures on non-conference games," Johnson said. The only thing coaches have control over is who they play on their non-conference schedule. "What we told coaches, with their non-conference schedules, is to play more regional games than national games," Johnson said. After years of struggling for financial stability, The U of M athletic department will have to face another uphill battle as long as fuel prices remain so high. Johnson isn't worried, though. "This is a universal problem. People in L.A., people in New York - they're all feeling the financial pinch. No coaches got raises this year. Nobody at The University did," Johnson said. "Everybody is in the understanding that these are tough times. We just have to tighten the belt a little and we'll be okay." While the athletic department's wallet just got lighter, Johnson said there's one thing he hopes to have completed by mid-August that would help. "We're working to get an all-school project for apparel," he said. "Hopefully once those bids come in and we have one company providing all of the products for our teams, it saves up on money we can apply to travel." |
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| 08/14/08 | |
Tigers get commitment from junior college forward (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Dan Wolken (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Originally published 10:27 p.m., August 14, 2008 Updated 10:27 p.m., August 14, 2008 The University of Memphis basketball program got its second commitment of the 2009 recruiting class Thursday night when Miami-Dade Junior College forward Will Coleman gave a verbal pledge to coach John Calipari. A 6-foot-9, 265-pound physical specimen in the mold of former Memphis players Chris Massie and Joey Dorsey, Coleman adds an athletic big man to a recruiting class that could end up being heavy on skill. “I feel excellent,” Coleman said by phone Thursday night. “Just the whole environment up there, the team, the staff, the whole environment. I loved it.” Coleman was under-recruited out of high school in Columbus, Ga., in part because he weighed just 220 pounds and because he didn’t begin playing basketball until his junior year. He originally signed with Arkansas-Little Rock but then went the junior college route due to academics. After gaining nearly 50 pounds and routinely putting up double-doubles in his first season at Miami-Dade, Coleman drew the attention of high-major assistant coaches including Memphis’ Orlando Antigua. “When I first went to Miami-Dade, no one knew who I was,” Coleman said. “I played my heart out, as a freshman and did what I had to do. I listened to the coaches, and just my name started flying I guess. It all came together.” Coleman joins Nolan Dennis, a shooting guard from Dallas ranked in the top-50 in the country, in the Tigers' recruiting class. They are still pursuing several of the nation's elite players, including point guard John Wall and shooting guard Xavier Henry. |
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| 08/14/08 | |
Football Weight Room Fundraising Campaign (GoTigersGo.com) |
| The University of Memphis Athletics Department is about halfway to its goal of fundraising money for a 12,000 square-foot weight room for the Tiger football team. The weight room is part of a $10 million campaign that will also include a covered indoor practice field. The 12,000 square-foot weight room would be connected to the existing Murphy Athletic Complex on the facility's east wing, which will let players move from the locker room, to the weight room, to the indoor field without having to leave the complex. The indoor practice facility (Phase 2) will be constructed on Field One, the eastern-most of the four 100-yard practice fields.
The current Murphy Athletic Complex last underwent additions in 2003, when a locker room and theater-style meeting rooms were added to the complex.
The Football Weightroom Fundraising campaign is being headed by former Shelby County Mayor Bill Morris. Allie Prescott and Scott Foreman are also serving on the committee. Print Out a Pledge Form as a PDF Return all Pledge Forms to: Tiger Scholarship Fund 570 Normal, Suite 119 Memphis, TN 38152 |
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| 08/14/08 | |
Mark Finnegan Returns to Tiger Tennis as Assistant Coach -- Former tiger tennis player returns to the court as an assistant coach (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Former Tiger tennis player Mark Finnegan has returned to the blue and gray, this time as an assistant coach under Paul Goebel, it was announced Thursday. This is Finnegan's second stint as a Tiger assistant coach after spending some time as an assistant with the women's tennis team following his graduation from the University of Memphis in 2004. "We're really excited to have Mark back with us," Head Coach Paul Goebel said. "He's already had a lot of really good ideas for the team and he's a great guy to bring back to be around our guys." Finnegan graduated from Memphis in 2004 with a degree in finance after playing two seasons after transferring from Georgia Southern. He battled a shoulder injury his first season, but bounced back to post a 28-21 career singles mark in a Tiger uniform. He also posted a 12-6 mark in doubles with former Tiger assistant coach Alex Jago. Jago returned to his native Australia earlier this summer after spending the past season as a Tiger and Lady Tiger assistant coach. After his graduation, Finnegan returned to his native Ireland and worked for the National Irish Bank. He returned to the U.S. and went to work as the Program Director at the Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center in Key Biscayne, Fla. There, Finnegan worked with hotel guests and local residents and oversaw the junior tennis program. He left the Drysdale Tennis Center in January of 2008, becoming a tennis instructor at the Point Clear Tennis Center in Alabama. He continued his coaching career there, coaching ranked junior players for Goebel called with the Tigers' coaching vacancy. "I'm excited for the opportunity to be a role model for these young men like many coaches and older players were to me during my collegiate tennis years," said Finnegan. "There are not many opportunities to coach college athletics and I am excited that this one was presented to me. The chance to work with coach Goebel, who coached me, is one that I couldn't pass up. Their is not a coach who cares more for his players out there." Finnegan married his wife, Molly, in May of 2008. |
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| 08/14/08 | |
Lady Tigers Wrap Up Preseason With a Tie -- Defensive Standoff as Memphis Ties at Western Kentucky 0-0 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Bowling Green, Ky. - The University of Memphis women's soccer team wrapped up its preseason games Thursday afternoon against Western Kentucky. Coming off a defeat to the hands of preseason No. 5 Notre Dame on Tuesday night, the Lady Tigers were looking to bounce back for their first win of the '08 season in Bowling Green Ky. this afternoon. Last season Memphis and Western Kentucky faced off in an exhibition match as well. At the end of regulation the score was 0-0. In the overtime period freshman Vendula Strnadova netted the game winning goal with 1:55 left in the extra session to give the Lady Tigers and exhibition victory. Today's final exhibition game kicked off at 1:00 p.m. After 90 minutes of play, the two teams had ironically finished regulation once again in a 0-0 deadlock. The decision was made not continue to an overtime period and the game simply ended in a scoreless tie. Defense was the name of the game today as there were only seven shots on goal in total for both sides. Both defenses held strong giving the offenses minimal scoring opportunities. Goalkeeper Elise Kuhar Pitters played all 90 minutes in goal for the Lady Tigers and saved all four shots that came her way. Memphis finishes up the exhibition season with a record of 0-1-1 and will take the field next Friday, Aug. 22 for their first regular season match against Arkansas-Little Rock at 5:30 p.m. at Mike Rose Stadium. |
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| 08/14/08 | |
New Tiger aide doesn't hold back -- Pollard coaches with an in-their-face style (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Dan Wolken (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Thursday, August 14, 2008 No matter how hot the rivalry with Southern Miss has burned over the years, University of Memphis football coach Tommy West saw it in much different terms when he had an opening on his staff last winter. Instead of having to worry about breaking the code to Southern Miss' defensive success, he suddenly found himself in position to tap into it. Now, West is hoping the addition of cornerbacks coach Lytrel Pollard, who played at Southern Miss and was an assistant under Jeff Bower from 1999-2007, will translate into a turnaround for the Tigers' secondary this season. "When we had the opening, I was interested in him basically because they played good defense there," West said. "They've always been one of the better defenses in our league." Memphis, of course, has not been in that category the past couple seasons. The Tigers were 10th in rush defense last year among Conference USA teams and ninth in pass efficiency defense, leading to major changes that included the hiring of defensive coordinator Tim Walton. Not only does Pollard hope to bring some of his coaching experience from Southern Miss, which was second in the league last season in total defense, but also a new coaching style that more aggressively challenges players to reach their potential. "I'm just in your face, and I'm a lot bigger than a lot of corner and DB coaches," said Pollard, who played linebacker for the Golden Eagles from 1994-97. "A lot of DB coaches aren't walking around my size. Standing over them, I'm just in their face, and they know how I am from the beginning of practice to the end because on Saturdays, the game will live and die on what we do on the back end, out wide. If we can't cover, we ain't gonna be real good." While college programs traditionally employ one coach for the entire secondary, West split duties for the safeties and cornerbacks a year ago as a concession to the number of spread offenses in C-USA, which often demand playing five or six defensive backs. Communication breakdowns and butting heads sometimes made it a tough transition, so West made it a priority to find a coach who could mesh philosophically with Walton (who coaches the safeties) and echo his message on the practice field. "They've worked really well together," West said. "Last year, I had two coaches and two voices, and you can't have that. You have to have two coaches and one voice." And apparently, that voice is a loud one. "He's a very serious guy," senior corner Michael Grandberry said. "If he tells you to do something, he expects you to do it perfect ... or he's going to get you." Though Pollard acknowledges that intimidation is part of getting his message through, he believes that his arrival will be especially beneficial at this moment, with a hodgepodge of players at the cornerback positions. Grandberry, for instance, is a former kick-return specialist who will now be counted on to start on the left corner. Junior Deante' Lamar, who is slated to start on the opposite side, also has more experience on special teams than in the secondary. "When you get new coaches, it's new life for some kids," Pollard said. "Grandberry didn't play at corner last year, and Lamar didn't play at corner last year, and those guys are playing good. They're even different now than they were in the spring. They carry themselves a little different because they know they have a chance to be pretty good and start Game 1." It's a new life for Pollard, too, who was unexpectedly out of a job last winter after Bower was fired on the heels of his 14th straight winning season. Pollard actually accepted a job with Louisiana-Monroe but backed out quickly when the opportunity to work at Memphis came up. "Having to leave somewhere I'd been since I was 17 years old was really different," he said. "I knew this was the type of program I wanted to be a part of. Coach West reminded me a lot of coach Bower, a guy that's real demanding, wants to do the best for the kids and just brings a lot of positive attitude around. This felt more like being part of what I had been a part of." |
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| 08/13/08 | |
Four-star football recruit to transfer from Auburn to Memphis (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Wednesday, August 13, 2008 The father of four-star recruit DeRon Furr said his son, a quarterback-safety who signed with Auburn in the spring, is transferring to the University of Memphis. The elder Furr told the Ledger-Enquirer of Columbus, Ga., in today's edition that his son will sign scholarship papers with Memphis as soon as Auburn releases him from the National Letter of Intent he signed last winter. Furr, 6-3 and 217 pounds, enrolled at Auburn in January after graduating early from high school and participated in spring workouts. During preseason camp, he fought with teammate Zac Etheridge on the first day of practice and eventually left the team. Etheridge told reporters he initiated the fight to elicit more intensity from Furr. The elder Furr said his son was not leaving because of the altercation, but because of a familiarity with U of M defensive coordinator Tim Walton and his reputation for developing defensive backs. Walton came to Memphis after coaching the secondaries at Miami and LSU. Furr would have four years of eligibility remaining beginning in 2009 after sitting out this season per NCAA transfer rules. Furr visited the U of M last weekend and is a former standout at Carver High in Columbus, Ga., the same school Walton attended. Furr was recruited to Auburn as a quarterback, but switched to safety, the position he is expected to play at Memphis. His father, DeRon Furr, Sr., said his son chose Memphis over Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech and UAB. UAB and Georgia Tech were interested in Furr as a quarterback, the position he played in high school. As a senior, he led Carver to the Class AAA title and accounted for more than 2,300 yards total offense and 28 touchdowns. Named the Class AAA Offensive Player of the Year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Furr also earned first-team All-State honors. Rivals.com listed him as the No. 22 prospect in the state and the No. 31 ranked athlete in the nation. Memphis officials are not allowed to comment on Furr's status, per NCAA guidelines, until he gets his release from Auburn and signs with Memphis. |
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| 08/13/08 | |
West dishes out the heat (Memphis Edge) |
| Posted by Phil Stukenborg So far, the University of Memphis practices during preseason camp have escaped the worst of the heat. The Tigers have been working out in the morning (beginning at 5:45 a.m.) and at 5 p.m. during two-a-days. The afternoon workouts have been conducted in relatively pleasant conditions. And that’s why Tiger coach Tommy West had a difficult time with Wednesday’s afternoon session. “I think we’ve got some guys that have some tweaks about them and they’re not practicing,” West said. “And to leave this practice today because of heat? You’ve got to be kidding me. It’s 85 degrees. “I’m a little bit disappointed in some (of the players’) mental toughness (when) we’ve got (offensive lineman) Brandon Pearce going with both (the first- and second-team offensive lines). I’ve done a poor job with that, but I can get that (corrected). . . . right now I don’t feel like we’ve got everyone pulling their load.” |
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| 08/13/08 | |
Impressive post-signing day additions (Memphis Edge) |
| Posted by Phil Stukenborg With the news Auburn freshman defensive back DeRon Furr intends to transfer to Memphis — once the necessary releases and scholarship papers are signed — the Tigers continue to add to an impressive post-signing day collection of talent. In fact, it may be the best post-signing day haul in the program’s history. Consider the players the Tigers have added since February: * Miami running back Charlie Jones, who will be eligible in the fall. * Maryland freshman quarterback Tyler Bass, who will be eligible in the fall. * Mississippi State sophomore linebacker Jamon Hughes, who must sit out this season per NCAA transfer rules. * Minnesota junior defensive tackle Tim McGee, who will be eligible in the fall. Add to that collection LSU transfer linebacker Derrick Odom, who came to the U of M in Janaury and the list becomes more notable. Odom was one of the top linebacker prospects in the nation coming out of Callaway High School in 2006. He’ll be eligible to play in 2009. |
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| 08/13/08 | |
Tigers Practice Twice on Wednesday -- Squad set for full scale scrimmage Friday evening (GoTigersGo.com) |
| MEMPHIS, TENN. - The Tiger football team had their second two-a-day session of fall camp Wednesday, working out at 5:45 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Murphy Athletic Complex. The squad came out in shorts and shells in the morning session and was treated to cool temperatures. A fog remained throughout the early morning but by 8 a.m., the sun was out and the temperature began to climb. West put his group through light game action towards the end of practice and the Tigers spent 30 minutes working on special teams play to end the session. Darius Davis was held out of action with a slight knee injury, and Carlton Robinzine remained sidelined with a hamstring pull. Greg Ray and T.J. Pitts both continued to work with the strength and conditioning staff. The afternoon session was more intense with the Tigers in full gear, including Duke Calhoun, who was held out of contact work on Tuesday. The team opened with field goal work and then went into position drills. The end of practice saw a mixture of special teams work as well as some full contact scrimmage action. A few highlights from some of the scrimmage action included a 28-yard run by Curtis Steele and a 50-yard pass completion from Will Hudgens to Steven Joachim. Hudgens also had a 12-yard pass to Maurice Jones, and Arkelon Hall connected with Cam Baker for a 15-yard completion. "I am really kind of disappointed right now because it seems we have some guys who have some tweaks about them that are not practicing," said coach Tommy West. "I am a little disappointed in some of their mental toughness right now. I know who is working their tail off right now. Like our running backs, we are working three backs right now and they are working their tails off going on special teams. "We have to get everybody out here pulling their load," added West. "It is too easy just to not practice right now. I want people to be out here fighting for jobs. The guys who are out here are the ones who are going to play in the opening game." The squad will work out once on Thursday morning at the Murphy Complex, and will have a full scrimmage on Friday evening at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. "I want to see a little more intensity from both sides at the scrimmage on Friday," West said. "I thought Monday we had decent intensity from the defense but I want to see them chase the ball, and I want to see the offense come off the ball and get after it a little bit better than what we have been doing. I am not concerned about throwing and catching. That will be there. I want to see us get after it a bit in the run game and I want to see our defense chase the ball." |
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| 08/13/08 | |
Catching Up With Men's Tennis -- Q&A with Benedikt Fischer, Senior from Dusseldorf, Germany (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Benedikt Fischer is a senior on the men's tennis team. He originally hails from Dusseldorf, Germany. Fischer transferred to Memphis in the Fall of 2006 from Tyler Junior College in Tyler, Texas. Last season for the Tigers, he competed at the No. 5 and No.6 singles spots. Fischer put up a record of 12-6 in dual matches, ranking him as the U of M's leader in dual singles wins. Along with putting up the numbers on the tennis court, Fischer has been successful in the classroom, as well. The senior has been named to the C-USA All-Academic team for the past two seasons. What are your personal and team goals going into your senior season as a member of the Memphis Tigers' Men's Tennis? "I came here with the mission to help get the team back to into the rankings and we have still yet to do that. I am setting out to do anything I possibly can to help get us back into the rankings. That is one of the main reasons I returned for my senior season. I didn't want to leave the program without accomplishing the main goal I set out to accomplish." "As a personal goal, I want to crack the rankings and do whatever it takes to get to the NCAA Tournament. It doesn't matter if I make it by being ranked or by having a solid conference tournament. I always try to set out to win in the conference tourney. Though my personal goals are important, they aren't as important as my overall team goals. The team comes first." What has it been like moving from Dusseldorf, Germany to Texas and then to Memphis, Tenn.? "It has really been a different overall experience. When I came here in the fall of 2006 I was fascinated with how nice and helpful everyone around the university and the city were. I have been really impressed with the attention that the athletic department puts on the student-athletes and everything that the athletic department does to help us with anything and everything that we need. We don't have anything like it in Germany. In Germany, you really don't have the opportunity to be a `student-athlete'. The focus is either put on the student part or on the athlete part, their really isn't an in between." You have been named to the C-USA All-Academic team two years in a row. What does it take to remain a good student, while also remaining committed to your athletic team? "It is really all about good time management skills. As a student-athlete one really needs to have a lot of focus and be able to stay organized. Being part of the tennis team has really helped me stay focused in the classroom." What has been the difference with going from a tennis program at a junior college to a NCAA-affiliated tennis program? "Tennis-wise their really hasn't been that much of a difference. The differences come in the academic area. The junior college classes are a lot easier than anything you take at the University of Memphis. Also, it is a lot more professional at Memphis and we have a lot more support from the athletic department as student-athletes." What role did your parents have in you moving from Germany to the United States? "They were really the driving force behind everything. They always taught me to take advantage of all the opportunities that are presented to you. So when the opportunity at Memphis was presented to me, I jumped at it. I am glad I did, because I love the University of Memphis and the tennis program. Now my parents just have to get used to, because I intend on staying here long after college." What are you plans after you graduate from Memphis? "I am majoring in business right now and am sort of looking at the finance field. I really don't know for sure what I want to do yet. I am just going to try to do some internships in the business field and see how I like it. I am pretty much open to anything though." |
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| 08/13/08 | |
Tigers' backfield thin (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Wednesday, August 13, 2008 A former Auburn University and NFL running back, James Joseph is comfortable with a heavy workload. In his second season as the University of Memphis' running backs coach, Joseph expected to be somewhat busier this preseason, working with a larger contingent of players than he has during the first two weeks. But injuries have thinned his ranks. Veteran T.J. Pitts, the team's leading returning rusher, continues to rehabilitate from offseason ankle surgeries. He broke his ankle in the team's R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl appearance in December and has yet to practice. Junior college transfer Gregory Ray, who missed part of last season at El Camino (Calif.) Community College with a hamstring injury, is dealing with the same problem during camp. He may be back next week. That has left Joseph to work with Curtis Steele, the co-MVP of the spring game, and University of Miami transfer Charlie Jones as the top two backs. Steele entered preseason camp atop the depth chart and Jones' presence at No. 2 is deserved placement. ''The most important thing now is to get the guys work without overworking them,'' Joseph said. ''Curtis Steele is our starter and he and Charlie Jones are doing a great job of carrying the offensive load right now.'' Steele, from Franklin, Tenn., rushed for 96 yards on 15 carries in the spring game and scored a touchdown. He also was named Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year at the UofM's postseason banquet. ''I think what Curtis proved to us in the spring is that he can be battle-tested,'' Joseph said. ''He can play a little banged up and bruised. That part of it I'm not concerned about any more because I've seen him do that. ''Right now it's just getting him to understand week-to-week preparations. And understanding during the fall, it's not a matter of only physical work, it's a matter of preparing mentally." Jones graduated from Miami in May and has a year of eligibility remaining. He was officially cleared by the NCAA Tuesday to play at Memphis this fall. He has been practicing with the Tigers since camp opened last week. ''We're just ecstatic about him being eligible,'' Tiger coach Tommy West said. ''I think Charlie is really happy. I think it can be a big year for him. With him and Curtis as our backs ... those are two quality backs.'' At Miami, Jones, 5-10 and 220 pounds, started seven games during his three seasons, rushing for 713 yards and 10 touchdowns. ''I think Charlie's been great because he is more of a veteran than Curtis is right now,'' Joseph said. ''But they both complement each other very well.'' Pitts rushed for 481 yards on 106 carries last year and finished the regular season with the two best performances of his career. He gained 71 yards against UAB and rushed for 112 yards -- the first 100-yard game of his career -- in a triple-overtime victory over SMU. Before his injury, Ray, 5-10 and 205 pounds, started for an El Camino team that sent two other backs to major college programs. ''It would have been the ideal situations if we could have had all those guys there,'' Joseph said. ''But we'll have to play with the hand we're dealt and just be smart about the approach, not only to practice, but off the field. We need to make sure they get enough rest.'' West has been pleased with the efforts of Steele and Jones during camp. But he'd like to identify the third back as soon as possible. Memphis opens the season Aug. 30 at Ole Miss. ''Our first two backs are doing well,'' West said. ''I've got to find a third back out here. We'll go to work on that now. Once we can find that, we'll have the three backs we can play with.'' Steele, a back with the ability to quickly move through a hole, hasn't played a game at the Division 1-A level, but understands no team can survive the rigors of a 12-game season without proper depth. ''We are going to need some help because some people are going to get banged up and bruised up and we are going to need some help,'' Steele said. ''Hopefully, I'll be able to make it through the whole season. I know Charlie will help me out some, but we do need some depth.'' Note: Tiger defensive back Brandon Patterson will undergo surgery today to repair a broken nose suffered in a camp drill earlier this week. He is expected to return to practice next week. |
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| 08/12/08 | |
Backfield boost (Memphis Edge) |
| Posted by Phil Stukenborg Tiger coach Tommy West received expected, but welcome, news on the running back front Tuesday. University of Miami transfer Charlie Jones was given the green light by the NCAA to play for the Tigers this fall. Jones is the first player the Tigers have had who is taking advantage of a 2006 NCAA rule in which the NCAA grants a waiver to student-athletes who have graduated and enrolled at a school in a graduate program not offered by their previous school. Jones is the no-nonsense veteran the backfield needs with junior T.J. Pitts, the team’s returning rushing leader, sidelined until likely next month. Jones runs with power and speed and is a complement to the quicker, lighter Curtis Steele, who is running with the No. 1 offense. |
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| 08/12/08 | |
Tiger football scrimmage No. 1: Mixed reviews (Memphis Edge) |
| Posted by Phil Stukenborg The Tigers conducted their first full-pads scrimmage of the preseason Monday and the outcome, like most of these endeavors, was mixed. Defensively, there was intensity and a number of punishing blows. Defensive back Alton Starr struck receiver Duke Calhoun so violently on a quick slant that Starr had the breath knocked out of him. Calhoun was okay. Offensively, the disappointing thing for Tiger coach Tommy West had to be the play of his offensive line and quarterbacks. The offensive line, a veteran group, is expected to help a team with a first-year QB (Arkelon Hall) and first-year running backs (Curtis Steele, Charlie Jones and Gregory Ray) have time to develop and acclimate themselves to the spread offense. But West was critical of the line and the play of the U of M quarterbacks. |
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| 08/12/08 | |
Lady Tigers Drop First Exhibition Match to Notre Dame -- NSCAA No. 5 Ranked Fighting Irish defeat Lady Tigers 3-1 (GoTigersGo.com) |
| Notre Dame, Ind. - The preseason C-USA favorite University of Memphis women's soccer team began exhibition play tonight at NSCAA No. 5 Notre Dame. The pure speed and physical play of the Fighting Irish along with their great depth proved to be too much for Memphis as they downed the Lady Tigers 3-1. The Lady Tigers played tonight without a pair of their game changers. Emiko Schwab and Vendula Strnadova were both named to the preseason All-C-USA list this morning, but were sidelined tonight with injuries. Head Coach Brooks Monaghan explained how this may have impacted the outcome. "We were without Emiko (Schwab) and Vendula (Strnadova) tonight," Monaghan said. "They are two of our best players, All-Conference players and they are a big part of our midfield. Our other players came out and did a wonderful job, but I do think that did affect us and the flow of the game." In the first half the Fighting Irish confirmed their No. 5 ranking by out-shooting the Lady Tigers 13-3. However, at the end of 45 minutes of play, Memphis had held the deficit to just 1-0 at the half. The only goal of the first period was scored by Notre Dame senior forward Kerri Hanks at the 30:47 mark. Notre Dame netted two more goals in the second half working the score to 3-0. The second goal came from sophomore midfielder Erica Iantorno who was able to deposit a rebound in the back of the net at the 64:57 point of the second half. The Irish's final goal was scored at the 70:57 mark as Ellen Jantsch dumped the ball to Irish teammate Taylor Kknaack who sent it home. Even while the Lady Tigers played with a 3-0 deficit late in the second half on the road against No. 5 Notre Dame, they did not back down and would not go home empty handed. At the 75:03 mark, sophomore forward Ashley Berra dribbled towards the corner and launched the ball towards the goal. The Fighting Irish goalkeeper was unable to handle the hard shot as the ball fell off her hands into the goal ending the chance for a shut-out. "It is a credit to our kids that they kept fighting and they were not intimidated," Monaghan said. "We had some chances and we fought hard. We feel as if Notre Dame is one of the best teams we play this season and we can look back at this match and say that we can play with the best and we should ultimately be able to contend with everybody on our schedule." Berra's goal would be the only score for Memphis as the game ended with a final score of 3-1. The Lady Tigers came away defeated, but also with a great experience of playing against a high caliber top ranked team. With their first game under their belt coach Monaghan talked about his team's performance and the upcoming game. "We are in the first week of the season and we immediately play one of the top teams in the country," Monaghan said. "The better team did win the game today, but we took a lot out of the game. There were several positives we can take away and there are also many things we need to work on. But most of all it was a great opportunity for us to get most of our players on the field to play against a quality opponent. We are looking forward to building on this game and we can now look forward to our next test Thursday which will be another tough game for us against Western Kentucky." The Tigers spend the day on the road Wednesday traveling to Bowling Green, Ky. to face off against Western Kentucky Thursday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. |
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| 08/12/08 | |
Memphis Chosen C-USA Women's Soccer Preseason Favorite -- Lady Tigers Place Three on Preseason All-C-USA Team (GoTigersGo.com) |
| IRVING, Texas - Defending C-USA champion Memphis has been selected by the league's coaches as the preseason favorite to be the Conference USA women's soccer champion in 2008.
The Lady Tigers are coming off their first conference title and first NCAA Women's Soccer Championship appearance. Memphis returns three all-conference selections from a team that earned a school-record 17 wins (17-4-1) in 2007. Sophomore midfielder Vendula Strnadova, last season's C-USA Freshman of the Year and all-conference first team selection, was voted onto the C-USA preseason squad along with teammates Kylie Hayes and Emiko Schwab. The pair of seniors both earned all-conference second team honors last season. Memphis also ties with Colorado College for the most players on the All-Conference USA team, both placing three on the list.
Senior forward Kylie Hayes leads Memphis into the 2008 season as the leader in career goals for the Lady Tiger soccer program. She earned 2007 second team All-C-USA accolades. Hayes, the third-leading goal scorer in the conference last season, leads the way for a Lady Tiger offense that led C-USA in goals, goals per game, shots and points categories in 2007.
Senior midfielder and 2007 team MVP Emiko Schwab earned several honors for her outstanding play last season and is expected to bring the same effort and intensity to the field in 2008. Schwab was the second-leading scorer on the team with 19 points. She earned second team All-C-USA honors, as well as earning a place on the All-C-USA Championship team. She also earned NSCAA All-Central Region second team honors.
Sophomore Vendula Strnadova was a great addition to the Lady Tigers last season. As a freshman, she played in all 22 matches while netting six goals on the year. She was voted the Conference USA Freshman of the Year and was the only freshman to be named to the C-USA first team. Soccer Buzz named Strnadova to its All-America second team as well as Central Region first team and Central Region Freshman of the Year. NSCAA/adidas named her to the All-Central Region second team. She was also named newcomer of the year by her teammates.
Colorado College junior forward Emily Beans and teammate Molly Uyenishi, a senior defender, were named the preseason C-USA Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively.
The top eight teams at the conclusion of the regular season earn a spot in the 2008 Conference USA Championship, hosted by Rice, on Nov. 5-9 in Houston, Texas. The league's 14th season kicks off Friday, Aug. 22.
The following is the list of the 2008 preseason awards announced by Conference USA 2008 C-USA PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Emily Beans, Jr., F, Colorado College (Griffith, Ind.) 2008 C-USA PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR Molly Uyenishi, Sr., D, Colorado College (Hawthorn Woods, Ill.) 2008 PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE USA TEAM Emily Beans, Jr., F, Colorado College (Griffith, Ind.) Tiffany Brown, So., F, Colorado College (Sterling, Va.) Molly Uyenishi, Sr., D, Colorado College (Hawthorn Woods, Ill.) Amber Campbell, Sr., GK, East Carolina (Frederick, Md.) Kylie Hayes, Sr., F, Memphis (Piqua, Ohio) Emiko Schwab, Sr., MF, Memphis (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) Vendula Strnadova, So., MF, Memphis (Las Cruces, N.M.) Sarah McFadden, Sr., F, Southern Miss (Magherfelt, Northern Ireland) Nikki Moore, Jr.., D, UCF (Virginia Beach, Va.) Hanna Wilde, Sr., MF/F, UCF (Westlake, Ohio) Kate Edwards, So., MF, Rice (Westlake, Ohio) |
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| 08/12/08 | |
Two Players Move On at 2008 ITA Championships -- Ashley Murdock and Leon Nasemann advanced to the third round of the 2008 ITA Summer National Championships (GoTigersGo.com) |
| BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Two U of M tennis athletes survived to play another day at the 2008 Intercollegiate Tennis Assocation Summer National Championships. Ashley Murdock and Leon Nasemann will face third round competition today in Bloomington, Ind. Four other Tiger's will compete in the consolation bracket. Amanda Brown, Marjorie Ondeck and Dara Toulch of the women's tennis team, and Charlie Ramsay, of the men's tennis team, all lost matches yesterday, but will look to avenge those losses in consolation play on Tuesday.
Murdock, a junior from Memphis, opened the tournament by defeating Amanda Moccia of Western Michigan in three sets. The returning All-CUSA honoree, matches up against Alabama's Paulina Bigos in third round action on Tuesday at 8:30 a.m., in Bloomington. Bigos, a junior for the Crimson Tide from Krasnik, Poland, posted a 16-18 singles record last season. Bigos upended Vanessa Pangikas of St. Peter's College, 6-0, 6-1, in action yesterday.
Nasemann, a sophomore for the Tigers, defeated Patrick Dwyer of Iowa in the first round, 6-3, 6-2. Nasemann continued to roll in singles play, taking down another Big Ten opponent, Michael O'Connell of Ohio State, 6-3, 6-2. Nasemann will take on Justin Raiti of Division II-affiliated, St. Edward's University, at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday. St. Edward's finished last season ranked No. 22 in the nation.
In consolation play, Toulch is poised to face Halee Elmore of Saint Louis University at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Toulch, lost in second round play to Anamika Bhargava of Pepperdine, 6-0, 6-0. Elmore, who was named Second Team All-Atlantic Ten last season,was defeated by Christina Keesey of Ohio State, 7-6, 7-6.
Also set to play a consolation match on Tuesday are Brown and Ondeck. She will take on Denise Azcul at 11:30 a.m. Brown was defeated by Lindsay Kinstler of USC in the second round of Monday's action. Ondeck will face off with Hannah Blatt of Vanderbilt at 11:30 a.m.. Ondeck won her first match on Monday vs. Emily Dudzik of Western Michigan, but fell in her second match of the day to Molly Scott of Darmouth, 6-3, 6-3. Blatt of Vanderbilt is originally from Nashville. Vanderbilt finished the 2008 season ranked 10th-best team in the nation.
On the men's side of the consolation bracket, Ramsay is set to take on David Streeter of Michigan at 1:00 p.m, on Tuesday. Ramsay was defeated in his first round match against Mak Kendall of Indiana, 7-6, 6-1. Streeter finished the season with a 8-4 record for the Wolverines.
The ITA Summer National Championships will continue to be played until Friday, Aug. 15. Updates on results can be found at the end of the day on the University of Indiana's athletic website. Monday First Round Jordan Smith, Memphis def. Michael Baugh, Unattached 6-0, 6-0 Mak Kendall, Indiana def. Charlie Ramsay, Memphis, 7-6, 6-1 Spencer Heflin, Memphis def. Jon Wegener, Ball State, 6-2, 6-1 Leon Nasemann, Memphis def. Patrick Dwyer, Iowa, 6-3, 6-2 Marjorie Ondeck, Memphis def. Emily Dudzik, 6-7, 6-2, 1-0(6) Second Round Tyler Davis, Notre Dame def. Jordan Smith, Memphis, 6-2, 6-2 Lachlan Ferguson, Indiana def. Spencer Heflin, Memphis, 6-2, 6-1 Leon Nasemann, Memphis def. Michael O'Connell, Ohio State, 6-3, 6-2 Lindsay Kinstler, USC def. Amanda Brown, Memphis, 1-6, 7-5, 1-0(5) Anamika Bhargava, Pepperdine def. Dara Toulch, Memphis, 6-0, 6-0 Ashley Murdock, Memphis def. Amanda Moccia, Western Michigan, 6-0, 4-6, 1-0(7) Molly Scott, Dartmouth def. Marjorie Ondeck, Memphis, 6-3, 6-3 Tuesday Third Round 8:30 a.m.- Ashley Murdock, Memphis vs. Paulina Bigos, Alabama 10:00 a.m.- Leon Nasemann, Memphis vs. Justin Raiti, St. Edward's Consolation 11:30 a.m.- Amanda Brown, Memphis vs. Denise Azcul, Unattached 11:30 a.m.- Marjorie Ondeck, Memphis vs. Hannah Blatt, Vanderbilt 11:30 a.m.- Dara Toulch, Memphis vs. Halee Elmore, Saint Louis 1:00 p.m.- Charlie Ramsay, Memphis vs. David Streeter, Michigan |
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| 08/12/08 | |
Mistakes plague first Tiger scrimmage -- Defense shines, but errors frustrate West (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Tuesday, August 12, 2008 First full-scale football scrimmages of the preseason -- those with officiating crews, accelerated intensity and cheering sidelines -- rarely elicit praise from the head coach. Monday's scrimmage at the University of Memphis's Murphy Athletic Complex didn't stray from that template. Tiger coach Tommy West's 82-play scrimmage had its moments, but most were not ones West would enjoy reliving. In a workout dominated by the defense, the offense had its share of shortcomings. A rugby punt was blocked and returned for a touchdown. There were two interceptions and a lost fumble. ''A lot of mistakes,'' West said. ''And way too many mistakes offensively. I'm really shocked we put the ball on the ground twice ... a quarterback and a (running) back put the ball on the ground with fumbles. Then we had a couple of picks. We've got to get that corrected.'' The Tigers, who open the season Aug. 30 at Ole Miss, have time while they break in a new quarterback (junior college transfer Arkelon Hall) and new running backs (junior college transfer Curtis Steele and University of Miami transfer Charlie Jones). Steele and Jones have been running 1-2 in the camp. Another first-year running back, junior college transfer Gregory Ray, has been slowed by a hamstring injury and top returnee T.J. Pitts continues to rehab from multiple surgeries to repair an ankle he broke in the New Orleans Bowl. From the beginning of Monday's early morning scrimmage, the defense stepped up. About 20 plays in, Tiger linebacker Winston Bowens picked up a rugby punt that had been blocked by Clinton McDaniel and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown. A few series later, defensive back D.A. Griffin, a transfer from Itawamba (Miss.) Community College, leaped high to intercept a Will Hudgens pass, but the play was nullified because of defensive offsides. Sandwiched around the interception that wasn't were four consecutive tackles for loss by four different defenders, including Griffin. ''I thought that, defensively, our intensity was good,'' West said. ''We've still got some learning to get in the right places. But, overall, I liked the intensity defensively. Offensively, I thought we were poor in the offensive line and I was a little disappointed in the intensity level. I didn't think we really came to play up front offensively and it kind of showed.'' The offense had a few highlights -- receiver Maurice Jones sprinted 35 yards on a reverse, Hudgens kept 20 yards for a touchdown -- but it was a scrimmage filled with defensive plays. Defensive lineman Jada Brown recovered a Steele fumble midway through the workout and two series later defensive back Clay Lee, a freshman from Orlando, intercepted a pass that slipped through the hands of tight end Deven Onarheim and returned it 15 yards. ''The only thing that hurt our defense was penalties,'' West said. ''We had 'em stopped on third down twice and had a penalty that gave 'em first down. But the intensity level, defensively, was much better. That's why you saw (defenders) in the backfield.'' For the most part, first-year Tiger defensive coordinator Tim Walton liked what he observed. Big plays by the offense were kept to a minimum and punishing hits by the defense were abundant, including one by defensive back Alton Starr on Duke Calhoun that knocked the breath out of ... Starr. ''It was nothing more than guys playing hard and chasing the ball with relentless effort,'' Walton said. ''That's what our motto has to be.'' Redshirt freshman Joel McCleod, 6-3 and 315 pounds, had several tackles for losses and cornerback LeRico Mathis, who tied for the team lead with three interceptions a year ago, had a sack. ''We have a chance to be decent if we play with great effort all the time,'' Walton said. ''I think the guys tried to fly around. When you do that, you can have fun. There's still a lot of mistakes to correct, but, at least, they tried to play hard.'' Offensively, West knows where the corrections need to be made before the next full-scale scrimmage, which will be Friday. ''We probably think we are a little bit better than we are right now on offense,'' West said. ''Maybe I've bragged on 'em too much, although I thought our backs, outside of the one fumble, and our wideouts were really good. We weren't good enough in the offensive line and at quarterback.'' Steele, co-MVP of the spring game, said the offense performed well during a brief scrimmage conducted during Saturday's practice. Monday was a different outcome. ''It felt like we weren't being ourselves,'' Steele said. ''The defense dominated. And we couldn't respond ... in no kind of way.'' |
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| 08/12/08 | |
Tiger Football Notebook (Commercial Appeal) |
| By Phil Stukenborg (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Walk-on impresses With Tiger running backs Gregory Ray (hamstring) and T.J. Pitts (rehabilitating from ankle surgery) sidelined Monday, a walk-on from Los Medanos College in Pittsburg, Calif., got extensive work. Brandon Washington, a 5-8, 188-pounder, carried 10 times for 41 yards and had the the longest run from scrimmage by a back (17 yards). "He's very quick," fellow running back Curtis Steele said. "I hear he's got something like 4.3 speed. He told me he was in the 4.37, 4.39 range. He shows it on the field, too." A native of Baker, La., Washington drew praise from Tiger quarterback Arkelon Hall, who compared Washington's running style to that of former UCLA star Maurice Jones-Drew, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars. ''Little Brandon is exciting to watch out there,'' Hall said. Tiger running backs coach James Joseph called Washington ''a little sparkplug.'' ''He's done a great job of coming in and providing an instant boost,'' Joseph said. ''The challenge for him, because he's a week behind, with the playbook. We can't afford to stop right now so he's going to have to learn most of the stuff on the run. So far he's shown some ability.'' West assessing While it wasn't an artistic success, the scrimmage allowed Tiger coach Tommy West to assess his next step as he prepares his team for the 2008 season. "I tried to get somewhere around 50 plays with each group (Monday), somewhere around 100 (total) plays,'' West said. ''I guess we got somewhere in the low 80s. But I thought it was enough. I got to see what I needed to see. Now I know what we need to work on to get better for Friday.'' The Tigers' next scrimmage is scheduled for Friday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Rooting interest Quarterback Will Hudgens has a reason to keep up with the swimming competition at the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. Hudgens, a multi-sport standout in high school, was on the swim team at Ridgeway with Olympian Gil Stovall, who competed Monday in Beijing in the 200-meter butterfly qualifying. Hudgens played football, basketba |