University of Memphis Athletics
Tigers Continue Preparation For New Orleans Bowl
Dec 14, 2003 | Football
Dec. 14, 2003
New Orleans, LA -
The Memphis Tigers fought through cold and windy conditions Sunday morning as the team practiced for an hour and a half at Tulane in preparation for Tuesday's New Orleans Bowl game at the Superdome.
"Our guys knew that they had Friday and Saturday to go out and have all the fun they could have. They are just soaking it all up. I think they have, by the looks of things. They were dragging a little on the way over here, but they came out and practiced hard. They know now that it is time to get down to business."
The team spent half of the session polishing offensive and defensive game plans, while the final 45-minutes were used to work on special teams.
Memphis quarterback Danny Wimprine led his unit in a spirited two-minute offense drill and former LSU tailback and New Orleans native Derron Parquet handled most of the running plays in placed of injured tailback DeAngelo Williams.
The Tigers will practice in the Superdome on Monday at 5 PM and a special event is planned for U of M supporters and fans later that evening.
Memphis fans should enjoy a New Orleans style parade on Monday. The parade is slated to begin at 6:30 PM at the corner of Bourbon and Canal Streets and will wind its way through the French Quarter ending at Silky O'Sullivan's at approximately 7:15 PM. The parade will feature floats, the Memphis Marching Band, Tiger cheerleaders, as well as the University president, athletic director and other dignitaries.
On North Texas: "They are a very solid football team. They don't make many mistakes. On defense, they play coverage and don't blitz a lot. They make you be patient, and that has not been our strong suit. We are a quick-strike type of team. We will try to get our shots, but we are going to have to be patient. We cannot come down here and make mistakes like we did in our last ballgame."
"I don't think there is any question that they (North Texas) have an advantage, having been here the last two years. Two years ago, they were just happy to be here, and Colorado State clocked them pretty good. They came back last year and they knew the deal, and they came out and beat what I thought was a really good Cincinnati team. But, I think our guys are pretty mature. We have eight seniors who are going to make sure we are focused and are ready to play on game day."
Senior Coot Terry (#37):
"Our celebration is over now. We are getting focused on what we came down here for, and that is to get nine wins. We (the seniors) all try to be leaders to this group. We really haven't been going out and partying as much as most people think we have. We have just spent a lot of time hanging out in our rooms."
