University of Memphis Athletics
Tigers Host Miners on Saturday
Sep 29, 2005 | Football
Sept. 29, 2005
MEMPHIS, TENN. - The University of Memphis will host UTEP in a C-USA match-up this Saturday at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast by CSTV with Billy Burke and Tom Hart providing the commentary.
Fans are reminded to arrive early as the Mid-South Fair is in full swing in that area. Tickets to the game are good for free admission to the fair on Saturday. The first 10,000 fans will receive a rally towel. Also, employees of AutoZone and Baptist Hospital can come by the Athletic Ticket Office on the corner of Southern and Normal to purchase $8 tickets to the game. You must show your employee ID for the discount.
Saturday's game will be the first ever meeting between the Tigers and Miners on the gridiron.
With the Conference USA realignment, the league now has East and West divisions for football. For the second-straight week, the Tigers, an East Division member, will play a Conference USA rival from the West Division in UTEP. Memphis played Tulsa last Saturday.
Memphis is one of two East Division teams to open league action playing two West Division opponents. UAB is the other East Division team to open with two West Division opponents (Rice, SMU). On the West side, Rice is the only team to open C-USA play against two East opponents (UAB, East Carolina).
While Memphis will face UTEP for the first time in its history, Tiger coach Tommy West has coached against the Miners in his career. West's Clemson Tiger team met UTEP in the 1997 campaign. West coached Clemson to a 39-7 win over the Miners on Oct. 4, 1997.
UTEP, PRICE TRIPS TO TENNESSEE: While Saturday's game will be both UTEP's and Miner head coach Mike Price's first trip to Memphis, it will not be their initial venture to the Volunteer state. UTEP's previous visit to Tennessee came in 1990, and the Miners dropped a 56-0 decision in Knoxville. In 1994, Price brought his Washington State team to Knoxville, and lost a hard-fought 10-9 game to Tennessee.
MEMPHIS IN CONFERENCE USA HOME OPENERS: Saturday's contest is the Tigers' Conference USA home opener, and they have had quite a bit of success in those games. Memphis is 7-2 in C-USA league home openers. Under head coach Tommy West, Memphis is 3-1 in conference home openers. Last year, the Tigers defeated Houston 41-14 in their league home opener.
TIGERS LOSE SECOND QUARTERBACK TO BROKEN LEG: For the second time in just three games, the University of Memphis football team suffered a blow to the offense by losing another quarterback for the season to a broken leg. Redshirt freshman Will Hudgens started his second game of his career against Tulsa this past Saturday and late in the fourth quarter suffered a fractured fibula and ligament damage in his right leg. Hudgens will be evaluated by team doctors on Monday and the course of treatment will be decided at that time. Hudgens started the last two games after starting quarterback Patrick Byrne broke both his right fibula and tibia in the first offensive series of the season opener against Ole Miss.
GIVE ME A 'D': The Memphis defense has recorded an interception in each of the last four games, which includes the GMAC Bowl in 2004. Five different Tigers total an interception this season, including Tim Goodwell, Wesley Smith, Rod Smith, Brandon McDonald and Brandon Patterson. The Tiger defense has also recorded nine sacks this season, with Marcus West and LaVale Washington leading the way with two sacks apiece.
GIVE ME ANOTHER 'D': Senior running back DeAngelo Williams, who ranks second nationally in rushing with 171 yards per game, has run for more than 200 yards in back-to-back games. He totaled 205 in the win over Chattanooga and returned a week later to roll off 223 yards against Tulsa. It was the second time in his career that he had posted 200 or more yards in consecutive games.
