Tigers Football Preview: Houston

Thursday, October 19

Houston, Texas

7:00 p.m. CT

University of Memphis

Houston

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Oct 18, 2017 | Football

2017 Memphis FB Notes 10 19 HOU 17 Houston FB Game Notes_Memphis

AAC West Division rivals play pivotal showdown Thursday.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The famous song, "On The Road Again," could be a fitting refrain for the University of Memphis football team's early schedule in American Athletic Conference play in 2017.

For the third time in their first four league encounters, the Tigers find themselves on the road. Even if the UCF game was not rescheduled from Sept. 8-9 to Sept. 30, Memphis still would have played three of its first four conference games away from the Bluff City.

The Tigers are the only team in the American Athletic Conference to play three of their first four league contests on the road (at UCF, at Connecticut, home vs. Navy, at Houston). In addition, Memphis is the only conference school to play its first two league games away from its home turf (at UCF, at Connecticut).

The Tigers, though, have been rather successful on the road in The American since 2014. In that span of time that also includes this season, Memphis is 10-4 in conference road games.

Quick Game Facts

Opponent	Houston
Day/Date	Thursday, Oct. 19
Time	7 p.m. (CT)
Site	Houston, Texas/TDECU Stadium
Television	ESPN
Radio (Flagship)	600 WREC AM/Rock 103 (102.7 FM)

Memphis Head Coach Mike Norvell comments
"Last weekend was great for our football team. Our players went out there and played at an exceptionally-high level against a program that has been so very successful. All in all, the effort was absolutely incredible. It was relentless all over the field, the passion our kids played with. We've got a short week as we go on the road to Houston. They're coming off a little setback which reminds me of the setback we had a few weeks ago in Orlando. They were in a game that was very close through three quarters, and then they had a couple of turnovers and some bad things happened. We're playing a team that is extremely talented, very explosive and very well coached. Going down there, our kids are excited because they know what comes with this game. The last three games between Memphis and Houston have all come down to one score. We know we're going to see a 60-minute game, and that's what we've got to prepare for."

(On Houston)
"Offensively, they're very multiple in what they do. They want to have balance running and throwing the ball, and they've got a quarterback that can do a little of both. They've got depth at quarterback, and they also have big receivers, guys that can run. They have explosive players all over that side of the ball. Defensively, it all starts with their defensive tackle, Ed Oliver, who, I think, is the most impactful player in our conference and one of the most impactful defensive linemen in the country. I'd say he's one of the best defensive linemen, regardless of conference. He's a phenomenal player. And, when you surround him with so many other explosive athletes that can create problems with their defensive scheme, it leads you to some sleepless nights. It's going to take the best of our preparation to be able to handle these guys defensively."

Tigers Tidbits/Five Notes To Know

Thursday's game is the 26^th all-time meeting between the two programs. Houston holds a 15-10 lead in the series. The Tigers and Cougars have played 11 previous times in Houston, and Houston holds a 7-4 lead in those meetings. The Cougars took the last match-up played in Houston, a 35-34 come-from-behind victory in 2015. The last Memphis win in Houston was a 35-20 victory in the 2005 campaign. The Tigers won last season's meeting with a thrilling 48-44 win over No. 18/21 Houston at the Liberty Bowl.
Memphis is facing Houston on short-week preparation Thursday, but the quick turnaround has been rather successful for the Tigers in recent seasons. Since 2000, the Tigers have a 5-2 record in short-week turnaround games (5 or fewer days between games). Memphis has won its last two short-week match-ups with victories over Cincinnati in 2015 and Temple in 2016 – both coming at home.
The Tigers are playing the third of their five non-Saturday games this season at Houston Thursday. Memphis already has wins over Louisiana Monroe (Thursday/Aug. 31) and Connecticut (Friday/Oct. 6) in non-Saturday games this season. But, the Tigers' success in non-Saturday contests is nothing new. Since 2014, Memphis is a perfect 11-0 in non-Saturday match-ups. Of those 11 wins, six have come on the road. In that stretch, the Tigers are 3-0 in Thursday encounters and 8-0 in Friday games.
With a win Thursday, the Tigers would improve their record to 6-1. If successful, the 2017 squad would become only the 10^th team in program history to begin a season with a 6-1 or better record. The 2017 team would join the 2015, 1963, 1962, 1961, 1950, 1949, 1938, 1933 and 1929 squads to have a 6-1 or better start for a campaign.
A Thursday victory for Memphis also would tie the 2017 seniors as the winningest four-year class in program history. The 2017 class enters Thursday's match-up in Houston with 32 total victories (32-13 record). The winningest four-season stretch in Tigers football history is 33 wins from 1960-63 (1963 senior class). The 1963 seniors had a record of 33-5-1.

Know Your Foe/Houston Facts-Stats Leaders

Quick Facts	Statistical Leaders (6 games)
2017 Record: 4-2/2-1 The American	Rushing: Duke Catalon (431 yds/4 TD)
Head Coach/Yrs: Major Applewhite/1^st in 2017	Passing: Kyle Postma (805 yds/4 TD); Kyle Allen (771 yds/4 TD)
Starters Returning: 18 (9 Off/8 Def/1 Special Teams)	Receiving: Steven Dunbar (40 rcpt/462 yds/); Linell Bonner (37 rcpt/344 yds/3 TD)
Letterwinners Returning: 54	Tackles: Matthew Adams (57 total/4.5 TFL)