Memphis hosts the Green Wave in a conference West Division clash Friday.
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Say it, Tiger Nation. Go ahead, say it.
Bowl eligible!
For the first time in program history, the Tigers are going to four-consecutive bowls. Last week, Memphis wrapped up a postseason invitation with its sixth win of the season in the Tigers' come-from-behind win at Houston. The previous-longest bowl streak was three-straight years from 2003-05.
However, there is work still to be done. Four more regular-season battles for the conference's West Division title. An appearance in the league's title game. It's all within the Tigers' grasp, and the climb continues Friday versus Tulane.
 Quick Game Facts
Opponent
Tulane
Day/Date
Friday, Oct. 27
Time
7 p.m. (CT)
Site
Memphis, Tenn./Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Television
CBS Sports Network
Radio (Flagship)
600 WREC AM/Rock 103 (102.7 FM)
 Memphis Head Coach Mike Norvell (Coming off emotional win at Houston last week)
"At this point in the year, every game is emotional because every game matters. You get into conference play, playing divisional opponents, and there's a tremendous sense of urgency to improve, a tremendous sense of urgency to continue to put your best foot forward. All this football team has accomplished has put us in a better position so that every game truly matters. One of the biggest things going into last week was securing bowl eligibility. That's four-consecutive years. That's something that this team, this group of seniors, is going to be able to say for the rest of their lives. They were part of the winningest team to ever come through this football program, and they were able to go to a bowl game every year.
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Pick up a copy of the Tigers Gameday Program at Friday's contest.
 "I take great pride in that because it guarantees that they're going to get one more opportunity to play together. This team loves each other. They understand there's a lot of work that goes into it, and they understand that everybody's got a piece of it. This last game was a 60-minute battle. The week before, it also was a 60-minute battle. And, we've got be ready to do the same this week. We've got a football team coming in that's very well-coached, that is talented with explosive playmakers, and it's going to take our best effort."
    (Will having played Navy's triple-option attack help against Tulane)
"They are so different. Yes, they like to run the football. Yes, they're option-based. They want to control the clock. They run play-action. But, it is a very different presentation. For us, there's not going to be a whole lot of carry-over (from the Navy game). You've got to play assignment football. You've got to be physical at the point-of-attack. We've got to try to steal some possessions by creating takeaways."
 Tigers Tidbits/Five Notes To Know
Friday's match-up is the 34th all-time meeting between the two programs, and Memphis holds a 21-11-1 lead in the series. The Tigers have won the last 10 encounters, with average margin of victory at 22.4 points. Of the last 10 meetings, only one was decided by single digits (28-27 in 2007). Last season, Memphis posted a 24-14 win over the Green Wave in New Orleans. The last Tulane victory in the series was a 37-14 win in 2000, and the Green Wave's last victory in the series at the Liberty Bowl was a 41-31 win in 1998. That 1998 Green Wave team posted a perfect 12-0 record, finished the season ranked No. 7 in both national polls and was one of two Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) undefeated teams that campaign.
Playing non-Saturday games may be a little inconvenient for Tigers fans to get to the Liberty Bowl to see their team play. But, playing non-Saturday games sure has been successful for Memphis in recent seasons. Since 2014, the Tigers are a perfect 12-0 in non-Saturday games. Memphis is 4-0 in Thursday night contests and 8-0 in Friday night match-ups. After Friday's Tulane game, the Tigers have one more non-Saturday contest this season (Nov. 3 at Tulsa).
The 2017 Tigers seniors are looking to make program history Friday. With a win over the Green Wave, the 2017 seniors will become the winningest four-year class in school history. Those seniors enter Friday's game tied with the 1963 seniors (1960-63) as the winningest four-year class with 33 victories. The 2017 seniors have a 33-13 record, and the 1963 class went 33-5-1.
With just 70 yards Friday, Anthony Miller would become the program's all-time leading receiver in terms of yardage. Miller has 2,912 receiving yards entering Friday's contest versus the Green Wave. Former standout Duke Calhoun, who suited up for the Tigers from 2006-09, holds the record with 2,981 yards. Miller also is second to Calhoun in career receptions (Calhoun, 212; Miller, 197).
Friday's Memphis-Tulane match-up features a battle in the passing game. The Tigers enter the game with the American Athletic Conference's top passing offense at 333.4 yards per game. On the other side, the Green Wave defense holds opponents to 190.6 passing yards per game, which is tops in the league. Memphis has over 250 yards passing in six of its seven games this season. The lone exception was 97 yards vs. Louisiana Monroe in the torrential downpour brought in by Hurricane Harvey as it moved through the Bluff City. While there is no hurricane-like storm expected Friday, the forecast for the contest is a 100 percent chance of rain.
