Tigers Football Preview: UCF

Friday, September 8

Orlando, Fla.

Postponed Due to Hurricane Irma

University of Memphis

UCF

Photo by: Matthew Smith

Sep 07, 2017 | Football

2017 Memphis FB Notes 09 09 UCF 2017_UCF_G_2_vs_Memphis American FB Release 09 05

Memphis faces another opener, more inclement weather for a second-straight week.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – For the second week in a row, the University of Memphis "opens" a season. Last week's contest against Louisiana Monroe was the official season and home opener. This Friday, the Tigers open American Athletic Conference play at UCF.

In addition to being another opener, the Tigers are expecting Mother Nature to play a major role again, with Hurricane Irma closing in on the state of Florida this weekend. In the season opener versus Louisiana Monroe Aug. 31, Mother Nature brought heavy winds and rain as remnants of Hurricane Harvey swept through the Mid-South region. With their victory over the Warhawks in the midst of Harvey, the Tigers enter Friday's match-up a little "storm-tested" in case Irma should bring some inclement weather.

Quick Game Facts

Opponent	UCF
Day/Date	Friday, Sept. 8
Time	5:30 p.m. (CT)
Site	Orlando, Fla./Spectrum Stadium
Television	ESPNews
Radio (Flagship)	600 WREC AM/Rock 103 (102.7 FM)

Memphis Head Coach Mike Norvell comments
"I'm excited about being 1-0. Even though it was played in some unique conditions, I'm excited about what our guys were able to get accomplished. Going through the pregame and everything leading up to kickoff was unique because of the weather, the wind and rain. We started fast and created a takeaway on the opening kickoff. We were able to establish the running game and get a lot of positives from that came out of the game. We still have a lot of areas that we need to improve on how we finished.

"I'm looking forward to this week. It's the conference opener. This is a game that we have spent a lot of time on this summer as a staff, making sure that we had our advanced scouting for this opportunity. The home opener and conference opener are two big keys for us. Now, we go on the road to face a team that I believe is one of the best in our conference. I have a tremendous amount of respect for Coach Frost, and the job he does. UCF is an explosive team. Last week they showcased that in their win over Florida International. They were dominant in every phase of the game. This is a team that is a championship-level team in my opinion. It's going to take us playing our best game, and it will definitely be a dog fight until the end."

(On UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton)
"He threw for 360 yards and four touchdowns (last week). He has an extremely quick release, and he is accurate. What makes him so challenging is when things break down. He had a couple of touchdowns where he kept the play alive and a receiver got lost (by the defense). We have to do a tremendous job of making sure we match up with their receivers. If he extends a play, we have to try to make sure we keep him contained as best we can. If they do get on the perimeter, we have to be accountable to our man and our area not to give up any cheap ones."

Tigers Tidbits/Five Notes To Know

Friday's game is the 11^th all-time meeting on the gridiron between the two programs. UCF holds a 9-1 series lead and has won the last nine over the Tigers. The two programs last met in 2013, and the Knights came away with a narrow 24-17 victory over Memphis at the Liberty Bowl. The Tigers' only win in the series was a 37-28 victory in the 1990 campaign.
Memphis has an all-time record of 15-26 in conference openers, but has won its last three in a row. The Tigers are 3-1 in American Athletic Conference openers. Memphis defeated Temple 34-27 in its 2016 American Athletic Conference opener.
The Tigers' first football opponent in American Athletic Conference play was UCF in 2013. Memphis hosted the Knights at the Liberty Bowl Oct. 5, 2013. UCF won that contest 24-17.
For the first time since 2007, a Memphis football game "lost" to Mother Nature and was forced to move. The Tigers' Saturday (Sept. 9) encounter with UCF was moved to Friday (Sept. 8) as a result of Hurricane Irma closing in on the state of Florida this weekend. The last time Memphis had a game date moved as a result of weather was Sept. 8, 2007. The Tigers and Arkansas State were scheduled to play in early September, but a nearly three hour rain and lightning delay – along with flooding – forced the contest to be postponed until Sept. 27, a Thursday night. The schedule changed rearranged the Memphis schedule to where the Tigers played three games in 10 days (Sept. 22, Sept. 27, Oct. 2). Memphis dropped a 35-31 decision to Arkansas State in that "moved-by-Mother-Nature" contest.
One member of the Tigers coaching staff that may feel at "home" Friday, and he is offensive line coach Ryan Silverfield, who served as a Knights graduate assistant in 2006 and 2007. During his time in Orlando, Silverfield worked with 2007 NCAA rushing champion Kevin Smith, who ran for 2,567 yards in 2007. Silverfield also was a member of the Knights staff that led UCF to the 2007 Conference USA title and a spot in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl.
Friday's match-up features two American Athletic Conference Players of the Year from 2016. For Memphis, Tony Pollard was the league's Special Teams Player of the Year. Last season, he returned two kickoffs for touchdowns and set school season and career marks in the process. On the other side, UCF's Shaquem Griffin was the conference's Defensive Player of the Year. Last season, Griffin posted 92 total tackles, 20 TFL, 11.5 sacks and seven PBU.

Know Your Foe/UCF Facts-Stats Leaders

Quick Facts	2017 Statistical Leaders (1 game)
2017 Record: 1-0/0-0 The American	Rushing: Jawon Hamilton (56 yds/TD)
Head Coach/Yrs: Scott Frost/2^nd in 2017	Passing: McKenzie Milton (360 yds/4 TD)
Starters Returning: 15 (9 Off/4 Def/2 Special Teams)	Receiving: Dredrick Snelson (4 rec/98 yds); Tre'Quan Smith (3 rec/72 yds/2 TD)
Letterwinners Returning: 42	Tackles: Nate Evans (6 total/4 solo)