University of Memphis Athletics
Saturday, December 28
Arlington, Texas
11 AM
University of Memphis
vs
#10 Penn State
Kenneth Gainwell (left) and Brady White (3) lead the Tigers into Saturday's 84th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.
Photo by: Matthew A. Smith
Tigers, Nittany Lions set for Cotton kickoff
Dec 27, 2019 | Football
UofM to make its first New Year's Six Bowl appearance after 12-1 season
ARLINGTON, Texas – A dream season for the University of Memphis football team continues its magical run Saturday in a place few thought this program could reach: the land of Cotton.
At 11 a.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium, the No. 17 Tigers (12-1) will play No. 10 Penn State (10-2) in the 84th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, a New Year's Six Bowl and an appearance that enhances the UofM's respect on a national level.
Only one Group of Five team earns a spot in a New Year's Six Bowl each season and the Tigers secured the opening with its best fall, one that included winning the American Athletic Conference title and capturing a school-record 12 victories. Memphis ended the season as the highest-ranked Group of Five program in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Making his debut as Memphis head coach will be Ryan Silverfield, an assistant the past four seasons under Mike Norvell. Norvell departed after the season – and after directing the program to four consecutive bowls – to take the Florida State job.
"This is a heck of a way to start my head coaching career at the college level," Silverfield said. "But I couldn't have asked for it to happen any other way. Obviously I give a lot of credit to Mike Norvell for the opportunity for me to come to Memphis and introduce me to such a wonderful city, a wonderful university and such a great football program."
Silverfield served under Norvell as deputy head coach and run game coordinator, in addition to coaching the offensive line. He was elevated to deputy head coach before the 2019 season.
With Norvell, Silverfield was part of a program that won 38 games in four seasons, including three AAC West Division titles. The Tigers made appearances in the Boca Raton, Liberty and Birmingham Bowls before taking a step up to the Cotton Bowl.
"Our culture, the things we do, the standards we've set are not going to change," Silverfield said. "In fact, we're going to continue to get better and grow stronger. This is a heck of a testament to what we built in the past. But we're moving forward in the right direction.
"The players are all in. We've been using that mantra since I was able to take over as the head coach. And when we talk about an all-in approach, it's not just on the football field but it's in everything we do."
The Tigers have been led this season by second-year quarterback Brady White, an Arizona State transfer who ranks among the top 12 in the nation in multiple passing categories. White has passed for 3,360 yards and 33 touchdowns this season.
Kenneth Gainwell, a freshman running back, rushed for 1,425 yards to back White and earn league Rookie of the Year honors, while receiver Damonte Coxie complemented the duo a 1,000-yard season, only the fourth in school history.
In Penn State, the Tigers will be facing one of the most storied programs in the sport's history. The Nittany Lions are making their third New Year's Six bowl appearance in the last four years (Rose, Fiesta and Cotton) under coach James Franklin, the former Vanderbilt coach.
Franklin is one of only five current Football Bowl Subdivision coaches to lead his teams to bowl games in each of his first nine seasons as a head coach (three at Vanderbilt and six at Penn State).
"We take great pride in our consistency," Franklin said. "One of the most important things you can create in a program is consistency. I'm very proud of that. We've got to find a way to get a win in the Cotton Bowl. It's very important to me, and very important to us.
"Ten wins is nice. Eleven wins is nicer. It's great to get a bowl ring, but the best thing for me would be to see these guys get a ring that says 'Cotton Bowl Champions' on there for the rest of their lives."
The Tigers will enter the game minus several starters, among them tight end Joey Magnifico, defensive back TJ Carter and offensive lineman Scottie Dill. Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller left to join Norvell at Florida State.
"But we have no excuses, no explanations, right?" Silverfield said. "We're going to go full speed ahead and we'll take the approach whoever we're playing (will do the job). Obviously we're playing a heck of an opponent versus Penn State. There's a reason why both of these teams are paired up in this wonderful Cotton Bowl event. No excuses going forward. We're ready."
COTTON BOWL NOTABLES
At 11 a.m. Saturday at AT&T Stadium, the No. 17 Tigers (12-1) will play No. 10 Penn State (10-2) in the 84th Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, a New Year's Six Bowl and an appearance that enhances the UofM's respect on a national level.
Only one Group of Five team earns a spot in a New Year's Six Bowl each season and the Tigers secured the opening with its best fall, one that included winning the American Athletic Conference title and capturing a school-record 12 victories. Memphis ended the season as the highest-ranked Group of Five program in the College Football Playoff rankings.
Making his debut as Memphis head coach will be Ryan Silverfield, an assistant the past four seasons under Mike Norvell. Norvell departed after the season – and after directing the program to four consecutive bowls – to take the Florida State job.
"This is a heck of a way to start my head coaching career at the college level," Silverfield said. "But I couldn't have asked for it to happen any other way. Obviously I give a lot of credit to Mike Norvell for the opportunity for me to come to Memphis and introduce me to such a wonderful city, a wonderful university and such a great football program."
Silverfield served under Norvell as deputy head coach and run game coordinator, in addition to coaching the offensive line. He was elevated to deputy head coach before the 2019 season.
With Norvell, Silverfield was part of a program that won 38 games in four seasons, including three AAC West Division titles. The Tigers made appearances in the Boca Raton, Liberty and Birmingham Bowls before taking a step up to the Cotton Bowl.
"Our culture, the things we do, the standards we've set are not going to change," Silverfield said. "In fact, we're going to continue to get better and grow stronger. This is a heck of a testament to what we built in the past. But we're moving forward in the right direction.
"The players are all in. We've been using that mantra since I was able to take over as the head coach. And when we talk about an all-in approach, it's not just on the football field but it's in everything we do."
The Tigers have been led this season by second-year quarterback Brady White, an Arizona State transfer who ranks among the top 12 in the nation in multiple passing categories. White has passed for 3,360 yards and 33 touchdowns this season.
Kenneth Gainwell, a freshman running back, rushed for 1,425 yards to back White and earn league Rookie of the Year honors, while receiver Damonte Coxie complemented the duo a 1,000-yard season, only the fourth in school history.
In Penn State, the Tigers will be facing one of the most storied programs in the sport's history. The Nittany Lions are making their third New Year's Six bowl appearance in the last four years (Rose, Fiesta and Cotton) under coach James Franklin, the former Vanderbilt coach.
Franklin is one of only five current Football Bowl Subdivision coaches to lead his teams to bowl games in each of his first nine seasons as a head coach (three at Vanderbilt and six at Penn State).
"We take great pride in our consistency," Franklin said. "One of the most important things you can create in a program is consistency. I'm very proud of that. We've got to find a way to get a win in the Cotton Bowl. It's very important to me, and very important to us.
"Ten wins is nice. Eleven wins is nicer. It's great to get a bowl ring, but the best thing for me would be to see these guys get a ring that says 'Cotton Bowl Champions' on there for the rest of their lives."
The Tigers will enter the game minus several starters, among them tight end Joey Magnifico, defensive back TJ Carter and offensive lineman Scottie Dill. Defensive coordinator Adam Fuller left to join Norvell at Florida State.
"But we have no excuses, no explanations, right?" Silverfield said. "We're going to go full speed ahead and we'll take the approach whoever we're playing (will do the job). Obviously we're playing a heck of an opponent versus Penn State. There's a reason why both of these teams are paired up in this wonderful Cotton Bowl event. No excuses going forward. We're ready."
COTTON BOWL NOTABLES
- The UofM's first trip to the Cotton Bowl is also the first time an American Athletic Conference program has participated in the event.
- The Nittany Lions are one of the nation's best defensive teams. They rank seventh nationally in scoring defense (17.1), fifth in rushing defense (97.7 yards per game and lead the nation with 20 forced fumbles.
- The Tigers are playing in a bowl for the 13th time. Penn State is making its 50th appearance.
- The Tigers are playing a Big Ten opponent for the first time since meeting Minnesota in 1998.
Players Mentioned
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