Tigers travel to South Alabama for first road game

Saturday, September 14

Mobile, Ala.

2:30 p.m.

University of Memphis

South Alabama

Tickets

Tigers quarterback Brady White has completed 40 of 52 passes through two games.

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Sep 12, 2019 | Football

Memphis Game Notes vs. S. Alabama

Jaguars, UofM are meeting for the second-straight season

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – For the first time this season, the University of Memphis football team will play away from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium as the Tigers travel to South Alabama.

The Tigers (2-0) and the Jaguars (1-1) will kick off Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. ESPNU will carry the game.

Memphis, of the American Athletic Conference, and South Alabama, a member of the Sun Belt Conference, will be meeting for the second time. In the first meeting last September at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, the Tigers won, 52-35.

The Tigers will be playing at Ladd-Peebles Stadium for the first time since 2004 when the UofM, with running back DeAngelo Williams, participated in the GMAC Bowl against Bowling Green.

Saturday, Memphis will face a challenge from the Jaguars, who defeated Jackson State, 37-14, last weekend and opened the season giving then-No. 24 Nebraska a scare at home. The Cornhuskers led by only seven (28-21) entering the fourth quarter before claiming a 35-21 victory.

"We're playing a football team that has played at a very high level early in the season," said Tigers coach Mike Norvell. "They were in position to win at Nebraska, but turned the ball over on three critical plays. Nebraska scored three non-offensive touchdowns (interception, punt return, fumble recovery in end zone). It was a very hard-fought contest."

Although Memphis won last year's game at home, the Jaguars tied the game at 21-all shortly before the half and trailed by only four (31-27) late in the third quarter.

"It's going to be a physical battle," Norvell said. "They have some very skilled players. Their running back (Tra Minter) is a dynamic player. He had 200 all-purpose yards last week and their team ran for over 400 yards. This is going to be a great challenge for our football team."

Minter is multi-dimensional. Not only is he averaging 113 rushing yards per game, he also leads the team in receiving (9 catches) and returns punts and kickoffs.

As for the Tigers, junior quarterback Brady White is off to not only a successful, but an accurate start. He was 17-of-21 passing for 337 yards and two touchdowns in last weekend's victory over Southern, putting up those numbers in three quarters. It was his second 300-yard passing game of his career.

"I was really pleased with his performance," Norvell said. "He is doing a great job managing the offense, he's taking what the defense gives us and is throwing the ball extremely accurately. He making the most of his opportunities."

Through two games, White has completed 40 of 52 passes (77 percent) for 509 yards.

With his 337-yard effort against Southern, White has amassed 3,805 career passing yards in 16 games. He needs another 175 yards to tie Steve Matthews for seventh all-time in Tiger history.

The Tigers will be without starting running back Patrick Taylor for the second straight game because of an injury. Freshman Kenneth Gainwell will start for the second straight game. He rushed for a career-high 85 yards against Southern in his first start.