Tigers open 2020 season against Arkansas State

Saturday, September 5

Memphis, Tenn.

7 PM

University of Memphis

Arkansas State

Photo by: Matthew A. Smith

Sep 03, 2020 | Football

Memphis Game Notes Arkansas State Game Notes American Athletic Conference Notes 2020 Memphis Football Media Guide

By: Phil Stukenborg

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Few in college football can match the start to their coaching careers Ryan Silverfield has experienced . . . and endured.

Silverfield took over for former University of Memphis coach Mike Norvell in December and his first game as UofM coach saw the program basking in its brightest spotlight: the Goodyear Cotton Bowl against Penn State.

A few months later as he readied his team for its first spring practice under him, the COVID-19 pandemic shut things down. An important 15 sessions were canceled.

And now as he prepares for Saturday's season-opening game against Arkansas State at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Silverfield will encounter another challenge: an understated atmosphere created by a sparse crowd, one limited by health department regulations.

"There's no handbook for this," he said. "I couldn't go on Amazon or Google. We are all learning."

"Every step along the way – from the Cotton Bowl to offseason recruiting to hiring a staff to not having spring practice to dealing with COVID (and) all sorts of other issues – (there have been) challenges. But I knew there would be challenges in taking this head coaching job. Coaches throughout the country are dealing with different challenges (during the pandemic)."

Adversity is a staple of running a college athletics program. Running a program in a pandemic has been a different and rare challenge.

"There has been adversity," Silverfield said. "That's the name of the game in college football. It's part of this profession. Our student athletes are steadfast. I'm proud of the way our guys have stayed focused."

Silverfield will begin the 2020 season dealing with recent adversity. Kenneth Gainwell, one of the top all-purpose backs in the nation, decided to opt out of the season late last month because of COVID-19 concerns. Gainwell was the league's Rookie of the Year and the FWAA Freshman of the Year.

Despite the departure of Gainwell, the Tigers are expected to challenge for another American Athletic Conference title. The Tigers have won three straight West Division championships and with returning quarterback Brady White, receiver Damonte Coxie, defensive lineman O'Bryan Goodson, cornerback T.J. Carter and kicker Riley Patterson the UofM, they'll be in the hunt for a fourth straight.

Offensively, the Tigers should be potent. White returns as the only Football Bowl Subdivision quarterback to have thrown for more than 4,000 yards last season. He ranks third in school history with 59 career touchdown passes and fourth in career yards (7,310). Coxie, with 2,773 career receiving yards, is the FBS's top returning receiver.

Defensively, the UofM returns three all-conference performers – Carter, Goodson and lineman Joseph Dorceus – to play for new coordinator Mike MacIntyre, a two-time National Coach of the Year. MacIntyre served as defensive coordinator at Ole Miss last season.

And on special teams – which ranked first nationally in efficiency last season – Patterson and punter Adam Williams return. Williams is averaging 43.9 yards per punt for his career, second-best in school history.

Arkansas State will be a formidable opening-game opponent. The Red Wolves, under seventh-year coach Blake Anderson, have appeared in six consecutive bowl games and were picked to finish second in the Sun Belt Conference's West Division. Returning quarterbacks Layne Hatcher and Logan Bonner combined for 3,998 passing yards last season.

It's a challenging season-opener in what has been – or could be – a challenging season, but Silverfield is looking forward to kicking it off.

"I'm at my happiest and my best in between those white lines," Silverfield said. "We know we have a tough task at hand in a wonderful opponent in Arkansas State. But it's game week. It's here. Let's roll. Our young men can not wait."

TIGER NOTEBOOK

UofM starting running back Rodrigues Clark appeared in eight games last season and rushed 26 times for 85 yards. "I think (Clark) is a guy we have great faith in to carry the rock. He's great in protections. He's got great hands. He's smart, hard-working intelligent young man who is excited to carry the rock. We have full faith in him. I expect big things out of No. 2 this year and I'm really excited to watch him run on Saturday."
Arkansas State and Memphis will be playing for the 59^th time, but for the first time since 2013.
The Tigers have won 38 games in the past four seasons, including 12 last season and 10 in 2017.
Memphis has won 18 straight non-conference games at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The streak began, coincidentally, with a 31-7 win over Arkansas State in 2013, the last time the Tigers and Red Wolves played.
The Tigers are opening at home for the 10^th consecutive season, the longest such stretch in program history. The UofM has won six straight home openers.