University of Memphis Athletics
NOTES: Memphis Faces Tulsa Under the Lights
Oct 07, 2021 | Football
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis Tigers will continue American Athletic Conference play on the road at Tulsa on Saturday, Oct. 9. The game is scheduled for an 8 p.m. CT kick and will be televised live nationally on ESPN2. The contest can also be heard on the radio on 98.9 THE ROAR OF MEMPHIS.
SETTING THE SCENE
• This past Saturday, the Tigers fell on the road in the team's AAC opener at Temple, 34-31. True freshman quarterback Seth Henigan passed for 305 yards and three scores, while wide receiver Javon Ivory had five receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns.
• Last season, Memphis posted a record of 8-3 in head coach Ryan Silverfield's first season at the helm of the program. The year ended with a 25-10 win over Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl.
SCOUTING TULSA
• Tulsa fell at home this past Friday in the team's AAC conference opener, 45-10, to Houston. The Golden Hurricane's win this year came against Arkansas State, 41-34, on Sept. 25. Tulsa has played a very competitive schedule to open the year, losing to UC Davis, Oklahoma State and Ohio State.
• Prior to the start of the season, the Golden Hurricane were tabbed to finish sixth in the AAC in a poll conducted of the media, one spot behind Memphis.
• Last season, Tulsa finished with an overall record of 6-3 and a perfect mark of 6-0 in league play to earn a spot in the AAC Championship. The Golden Hurricane lost to Cincinnati in the title game and fell to Mississippi State, 28-26, in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• Saturday's game against Tulsa will mark the 31st game in the series dating back to 1961, with Memphis holding a 19-11 record against the Golden Hurricane.
• The Tigers have won three-straight in the series overall and have notched three-consecutive victories in the contests in Tulsa.
• The last time the two teams met, the Tigers came away with a wild, 42-41 win over Tulsa in Liberty Bowl on Oct. 26, 2019. Kenneth Gainwell ran for 149 yards and three scores, while Antonio Gibson had 97 total yards and a score to lead Memphis.
RUSSELL LEADS NATION IN TACKLES
• Linebacker JJ Russell leads the NCAA in total tackles (12.2) and solo tackles (8.4) per game.
• Russell has posted three-straight games with over 10 tackles.
AMAZING AUSTIN III
• Redshirt senior Calvin Austin III has established himself as one of the best wide receivers and weapons in the NCAA.
• Austin III ranks third in the nation in receiving yards (637), fourth in receiving yards per game (127.4), fourth in receiving touchdowns (7), sixth in all-purpose yards (154.4) and 13th in receptions per game (7.0).
• He is also tied for second in the NCAA in receiving plays over 50 yards (4) and third in receiving plays over 20 yards (12), 40 yards (5) and 60 yards (2).
ONE OF THE ELITE PROGRAMS IN THE NATION
• Memphis has posted 68 victories since 2014, tying the Tigers for the ninth-most wins in the nation during that stretch.
• The 68 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that stretch.
• The Tigers also rank 11th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 68-28 (.708) mark.
• Memphis is one of only five FBS programs with at least eight wins each of the last seven seasons (Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Oklahoma).
TRUE FRESHMAN HENIGAN CONTINUES TO SHINE
• Through five weeks, true freshman Seth Henigan has been one of the best quarterbacks in the nation.
• Henigan ranks ninth in passing yards per completion (15.36), 11th in passing touchdowns (12), 12th in passing yards (1,475), 15th in passing yards per game (295.0) and 18th in passing efficiency (163.0).
• Henigan is the highest-ranked true freshman in all of the rankings with quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts this season.
• After his 22-of-33 for 417 yards and five touchdown performance at Arkansas State on Sept. 11, Henigan was named to the Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 and to the midseason Davey O'Brien Award Watch List.
• Against Nicholls on Sept. 4, Henigan became the first true freshman QB to start a season opener in Memphis football history.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS
• Defensive back Quindell Johnson ranks seventh in the NCAA this season in solo tackles (6.4) and 20th in the country in total tackles (9.4).
• True freshman defensive back Greg Rubin ranks third in the nation in passes defended (2.0).
TIGERS TAKE DOWN MISSISSIPPI STATE
• Memphis took down SEC rival Mississippi State, 31-29, on Sept. 18 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
• The victory for the Tigers was the first since a 45-35 win in Starkville on Sept. 4, 1993 and the first in Memphis against the Bulldogs since Oct. 1, 1988.
• The Tigers won for the fifth consecutive time against a Power 5 opponent at home (Ole Miss-2019, UCLA-2017, Kansas-2016, Ole Miss-2015).
THOMAS THE TANK
• Redshirt freshman Brandon Thomas has been a force to be reckoned with so far this season, ranking 19th in the NCAA in rushing yards (509).
• He also ranks 12th in rush yards per carry (6.88) and 22nd in rush yards per game (101.8).
• In 2020, Thomas appeared in four games for the Tigers, rushing twice for eight yards.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Football, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
SETTING THE SCENE
• This past Saturday, the Tigers fell on the road in the team's AAC opener at Temple, 34-31. True freshman quarterback Seth Henigan passed for 305 yards and three scores, while wide receiver Javon Ivory had five receptions for 73 yards and two touchdowns.
• Last season, Memphis posted a record of 8-3 in head coach Ryan Silverfield's first season at the helm of the program. The year ended with a 25-10 win over Florida Atlantic in the Montgomery Bowl.
SCOUTING TULSA
• Tulsa fell at home this past Friday in the team's AAC conference opener, 45-10, to Houston. The Golden Hurricane's win this year came against Arkansas State, 41-34, on Sept. 25. Tulsa has played a very competitive schedule to open the year, losing to UC Davis, Oklahoma State and Ohio State.
• Prior to the start of the season, the Golden Hurricane were tabbed to finish sixth in the AAC in a poll conducted of the media, one spot behind Memphis.
• Last season, Tulsa finished with an overall record of 6-3 and a perfect mark of 6-0 in league play to earn a spot in the AAC Championship. The Golden Hurricane lost to Cincinnati in the title game and fell to Mississippi State, 28-26, in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• Saturday's game against Tulsa will mark the 31st game in the series dating back to 1961, with Memphis holding a 19-11 record against the Golden Hurricane.
• The Tigers have won three-straight in the series overall and have notched three-consecutive victories in the contests in Tulsa.
• The last time the two teams met, the Tigers came away with a wild, 42-41 win over Tulsa in Liberty Bowl on Oct. 26, 2019. Kenneth Gainwell ran for 149 yards and three scores, while Antonio Gibson had 97 total yards and a score to lead Memphis.
RUSSELL LEADS NATION IN TACKLES
• Linebacker JJ Russell leads the NCAA in total tackles (12.2) and solo tackles (8.4) per game.
• Russell has posted three-straight games with over 10 tackles.
AMAZING AUSTIN III
• Redshirt senior Calvin Austin III has established himself as one of the best wide receivers and weapons in the NCAA.
• Austin III ranks third in the nation in receiving yards (637), fourth in receiving yards per game (127.4), fourth in receiving touchdowns (7), sixth in all-purpose yards (154.4) and 13th in receptions per game (7.0).
• He is also tied for second in the NCAA in receiving plays over 50 yards (4) and third in receiving plays over 20 yards (12), 40 yards (5) and 60 yards (2).
ONE OF THE ELITE PROGRAMS IN THE NATION
• Memphis has posted 68 victories since 2014, tying the Tigers for the ninth-most wins in the nation during that stretch.
• The 68 wins are the most among American Athletic Conference schools during that stretch.
• The Tigers also rank 11th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 68-28 (.708) mark.
• Memphis is one of only five FBS programs with at least eight wins each of the last seven seasons (Alabama, Clemson, Georgia and Oklahoma).
TRUE FRESHMAN HENIGAN CONTINUES TO SHINE
• Through five weeks, true freshman Seth Henigan has been one of the best quarterbacks in the nation.
• Henigan ranks ninth in passing yards per completion (15.36), 11th in passing touchdowns (12), 12th in passing yards (1,475), 15th in passing yards per game (295.0) and 18th in passing efficiency (163.0).
• Henigan is the highest-ranked true freshman in all of the rankings with quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts this season.
• After his 22-of-33 for 417 yards and five touchdown performance at Arkansas State on Sept. 11, Henigan was named to the Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 and to the midseason Davey O'Brien Award Watch List.
• Against Nicholls on Sept. 4, Henigan became the first true freshman QB to start a season opener in Memphis football history.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS
• Defensive back Quindell Johnson ranks seventh in the NCAA this season in solo tackles (6.4) and 20th in the country in total tackles (9.4).
• True freshman defensive back Greg Rubin ranks third in the nation in passes defended (2.0).
TIGERS TAKE DOWN MISSISSIPPI STATE
• Memphis took down SEC rival Mississippi State, 31-29, on Sept. 18 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
• The victory for the Tigers was the first since a 45-35 win in Starkville on Sept. 4, 1993 and the first in Memphis against the Bulldogs since Oct. 1, 1988.
• The Tigers won for the fifth consecutive time against a Power 5 opponent at home (Ole Miss-2019, UCLA-2017, Kansas-2016, Ole Miss-2015).
THOMAS THE TANK
• Redshirt freshman Brandon Thomas has been a force to be reckoned with so far this season, ranking 19th in the NCAA in rushing yards (509).
• He also ranks 12th in rush yards per carry (6.88) and 22nd in rush yards per game (101.8).
• In 2020, Thomas appeared in four games for the Tigers, rushing twice for eight yards.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Football, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
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