University of Memphis Athletics
NOTES: Tigers Open AAC Play at Temple
Sep 30, 2021 | Football
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis Tigers will head east to open up American Athletic Conference play against Temple in Philadelphia on Saturday, Oct. 2.
The game is scheduled for an 11 a.m. CT kick and will be televised live nationally on ESPNU. 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 to undefeated UTSA, 31-28, on a field goal as time expired. Tight end Sean Dykes had six catches for a career-high 167 yards, while wide receiver Calvin Austin III had six receptions for 142 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown.
• 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 TEMPLE
• Temple earned an impressive 41-7 win over Wagner on Saturday to move to 2-2 on the season. The Owl also took down Akron, 45-24, on Sept. 11.
• Prior to the start of the season, the Owls were tabbed to finish 10th in the AAC in a poll conducted of the media. Temple earned 46 votes, three more than USF.
• Last season, Temple finished the season with a record of 1-6 overall in a COVID-19 shortened campaign. The Owls win came on Oct. 17, 2020 against USF, 39-37.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• Saturday's game against Temple will mark the seventh game in the series dating back to 2013 with Memphis, with each team having won three times.
• The teams have alternated wins in the series, with the Tigers taking last year's game in Memphis, 41-29, at the Liberty Bowl.
• Wide receiver Calvin Austin III had six catches for 184 yards and a score for Memphis in the victory, while running back Rodrigues Clark rushed for 106 yards for the Tigers.
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 T-11th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 68-27 (.716) 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).
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).
MEMPHIS IN AAC OPENERS
• The Tigers are 4-4 all-time in American Athletic Conference openers since 2013.
• When Memphis opens AAC play on the road, the team is 1-3.
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 second in the nation in receiving yards (533), second in receiving yards per game (133.2), third in scoring (12.0), fourth in receiving touchdowns (7), fifth in all-purpose yards (133.25) and 16th in receptions per game (6.8).
• He also leads the NCAA with five plays over 40 yards and four plays of over 50 yards.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS
• Linebacker JJ Russell leads the nation in total tackles per game at 11.5 and ranks fourth in the country in solo tackles per game at 7.5.
• True freshman Greg Rubin is second in the NCAA in passes defended per game at 2.5.
THOMAS THE TANK
• Redshirt freshman Brandon Thomas has been spectacular for Memphis through four weeks, ranking sixth in the NCAA in rushing yards with 494.
• He also ranks sixth in rushing yards per game (123.5) and 15th in rush yards per carry (7.06).
• In 2020, Thomas appeared in four games for the Tigers, rushing twice for eight yards.
TRUE FRESHMAN HENIGAN CONTINUES TO SHINE
• Through four weeks, true freshman Seth Henigan has been one of the best quarterbacks in the nation.
• Henigan ranks fifth in the NCAA in passing yards per completion (16.25), 14th in passing yards (1,170), 15th in passing yards per game (292.5), 16th in passing touchdowns (9) and 20th in passing efficiency (167.8).
• Henigan is the highest-ranked true freshman in all of the rankings with quarterbacks with at least 50 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.
MEMPHIS MOURNS PASSNG OF ELDRIDGE "PETE" MITCHELL
• Former Memphis assistant coach Eldridge "Pete" Mitchell passed away on Sept. 17 at the age of 87.
• The 2009 Murray Armstrong Award, Mitchell came to the University of Memphis in 1970 as an assistant football coach and recruiter under former head coach Billy J. Murphy and remained on the staffs of Fred Pancoast and Richard Williamson through the 1975 season.
• Mitchell was the first Black coach in program history.
MEMPHIS OFFENSE AMONGST BEST IN NATION
• Through four weeks of the season, the Memphis offense is amongst the best in the nation.
• The Tigers rank 18th in scoring offense (39.0), 22nd in total offense (477.8) and 26th in passing offense (292.5).
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.
The game is scheduled for an 11 a.m. CT kick and will be televised live nationally on ESPNU. 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 to undefeated UTSA, 31-28, on a field goal as time expired. Tight end Sean Dykes had six catches for a career-high 167 yards, while wide receiver Calvin Austin III had six receptions for 142 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown.
• 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 TEMPLE
• Temple earned an impressive 41-7 win over Wagner on Saturday to move to 2-2 on the season. The Owl also took down Akron, 45-24, on Sept. 11.
• Prior to the start of the season, the Owls were tabbed to finish 10th in the AAC in a poll conducted of the media. Temple earned 46 votes, three more than USF.
• Last season, Temple finished the season with a record of 1-6 overall in a COVID-19 shortened campaign. The Owls win came on Oct. 17, 2020 against USF, 39-37.
INSIDE THE SERIES
• Saturday's game against Temple will mark the seventh game in the series dating back to 2013 with Memphis, with each team having won three times.
• The teams have alternated wins in the series, with the Tigers taking last year's game in Memphis, 41-29, at the Liberty Bowl.
• Wide receiver Calvin Austin III had six catches for 184 yards and a score for Memphis in the victory, while running back Rodrigues Clark rushed for 106 yards for the Tigers.
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 T-11th in the country in winning percentage dating back to 2014 with their 68-27 (.716) 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).
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).
MEMPHIS IN AAC OPENERS
• The Tigers are 4-4 all-time in American Athletic Conference openers since 2013.
• When Memphis opens AAC play on the road, the team is 1-3.
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 second in the nation in receiving yards (533), second in receiving yards per game (133.2), third in scoring (12.0), fourth in receiving touchdowns (7), fifth in all-purpose yards (133.25) and 16th in receptions per game (6.8).
• He also leads the NCAA with five plays over 40 yards and four plays of over 50 yards.
DEFENSIVE STANDOUTS
• Linebacker JJ Russell leads the nation in total tackles per game at 11.5 and ranks fourth in the country in solo tackles per game at 7.5.
• True freshman Greg Rubin is second in the NCAA in passes defended per game at 2.5.
THOMAS THE TANK
• Redshirt freshman Brandon Thomas has been spectacular for Memphis through four weeks, ranking sixth in the NCAA in rushing yards with 494.
• He also ranks sixth in rushing yards per game (123.5) and 15th in rush yards per carry (7.06).
• In 2020, Thomas appeared in four games for the Tigers, rushing twice for eight yards.
TRUE FRESHMAN HENIGAN CONTINUES TO SHINE
• Through four weeks, true freshman Seth Henigan has been one of the best quarterbacks in the nation.
• Henigan ranks fifth in the NCAA in passing yards per completion (16.25), 14th in passing yards (1,170), 15th in passing yards per game (292.5), 16th in passing touchdowns (9) and 20th in passing efficiency (167.8).
• Henigan is the highest-ranked true freshman in all of the rankings with quarterbacks with at least 50 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.
MEMPHIS MOURNS PASSNG OF ELDRIDGE "PETE" MITCHELL
• Former Memphis assistant coach Eldridge "Pete" Mitchell passed away on Sept. 17 at the age of 87.
• The 2009 Murray Armstrong Award, Mitchell came to the University of Memphis in 1970 as an assistant football coach and recruiter under former head coach Billy J. Murphy and remained on the staffs of Fred Pancoast and Richard Williamson through the 1975 season.
• Mitchell was the first Black coach in program history.
MEMPHIS OFFENSE AMONGST BEST IN NATION
• Through four weeks of the season, the Memphis offense is amongst the best in the nation.
• The Tigers rank 18th in scoring offense (39.0), 22nd in total offense (477.8) and 26th in passing offense (292.5).
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.
Players Mentioned
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