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Tigers Conclude Spring Session With Blue-Gray Game
April 12, 2008 Click Here for the Photo Gallery MEMPHIS, TENN. - The University of Memphis Tiger football team closed out its spring practice session with the annual Blue-Gray Game at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Fans were treated to much better weather than has been the case in most recent years. The sun was shining and the temperature was in the 60s for the 104-play scrimmage. The offensive MVP was running back Curtis Steele and the defensive MVP was defensive lineman Steven Turner. "I thought it was a good day," said head coach Tommy West. "I thought everything went good except the five turnovers and the quarterbacks were involved in four of them. We have to get our ball security right with our quarterbacks." Steele paced the running game with 15 carries for 94 yards and one touchdown. He scored on the third play of the scrimmage from 39 yards out. Jeremy Longstreet, who transitioned from linebacker to running back this spring, finished the day with 12 carries for 41 yards. Mike Davis, a freshman who redshirted in 2007, had 15 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown. Davis scored off a 1-yard run late in the scrimmage. "I thought we did some good things with the running game," said West. "Curtis Steele gives us that burst, and he can score with it." The competition continues at quarterback as Arkelon Hall led the way with 60 yards on six completions and one touchdown. Hall tossed a 19-yard pass to Carlos Singleton for a score on the fifth series of the game. Hall also rushed for 51 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. He had TD runs of five yards and four yards. Matt Malouf completed two of eight passes for 23 yards while Dallas Walker completed six of 11 passes for 78 yards and one interception. Brett Toney was 3-for-3 for 39 yards and tossed an 11-yard touchdown to Carlos Singleton, who finished the day with three catches for 39 yards and two touchdowns.
"I wanted to throw the ball more today coming in but the wind made it really tough to do that," said West. "We still have a good competition going on at quarterback. Arkelon is still learning the system and Matt has continued to have a solid spring. I am not ready to name anyone yet as the starter because I don't think either one is ready to win a game for us right now. We are going to continue this competition in the fall." Earnest Williams led the receiving corps with three receptions for 54 yards while Carlton Robinzine logged three catches for 16 yards and Brian Hall finished the day with two receptions for 34 yards. Tight end Deven Onarheim made two catches for 14 yards. Several defensive players made key plays in the scrimmage, including Steven Turner who was named the defensive MVP. Turner forced a fumble, had a fumble recovery, broke up a pass and also had a sack in addition to his two tackles. Defensive back Deante' Lamar also logged a fumble recovery and registered a pass breakup. Linebacker Terrence Thomas had the defense's only score when he scooped up a fumble midway through the scrimmage and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown. Curtis Echols, who transitioned from wide receiver to defensive back this spring, registered a pass breakup and an interception, while Greg Terrell totaled two sacks for minus 10 yards. Charlie Bryant also had a fumble recovery and three total tackles. "I thought the defense was fine," added West. "I hampered the defense a little bit because with us being new I didn't want to do a whole lot of things." Prior to the game, several Tigers were honored for their efforts this spring. The Chris Faros Most Improved Player Award was shared by three players. From the offense, the coaches selected offensive lineman Brent Todd and wide receiver Steven Black. Selected from the defense was defensive back Deante' Lamar. The Glenn Jones Award, which is presented each year to a player who demonstrates leadership through determination and courage both on and off the field, was shared by center Philip Beliles and defensive lineman Clinton McDonald. The coaching staff selected two Tigers for the Top Newcomer Award this spring. The award was presented to linebacker Jeremy Rockette and running back Curtis Steele. Three Tigers were selected as the MVPs of this spring session. Offensive lineman Brandon Pearce, defensive lineman Corey Mills and defensive back Michael Grandberry shared MVP honors for their efforts this spring. Offensive lineman Terrence Echols, wide receiver Earnest Williams and linebacker Josh Weaver were each presented the True Tiger Award, which honors the players whose actions on and off the field most exemplifies those of a True Tiger. Two freshmen who had been selected for honorary scholarships during the 2007 were also introduced. Offensive lineman Michael Antonescu, who prepped at Ridgeland High in Ridgeland, Miss., received the 2007 Rex Dockery Memorial Scholarship Award which is presented annually to an incoming freshman football player who most exemplifies the lofty football ideals of the late Rex Dockery. Defensive lineman Tommy Walker who played at Munford High earned the Ralph Hatley Scholar Athlete Award, which is presented annually to a Tiger football player who plans a career in the field of health, physical education or recreation. Following the awards presentation, members of the 1963 Tiger football team were introduced to the crowd. This squad was one of three teams in Tiger football history to post an undefeated record. Under former head coach Billy J. Murphy, who the Tiger family lost in February, the Tigers amassed a 9-0-1 record which included shutouts over North Texas, Chattanooga, Louisville and South Carolina. This team is the first team to be inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame. Statistics from the 2008 Blue-Gray Game |
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