Sept. 7, 2007

MEMPHIS, TENN. - The Memphis Tigers will make the short trip to Jonesboro, Ark., on Saturday to face the Indians of Arkansas State. Kickoff at Indian Stadium is slated for 6 p.m.

Tiger fans can listen to the official WREC AM600 broadcast through CSTV's All-Access service this season. In addition, video for Memphis' home contests not carried by a television network and road meetings with C-USA opponents will be available. Fans can also watch Tommy West's Monday press luncheon each week and listen to his call-in show on WREC on Monday evenings. For more information on how to sign up for CSTV All-Access, click on the All-Access graphic on the front page at www.GoTigersGo.com.

Saturday's game will be the 54th overall meeting between the two schools on the gridiron. The Tigers lead the overall series 27-21-5. The two schools began their 53-game series in 1914. Memphis won that first encounter 18-6 in Memphis. Memphis had won 10 straight (1991-2004) in the series before last season's heart-breaking 26-23 loss to the Indians in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Arkansas State holds a narrow 9-8-1 series advantage in games played in Jonesboro. The Tigers, though, have won their last five trips to Jonesboro, including a thrilling fourth-quarter, come-from-behind 47-35 victory in 2004.

A Close Series of Late
If the last five meetings are any indication, then Saturday's Memphis-Arkansas State game will go down to the wire. Of the last five encounters, three were decided by single digits, and another contest was a double-digit Memphis win, but the Tigers needed two scores in the final two minutes to secure the victory. The average margin of victory in the last five meetings was 8.8 points, and if you take out the Tiger 22-point win (38-16) in 2003, the average drops to 5.5.

On This Date
Memphis has an all-time record of 3-2 when playing on Sept. 8. The last time the Tigers played on Sept. 8 was the 2001 campaign when Memphis defeated Chattanooga 43-10. The Tigers' other two Sept. 8 wins were over Mississippi State (14-13) in 1979 and Ole Miss (28-21) in 1973. The two setbacks were to Ole Miss in 1990 (23-21) and 1984 (22-6).

Memphis Versus The Sun Belt
The Tigers have an all-time record of 64-43-6 against current members of the Sun Belt Conference. Memphis has played Arkansas State (27-21-5), Louisiana-Lafayette (9-4), Louisiana-Monroe (1-1), Middle Tennessee (7-12-1), North Texas (16-4) and Troy (4-1).

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What's Up Next
The Tigers will be back at home next weekend when they host Jacksonville State on Saturday, September 15 at 7 p.m. The game will not be televised, but fans can watch and listen through the CSTV All-Access subscription service.

Members of Pouncer's Pals are invited to come down on the field during the pre-game walk-around with the band and cheerleaders for the Memphis-JSU match-up. Members must RSVP to Esther Hollie in the Tiger Scholarship Fund office at 901-678-2338. There will be a tent set up in Lot A for members to sign up and receive their 2007 Pouncer's Pals t-shirt on game day. Sign-up for the walk-around will run from 5-6 p.m., and hotdogs and beverages will be provided.

Next weekend is also tabbed for the M Club Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Seven honorees will be inducted on Friday, Sept. 14, at 6:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn located on the U of M campus. The class includes Danton Barto (championship coach of the AFL Memphis Xplorers in 2006), Christy Caswell (the school's all-time assist leader in women's soccer), Paul Haire (Memphis' first-ever conference tournament medalist in men's golf), Brooks Monaghan (the men's soccer program's all-time winningest goalkeeper), Larry Porter (a current assistant coach in football at LSU), Terry Pressgrove (a member of the 1978 National Batting Championship baseball team), and Billy Smith (a member of three consecutive post-season men's basketball teams and a member of the 1,000 point scoring club).

In addition to the six honorees, there will be three special award winners as Dwight Boyd will receive the Billy J. Murphy Award, while Jimmy Hayslip will receive the Ralph Hatley Silver M Award. Chuck Roberts will receive the Dr. C.C. Humphreys Golden Tiger Award to round out the special honorees. For more information or to buy tickets to the dinner, contact M Club Director Tim Duncan at 901-678-4787.