Sept. 10, 2009
MEMPHIS, TENN. -
The Memphis Tigers will travel across the state to Murfreesboro to face the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Saturday at 6 p.m. The game will be carried by CSS, which is available in Memphis on Comcast Cable channel 6. Matt Stewart and Chuck Oliver will handle the commentary in the booth, while Allison Williams will serve as the sideline reporter.
This is the first time since the 1953 season that the Tigers will be playing in Murfreesboro. The two squads have faced each other 10 times in Murfreesboro, and MT holds the advantage, 8-2. Memphis' wins in Murfreesboro came during the 1939 and 1933 seasons.
The last time that Memphis and MT played was two years ago at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Middle Tennessee won that contest 21-7 as Blue Raider QB Dwight Dasher passed for 230 yards and also rushed for 180 yards . Dasher accounted for two of the three Middle Tennessee scores (1 TD rushing, 1 TD passing). Memphis QB Will Hudgens paced the Tiger offense with 135 yards passing. The Tigers' only score came when Hudgens hit Duke Calhoun from 19 yards out in the first quarter. That encounter ended a 53-season drought in the series, as the teams had previously met in the 1954 campaign.
Memphis Versus the Sun Belt
The Tigers have an all-time record of 65-46-6 against current members of the Sun Belt Conference. Memphis has played Arkansas State (28-22-5), Florida Atlantic (0-1), Louisiana-Lafayette (9-4), Louisiana-Monroe (1-1), Middle Tennessee (7-13-1), North Texas (16-4) and Troy (4-1). The last time Memphis played a Sun Belt Conference foe was last season. The Tigers defeated Arkansas State 29-17 at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Did You Know, Part I
Memphis was the first visiting school to win in Floyd Stadium at Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raider program opened Floyd Stadium in the 1933 campaign, and its first game was a 0-0 tie against Jacksonville State on Oct. 14, 1933. Middle Tennesee's next home game was a 25-0 victory over Maryville on Oct. 21, 1933. The Blue Raiders next hosted Memphis on Nov. 3, 1933, and the Tigers posted a 20-6 win over the home team, marking the first Middle Tennessee setback at Floyd Stadium.
Familiar Faces as Foes
For the first time this year, Memphis head coach Tommy West faces off against a familiar face on the opposing sideline when the Tigers travel to Middle Tennessee Saturday. In this weekend's contest, West matches wits with Blue Raider head coach Rick Stockstill, and the two coaches were on the same staff at Clemson in 1989 and from 1993-98. During their time together in Clemson, the Tigers had a 41-30 record and made five bowl appearances.
In 1989, West was the Tigers' outside linebackers coach, while Stockstill served as Clemson's quarterbacks coach. From 1993-98, West was Clemson's head coach, and Stockstill coached the wide receivers and quarterbacks and also served as co-offensive coordinator.
More West Reunions On Saturday
Memphis head coach Tommy West is going to see more familiar faces than just Blue Raider head coach Rick Stockstill Saturday. The reunions start with West's time at Clemson from 1982-89 and 1993-98. Blue Raider assistant head coach Les Herrin also served as West's assistant head coach from 1994-98 at Clemson. Herrin coached linebackers at Clemson from 1981-84. Middle Tennessee wide receivers coach Justin Watts played for West at Clemson in the late 1990s.
If one goes back to West's playing days at Tennessee, Saturday provides another reunion for the Memphis mentor. Blue Raider safeties coach David Bibee also played for the Volunteers in the mid-1970s with West. Both West and Bibee were members of Tennessee teams that played in the 1973 Gator Bowl and 1974 Liberty Bowl.
Hey, Don't We Know You
When the Tigers take the field at Floyd Stadium Saturday, Blue Raider fans may see a familiar face on the Memphis sideline. Darin Hinshaw, wide receivers coach on Tommy West's staff at Memphis, recently coached at Middle Tennessee. Hinshaw was on the Blue Raider staff from 2001-05. During his time in Murfreesboro, Hinshaw served as the running backs coach and co-offensive coordinator.
Another TV Game
Saturday's game at Middle Tennessee will be televised by CSS, which is available in Memphis on Comcast Cable channel 6. It is not available on satellite systems. Memphis was on ESPN last weekend, and is slated to appear on television eight times this season. CSS is also carrying the Marshall (9/26), UAB (11/14), and Houston games (11/21). CBS College Sports Network has the Friday, Nov. 27, meeting with Tulsa on its broadcast schedule, and ESPN returns to the Liberty Bowl for the Tuesday night meeting with East Carolina on Oct. 27. That game will air on ESPN2. In addition, the Tigers travel to Knoxville to face the Vols on Nov. 7, and because of the SEC TV contract, that game will be broadcast by a network to be selected at a later date.
Calhoun Sets School Record
Duke Calhoun needed just four receptions and 66 yards to hold the school record in both career categories, and with his five receptions for 53 yards versus Ole Miss, he notched the school record with 149 career receptions. He surpassed Damien Dodson, who totaled 147 receptions from 1996-99.
Heading into the Middle Tennessee game, Calhoun is just 13 yards short of the record in Memphis career receiving yards. Earnest Gray (1975-78) holds the top spot right now, with 2,123 yards, and Calhoun is close by with 2,111 yards. Gray logged his record yardage in 44 games, while Calhoun has currently played in 38 games in the Blue and Gray.
Upcoming Promotion
Next weekend's game with UT Martin on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m., has been designated as Youth Football Night. All area youth football players (ages 14 and under) get in free wearing their jersey. All family and friends of youth football players may purchase tickets in advance for $5 each by contacting the Athletic Ticket office at 901-678-2331by Friday, September 18. Youth players and their families are invited to participate in the pre-game "march around" with the Mighty Sound of the South Marching Band, TOM III, Pouncer, and the spirit squads. To participate in the pre-game march around, all participants must meet at the top of the North tunnel at the Liberty Bowl by 6:30 PM.
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