Sept. 11, 2008

MEMPHIS, TENN. - The University of Memphis Tigers are looking for their first win in Conference USA action this weekend when they travel to Huntington, W.Va., to take on Marshall at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday. The game will be aired live on CSS. Bob Neal will handle play by play, Chuck Oliver will serve as analyst and Allison Williams will serve as the sideline reporter.

CSS is available only on cable and not on satellite systems. Audio from the Memphis Radio Network can be heard through the Memphis Tigers All-Access subscription service at GoTigersGo.com.

Saturday's game is the fourth meeting in as many years between the Tigers and Thundering Herd. Memphis leads the series 2-1. Last year, the Tigers posted an emotional 24-21 win over the Thundering Herd at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The contest was played only 48 hours after the death of Tiger defensive lineman Taylor Bradford. In 2006, the Tigers made their first-ever trip to the state of West Virginia and dropped a 41-27 decision to the Thundering Herd in Huntington. The year prior (2005), the two programs met for the first time, and Memphis posted a 26-3 win over Marshall.

ON THIS DATE
The Tigers have an all-time record of 1-4 when playing on Sept. 13. Memphis has lost its last four Sept. 13 games, including a 23-6 loss at Southern Miss in its last Sept. 13 outing in 2003. The lone Sept. 13 victory is probably regarded as one of the best memories in Tiger football history. On Sept. 13, 1975, Memphis traveled to the Plains of Auburn to face the No. 7 nationally-ranked Tigers. Memphis pulled one of the biggest upsets in school history with a 31-20 win over Auburn.

JUMPING INTO C-USA PLAY EARLY
For only the third time since Conference USA football started in 1996, the Tigers are playing two early league games in the month of September. In fact, this year's two conference games in September (Sept. 6 vs. Rice; Sept. 13 at Marshall) combine for the earliest two-game C-USA stretch in Memphis history. The previous earliest two-game C-USA stretch in Tiger history came in the 2002 campaign when Memphis played Southern Miss Sept. 14 and followed against Tulane Sept. 21. The Tigers also played two C-USA games in September in 2000 (Sept. 23 at Army; Sept. 30 vs. Southern Miss). Moreover, several C-USA schools are jumping into league play early in 2008. By the end of September, six of C-USA's 12 teams will have played two league contests.

STREAKING TIGERS
Two Tigers kept their receiving streaks alive with receptions in the loss to Rice last weekend. Junior receiver Duke Calhoun extended his streak to 26 games after totaling three receptions for 46 yards against the Owls. He has caught a pass in each of his 26 career games played. He missed the UCF game last season with a knee injury. The 26-game streak ties for second all-time at Memphis with Earnest Gray. The school record is 27 games by Russell Copeland, who lettered for the Tigers from 1989-92. Calhoun ranks in a tie for ninth nationally in active receiving streaks. He is tied with Mike Thomas of Arizona and Eric Morris of Texas Tech. The active leader is Rice's Jarrett Dillard with 38 consecutive games with a reception. Carlos Singleton hauled in five receptions for 44 yards against Rice, extending his receiving streak to 23 games, which ranks fifth all-time at the U of M.

CALHOUN CLOSE TO PASSING ISAAC BRUCE
Junior receiver Duke Calhoun is just three receptions from passing Isaac Bruce and ranking fifth in the Memphis record book in receptions. Calhoun heads into the Marshall game ranked sixth with 111, while Bruce sits at fifth with 113. The No. 4 spot is held by Ryan Scott with 114 total catches. Calhoun already passed Bruce in receiving yards as the junior currently ranks fourth with 1,660 yards. He needs 94 yards for sole possession of No. 3, which is currently held by Russell Copeland who totaled 1,753 yards on 116 receptions from 1989-92 (did not play in 1991).

TIGERS CONVERTING ON 3RD DOWN
Through two games in 2008, Memphis has converted 20 of 35 third-down attempts, which ranks the Tigers in a tie for sixth nationally with a success rate of 57.1 percent. The 20 successful conversions currently leads the nation. The 20 first downs were achieved through six runs and 14 pass completions.

OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION
The Tigers are currently ranked 20th nationally in total offense, with an average of 488.0 yards per game. The squad also ranks 15th in total offensive yards with 976. In addition, Memphis' 638 passing yards through two games is good enough for 11th nationally.

FRONT LINE POWERING OFFENSE
This season's starting offensive line is led by senior right tackle Brandon Pearce and center Philip Beliles. While the line has been hit with injuries to seniors Terrence Echols and Michael Denning, the Tigers so far have allowed just one sack to Rice last weekend. According to the NCAA rankings, through two games, only 23 teams have allowed one or fewer sacks. To take it even further, only seven total teams have logged 160 or more total plays, and only three of those have allowed just one sack -- Memphis, Oklahoma and Oregon.

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