Sept. 17, 2009

PDF Game Notes

MEMPHIS, TENN. - The Memphis Tigers will host the Skyhawks of UT Martin on Saturday at 7 p.m., at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.  The game was selected by the Athletic Marketing Department as Youth Football Night, and youth players (14 and under) wearing their team jersey will be admitted to the game free of charge, and family members can purchase a ticket in advance for $5 by calling the Tiger Ticket Office at 901-678-2331. Youth players will also be able to participate in the pre-game March Around with the band and spirit squads.

This is also the M Club Hall of Fame Weekend, and two former Tiger football players will be inducted at a special dinner on Friday night.  Alex Dees (1966-68) and Jerome Woods (1994-95) are representing Tiger football, and will be recognized at halftime of the game.  Dees earned All-Missouri Conference honors as a senior in 1968. That same year, the defensive end was also named an Associated Press All-America honorable mention after leading the team in tackles with 101. He is one of only two players in the history of the Missouri Conference to be an unanimous All-Missouri Conference selection with the other being Mean Joe Green.

Woods led the team in interceptions and tackles in 1995, and was a first round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1996 NFL Draft.  He transferred to Memphis after playing two years at Northeast Mississippi JC.   As a senior in 1995, Woods started every game and led the team with 120 tackles and finished with 67 solo stops, seven tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, 10 pass breakups and six interceptions.  Following the season, he was named to the Football News All-America second team, the College Sports Magazine All-America third team and the Associated Press All-America third team. He was also selected to the All-National Independent first team and was the Defensive Player of the Year.  Following his time at Memphis, Woods enjoyed a successful 10-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs. He totaled 128 games in the NFL with 206 career tackles, 169 solo stops, 15 interceptions and five forced fumbles.

Out of town fans can catch this weekend's game online through the Memphis Tigers All-Access subscription service.  Plans start at $9.95 per month, and feature games (non-televised), weekly press conferences and exclusive interviews.  To order All-Access, go to:  http://www.gotigersgo.com/allaccess.

Bass Gets Starting Nod
Sophomore Tyler Bass was tabbed this week as the starting quarterback for the UT Martin game, replacing senior Arkelon Hall.  This will be Bass' first start for the Tigers, and only his fourth game as the signal caller.  Bass was expected to redshirt in 2008, but was called to duty when Memphis lost both Hall and Will Hudgens in the East Carolina game.  Bass threw just three passes late in the ECU game,  but added 28 yards rushing.  He came in on the second series of the Southern Miss game as coach Tommy West rotated he and Brett Toney at QB.  Bass completed 9-of-10 attempts for 107 yards and a TD, and also rushed for 51 yards and a TD on 10 carries, before suffering a season-ending knee injury.

Bass had surgery last November and was not able to fully practice in the spring.  He did not play against Ole Miss in the `09 season opener, but came in late at Middle Tennessee last week to complete all four attempts for 33 yards and rushed for 17 yards.

Talk About State Representation
In Saturday's game, the state of Tennessee will be well represented on the playing field when Memphis hosts Tennessee Martin. A combined 84 players (36 Memphis, 48 Tennessee Martin) from the state are listed on the teams' two rosters.

Once A Tiger, Now A Skyhawk
Tiger fans will probably do a "double-take" when they see one Skyhawk take the field Saturday in the Memphis-Tennessee Martin contest. Miguel Barnes, a senior running back for the Skyhawks, began his collegiate career as a Memphis Tiger. Barnes, who is from Millington, Tenn., lettered two years at Memphis in 2006-07. In his two seasons at Memphis, Barnes played in 15 games. He rushed the ball 65 times for 275 yards and one touchdown, and also had three receptions for 28 yards. In the 2006 season, Barnes had seven kickoff returns for 143 yards (20.4 average).

Calhoun Sets School Records
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 was just 13 yards short of the record in Memphis career receiving yards.  Calhoun logged 27 yards on four receptions and now holds the top spot with 2,138 yards.  He made the move to No. 1 over  Earnest Gray (1975-78), who previously held the top spot with 2,123 yards. Gray logged his record yardage in 44 games, while Calhoun set the new record in 39 games in the Blue and Gray.  Calhoun will open the UT Martin game with career totals of 153 receptions and 2,138 yards.

Reagan Assumes New Duties
Senior Matt Reagan handled the punting duties for the first time in his career in the season opener against Ole Miss.  He booted seven punts and averaged 44.1 yards.  He dropped three kicks inside the 20 and had a long punt of 57 yards.  Reagan also attempted a field goal in the game, missing a 49-yard attempt in the first quarter that bounced off the upright.  Reagan's career high is 44 yards, which he logged last year against Marshall.

Reagan logged 10 punts against Middle Tennessee, which was the most by a Memphis punter since Ben Graves had 10 in 2000 against Mississippi State. The last time Memphis had 10 punts as a team was in 2005 against UTEP.  Reagan has now handled all 17 of Memphis' punts and ranks 28th nationally with his average of 42.6 yards per punt.  He has dropped eight punts inside the 20 and totals three of 50 or more yards.