Nov. 2, 2007

MEMPHIS, TENN. - The Memphis Tigers (4-4; 3-1) will host the East Carolina Pirates (5-4; 4-1) this Saturday in a Homecoming football game that has become a key Conference USA match-up in the East Division. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.

The game will be carried on television by WITN-TV in Greenville, N.C., with Drew Smith (play-by-play), Billy Weaver (analyst) and Brian Meador (sidelines) serving as the announce crew. WPTY-TV in Memphis will also be picking up the broadcast and airing it locally, and the feed will be available for on-line streaming through the Memphis Tigers All-Access subscription package.

Special Homecoming festivities that will take place Friday evening include the parade that will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will run through campus and the pep rally that will take place at the center of campus at the fountain between the Administration Building and the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, beginning at approximately 6:30 p.m. Coach Tommy West and the Tiger football team will participate in the pep rally. In addition, there will be a cell phone drive that will benefit victims of domestic violence. The collection bins will be located at the entrance gates of the stadium. For information on other planned Homecoming events, please go to http://www.memphis.edu/alumni/homecoming.html.

Just following the National Anthem, two Apache attack helicopters, which are products of Unit-E Troop, 1-230th Air Cavalry Squadron from Jackson, Tennessee, will conduct a fly-over. The unit recently returned from a combat rotation in Afghanistan where Chief Warrant Officer Tim Flanigan was killed in action.

Saturday's game is the 16th meeting between Memphis and East Carolina on the gridiron. The Pirates lead the all-time series 9-6. The series began in 1990. East Carolina ended the Tigers' three-game win streak in the series last year with a 35-20 in Greenville, N.C. Despite last season's setback, Memphis has won four of the last six in the series. The last Memphis win in the series was a 27-24 victory in the 2005 campaign. That game was played at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

The series is tied 4-4 in games played in the Bluff City. The Tigers have won three straight played at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (2000, 2003, 2005). The last time East Carolina won in Memphis was the 1998 season, and the Pirates posted a narrow 34-31 win. Since Conference USA began playing football in 1996, East Carolina holds a narrow 5-4 edge. Memphis head coach Tommy West is 3-2 versus the Pirates.

Back to Normal
After playing last year's game in mid-September, Memphis and East Carolina return to their regular late October/November playing date this season. Last season's Conference USA opener -- a 35-20 East Carolina victory -- was only the second time in 15 meetings that the Tigers and Pirates played in September. The other time came in the 1991 campaign, and the Pirates won that game 20-13. All of the other previous 13 meetings were played in either October or November, with 10 of those coming after Oct. 20. Memphis and East Carolina have met each other in a season finale five times (1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998).

A November to Remember
Tiger Nation sure hopes so. Memphis has played well in the month of November the last four seasons, posting a 9-7 record. Included in those nine November victories the last four years are two over East Carolina (41-24 in 2003, 38-35 in 2004). Of the seven November setbacks, five have been by seven or fewer points. The average margin of loss in those five single-digit November losses was 4.2 points.

A Tie That Binds
Usually there is a coaching connection between Memphis and its opponent, but this Saturday, the link is a family affair. Sophomore wide receiver Dave Thomas was born in Greenville, N.C. -- the home of the Pirates -- and three members of his family suited up for East Carolina. His father, Dave Jr., played strong safety for the Pirates in 1984 and 1985, and his grandfather, Dave Sr., played defensive end and tight end from 1957-59. His uncle, Greg, was a center for the Pirates from 1983-86.

Homecoming Meeting
Saturday's contest with East Carolina marks only the second Homecoming meeting between the two teams at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. In 2005, Memphis defeated ECU, 27-24. The Tigers have an all-time record of 43-28-1 in Homecoming games.

On This Date
The Tigers have a 7-4-1 record when they play on Nov. 3 in their history. The last time Memphis played a Nov. 3 game was the 1990 season, and the Tigers fell to East Carolina 24-17. The last time the Tigers posted a win on Nov. 3 was the 1973 season. Memphis defeated Virginia Tech 49-16. The Tigers won seven-straight Nov. 3 games from 1928-73.

Tigers In Top Five Nationally
The Tigers forced Tulane running back Matt Forte' to fumble the ball on the Memphis 1-yard line and through eight games, rank fourth nationally in fumbles recovered with 13. Toledo (15), Michigan (14) and Louisville (14) are just ahead of the Tigers in recoveries. Six different Tiger defenders have logged fumble recoveries this season with Quinton McCrary leading the way with a school-record six. Jake Kasser has recovered three, and Freddie Barnett tallied an 88-yard return for a touchdown against UCF. Memphis is also tied for seventh in the country in fumbles lost with just four and is in the top 10 nationally in turnover margin.

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