Nov. 20, 2009

MEMPHIS, TENN. -

The Tiger Football team will close out the 2009 season with its final two games on the road, including this weekend’s Conference USA matchup at the University of Houston. Kickoff is slated for noon CT at Robertson Stadium, and the game will be carried live by CSS with Matt Stewart and Chuck Oliver serving as the announce crew.  CSS is available in Memphis on Comcast Cable, Channel 6.

Saturday’s game is the 20th all-time meeting between Memphis and Houston. The Cougars hold a narrow 10-9 edge in the series, but the Tigers have won three of the last four encounters by scores of 45-14 (2003), 41-14 (2004) and 35-20 (2005). The last Houston victory in the series was a 23-20 overtime win in 2006.  Memphis has won the last three games played at Robertson Stadium in 2005, 2003 and 2001. In their last trip to Houston in 2005, the Tigers posted a 35-20 win. The Cougars’ last win over Memphis on their homefield came in the 1998 campaign, a 35-14 victory.  Tommy West is 4-2 versus the Cougars, and is 3-0 in games played in Houston.

The Tigers’ final game of the 2009 season will be on Friday, Nov. 27, at Tulsa. Kickoff for that meeting is set for 2:30 p.m., and the game will be the final of eight games carried for broadcast this season, with CBS College Sports airing the contest.  CBS College Sports is available in Memphis on Comcast Cable (Ch. 222), on DirecTV (Ch. 613) and on DISH Network (Ch. 152).

Steele Ties DeAngelo Williams for Quickest 2,000 Yards On The Ground

Curtis Steele is only the seventh player in school history to total more than 2,000 yards rushing.  What’s even more impressive is that he amassed his 2,000th yard in his 21st career game (vs. UAB), tying Tiger great DeAngelo Williams, for the quickest to 2,000 yards on the ground.

If Steele can get 153 yards in the final two games of the season, he will also become only the second back in school history to have multiple 1,000-yard years --- with the other being Williams, of course.  Williams had four solid years with the Tigers and holds the school record with 6,026 yards in 44 games. 

In First Year As Tiger Punter, Reagan is Semifinalist for Ray Guy Award

In just his first season as Memphis’ full-time punter, senior Matt Reagan has been named one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award, presented by the Augusta Sports Council, to the nation’s top collegiate punter.  The list was compiled from 42 nominees for the award.  Reagan is the only semifinalist from Conference USA.

Reagan has booted 51 punts this season and averages 45.4 yards, which ranks fifth nationally.  He has landed 20 of his punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, and has logged 15 punts of 50 or more yards.  In addition, 66 percent of Reagan’s punts have not been returned.

Hudgens in Tiger Top 10

Will Hudgens’ career at Memphis has been marked by several early season-ending injuries, and despite only starting nine career games, Hudgens ranks in the all-time Tiger Top 10 for quarterbacks.  The numbers are impressive considering that Hudgens has only had 12 total career games where he has attempted 15 or more passes.

Heading into the Houston game, Hudgens ranks 10th in pass attempts (412); 7th in completions (231), 9th in yardage (2,621), 9th in TD passes (18) and 11th in percentage (56.1).    For the season, Hudgens holds the school record for completion percentage (61.5) by a Tiger QB who has attempted at least 200 passes.

Steele Is Top Tiger Scoring Threat

Curtis Steele has scored rushing touchdowns in 10 of his last 14 games played and totals 15 TDs on the ground during the stretch.  He leads the team in scoring heading into the Houston game with 60 points.  The Franklin, Tenn., native also totals 102 career points for the Tigers.

Steele Moves Up Through Tiger Top 10

For the last four straight weeks, Curtis Steele has moved up on the Tiger Top 10 all-time rushing yardage list.    He entered the Tiger Top 10 in career rushing following the Southern Miss game, and with his 76 yards a week later against East Carolina, Steele moved up to the No. 9 position.  Steele then jumped to the No. 8 spot with his 144 yards against Tennessee; and advanced to No. 7 with his 107 yards versus UAB.

Steele enters the Houston game with 2,070 career yards, and will need 125 yards to continue the trend and take over the No. 6 spot that is currently held by Larry Porter, who totaled 2,194 yards from 1990-93.  He is the only player in the top 10 to play only two years at Memphis.

Calhoun & Singleton Top Receivers in Memphis History

Following the East Carolina game, Duke Calhoun and Carlos Singleton officially became the top two receivers all-time at the U of M.   The only category that had the two separated heading into the ECU game was receptions as Singleton was third behind Damien Dodson.  With his nine catches versus the Pirates, Singleton jumped Dodson for the No. 2 spot.

Calhoun holds the top spot in receptions (203), yardage (2,939) and 100-yard games (10), while Singleton holds the record in TD receptions (22).

Calhoun could become only the 10th receiver in Conference USA history to amass 3,000 or more yards receiving.  He only needs 61 yards in the final two games of the season.

For the complete Tiger Release, please go to:

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/mem/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/weekly-release.pdf