University of Memphis football coach
Tommy West is being rewarded with a contract extension. He'll be locked in to the University until 2012. Coach West has led the Tigers to four bowls in 5 seasons.
The Tigers football season opens in Oxford against Ole Misss on August 30th. Kickoff is set for 5pm. You'll hear the game starting with the pre-game, game and post-game as you will all Tiger games on NewsRadio 600 WREC.. Your Home of the Tigers.
If you haven't gotten your tickets yet, shop right
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7-18 Meet Stan Bronson Jr. Friday
You're invited to meet 80-year old Stan Bronson Jr. today as he celebrates his 80th birthday Friday July 18th. He'll be there with the Tigers Baseball Bullpen Club at the Bill J. Murphy Complex Library. Stan's been a ficture for Tiger Athletics for over 50 years, according to Baseball Coach Daron Schoenrock. Stan has served as the baseball program's batboy since the 1958 season. The party begins this afternoon (Friday) at 4pm
Coach Cal is trying a new strategy this year for the team. University of Memphis basketball players will have to start keeping a journal for the coach
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Football season is right around the corner. Get the Tigers schedule and your
tickets here. Remember yu can hear all the game this season on NewsRadio 600 WREC.. The Home of the Tigers.
University of Memphis’ Duke Calhoun and Brandon Pearce were named to the C-USA Preseason All-Conference USA team as announced by the league office Wednesday afternoon.
Pearce, who was also listed on the preseason team prior to the 2007 season, started all 13 games last season at right tackle. The senior was part of a Tiger offensive line that led Conference USA in fewest sacks allowed with 14, which also ranked 10th nationally. He also helped pave the way for the Tiger offense which ranked 13th nationally in passing offense and 23rd in total offense.
The Tigers’ leading receiver in 2007, Calhoun was named to the C-USA second team last year after logging 890 yards and five touchdowns on 62 receptions. He will open the 2008 season on a 24-game receiving streak, which ranks in a tie for third in the U of M record book. In just two seasons, Calhoun ranks seventh in career receiving yards at Memphis with 1,571 and eighth with 104 total receptions.
In addition to the preseason team, the league office also released the Preseason Coaches Poll and Memphis is predicted to finish fourth in the East Division behind UCF, East Carolina and Southern Miss. UCF was picked to win the East, while Tulsa, Houston and UTEP make up the top three in the West Division. In 2007, the Tigers were predicted to finish fifth in the East, but ended the year with a 6-2 league record and tied for second with ECU. The six wins were the most for the Tigers since the league began playing football in 1996, and also marked the fourth time Memphis has logged more than five C-USA victories in a season.
Doneal Mack will return for the 2008-09 season to the University of Memphis. Mack had been enrolled at summer school at the University of New Orleans, but Coach Cal says Mack withdrew after one week of classes. Cal said "I'm happy for Doneal and proud of our university for allowing him to return."Last season, Mack played in 39 games averaging 6.9 points and 1.6 boards. He shot slightly more than 36% from the arc and a hit a team-best 66 three-pointers.
I know it's hot and sticky and humid.. so welcome to football in Memphis. And if you don't have your season tickets for the Tigers this year.. there is still time..but hurry.
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7-10 Tigers BB. Baseball and Dan Uggla
Congrats to Chris Douglas-Roberts named C-USA male "Athlete of the Year" for his tremendous 2007-08 season. Athletic Director R.C. Johnson tells Craig it's great news for CDR and the Tigers as well as the university. Also, there's new information on the new baseball stadium and all-star Dan Uglla, a former Tigers player
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RB Curtis Steele and DL Steven Turner named MVP's of scrimmage
MEMPHIS, TENN. - The University of Memphis Tiger football team closed out its spring practice session with the annual Blue-Gray Game at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Fans were treated to much better weather than has been the case in most recent years. The sun was shining and the temperature was in the 60s for the 104-play scrimmage. The offensive MVP was running back Curtis Steele and the defensive MVP was defensive lineman Steven Turner.
"I thought it was a good day," said head coach Tommy West. "I thought everything went good except the five turnovers and the quarterbacks were involved in four of them. We have to get our ball security right with our quarterbacks."
Steele paced the running game with 15 carries for 94 yards and one touchdown. He scored on the third play of the scrimmage from 39 yards out. Jeremy Longstreet, who transitioned from linebacker to running back this spring, finished the day with 12 carries for 41 yards. Mike Davis, a freshman who redshirted in 2007, had 15 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown. Davis scored off a 1-yard run late in the scrimmage.
"I thought we did some good things with the running game," said West. "Curtis Steele gives us that burst, and he can score with it."
The competition continues at quarterback as Arkelon Hall led the way with 60 yards on six completions and one touchdown. Hall tossed a 19-yard pass to Carlos Singleton for a score on the fifth series of the game. Hall also rushed for 51 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. He had TD runs of five yards and four yards. Matt Malouf completed two of eight passes for 23 yards while Dallas Walker completed six of 11 passes for 78 yards and one interception. Brett Toney was 3-for-3 for 39 yards and tossed an 11-yard touchdown to Carlos Singleton, who finished the day with three catches for 39 yards and two touchdowns.
"I wanted to throw the ball more today coming in but the wind made it really tough to do that," said West. "We still have a good competition going on at quarterback. Arkelon is still learning the system and Matt has continued to have a solid spring. I am not ready to name anyone yet as the starter because I don't think either one is ready to win a game for us right now. We are going to continue this competition in the fall."
Earnest Williams led the receiving corps with three receptions for 54 yards while Carlton Robinzine logged three catches for 16 yards and Brian Hall finished the day with two receptions for 34 yards. Tight end Deven Onarheim made two catches for 14 yards.
Several defensive players made key plays in the scrimmage, including Steven Turner who was named the defensive MVP. Turner forced a fumble, had a fumble recovery, broke up a pass and also had a sack in addition to his two tackles. Defensive back Deante' Lamar also logged a fumble recovery and registered a pass breakup. Linebacker Terrence Thomas had the defense's only score when he scooped up a fumble midway through the scrimmage and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown. Curtis Echols, who transitioned from wide receiver to defensive back this spring, registered a pass breakup and an interception, while Greg Terrell totaled two sacks for minus 10 yards. Charlie Bryant also had a fumble recovery and three total tackles.
"I thought the defense was fine," added West. "I hampered the defense a little bit because with us being new I didn't want to do a whole lot of things."
Prior to the game, several Tigers were honored for their efforts this spring. The Chris Faros Most Improved Player Award was shared by three players. From the offense, the coaches selected offensive lineman Brent Todd and wide receiver Steven Black. Selected from the defense was defensive back Deante' Lamar.
The Glenn Jones Award, which is presented each year to a player who demonstrates leadership through determination and courage both on and off the field, was shared by center Philip Beliles and defensive lineman Clinton McDonald. The coaching staff selected two Tigers for the Top Newcomer Award this spring. The award was presented to linebacker Jeremy Rockette and running back Curtis Steele.
Three Tigers were selected as the MVPs of this spring session. Offensive lineman Brandon Pearce, defensive lineman Corey Mills and defensive back Michael Grandberry shared MVP honors for their efforts this spring.
Offensive lineman Terrence Echols, wide receiver Earnest Williams and linebacker Josh Weaver were each presented the True Tiger Award, which honors the players whose actions on and off the field most exemplifies those of a True Tiger.
Two freshmen who had been selected for honorary scholarships during the 2007 were also introduced. Offensive lineman Michael Antonescu, who prepped at Ridgeland High in Ridgeland, Miss., received the 2007 Rex Dockery Memorial Scholarship Award which is presented annually to an incoming freshman football player who most exemplifies the lofty football ideals of the late Rex Dockery. Defensive lineman Tommy Walker who played at Munford High earned the Ralph Hatley Scholar Athlete Award, which is presented annually to a Tiger football player who plans a career in the field of health, physical education or recreation.
Following the awards presentation, members of the 1963 Tiger football team were introduced to the crowd. This squad was one of three teams in Tiger football history to post an undefeated record. Under former head coach Billy J. Murphy, who the Tiger family lost in February, the Tigers amassed a 9-0-1 record which included shutouts over North Texas, Chattanooga, Louisville and South Carolina. This team is the first team to be inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame.
Statistics from the 2008 Blue-Gray Game
Passing
Arkelon Hall - 6 of 14 for 60 yards and 1 touchdown
Dallas Walker - 6 of 11 for 78 yards and 1 interception
Brett Toney - 3 of 3 for 39 yards and 1 touchdown
Matt Malouf - 2 of 8 for 23 yards
Maurice Jones - 1 of 1 for 16 yards
Receiving (Catches-Yds.-TD)
Earnest Williams - 3-54-0
Carlos Singleton - 3-39-2
Carlton Robinzine - 3-16-0
Brian Hall - 2-34-0
Deven Onarheim - 2-14-0
Steven Black - 1-25-0
Curtis Steele - 1-19-0
Jeremy Longstreet - 1-19-0
Matt Malouf - 1-16-0
Steven Joachim - 1-11-0
Rushing (Carries-Yds-TD)
Curtis Steele - 15-94-1
Arkelon Hall - 10-51-2
Jeremy Longstreet - 12-41-0
Mike Davis - 15-39-1
Brett Toney - 4-17-1
Byron Ingram - 1-3-0
Dallas Walker - 1-3-0
Matt Malouf - 4-(-10)-0
Defensive Highlights
Deante' Lamar - 2 solo, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recovery, 1 PBU
Terrence Thomas - 2 solo, 3 assists, 1 fumble recovery (TD)
Clinton McDonald - 4 solo, 4 assist, 2 TFL, 1 QB sack
Brandon Douglas - 2 solo, 1 assists
Charlie Bryant - 2 solo, 1 assist, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recovery
Greg Terrell - 3 solo, 2 QB sacks (-10 yards)
Steven Turner - 1 solo, 1 assist, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble, 1 QB sack (-3 yards), 1 PBU
Curtis Echols -
