‘W’ on the horizon for Tigers?

By Adam Douglas

Sports Editor

 

David Minkin

 

The University of Memphis Tigers football team looks to win their second game in two years against Middle Tennessee. The Tigers defeated the Blue Raiders 24-17 last season.

For possibly the first time this season, the Tigers enter gameday with at least one statistical advantage over an opponent — a notch in the win column.

Though the Tigers (1-3, 0-1 in C-USA) come into tomorrow's contest against a currently winless (0-3) yet heavily favored Middle Tennessee State University team, the host Tigers will suit virtually the same roster that topped MTSU 24-17 in Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium last season. Of course, the win constituted UM's lone victory on the season.

"I understand that (MTSU) have been struggling, but they're probably better than their record," head coach Larry Porter said at his weekly press luncheon. "Offensively, with Kilgore, Cunningham and McDonald they have some talent and we expect them to be explosive on that side of the ball."

The Blue Raiders come into tomorrow's game ranked 23rd nationally in total yardage (461.3), 20th in passing yards per game (317.7) and 63rd in rushing yards per game (147.0). This will be a tough feat for a defense that is ranked near the bottom of the NCAA in every major statistical category, but Porter still believes in his defense.

"I stand strongly encourage on our defense and there were some things in this past game that we can build on," Porter said. "The first three games we gave up 15 plays over 20 yards, this last game we had only four. When you look at the film, there's a lot to be encouraged about defensively."

Porter said the defense is coming along, though numbers would suggest the opposite. But the offense is the focus of the team this week. The Tigers are averaging 11.0 points per game, ranking 116th in the nation, 115th in total yards per game (272.8) and have only converted on third downs at a 31 percent rate (21-of-67); thus not allowing the defense to catch their breath. Porter understands that the offense has to do its job.

"Offensively, we definitely have a lot of work to do," Porter said. "It's not just fixing one thing or another, but it starts with the offensive line and putting the skill guys in position to step up and be playmakers and take some of the pressure of our young quarterback. Our offensive line will be challenged to perform better."

Most of the problems start not only with the offense, but rather the morale of the team. Porter admits that it gets tough to coach when you're constantly losing.

"Losing's never fun, never has been and never will be," Porter said. "But knowing that you've got a locker room full of young men who care and who are fighting, my frustration comes through them not being able to experience success from winning.