Reeling Tigers look to refocus after bye week

By Adam Douglas

Sports Editor

 

 

 

A bye week was just what The University of Memphis Tigers football team (2-7, 1-4 in Conference USA) needed after a lopsided 41-0 loss at the hands of defending C-USA champion Central Florida.  But the scheduling Gods dealt The U of M a bad hand, as the Tigers will play two games in the span of five days starting with this weekend's annual "Battle for the Bones" tilt against rival UAB.

What makes this matchup more intriguing is that the Tigers face their former head coach, Tommy West, now defensive coordinator for the Blazers.

West led the Tigers to five bowl games in ten seasons.

Second year head coach Larry Porter doesn't think that particular plot line will affect the outcome of the game.

"We haven't talked about that in general as a team or anything," Porter said at his weekly press luncheon. "But the best way for them to say thanks is to win."  

The Tigers will be facing a Blazers team that has had similar struggles this season. They're playing with a second-string quarterback, have had numerous injuries and countless setbacks – just like the Tigers. But despite their opponents' troubles, Porter sees this game as a dangerous matchup, and one that can also be an opportunity for the Tigers to finish the season strong.

"As you watch film on UAB, you see two different teams," Porter said. "You see a team that is very capable and then you see a team that struggles. So we have to prepare for the best team."

The week off gave some ailing Tigers a chance to get healthy. The break also gave Porter and his coaching staff time to re-evaluate the season and figure out what works and what doesn't work. Porter and company wasted no time trying to put the right players in the right situations in order for the team to be successful.

"(The bye week) was very much needed for us to grow and heal and recharge both mentally and physically," Porter said. "Our goal is to win November and finish strong. We kind of looked at it as well to see what plays were our best runs, our best passes to see how we can do those things out of different formations but continue to have the consistency and the productivity out of those plays."

This week's game is also Senior Day for 16 Tigers. Porter says he hopes fans will come out and support those graduating seniors for all their hard work and efforts over the last four years.

Kickoff for the "Battle for the Bones" is scheduled for 3 p.m.