Author: Dennis Freeland

If Rip Scherer thought University of Memphis fans would praise his team’s effort in a 24-3 loss at number-21 Southern Mississippi on Saturday he was mistaken. Almost every caller to “The Point After,” the U of M post-game radio show on WMC (AM-790) was critical of Scherer. It seems the fans are fed up with an offense that has been AWOL for seven seasons.

Not since Steve Matthews was playing catch with Isaac Bruce has Memphis had anything remotely resembling a high-powered offense. In 1994, a lack of points cost Chuck Stobart his job, despite three consecutive 6-5 seasons. When a small crowd showed up for an important game to close out the 1994 season, former president Lane Rawlins made a change. He brought in Scherer who had been an offensive coach his entire career.

Ironically that last game Stobart coached came against East Carolina, Memphis’ opponent Saturday at the Liberty Bowl. If the Tigers draw more than the 23,000 that came out to see Memphis and East Carolina play for an invitation to the Liberty Bowl in 1994 it will be the biggest upset since UAB beat LSU in Baton Rouge.

For all the positive work Scherer has accomplished in Memphis, and he has done a lot of good things, he has not been able to build an offense. And that is inexcusable after five-and-a-half years on the job.

The Tiger offense currently ranks 104th out of 115 Division I teams. The statistics do not lie: Memphis is 100th in passing, 98th in scoring, and 75th in rushing. And only two of the first five opponents on the schedule played any defense at all.

This is familiar territory for the Tiger offense. Memphis has finishing near the bottom of the NCAA offensive statistics every year since Scherer arrived. The quarterbacks can change, the offensive coordinator can change but the bottom-line has not changed in five plus seasons: the Memphis offense cannot run and cannot throw. In a word it sucks.

And that is what the callers to the post-game show were saying. Forrest Goodman and Matt Dillon, the show’s hosts, did their best to defend Scherer, but how could they? There is not one excuse for the offensive ineptitude that does not involve Scherer. He is the reason that there is not speed at wide receiver. He is the reason that Memphis doesn’t have a quarterback who can throw the ball consistently. He is the reason that every opponent the Tigers face knows what play Memphis is going to run when they come out of the huddle. The offense is boring and predictable and it is Scherer’s fault. After five-and-a-half seasons, this is his program. The blame stops at his desk.

A 3-1 start did not fool anyone. The wins came against three of the sorriest football teams in the country. With a loss to Richmond Saturday, Arkansas State is 0-5. Louisiana-Monroe gave up 70 points to Tennessee and was shutout by Southwest Texas. Army is winless and going nowhere fast. The three teams Memphis has beaten are a combined 1-13.

Yet Memphis still has a chance to win seven games and go to a bowl. They have to get four wins in their final six games to finish with seven victories for the first time since 1976. If one counts East Carolina and Tennessee as losses, there is no room for error. UAB, Houston, Cincinnati, and Tulane are must wins. If the Tigers stub their toes once against that crew, they can still finish with a winning season. Anything less will put athletic director R.C. Johnson in the tough spot of having to fire Scherer just one year after granting him a contract extension.

Tiger fans have grown impatient with their head coach. Playing Southern Miss close for 57 minutes is not good enough. If Scherer thought it was, he should have heard the post-game show. Tiger fans are sick of losing. More than that they are sick of being unable to score points. They will cast their votes with their feet, staying away in droves Saturday. Poor attendance cost Stobart and basketball coach Larry Finch their jobs. Whether it will do the same for Scherer remains to be seen.

(You can write Dennis Freeland at freeland@memphisflyer.com)

WEST POINT — Free safety Idrees Bashir ran an interception back a school-record 100 yards propelling the University of Memphis to their third consecutive victory, 26-16 at Army. It was the first Conference USA game for Memphis but the win came at a high price.

Jared Pigue, the Tigers’ deep snapper injured his knee on a third- quarter punt. The injury, which happened when one of Pigue’s teammates ran into him, is thought to be a season-ender for the true freshman from Nashville. On a day where Memphis special team mistakes led directly to all 16 Army points, it is easy to see just how devastating the loss of this non-scholarship freshman may be.

Army ran back a punt for one touchdown, returned a fumbled kickoff for another, and scored a safety after Pigue’s replacement snapped the ball over Ben Graves’ head late in the game. Memphis special teams also allowed a blocked punt and had a high snap, blowing a point-after-touchdown attempt.

For the second time in four games the Memphis defense pitched a shutout, but the goose egg didn’t go on the scoreboard.

Tailback Sugar Sanders also left the game early, pulling up with the same hobbled ankle that has plagued him all season. Sanders had a career-best 62-yard touchdown run early in the first quarter. But after running 31 times against Arkansas State, the sophomore could only rush seven times before the ankle wore out.

On a positive note, reserve quarterback Neil Suber was solid in his first start of the year (20-31-1, 187 yards, 1 TD). And freshman running back Jeremiah Bonds, getting a chance to play because of injuries to Sanders and Dernice Wherry, showed a glimpse of his big-play potential with a 31-yard touchdown run after catching a short pass from Suber. The catch and run broke a 14-14 deadlock midway through the fourth quarter.

Army drove for what could have been the go-ahead touchdown after the bad snap on the conversion left the score at 20-14. But Bashir intercepted a Curtis Zervic pass in the Memphis endzone with 3:49 remaining. He streaked down the sideline in front of the Army bench and broke a record that had stood at the U of M since 1958.

After Memphis failed on its two-point try, Army scored a safety with 2:08 to go to finish the scoring at 26-16.

The Memphis defense yielded 269 passing yards to the Black Knights, but never allowed them to score. Most of the yardage came, as Arkansas State’s 222 passing yards the week before had, on short and intermediate passes. At one point in the second quarter Zervic completed 9 passes in a row.

But the Tiger defense made big plays again and again. Besides Bashir’s interception, Michael Stone and Glenn Sumter both picked-off Zervic. For Sumter it was his third interception in four games. The sophomore strong safety entered the game ranked 12th in the nation in interceptions. The Tiger defense also had a fumble recovery by nose tackle Marcus Bell.

Memphis takes its three-game winning streak (and five-game road winning streak) to Hattiesburg next Saturday to take on nationally-ranked Southern Miss. The game will be televised as part of the C-USA television package.

GAME NOTES: The previous Memphis record for longest interception return was held by Robert Lyles who ran one back 99 yards against Mississippi State in 1958. . . . The Tiger defense continued to demonstrate its depth. Linebackers Coot Terry and DeMorrio Shank both missed the game with injuries, but freshman Derrick Ballard and redshirt-freshman Greg Harper played well in their place. Also redshirt-freshman Jason Brown continued to start in place of cornerback Marcus Smith. Smith is still hobbled by an ankle injury, but played against Army. . . . Sanders limped off with 13:02 left in the second quarter. He led Memphis with 73 rushing yards. Darche Epting had 66 on 19 carries. . . . Bunkie Perkins had his best day as a Tiger with four catches for 37 yards. Al Sermon led Memphis receivers with 44 yards on four catches. . . . Memphis lost the possession time battle for the first time this year. Army had the ball for 30:41; Memphis 29:19. . . . Wade Smith fumbled a short kickoff to start the second half and Army ran it back to tie the game at 14 just 11 seconds into the half. . . . Several influential U of M boosters attended the game, including former Shelby County Mayor Bill Morris.

(You can write Dennis Freeland at freeland@memphisflyer.com).

NEW YORK — Will Rip Scherer have the last laugh? Will the fans forgive the University of Memphis offensive woes if the Tigers can win seven games and go to a bowl game? Those are the story lines, going into the fourth game of the season.

“Winning ugly” is what fans are calling the Tigers’ modest two-game winning streak. It is not meant as as a compliment.

Heading into Saturday’s Conference-USA opener at Army, Memphis (2-1) has scored only five touchdowns and four came against a horrible Louisiana-Monroe team. Lack of imagination in the play calling is particularly troublesome to Tiger fans.

But Scherer insists he is only interested in winning and doesn’t mind ‘winning ugly.’ He feels the best chance he has is to play a conservative, ground-oriented offense to enhance his team’s obvious strengths — defense and kicking. Memphis has the seventh-best defense in the nation. Ben Graves has punted the ball extremely well. And Playboy all-American Ryan White is a threat anytime Memphis gets inside the opponent’s 35.

The question for some fans is why, after five complete seasons under Scherer, does Memphis not have a more productive offense? Why are the Tigers forced to play games like last week’s 19-17 come-from-behind victory over Arkansas State? Why does Memphis rank 106 out of 115 Division I teams in total offense?

Lost in the unhappiness about the offense is the fact that Memphis is 2-1 for the first time since 1984. The fans might grumble about how they are doing it, but a win over Army Saturday will put Memphis exactly where it wants to be — on track for a seven-win season and a bowl invitation.

And that will give Scherer a chance to have the last laugh.

GAME NOTES

** After ending a streak that saw the Tigers go from 1996 to 1999 without a road win, Memphis has now won four straight on the road dating back to October of last year. They go for five in a row this Saturday at Army.

** Quarterback Neil Suber is scheduled to start for the first time in 2000. He replaces Travis Anglin who is out with a sprained ankle.

** INJURY REPORT: Redshirt freshman linebacker Coot Terry sprained his knee this week in practice. He is doubtful. . . . . Senior starting linebacker Demorrio Shank (foot) is probable after missing the first three games. . . .Running back Dernice Wherry (shoulder) is doubtful. . . . Starting cornerback Marcus Smith, who missed the last two games, is probable. . . . Starting guard Josh Eargle (ACL) is out for the season. His replacement Trey Erye suffered a hyperextended elbow against ASU and is questionable.

You can write Dennis Freeland at: freeland@memphisflyer.com

The cast announcing the name of the latest Memphis pro sports franchise was a familiar one. Gene Bartow, Larry Finch, and Jack Eaton– the coach, star player, and radio announcer for the 1973 Memphis State team– were all at the head table when the new ABA 2000 team, the Houn’Dawgs, unveiled its name and logo at a noon press luncheon Wednesday. It was the second pro sports announcement of the week. Earlier the Memphis franchise of the XFL announced they were hiring former Tiger quarterback Kippy Brown as the head coach of the Maniax.

“We felt it was very important to establish an identity with the Mid-South and also capture the history of the ABA red, white, and blue basketball on its finger,” team president Bartow said. The team mascot will be called “king” and the franchise colors will be red, white, and blue.

Finch is in charge of player personnel and Eaton is the team’s radio coordinator. No contracts have been signed yet, but WHBQ-AM is in negotiations with the team for a radio deal. Jeff Weinberger and Eaton are set to do the broadcasts.

Bartow said a coach will be named soon, maybe by next week. The team schedule is expected to be released by October 1st. The Houn’Dawgs will play 60 games — 30 on their home floor in the new Desoto Civic Center in Southaven. The season is expected to begin in late December.

Other cities in the new league are Anaheim, Buffalo, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Long Island, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, and Tampa Bay.

(You can write Dennis Freeland at freeland@memphisflyer.com)

JONESBORO, AR — In the end Memphis ran the ball. … And ran the ball. … And ran the ball. Of the 13 plays in the 58-yard drive that culminated in Ryan White’s winning 35-yard field goal, 12 were running plays with either Sugar Sanders or Darche Epting carrying the ball. The drive began at the Memphis 24 with 6:35 left in the game and Arkansas State leading 17-16. When White’s kick split the uprights only 49 seconds remained.

The final quarter of the game began with Memphis leading 16-3, but Cleo Lemon, Arkansas State’s nifty senior quarterback, led his team on two long touchdown drives to give the Indians the lead and set up the late game heroics of the Tiger offensive line and backs. Head coach Rip Scherer had maintained all year that the Memphis offense was going to be a good rushing team. On that final drive, they may have proven it.

Lemon tried to rally his team for a game-winning score but came about three feet short. Lemon completed two passes for 30 yards to his favorite receiver, Robert Killow, to move the ball to the Memphis 35. But Nick Gatto’s 52-yard field goal attempt was about three feet short.

It was hard not to think that Scherer’s career at Memphis hung in the balance as Gatto’s kick soared toward the goal post. When it fell harmlessly to the ground, Scherer and his beleaguered offense had a new lease on life.

“In the past five years we’ve always found a way for these type games to get away from us. You play your heart out and you let it get away,” a jubilant Scherer said after the game. “I’m proud of Ryan White. But more importantly, I’m proud of our offense. When we had to have a drive, had to get field position, had to grind it out, we did it. They knew what we were doing. They had nine or ten in the box. We were running hard. Running for first downs. This kind of game is a character builder. It might not have been pretty, but winning like that late in the game can really help our season.”

Memphis rushed the ball for 147 yards and didn’t turn the ball over for the first time this season. Sanders rushed for 96 net yards and Billy Kendall caught four passes for 40 yards. Kendall’s first catch of the day was the biggest, a 12-yard touchdown in the first quarter. The touchdown followed a Glenn Sumpter interception of a Lemon pass. Sumpter returned the ball 32 yards to the ASU 17, setting up the touchdown. After that Memphis could only manage four field goals from White, the Playboy all-American. White’s field goals were from 19, 26, 42, and 35.

The Arkansas State offense got untracked in the second half — with 81 and 67 yard touchdown drives. The Indians gained 324 yards on the nation’s second-ranked defense. It was the first time Memphis had allowed more than 100 yards rushing or 200 yards passing this season.

Memphis now prepares for its first conference game Saturday at West Point. It will be the Tigers first trip to Army since 1985.

GAME NOTES

This is the first time Memphis has started a year 2-1 since 1984.

Quarterback Travis Anglin suffered an ankle sprain in the third quarter and was replaced by Neil Suber. Anglin will likely miss at least two weeks with the injury. Guard Trey Erye, playing in place of Josh Eargle, suffered a hyperextended elbow in the game. His status will be determined later in the week. Linebacker DeMorrio Shank, tailback Dernice Wherry, and cornerback Marcus Smith all sat out the game with injuries.

With the touchdown catch, Billy Kendall extended to 19 a streak of games in which the senior tight end has caught at least one pass. The streak started when Kendall was a sophomore.

Al Sermon saw his first action of the season with five catches for 38 yards. Six different Tiger receivers caught passes.

For the second consecutive week a Memphis opponent had zero punt return yardage. Ben Graves averaged 40 yards on 5 punts.

The linebackers led Memphis in tackles. Kamal Shakir had 9 and Coot Terry and Greg Harper had 8. Terry also had a sack.

(You can write Dennis Freeland at freeland@memphisflyer.com)

The University of Memphis defense pitched its first shutout since 1994 and the Tigers rushed for 180 yards as they beat Louisiana-Monroe 28-0 Saturday night at the Liberty Bowl in front of 20,801. Despite a number of offensive miscues, the Tigers managed to get into the end zone four times, all on rushing plays — two by quarterback Travis Anglin and two by running back Darche Epting.

The Memphis defense, ranked fourth in the nation coming into the game, thoroughly manhandled the over-matched Indians. ULM only gained176 total yards and 10 first downs in the game. Much of the yardage came late in the fourth quarter when Memphis was playing its second and third defensive units.

Head coach Rip Scherer said he was happy to get the first win of 2000, evening the Memphis record at 1-1, but the offensive problems obviously have him worried. “We shot ourselves in the foot with turnovers. The game should have been out of reach by halftime,” Scherer said. “We just have to do a better job of coaching.”

The Tigers did manage to rush for 180 yards, but the passing game was still weak. Anglin was 11-22 for 80 yards. “We’ve got to get some things fixed offensively,” Scherer continued. “Nobody’s making excuses. No one is lashing out. The fact is we’ve got to get better on offense.”

The win over ULM came at a price. First-string tailback Sugar Sanders reinjured the ankle that had kept him out of the opener. His backup Dernice Wherry, who rushed for a career best 75 yards, left the game after a lineman fell on him injuring his shoulder. Starting corner back Marcus Smith injured an ankle on the opening kickoff and went directly to the locker room. Redshirt freshman Jason Brown played well in Smith’s place. Starting guard Josh Eargle injured a knee and is out indefinitely.

Next on the Memphis schedule is Arkansas State (0-2). The game is set in Jonesboro for the first time since 1956. Kickoff is at 6 p.m.

GAME NOTES

Memphis special teams player Quincy Stevenson blocked a kick inside the ULM 10 yard line. “He has a heart as big as this stadium,” said Memphis coach Rip Scherer of the 5-6 walk-on from East High School. “You just love guys like him. He’s not even on scholarship.”

Senior Billy Kendall, the Tigers’ all-time leading tight end, extended his streak of catching at least one pass to18 games. Kendall started the streak when he was a sophomore.

Ryan White had two field goal attempts blocked. Scherer attributed the blocks to taking too long to get the ball snapped and kicked. “We’ve got to improved our snap-to-kick time,” Scherer said. White is working with a new snapper and holder this year.

Memphis ran a successful onsides kick with free safety Idrees Bashir running under the kick and catching the ball in the air. Bashir was busy. Besides playing defense and special teams, he lined up at receiver for the first time in his college career. He had a pass thrown his way, but it was under thrown.

Defensive coordinator Tommy West got one of the game balls. “I think he has done a great job of taking our defense to another level,” Scherer said. “He’s got them playing hard.”

(You can e-mail Dennis Freeland at freeland@memphisflyer.com)

The University of Memphis Tigers attempt to gain their first win of the 2000 season tonight against Louisiana-Monroe. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. A crowd of 20,000 or less is expected to attend the game at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Memphis is a 17-point favorite.

Besides getting their first win, the Tigers will attempt to put the brakes on a week of criticism for their anemic offensive showing in the opener, a 17-3 loss to Mississippi State. In that game, Memphis managed only 168 yards while turning the ball over five times.

Tonight’s opponent, UL-Monroe, is also 0-1, losing its first game to Minnesota , 47-10. The two teams have met only once in the past, with Monroe (then known as Northeast Louisiana) winning at Memphis in 1979. The Indians’ head coach, Bobby Keasler, was highly successful in nine seasons at McNeese State. He was 78-34-2 and was named Southland Conference Coach of the Year five times. He returned to his alma mater last season and led the team to a 5-6 mark.

But the real opponent for Memphis tonight will be themselves. Can the offense move the ball while cutting down on the number of turnovers? Can the defense, ranked fourth nationally after holding Mississippi State to a mere 127 yards, continue their excellent play. To silence the critics, the Tigers need to win by more than what the Las Vegas handicappers think.

GAME NOTES

Defensive end Andre Arnold had three quarterback sacks against Mississippi State, a career best for the junior from Columbus, Georgia.

Six Tiger players made their first career starts against Mississippi State. Josh Eargle and Jimmond Pugh stared in the offensive line. Tripp Higgins and Dernice Wherry started at wide receiver and tailback respectively. And Greg Harper and Derrick Ballard started at linebacker. Ballard, and deep snapper Gared Pigue were the only true freshmen to start.

Junior place kicker Ryan White, a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award his first two years, was selected to the Playboy 2000 All-American team. White has made 29 of 35 field goal attempts in his career and has kicked 47 out of 47 points after touchdown. His longest field goal is 52 yards.

Senior tight end Billy Kendall has caught at least one pass in 17 consecutive games, going back to his sophomore season. He caught a career high 6 vs. Arkansas State last season. Kendall is the all-time reception leader for tight ends at Memphis.

When Memphis travels to Jonesboro next week, it will be the Tigers’ first road game at Arkansas State since 1956. Memphis won that game 34-0, but the Indians hold a 9-6 advantage over the Tigers in Jonesboro.

Freshman deep snapper Gared Pigue, from Nashville Goodpasture Academy, was the starting deep snapper in game one. He recovered a fumbled punt.

(You can e-mail Dennis Freeland at freeland@memphisflyer.com)