Category: Sports Feature

Scott Scherer, a 5-8 walk-on quarterback, started his first game for the University of Memphis Saturday and promptly led the Tigers on an eight-play, 84-yard scoring drive. The Memphis offense later took advantage of two East Carolina fumbles staking Memphis to a 17-0 first quarter lead that they did not relinquish in a 17-10 upset win over conference rival East Carolina. Memphis is now 4-2 (2-1 in C-USA) and one step closer to the school’s first winning season since 1994.

Scherer, the son of head coach Rip Scherer, started because the two quarterbacks ahead of him on the depth chart, Neil Suber and Travis Anglin, are injured. Scherer showed remarkable poise, completing his first six passes. For the game, he hit I8 of 25 for 175 yards. He was not intercepted.

After the game, in the small room where Rip Scherer meets the press, there were plenty of tears. Michelle Scherer, the quarterback’s mother, had obviously been crying. When the coach entered the room, he said, “You have to get her out of here.” He was stopped by emotion several times.

“That’s a special win in a lot of ways. To have that little guy step up and play the way he did. I’m really proud of him and I’m proud of the way everybody rallied around him,” Scherer said.

After the Tigers drove for the first touchdown (tailback Sugar Sanders on a four-yard run) the entire team went into a joyous celebration. They hadn’t even settled down before Derrick Ballard forced ECU’s Keith Stokes to fumble the ensuing kick-off. The Memphis offense ran back on the field and in six plays punched the ball into the end zone. The touchdown came on a 6-yard quarterback keeper. It was 14-0 before the Pirates ran their first offensive play.

When ECU finally got the ball they turned it over again. Quarterback David Garrard fumbled after being hit by nose tackle Marcus Bell. Calvin Lewis recovered at the East Carolina 41. Thirteen plays later Ryan White nailed a 20-yard field goal and Memphis had an incredible 17-0 lead with six minutes still left in the first quarter.

Sophomore tailback Jeff “Sugar” Sanders and junior wide receiver Reginald “Bunkie” Perkins both had career days for Memphis. Sanders went over the century mark for the first time, carrying the ball 29 times for 132 yards. Perkins, a transfer from Hinds Junior College, continued his improved play catching six passes for 85 yards.

Being staked to an early lead put the Tiger defense — ranked seventh in the country — in an unusual position. The Tiger defenders put pressure on Garrard the entire game, sacking him three times, intercepting him twice, and causing him to fumble once. Garrard threw the ball 41 times, completing 18 for 246 yards (120 coming in the fourth quarter when ECU was forced to pass on almost every down).

Memphis continued to have special team problems. Two Ryan White field goals were blocked, keeping the Tigers from extending their lead. The Pirates got back in the game in the fourth quarter. Garrard hit Rashon Burns for a 17-yard touchdown. Kevin Miller added a 23-yard field goal with four minutes to go. But the Tiger defense held when it had to and Memphis won its first game against East Carolina since 1993.

The Memphis players voted to give the game ball to Scott Scherer. The walk-on with the 4.0 grade point average had turned down numerous scholarship offers from several Division I-AA to play for his father.

“He’s a tough little guy,” said his father. “One of the reasons he has the players’ respect is because he’s a tough little guy.”

Scherer had lots of support. The offensive line played maybe its best game of the season. “We knew we had to protect him,” said senior guard Lou Esposito. “We had a lot of confidence in him.”

“Of course we felt a need to protect him,” laughed sophomore center Jimond Pugh from the locker next to Esposito. “I want to keep my job next week.”

Pugh said Scherer was “calm and cool.”

That neatly summed up the first start of Scott Scherer’s career.

“I knew I could do the job if I got a chance,” Scherer said. “That has been my dream all along, to get an opportunity like this and get a big win. I just can’t explain how good it feels.”

Scherer said his teammates had told him all week that they had confidence in him. “It was great to know that everybody believed in me that much,” Scherer said. “The first drive reflected the preparation we had put in all week.”

Scherer said he surprised even himself with his calmness. “Even this morning on the bus ride, I felt nervous,” he said. “But once I got in there under center, I felt calm. I just tried to play my role.”

Not all the Scherer family could claim they were calm. Scott’s father said he barely slept the night before the game. His mother, Michelle, said, “I was more nervous before this game than I’ve ever been in my whole life.”

GAME NOTES:

Sometimes the best players show up by accident. “Nobody asked me, I just came,” explained center Jimond Pugh, who transferred to Memphis after spending his red shirt freshman year at Florida A&M. For the sixth game this season Pugh played every offensive snap. “It’s understood that the center is going to be in on every snap, unless the game is out of hand,” Pugh said. “You don’t want to get too many centers in the game because of the quarterback exchange.” . . . Glen Sumter picked off his fourth pass of the season. He is among the national leaders in that category. . . . Senior tight end Billy Kendall had his consecutive game streak in which he had caught at least one pass snapped at 21. The streak started in Kendall’s sophomore season. . . . Freshman quarterback Danny Wimprine led the cheers for Scott Scherer. It did not go unnoticed by the senior Scherer. “Danny Wimprine is a great leader. He’s cheering when the defense is on the field. He’s incessant. He has a real magnetism about him,” said the coach, who was prepared to use Wimprine if he needed him. Scherer discussed that decision with Wimprine’s parents in Louisiana during the week. Memphis is hopeful of redshirting the quarterback.

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

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)

Troy Aikman should retire. Now. Not at the end of the Dallas Cowboys’ season. Not after the next concussion. Now.

To fully appreciate my stance on this much-debated issue, you need to know with how heavy a heart it’s taken. I’ve been a Cowboy fan since I could tell the difference between a football and a frisbee. And my loyalties to “America’s Team” are due largely to the man whose career Aikman’s has so uniquely paralleled, up to and including his current physical crisis: Roger Staubach.

In 1980 Roger Staubach was no different from Spiderman or Han Solo in the heroic pantheon of my 11-year-old consciousness. Spidey beat up the Green Goblin, Han commanded the Millennium Falcon, and Roger the Dodger hurled touchdown passes for the mighty Cowboys. Then on an otherwise drab afternoon shortly after the ’79 NFL season had come to pass, I learned about the word “concussion.”

Mortality is a helluva thing when it comes to your heroes. My dad explained– as best he could– that Staubach had announced his retirement because of a series (pattern?) of head injuries that threatened far more than his football career. It didn’t stop my tears, but it forced me to see my quarterback hero for the first time as a human being. One with a loving family and a future beyond Texas Stadium. I also had the first profound sports-related thought of my young life, that there would never again be a player like Roger Staubach. Then along came Troy Aikman.

We Cowboy fans take a lot of grief, much of it deserved. There is a swagger to all things Cowboy that tends to rub the legions of Cowboy haters in an especially sensitive area. And considering the number of legal transgressions by Cowboy players– from Bob Hayes to Michael Irvin– the vitriol is accepted by fans like myself as part of the package. But even ignoring the five Super Bowl wins, find me a franchise that, merely a decade apart, fielded a pair of quarterbacks as special as Staubach and Aikman.

Which brings me to the lump in my throat as I argue for Aikman’s retirement. It’s simply an issue of risk versus reward. What might the rewards be should Aikman keep playing? As clearly exemplified in the whipping they took in their season-opening loss to Philadelphia, the Dallas Cowboys are on their way down (way down), not up. Furthermore, with an aging offensive line, they appear to be a team for whom a quarterback will have to be mobile to stay alive, let alone move the team down the field. Even in his best years mobility wasn’t one of Aikman’s strengths.

Does Aikman need to cement his standing in NFL history? Please. Start with three Super Bowl victories, a club whose membership counts three (here’s to Terry Bradshaw and Joe Montana). He has broken every Cowboy passing record (standards originally established by Staubach). And despite the series of concussions, Aikman has remained a remarkably durable quarterback. Few men lead their team in passing, as Aikman has, for 11 consecutive years.

A Hall of Famer? You decide.

As for the risks, you don’t need a medical degree to understand when the injured part of one’s body is the brain, it’s time to take pause. That nasty word I learned 20 years ago has been in the headlines of late, as his own concussions led to San Francisco 49er Steve Young’s retirement earlier this year. Hockey superstar Eric Lindros is on his way to a liquid diet after a series of on-ice collisions benched the Philadelphia Flyer center. However horrific a knee or shoulder injury might seem, imagine the pain when it’s between your ears? Every day. When the act of thinking itself is hindered.

My old hero Roger Staubach now runs an extraordinarily successful real estate firm headquartered in Dallas. Closing in on 60, he’s as sharp as ever, and still looks like he could thread the needle on a slant pattern. Aikman needs to recognize his career’s parallel to Staubach’s . . . and to take it one more step. He’s newly married, articulate, good in front of the camera. Who knows what adventures remain?

This gallant Cowboy needs to ride off into the sunset, before he finds his horse replaced with a gurney.

(Frank Murtaugh is the managing editor of Memphis Magazine. You can write him at murtaugh@memphismagazine.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)

Memphis’ XFL team, the Maniax, today announced its new head coach — Kippy Brown, former University of Memphis quarterback (1975-1977).

Memphians may remember Brown’s role in the Tigers’ victory at 6th ranked Auburn in 1975. After graduation, Brown coached running backs and receivers at his alma mater until 1980. He then coached for Louisville (1982), the University of Tennessee (1983-89, 1993-94), and joined the NFL as an assistant coach for the Jets (1990-92), Buccaneers (1995), Dolphins (1996-1999), and Green Bay Packers (2000).

According to Maniax general manager Steve Ehrhart, one of the best recommendations came from NFL future hall-of-famer Dan Marino, who was under Brown’s direction as Miami’s offensive coordinator from 1998-1999. In fact, sources close to the situation say Brown served as the go-between in the quarterback’s stormy relationship with former Dolphin coach Jimmy Johnson.

“It is unbelievable to see my career come full-circle — from when I was a player in Memphis 28 years ago, now having the honor of being the head coach of the Memphis team in this exciting new league with such a great future,” Brown said.

Since Memphis has territorial rights to the University of Memphis and Tennessee programs, Brown’s ties to both were seen as particularly important. Brown will officially join the team as soon as his current commitment to the Green Bay Packers, where he is the running backs coach, is complete.

(You can write Chris at chris@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)