Tag: Ryan Silverfield

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Ready to Roar

Ryan Silverfield (Photo: Larry Kuzniewski)

University of Memphis football coach Ryan Silverfield is tired of answering questions about the pandemic, the transfer portal, and NILs (name-image-likeness deals for student athletes). But here’s the thing: He’ll keep answering those questions, and with a smile on his face. Because that’s college football today. The case could be made that the sport has changed more since Silverfield took over the Tiger program — in December 2019 — than it did over the previous three decades. Recruiting is different (what kind of NIL possibilities exist?). Retaining players is a new challenge (that pesky portal). And graduating players? Keeping a standout running back for four (or five) seasons? You must be thinking of 2018.

“This is my 24th year of coaching,” notes Silverfield. “And the last three years have changed [the profession] dramatically. Not just for a head coach. The game has changed so much itself. That’s been what’s so dynamic. Who would have thought my first few months on the job would be the most normal? [Silverfield made his debut at the 2019 Cotton Bowl after his predecessor, Mike Norvell, departed for Florida State.] I couldn’t call [Alabama coach] Nick Saban up and ask how he dealt with a pandemic. I couldn’t call [LSU coach] Brian Kelly and ask how he handled the transfer portal in 1989. How did coaches deal with NIL in the late ’90s? We’re in a different, ever-changing game. When will we ever be able to just talk football? I don’t know if we’ll be on that trajectory anytime soon. Every coach is dealing with it.

“So the only constant is change. With a little bit of patience — as a man and a coach — I understand that every day something new will occur. You better adapt and adjust and get on the bus, or you’re going to get run over. We’re trying to stay ahead of it, to be proactive. And I believe we’re doing that here. The game’s hard enough. When you’re working 100 hours a week, to get frustrated does you no good. There’s a lot. Nobody’s going to feel sorry for a head coach who makes a good salary and gets to live his dream. But it’s changed.”

The 2021 Memphis Tigers, it can be said, broke even. They won six games and lost six. (Memphis hasn’t had a losing season since 2013.) They scored 30.1 points per game (a total that ranked 52nd among 130 FBS teams), and allowed 29.2. They were strong at home (5-2) but weak on the road (1-4). Most troubling, Memphis finished 3-5 in the American Athletic Conference, well short of a primary goal every season: winning the AAC championship. The Tigers qualified for a bowl game for the eighth season in a row (the Hawaii Bowl), but the game was canceled when their opponent (the University of Hawaii) had a Covid outbreak the day before kickoff. Silverfield’s second season as a head coach was decent, but he doesn’t hesitate in emphasizing Memphis football should be better.

“It starts with me,” says Silverfield. “I’ve got to be better. We were 3-0 after beating Mississippi State and up 21-0 on a UTSA team that went 12-2. We had a pair of injuries and our 18-year-old quarterback threw a pick-six. At that point, the kids looked up and felt there was a chink in the armor. We were never over-confident, but we must stay healthy. We had 47 guys out last season at some point. We played 27 freshmen and redshirt-freshmen. On paper, we’ve put together the best back-to-back recruiting classes in the program’s history, so that bodes well for the future.”

Silverfield acknowledges the most common factor in a good program going sour for a stretch of time. “We turned the ball over too much,” he notes. “We fumbled the ball inside the one-yard line against Temple. Then again on the 15. Two different running backs. We have to do a better job of establishing the run. We’ve been a rotational backfield, more so than I ever wanted. It will sort itself out through camp. Asa Martin has come on the last two seasons. Rodrigues Clark has shown some flashes but has to be more consistent. Brandon Thomas, when healthy and well, has been a force to be reckoned with. [Thomas led Memphis with 669 rushing yards last season.] Marquavius Weaver started against Navy [last year]. We need to have two or three we can rely on heavily. I don’t want to play six running backs. It’s a wide-open competition.”

Seth Henigan (Photo: Larry Kuzniewski)

One position the Tigers did not rotate a year ago is quarterback. When Arizona transfer Grant Gunnell was sidelined by injury shortly before the season opener, freshman Seth Henigan — merely nine months after his last high school game — took command of the Memphis offense. He completed 60 percent of his passes for 3,322 yards and tossed 25 touchdown passes (with eight interceptions). Silverfield is counting on an even better Henigan in 2022.

“What allowed Seth to play so well as a freshman are his maturity and intelligence,” says Silverfield. “He has a lot of tools. But he threw three pick-sixes and at times played like a true freshman. Part of that is growing pains, but we saw growth every single game. It may not have resulted in the best completion percentage, but in recognizing situations: ‘Did you see where that safety was?’ He’s got more comfort now. It’s not just studying the playbook. Grasp the offense, but grow in year two. He’s had a full offseason in the weight room, getting his body right.”

“I’ve gained 15 pounds since last season,” says Henigan. “That should help me withstand hits, stay in the pocket, and deliver strikes. And knowing I’m the starter … that’s a good feeling. Building chemistry, and not splitting reps [in practice]. The experience from last year will benefit me this season and in the long run. We have a lot of kids capable of having a breakout season. Our receiving corps is really deep; our offensive line is more experienced. We should be pretty dynamic, fun to watch.”

The Tigers’ biggest loss from a season ago is wideout Calvin Austin III. The speed demon will now split coverages for the Pittsburgh Steelers after being drafted in the fourth round of April’s NFL draft. But Silverfield likes the group of receivers Henigan will be targeting this fall. What they may lack when compared with Austin’s flaming speed, they make up for with collective size. “This is the most depth we’ve had at wide receiver since I’ve been at Memphis. Javon Ivory has shown production. People are expecting big things from Gabe Rogers.” Joe Scates (a transfer from Iowa State) will be in the mix, as will Eddie Lewis (four touchdowns last season). Sophomore Roc Taylor brings the kind of size (6’2”, 225 lbs.) that can punish defensive backs.

“The size [of our receivers] will stretch the field,” notes Silverfield. Caden Prieskorn should get the majority of snaps at tight end, and he checks in at 6’6”, 255 lbs. He’ll actually have a size advantage on some of the edge rushers Memphis faces.

In looking at the Tiger defense, let’s start with the secondary, where safety Quindell Johnson returns for what he hopes will be a third-straight all-conference season. (Motivation? Johnson was named second-team All-AAC each of the last two years.) Johnson’s 66 solo tackles were 17th in all of college football last season, but the numbers merely approximate his value to the Memphis cause.

“Quindell Johnson is the leader of our team,” says Silverfield. “The leader of our defense, certainly. Intelligent. Had the opportunity to go to the NFL, but decided to come back and compete. He cares, lives at the football complex. Could have transferred, but he stayed here. Loyal to the program. His family raised him right. Usually when I get a text from a parent, it’s negative. But his mom will text me just to say, ‘Hope your day is going all right. I know you have a lot on your plate.’ He’ll need to continue to make plays on the ball. Our new defensive scheme will suit him. He wants to win. It’s not just about improving his draft stock. Let’s win a championship. I admire that in him.”

Johnson relishes the chance to win a conference championship before his Tiger days are complete. (He graduated with a degree in business management last December and is now working toward a master’s degree.) “We have new guys, new coaching staff,” he notes, “and I’m just excited to see how it plays out. Playing football with the people I love.” Johnson refuses to name the teammates who will impact this year’s defense, insisting fans will need to “watch all of us.” Johnson’s offseason was spent building a more complete football player, as he puts it: “Getting faster, stronger, working on my technique, being a student of the game.”

And for those wondering why Johnson stayed despite alternatives, a program’s culture made the difference. “I’ve been so loyal,” emphasizes Johnson. “This program has given me nothing but love. I was in a situation where I didn’t need to leave. I’m somewhere I know I can play; I’m comfortable. The love the city’s given me … it’s unconditional.”

Johnson may be the most decorated, but the Tiger defense will have veterans at every level, with fifth-year seniors on the line (Wardalis Ducksworth), at linebacker (Xavier Cullens and Tyler Murray), and in the secondary (Rodney Owens). Even a sophomore like cornerback Greg Rubin — in 2020 a senior at White Station High School — brings experience, having started 11 games as a true freshman. “It’s maturity and confidence,” says Silverfield when asked how Rubin made an impact so quickly. “He’s shown an ability to work. Had the opportunity to go elsewhere, but stayed home and has found success.”

The Tigers will take the field for their opener at Mississippi State under the guidance of a new offensive coordinator (Tim Cramsey joins the program after four years at Marshall) and a new defensive coordinator (Matt Barnes arrives after three years at Ohio State). When asked for a connecting thread between the two hires, Silverfield says, “They’re great teachers.” Having interviewed seven candidates for each position, Silverfield chose men he feels can match his players when it comes to energy and passion.

“They’re dynamic,” says Silverfield. “They both bring energy, both have a chip on their shoulder. They have an underdog mentality and want to prove how good we can be, how great their units can be. When I interviewed [Barnes], he was getting all sweaty, uptight, jumpy. I said, ‘All right, this guy gets it.’ He wants to prove what he’s capable of.”

The Tigers will host seven games. (Photo: Larry Kuzniewski)

Silverfield sees the larger picture of college football’s shifting landscape. USC and UCLA are leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten, for crying out loud. We can erase the word geography from any equation measuring a program’s value for one “power conference” or another. The AAC is losing three of its top programs — UCF, Houston, and Cincinnati — after the 2022-23 academic year. Joining the AAC are programs that won’t exactly sell football tickets by themselves: UAB, Rice, UTSA, Charlotte, North Texas, and FAU. (If it feels like the old Conference USA days, it should.)

“We want to be in the best conference for football,” says Silverfield. “Football is the driving force [of revenue for an athletic department]. It’s ever-changing. We’re doing things the right way, with some of the best facilities in the country. We’re pouring money into [significant] renovations of Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. Back-to-back years, we’ve had the highest graduation rate of any football program in our conference. All those things will put us on display, and we’ll see what the future entails. We want to play at the highest level we can.”

Before Seth Henigan was born, a 6-6 season may have been welcomed in these parts. But Memphis football has new standards now, and the sophomore quarterback is here to meet them. “I’m trying to get us back at least to the top of the AAC,” says Henigan. “The standard at Memphis is a level of excellence, grit, grind, and all that stuff. We work really hard, but we need to prove it on Saturdays. Nobody really cares if we don’t win on Saturdays.”

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Tigers to Play in Hawaii Bowl

Quindell Johnson (Credit: Larry Kuzniewski)

The Memphis Tigers are bound for the Hawaii Bowl, where they’ll play a team from the Mountain West Conference on Friday, December 24th (their opponent remains to be determined). Memphis will appear in a postseason contest for the eighth season in a row, extending a program record that began after the 2014 campaign.

The Tigers gained bowl eligibility — a 6-6 record — in their final regular-season game, a 33-28 victory over Tulane last Saturday at the Liberty Bowl. Second-year Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield got emotional when asked about his initial reaction upon securing that precious sixth win. He didn’t use the word “relief,” but he did mention that 48 players missed at least one game this season and that “the adversity sucked.”

After starting the season 3-0 (including a home win over Mississippi State), the Tigers lost three straight games by a combined total of 12 points. They seemed to regain footing with a win over 23rd-ranked SMU on November 6th, but then stumbled a week later, losing in overtime at home to East Carolina. Memphis fell behind early in the regular-season finale last weekend, but capitalized on four Green Wave turnovers to secure the win.

Memphis quarterback Seth Henigan finished second in the American Athletic Conference with 3,322 passing yards and became the first Tiger freshman to top 3,000 in a season. Senior receiver Calvin Austin III led the AAC with 1,149 yards through the air and scored eight touchdowns. Memphis also featured the top two tacklers in the league, senior linebacker J.J. Russell (78 solo stops) and junior safety Quindell Johnson (66).

The Tigers struggled this season in large part due to a decline in their running game. Memphis finished third in the AAC in total offense (436 yards per game), but were next to last in rushing (137 yards per game). They also fell short in the kicking game, with David Kemp and Joe Doyle combining to convert merely 12 field goals in 12 games. Kemp, however, earned AAC Special Teams Player of the Week honors with his two field goals against Tulane.

The Hawaii Bowl has been played in Honolulu since 2002. (The 2020 game was cancelled amid pandemic restrictions.) This year’s event will be the first to be played on the University of Hawaii’s campus, at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, a stadium with a seating capacity of 9,000.

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Sports Tiger Blue

Must-Win for Memphis Football?

Ryan Silverfield (photo by Larry Kuzniewski)

Is Saturday’s regular season finale against Tulane a must-win for Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield? In a word, absolutely. 

On the somewhat weighted scale of recent Tiger football history, the 2021 season has been a big disappointment. After a 3-0 start that included a win over Mississippi State from the mighty SEC, the Tigers have lost six of eight games, three of them after leading in the second half (two of them in the fourth quarter). Memphis is no longer unbeatable in the Liberty Bowl (they lost to UTSA and East Carolina), they will have a losing record in American Athletic Conference play regardless of what happens against the Green Wave (0-4 on the road against AAC rivals), and perhaps worst of all, will leave the lightest offensive footprint since the program’s last losing season of 2013. A program that averaged 40 points per game as recently as 2019 — Mike Norvell’s last as head coach — enters the Tulane game with an average of 29.8 (56th in the country).

The Tigers must beat the 2-9 Green Wave. (Tulane ended an eight-game losing streak last Saturday by destroying USF, 45-14.) A win would at least gain bowl eligibility for Memphis and extend the program’s streak for postseason appearances to eight years. It would allow the chance for the Tigers to finish with a winning record, though 7-6 hardly has the shine of last year’s 8-3 mark or, gulp, the historic 12-2 standard of 2019.

A loss to Tulane wouldn’t necessarily mean Silverfield is out as head coach. That would be harsh, considering the man has spent his first two seasons in charge of a program under pandemic conditions, with a few significant departures (read: Kenneth Gainwell). But a loss to Tulane would mean the Tigers are, yes, rebuilding . . . . the most dreaded word in college football. And I’m not convinced a local fan base with memories of Anthony Miller and Darrell Henderson gaining All-America status on their way to the NFL will tolerate leadership without a track record for winning, and winning big. Would a 7-5 season next year be “progress”? Would 6-6 be “keeping the program afloat”? Anxious times, these, for University of Memphis football. And especially for its second-year head coach.

• Senior linebacker J.J. Russell has a very good case for the AAC’s Defensive Player of the Year. With one regular-season game to play, Russell leads the conference with 72 solo tackles. Only one other AAC player has as many as 60 solo stops, and that’s Russell’s teammate, Tiger safety Quindell Johnson. As for total tackles, Russell’s 113 are 18 more than any other player in the AAC (Johnson is second) and 24 more than any player not suiting up for Memphis. Only one Tiger has earned the Defensive POY honor since the AAC began play in 2013, and that was linebacker Tank Jakes, who shared the hardware with UCF’s Jacoby Glenn seven years ago.

• The pandemic has redefined what it means to be a “senior” in big-time college sports, but 17 Tigers we be saluted before the Tulane game, the program’s annual Senior Day. (Some retain eligibility and could return in 2022.) In addition to Russell and Johnson, Calvin Austin III will be honored, having put up consecutive 1,000-yard seasons after initially walking on. Sean Dykes has actually caught passes in six seasons and will leave the program with the most career receptions and yardage by a Tiger tight end. Guard Dylan Parham should make his 51st career start for Memphis (second most in program history). Jacobi Francis, Xavier Cullens, Tyrez Lindsey, Keith Brown Jr., Rodney Owens, Thomas Pickens and John Tate IV have all played significant roles on the Tiger defense this season. Among players from the offensive side of the ball, Cameron Fleming, Kylan Watkins, and Jeremiah Oatsvall will be honored. Special teamers Preston Brady and Treysen Neal will complete the Tiger football Class of ’21.  

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Can Tigers Have Fun in Philly?

Ryan Silverfield (photo by Larry Kuzniewski)

• Troubling trends. With a third of the season behind us, there are at least two statistical trends Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield and his staff would like to see reversed in the coming weeks. Despite winning three of their four games, the Tigers have been outscored in the fourth quarter (52-38). And that’s with three of the four games being played on home turf at the Liberty Bowl. Memphis has dominated the first quarter (58-20), and that’s an important factor, too. But championship teams finish strong, as measured across a season and as measured over a 60-minute game. The Tigers scored 21 points in the first quarter last Saturday to take a big lead against UTSA. But they only scored once more (a Brandon Thomas touchdown late in the third quarter). Meanwhile, the Roadrunners put up 17 fourth-quarter points to steal the win.

Another troubling figure: The Tiger offense has scored touchdowns on just over half its possessions in the red zone (inside opponents’ 20-yard line): 8 for 14. (Conversely, Memphis opponents have reached the end zone on 12 of 17 possessions.) The stat is somewhat misleading, as the Tigers have quick-strike capability and can score from well beyond the 20. All four of their touchdowns against Mississippi State (including one scored by the defense and another by special teams) chewed up more than 20 yards. But settling for three points (or worse, no points) when seven points are within reach is deadly, big picture. Look for Silverfield and offensive coordinator Kevin Johns to figure this out. The Tigers have too many weapons, both through the air and on the ground, to come up short in the shadow of the goal posts.

• Calvin’s catches. Be careful with “on pace for” statistics. Injuries, opponents, and even weather can distort projected numbers, both for a team and individual player. But Calvin Austin III is teasing Memphis fans with some ridiculous reception figures through four games. The Harding Academy grad is second in the country with 533 receiving yards, a number that puts him — here we go — on pace for 1,599 yards in the regular season, a total that would shatter Anthony Miller’s record of 1,462 (accumulated over 13 games in 2017). Austin has put up the yardage total on only 27 catches, making his average just under 20 yards per reception (19.74). Like Miller before him, Austin could climb from walk-on status to All-America recognition over the course of his Tiger career. And hey, he’s good for a memorable punt return now and then, too.

• Philly stakes. There’s nothing “brotherly” — and not much love — about the Tigers’ recent trips to play Temple in Philadelphia. A blown call in the fourth quarter two years ago (on a Joey Magnifico catch) cost the Tigers an undefeated regular season. The previous trip to face the Owls was almost as painful, a 31-12 beat-down in 2015 (that Memphis team went 9-4). You have to go back to 2014, the Tigers’ first road game against the Owls, to find a Memphis win. How to avoid a second straight loss this season? Start with the areas mentioned above: score touchdowns when deep in Temple territory, and win the fourth quarter. This is a team that was eviscerated (61-14) by Rutgers and lost ugly (28-3) to Boston College. Conference games have a different feel, with actual standings in the mix. Perhaps the UTSA loss is just the motivator the Tigers need to reverse the “feel” the Temple series has generated to this point.

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Three Thoughts on Memphis Tiger Football: Henigan Sparkles in Debut

Seth Henigan (photo by Larry Kuzniewski)

• QB Young. It’s virtually impossible for a college football program to start two quarterbacks with a larger disparity in experience than the Memphis Tigers did in finishing the 2020 season and starting the 2021 campaign. Brady White started the 2020 Montgomery Bowl as a Ph.D.(!) candidate at the U of M, completing his sixth season as a college player. Fast forward eight months, and Seth Henigan — last Saturday night at the Liberty Bowl — became the first true freshman to start at quarterback in a Memphis season opener. Henigan, folks, was in middle school when White first suited up for Arizona State (in 2015).

“I don’t even know if Seth shaves yet,” said Tiger coach Ryan Silverfield after Henigan completed 19 of 32 passes for 265 yards in the win over Nicholls. “He did a fantastic job. He had plenty of reps with the first team [during training camp] and the team rallied behind him. We’re pleased with his effort. He’s a winner, and he’s so smart. He’s a coach’s son. All those intangibles … he’s a smooth character.” With Arizona transfer Grant Gunnell undergoing further evaluation for an injury, Henigan will be the man for Memphis this Saturday at Arkansas State and for the foreseeable future.

• Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Oklahoma … and Memphis. These are the only five FBS programs to currently own seven straight seasons with at least eight wins. Read that group again. Four programs that are annually in the hunt for the College Football Playoff (which began after the 2014 season, when the Tigers’ current streak started), and the University of Memphis, a program that won a total of five games over three seasons from 2009 to 2011.

Yes, there are qualifiers. Memphis doesn’t compete in the SEC (or the ACC, or the Big 12). Ohio State would have a problem with the stat, as the Buckeyes only played eight games last year (and went 7-1, losing only to Alabama in the national championship game). But numbers don’t lie, and all the Tigers can do is beat the opponents on their schedule, primarily those in the American Athletic Conference. It’s an unprecedented stretch of winning football in these parts and has taken place under the direction now of three head coaches. Dare we suggest a winning culture has grown in and around the Liberty Bowl and the Murphy Athletic Complex? Going on eight years, the answer is a resounding yes.

• Realignment reconsidered. It’s easy to be discouraged by the news from the Big 12, college football’s latest “Power 5” league to ignore Memphis in its plans to expand. (The Big 12 is losing Texas and Oklahoma, and hopes to grab BYU and three programs from the American Athletic Conference: Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston.) An AAC of leftovers after realignment would leave the U of M in a league no stronger, really, than Conference USA as it existed from 1996 to 2012. It’s hard to see that as generational growth for a program enjoying its most successful period with seven straight winning seasons and three Top-25 finishes.

But I’m not convinced realignment will be over with the Big 12 transformation. The league will go from 10 teams currently to 12 (imagine that!). But consider: The Big 10 has 14 teams (two divisions) and the SEC will inflate to 16 teams when the Longhorns and Sooners hop aboard. The ACC has 14 teams (two divisions). So why should Memphis athletic director Laird Veatch delete his Big 12 contacts? If the Big 12 expands to 14 (or 16) teams, Memphis would fit nicely. (Keep your eye on the Tiger basketball program and its growing national impact under Penny Hardaway. The Tigers would add shine to a league top-heavy with Kansas and Baylor.)

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Tiger Trials: Coach Ryan Silverfield on the Next Era of Tiger Football

Coach Ryan Silverfield (Photo: Larry Kuzniewski)

No college football coach has begun his career in quite the way Ryan Silverfield has at the University of Memphis. His very first experience in command on the Tiger sideline occurred on December 28, 2019, in what happens to be the biggest game in the program’s history. Having been promoted from an assistant’s position to succeed Mike Norvell (who left for Florida State after Memphis won the American Athletic Conference championship game), Silverfield — then 39 years old — led the 15th-ranked Tigers against Penn State in the Cotton Bowl, one of the four most prestigious postseason games in the land. Memphis came up short (53-39) in an exciting game, but Silverfield had his platform for the next era of the program’s growth.

Not quite three months later, Silverfield’s program essentially shut down as the coronavirus pandemic took hold of organized sports all over the globe. The young head coach would learn the ropes under conditions unlike any of his predecessors — or any of his competition — had experienced before.

“Who would ever have thought my first three months on the job would be the easiest,” wonders Silverfield. “It became a totally different deal [during the pandemic] than when I took the job. It was a new era for Memphis football, and I felt like we had some momentum going in. Our kids left for spring break, and we ended up having about a three-month spring break. Anytime you’re trying to get a staff together, to learn from each other and build relationships, it’s never easy. Doing it via Zoom, not being able to be around [the players] … so much of college football is about relationships. You’re dealing with 125 17- to 22-year-olds. We need to be there for them in everything we do. Our administration handled it the right way, and our kids persevered. It was a trying season, in more ways than one. The opt-outs [players choosing not to play under the pandemic restrictions], not knowing your schedule, getting tested [for Covid-19]. I’m proud of those who persevered and came out on top. Credit to all those around me. You want to forget, but I’ll always remember a season that was unique to me and everyone else.”

Senior Calvin Austin III led the Tigers in 2020 with 63 receptions for 1,063 yards (Photo: U of M Athletics)

Even with the stifling restrictions, Silverfield’s first season was a success. The Tigers went 8-3 and won the program’s first bowl game since 2014 (a victory over Florida Atlantic University in the Montgomery Bowl). But Memphis missed out on the AAC championship game for the first time in four seasons, so there’s ground to gain (or regain) in 2021.

Entering his second season, Silverfield has a closer-to-normal football atmosphere around him. (As camp opened in August, players who had not been vaccinated against the coronavirus were required to be tested for Covid-19. Near the end of the month, Silverfield said more than 80 percent of the Tiger roster has been vaccinated, with the goal being 100 percent.) And part of “normal” for college football coaches every summer is the task of addressing significant departures. Former quarterback Brady White leaves the most significant void, having won the most games (28) and passed for the most yardage (10,690) and touchdowns (90) among all signal-callers in Tiger history. Also gone are placekicker Riley Patterson (second in career scoring for the U of M with 432 points) and a trio of impact-making transfers: offensive lineman Obinna Eze (to TCU), wide receiver Tahj Washington (to USC), and defensive back T.J. Carter (to TCU).

Safety Quindell Johnson intercepted three passes in 2020 and led the AAC with 60 solo tackles (Photo: U of M Athletics)

But there is returning star power for Memphis. If you enjoy “watch lists” — those preseason projections of which players will contend for which postseason awards — you’ll need a deep breath before reciting the Tigers’ candidates: Calvin Austin III (Biletnikoff Award for outstanding receiver and Maxwell Award for most outstanding player), Sean Dykes (John Mackey Award for best tight end), Quindell Johnson (Jim Thorpe Award for best defensive back and Chuck Bednarik Award for outstanding defensive player), and Dylan Parham (Outland Trophy for best interior lineman).

These kinds of preseason nods tend to go to programs that have enjoyed seven straight winning seasons, a pair of AAC titles, and three Top-25 finishes (in 2014, ’17, and ’19). The Tigers enter the 2021 campaign on a 15-game home winning streak (fifth in the nation), the kind of utter dominance expected of blue bloods in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, or Columbus, Ohio. Since 2014, the Tigers are 41-5 at the Liberty Bowl. (For perspective, Memphis has won more home games over the last seven seasons than the program did the previous 14.) So yes, expectations are high. Again.

Sean Dykes holds the Tiger career record for receptions (80) and yards (1,169) by a tight end. (Photo: U of M Athletics)

Just Watch!

There’s some irony to the watch lists, as you won’t find a Tiger among candidates for the Davey O’Brien Award, given annually to the country’s top quarterback. Having suited up Paxton Lynch (2013-15), Riley Ferguson (2016-17), and White (2018-20) over the last eight years, Memphis has found not just stability behind center, but profound, record-breaking success. Silverfield opened camp in August by declaring any one of four quarterbacks capable of continuing this unprecedented stretch: Keilon Brown (a dual-threat redshirt freshman from Zachary, Louisiana), Grant Gunnell (a junior transfer from the University of Arizona), Seth Henigan (a freshman from Denton, Texas), and Peter Parrish (a sophomore transfer from LSU).

Despite nursing an injury through much of training camp, Gunnell fits the picture — and brings the most experience — for Saturday’s opener at the Liberty Bowl. [Editor’s note: Silverfield had not named the starter at press time.] Based on his size (6’6”, 228 lbs.), Gunnell fits the prototype for a drop-back gunslinger, the kind Memphis has gotten used to over the last decade. As for credentials, Gunnell shattered state records as a high school player in Houston, passing for 16,108 yards and 195 touchdowns over four years. In his two seasons at Arizona, Gunnell played in 12 games, completed 66 percent of his passes and connected for 15 touchdowns (with only three interceptions).

“First and foremost, it’s intelligence and accuracy,” says Silverfield, in emphasizing the qualities he wants to see from his quarterback on a weekly basis. “He needs to display leadership and arm strength and be athletic enough to get you out of trouble. Can he handle the offense? Is he a quick thinker, able to process information?”

Silverfield chuckles when asked if the Tiger offense will remain a run-first attack. “I’m an offensive-line guy,” he says. “We’ll base it on personnel. Brady White was a great drop-back passer, so there were times when we had to lean on the pass. We’ve also had NFL-caliber running backs recently, so it made sense to run first. A lot of it is what the defense gives us.”

In Austin and Dykes, the Memphis quarterback — whoever he might be — will have a pair of veteran game-breakers to target. A former walk-on from Harding Academy of Memphis, Austin caught 63 passes for 1,063 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2020, filling the void left by Damonte Coxie, who opted out early in the season. Dykes hauled in 47 passes for 581 yards and seven touchdowns and already owns the Tiger career records for catches (80) and receiving yards (1,169) by a tight end. The top returning ball-carrier is Rodrigues “Dreke” Clark (561 yards last year), but Marquavius Weaver (from Bartlett High School), Kylan Watkins (Whitehaven), Cameron Fleming, and Brandon Thomas give the running back position every bit as much depth — or question marks — as quarterback. “We started seven different running backs last year,” notes Silverfield. “Probably not where you want to be, but our bell cow [Kenneth Gainwell] opted out five days before the first game. We’ve got to figure out who that guy is [this season].”

High Expectations for Tiger Talent

The Tigers have become one of the top-scoring programs in the country, with averages (points per game) the last five seasons of 38.8, 45.5, 42.9, 40.4, and 31.0. Conversely, the Memphis defense has allowed its share of points, with averages (since 2016) of 28.8, 32.5, 31.9, 26.4, and 27.9 last season under first-year defensive coordinator Mike MacIntyre. A pair of ugly losses at Cincinnati (49-10) and Tulane (35-21) exposed the Tiger defense in ways that even a prolific offense couldn’t hide. This year’s defense will be led by a pair of preseason all-conference selections, first-team lineman Morris Joseph (seven quarterback sacks in 2020) and second-team safety Quindell Johnson. As a sophomore last season, Johnson led the AAC with 60 solo tackles, pulled down three interceptions, forced two fumbles, and recovered another.

“Quindell is an extremely smart football player,” says MacIntyre. “He can cap the defense and see what’s going on with the offenses [we face]. Not only does he have the ability to make plays on interceptions, but running the alley, making checks, and just his great football savvy.”

As high as the expectations have become for the Tigers here in the Mid-South, the program has drifted back into a middle tier when measured nationally. Only one AAC team (Cincinnati) cracked the AP’s preseason Top 25, Memphis not so much as receiving a vote. As for their conference standing, the Tigers are projected to finish fifth in the AAC by media pollsters, behind the Bearcats, UCF, SMU, and Houston.

Silverfield takes the stance of a coach with many more years behind him when it comes to such prognosticating, or circling games on the Tiger schedule. No one has won (or lost) a game yet, so paper standings in August mean zilch. And yes, he’s circled a game on the Memphis schedule: the opener this Saturday against Nicholls State. (September 18th might be highlighted on a few Memphis refrigerators. Mississippi State visits the Liberty Bowl for the first time since 2011. The Tigers haven’t beaten the Bulldogs since 1993 and not since 1988 on their home turf.)

“This is a winning program now,” stresses Silverfield. “The city embraces Memphis Tiger football. The love for the players grows, year in and year out. It’s what makes this place unique. Our players appreciate the support they get from the city. We know what a home-field advantage we have.”

Silverfield learned much about himself over his rookie year — that unique rookie year — as a head coach. “As a first-year coach, you want to control everything,” he says. “Nothing kicked me in the teeth like the pandemic telling me, ‘Hey, you have very little control over everything.’ I control what I can. But every day there is going to be something, and I have to deal with it the right way, to have patience but act swiftly. I’m still gonna coach hard and hold people accountable. But when issues arise, I better be level-headed in order to figure things out.”

2021 TIGER FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
• September 4 (6 p.m.) — Nicholls State
• September 11 (6 p.m.) — at Arkansas State
• September 18 (3 p.m.) — Mississippi State
• September 25 — UTSA
• October 2 (11 a.m.) — at Temple
• October 9 — at Tulsa
• October 14 (Thursday, 6:30 p.m.) — Navy
• October 22 (Friday, 6 p.m.) — at UCF
• November 6 — SMU
• November 13 — East Carolina
• November 19 (Friday, 8 p.m.) — at Houston
• November 26 (Friday) or Nov. 27 — Tulane

Categories
Sports Tiger Blue

Montgomery Bowl: Tigers 25, FAU 10

CREDIT: Julie Bennett/Memphis Athletics

The strangest football season in Tiger history came to a close on a happy note Wednesday night as Memphis beat Florida Atlantic to win its first bowl game since 2014. Senior quarterback Brady White threw three touchdown passes — including the 90th of his Tiger career — to help Memphis finish the season 8-3 and end a five-game bowl losing streak. (The Tigers’ last bowl victory had been in the Miami Beach Bowl, over BYU, six years ago.) The Montgomery Bowl replaced the Fenway Bowl this year only, an adjustment made for the ongoing pandemic. Attendance at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery was limited and social-distance restrictions were in place.
Julie Bennett/Memphis Athletics

Asa Martin

Among the stars for Memphis was senior defensive lineman Joseph Dorceus who entered the game as a fullback late in the second quarter and caught a touchdown pass from White in the front-right corner of the end zone. Asa Martin rushed for 96 yards on 15 carries to lead the Tiger ground attack.

The game was the first rematch in Memphis bowl history, FAU having beaten the Tigers in the 2007 New Orleans Bowl. The Owls finished the season with a record of 5-4.

The Tigers took the lead on a 53-yard field goal by Riley Patterson midway through the first quarter. White found Javon Ivory for a five-yard touchdown to complete the Tigers’ second possession of the game and give Memphis a 10-0 advantage. The Dorceus touchdown and an unconventional two-point conversion made the score 18-0, Memphis, at halftime.

Owls quarterback Nick Tronti threw a three-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Chase to close the Tiger lead to 18-7 five minutes into the third quarter. The Tigers fumbled the ensuing kickoff and FAU took over at the Memphis 24-yard line, but the Owls were held to a field goal. White’s third touchdown pass — to Calvin Austin III — on the Tigers’ next possession completed the game’s scoring.

White finished his 28th win as Tiger quarterback with 284 yards passing. Ivory caught seven passes for 126 yards and Tahj Washington pulled down eight passes for 105.

The Tigers gained a total of 469 yards and held FAU to 290.

Categories
Sports Tiger Blue

Tigers 41, Temple 29

CREDIT: Joe Murphy/Memphis Athletics

Brady White threw four touchdown passes and Rodney Owens intercepted a pair of passes by Temple quarterback Anthony Russo Saturday afternoon at the Liberty Bowl to help the Memphis Tigers avenge their only regular-season loss of 2019. Playing in conditions more common to Philadelphia this time of year, the Tigers overcame a pair of first-half turnovers and came from behind twice on the scoreboard to improve to 3-1 for the season and 2-1 in American Athletic Conference play. The Owls fall to 1-2 with the loss.
Joe Murphy/Memphis Athletics

Brady White

White connected with Tahj Washington to finish an 80-yard drive with 5:29 left in the first quarter to give Memphis a 7-0 lead. But fumbles on the Tigers’ next two possessions gave the ball to Temple and Owls capitalized, taking a 9-7 lead midway through the second quarter on a touchdown pass from Russo to Jadan Blue (Blue’s first of three scores in the game). Memphis linebacker Xavier Cullens blocked the extra-point attempt.

Senior kicker Riley Patterson connected on a 42-yard field goal to regain the lead for Memphis (10-9) with 3:34 left in the second quarter, but Temple responded with another touchdown drive, capped by a 10-yard pass from Russo to Branden Mack for a 15-10 Owls lead at the half.

The Tigers scored 17 points in the first nine minutes of the third quarter, White hitting Calvin Austin for a 65-yard touchdown then finding Washington again (for 26 yards) for a 27-15 lead. Russo found Blue for a 32-yard scoring strike to close the Tiger advantage to 27-22 late in the third quarter.

Following Owens’s second interception early in the fourth quarter, the Tigers converted a fourth-and-six attempt with a completion from White to Austin. White then found freshman Javon Ivory for a seven-yard touchdown and a 34-22 lead. Blue’s third touchdown of the contest closed the lead to five points (34-29), but the Memphis defense forced punts on consecutive Temple possessions. When Kylan Watkins dashed 15 yards to the end zone with just over two minutes to play, the Tigers clinched their second consecutive win in the first back-to-back weekends of play they’ve enjoyed this season.

White completed 17 of 36 passes for 313 yards and now has 76 touchdown passes for his Tiger career, five shy of Danny Wimprine’s program record. Austin compiled 184 yards on his six catches and sophomore tailback Dreke Clark rushed for 106 yards on 22 carries. Washington caught five passes for 77 yards.

The Tigers face perhaps their biggest test of the season next Saturday when they travel to Cincinnati to face the 9th-ranked Bearcats. (Cincinnati plays at SMU Saturday night.) The game will be a rematch of last season’s AAC championship, a battle won by Memphis at the Liberty Bowl.

Categories
Sports Sports Feature

Memphis 50 – UCF 49

Editor’s note: Frank Murtaugh was unavailable to cover today’s Memphis/UCF game, so it falls to me to bring you this bit of amateur sports writing from my living room. I lucked into a good one. — BV

On a bright and sunny October afternoon at the Liberty Bowl, a socially distanced “crowd” of 10,000 masked fans settled in for a battle between AAC heavyweights Memphis (1-1) and UCF (2-1). It didn’t take long for the fireworks to begin.

Memphis started with a promising 70-yard drive that ended with a fumble into the endzone that was recovered by the Golden Knights. UCF then methodically drove the length of the field to take a 7-0 lead, eight minutes into the game.

Memphis returned the favor a minute or so later, with a speedy drive that culminated with a 12-yard pass from quarterback Brady White to Calvin Austin to tie things up.

The tone was set and the game had the appearance of a high-scoring shootout in the making, with neither team’s defense showing up in the early going. That changed on the next possession, as UCF once again drove the length of the field, only to be stopped inside the 10 on four downs. The Tigers took over and moved to midfield before punting to end the first quarter.

UCF scored on its next possession, the drive ending with a 43-yard touchdown pass from Dillon Gabriel to Jaylon Robinson with 12 minutes left in the half.

The Tigers were penalized for holding on the ensuing kickoff and began with the ball on their own 9 yard-line. On fourth and one from the 18, the Tigers opted to go for it — and made it — demonstrating Memphis Coach Ryan Silverfield’s confidence in his offense, or a lack of confidence in his defense. Or both. No matter, the Tigers were forced to punt from their 40 a few plays later.

UCF took over at its own 15 and scored on an 85-yard pass from Gabriel to a wide-open Marlon Williams two plays later. The extra point was botched, giving UCF a 20-7 lead, which, given the futility of the Memphis defense to this point, loomed larger than it

 looked. Even more so, when the Tigers went four-and-out on their next possession.

But the Golden Knights (I find it difficult to type such a Monty Python-esque nickname without snickering, but so it goes.) were stopped by Memphis at the home team’s 35, giving the Tigers life with five minutes left in the half. A 65-yard drive finished off with a quarterback sneak from the one by White brought the Tigers back to within six points with three minutes left. But the optimism was soon quashed.

UCF drove 75 yards in less than two minutes to score with 12 seconds left in the half, taking a 27-14 lead (on 434 yards(!) of offense.) into the locker room — and looking much the stronger team.

Demonstrating the point, UCF took the second half kickoff and engineered a bruising 75-yard drive, finished off with a 14-yard run by Gabriel — then added insult to injury by converting a two-point conversion, making the score a daunting 35-14.

Memphis returned serve with an efficient, multi-play touchdown drive, capped off with an in-your-face two-point conversion, making the score 35-22 with eight minutes left in the third quarter. Next question: Could the UM defense make a stop?

Short answer? Nope. At least, not at first. UCF worked its way downfield with a tidy mix of short passes to the eight-yard line, before the UM defense stepped up and forced a fumble inside the five-yard line, giving the Tigers the ball and 95 yards of real estate to cover.

No problemo! White engineered an impressive length-of-the-field drive, and finished it off with an 18-yard pass to Tahj Washington, bringing the Tigers back to within six points, 35-29, with a minute left in the third.

After Memphis held UCF on downs(!), the Tigers took over at their own 25 after a UCF punt, as the third quarter ended.

UCF forced a punt, which the Tigers downed inside the 10-yard line. So now it was the Knights of Gold faced with a 90-plus yard drive. Again, no problemo! On the first play from scrimmage, Gabriel dumped a screen pass to Ryan O’Keefe, who took it 96 yards to paydirt. And since this is how we do it in this game, UCF converted a two-pointer to take the score 43-29. And may I just add an editorial comment here? This UM secondary is, um, porous.

Undaunted (maybe because he’s just used to it), Brady White got the Tigers back in gear, putting together another long drive, and finishing it off with yet another two-point conversion. (It’s clear by now that kicking extra points is for wussies.) As is defense.
Score: UCF 43-UM 37, with nine minutes left in the game. Wowsers, it’s a score-a-palooza.

And let’s be real at this point (which is two gin and tonics in): The Tigers needed a stop.
Alas, it was not to be. (Are you surprised?) After a four-minute drive, UCF scored again, but (Moral victory alert!) failed on their two-point conversion attempt. With five minutes left, it was 49-37 UCF and, as shadows fell upon the frozen tundra (sorry) of the Liberty Bowl, things didn’t look too promising for the hometown blue.

But, to his credit, the undauntable(?) White took the Tigers on yet another jaunt down the field, wrapping it up with a 22-yard toss to Kylan Watkins for a touchdown. The Tigers then woke up their kicker, Riley Patterson, who converted the extra point, making it 49-44 UCF with just under four minutes left in the contest.

A failed onside kick gave UCF the ball at its 40, but (DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES?) the Tigers held on downs(!) and got the ball back at their own 15 with 2:38 remaining. Eighty-five yards to glory. No problemo? Or nah?

On a fourth-and-three at midfield, White found Tahj Washington on a shovel pass that went to the 5-yard line. Tigers, first and goal, with less than two minutes left. Two plays come up short. Third and goal at the four. Then White hit Calvin Austin on a quick rollout and Memphis took the lead for the first time in the game! No problemo™! The two-point conversion failed, and the Memphis defense was faced with one last challenge with 1:08 remaining in the game.

UCF took over at its 25, needing only to get into field goal range for a game-winning try. They got to the Tigers’ 23-yard line. With 24 seconds left, UCF lined up for a 40-yard field goal. They missed! Memphis won! Hell of a deal. I need a drink.

The gaudy stats are here. 

Categories
Cover Feature News

His Team, His Time: Brady White Leads Memphis Into 2020

CREDIT: Photographs by Larry Kuzniewski

Long ago, in the year 2019, the Memphis Tigers enjoyed an epic football season. You may remember it. The U of M won 11 of 12 regular-season games, including an upset of 15th-ranked SMU a few hours after ESPN’s GameDay crew made its debut on Beale Street. The Tigers beat Cincinnati for the program’s first outright American Athletic Conference championship, right here in Memphis at the Liberty Bowl. Even with a season-ending loss to Penn State in the Cotton Bowl — the Cotton Bowl — Memphis finished the campaign ranked 17th in the final AP poll (the third time in six seasons a once-mocked program has finished in the Top 25).

Brady White saw it all. In his fifth season of college football — a foot injury and White’s transfer from Arizona State have extended his career — White became only the second Memphis quarterback to pass for 4,000 yards in a season, throwing three times as many touchdown passes (33) as interceptions (11). Once tagged with the tired euphemism, “game manager,” White became a star quarterback in 2019. In its 2020 football preview, Sports Illustrated included the California native — and Ph.D. candidate, in case you hadn’t heard — among five long shots for the Heisman Trophy. (Yes, that trophy.)

Photographs by Larry Kuzniewski

Memphis Tigers quarterback and Ph.D. candidate Brady White

With coronavirus and quarantine still operative words across the United States, White and the Memphis Tigers have September 5th circled on their calendars. The opening game of the 2020 season (when Arkansas State visits the Liberty Bowl) will be among a precious few across the country, four FBS conferences — including the mighty Big Ten and Pac 12 — having at least postponed their fall season. Two Memphis opponents — Purdue on September 12th and UT-Martin on November 21st — have already canceled their scheduled clash, leaving the Tigers with a 10-game regular season. Should Memphis manage to defend its AAC championship, rest assured it will happen in front of much smaller crowds.

Football in a season unlike any other.

Black athletes make up the majority of college football rosters, particularly at the FBS level. If you’re remotely close to such a program today, ignoring the Black Lives Matter movement would be like ignoring the oxygen entering your lungs. Shortly after the murder of George Floyd in May — with the country under quarantine to fight the coronavirus — the Tiger football team gathered to walk as a group in protest of racial injustice. However the upcoming season plays out — if it plays out — count on similar unified, visible acts to keep awareness and activism alive. White recognizes this as a responsibility of his generation, whether or not you happen to wear shoulder pads on fall Saturdays.

Star tailback Kenneth Gainwell has opted out of the 2020 season.

“We’ll always be united,” says White. “And we’ll stand for what we believe in, what’s right. It’s a true brotherhood. We’re bonded together, and we have each other’s backs. We’re not just football players. We’re human beings and we’re going to use our voices and our platforms for things like this. For me, it’s about loving one another and treating everyone the way we would want to be treated. It’s a principle we’re taught at a young age. I was created in God’s image, a person who’s imperfect. I know He created everyone else the same. That’s common sense and natural to me.”

If anything, the summer of protest accentuated bonds between White and his teammates that each knew already existed. The bonds just added a few layers of meaning. “Some people speak out a little more than others,” he explains, “but just because someone doesn’t post on Twitter, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t have an opinion. To be able to talk with one another, to connect … we’re united. Everyone has their own mind and thoughts. We use our own experiences and knowledge to stand with one another and support one another. How can we be better as individuals, as a country, and be leaders for change?”

Brady White is only the second Tiger to pass for 4,000 yards in a season.

The doctor will see you now.

White completed his undergraduate studies (business) shortly after his 2016 foot injury at Arizona State. He’s earned a master’s degree (sports and leisure science) since arriving on the Memphis campus and now finds himself in rarefied air: a student-athlete as interested in completing his doctoral dissertation as helping his team to another prestigious bowl game.

“I’ve been working my butt off for a while in the classroom,” says White in speaking the obvious. “I’ve always prided myself on that, pushing myself in all areas. There’s always room to learn, but especially in college.”

White’s Ph.D. program is classified under “liberal studies,” which has some margin for focus. He hopes to work in sports when football is over and intends to concentrate his dissertation on this track. “I can communicate with my advisors to get classes that will help me with what I want to do in the future,” he says. “I’m not just picking random classes, but I’m able to find classes or even tweak classes due to the flexibility of the program. I don’t know if it’s coaching or more on the business side [of sports], but I know I want to be involved in that.”

Brady White prepares to throw a pass under pressure.

In elite company.

Memphis just missed a spot in the AP’s preseason Top 25, finishing tops among “others receiving votes.” But nine of the ranked teams are from the Big Ten or Pac 12 (and won’t play this fall), so consider Memphis among the country’s elite programs. Again. And based on what we saw in 2019, the Tigers earned it.

“That was probably the best season in Memphis football history,” says White. “When you’re directly involved, you look back and see areas that could have been better. The leader in me always wants to keep improving. But it was special, and it was so much fun. Everyone involved had a great mindset the entire season. It was a no-flinch mentality. Competing for championships and getting those big bowl-game berths are the standard for our program.”

White bristles at a suggestion that the 2019 Tigers enjoyed a season in which practically everything went right. (One exception, of course, being a late no-catch ruling on a White pass in the Temple game that may have cost Memphis an undefeated regular season.) He notes the considerable amount of work that went into making sure “everything went right.” Film room. Weight room. Practice field. Places even the most devoted fans don’t get to see on a regular basis.

“There are so many things that are out of your control,” notes White, “and I’ve been a part of teams that were hit by the injury bug. So we were blessed. But when you focus on your job, the 11 guys on each side of the ball, special teams … when they’re together and focusing on executing and playing hard, you get the results. The work we put in, the preparation from week to week … if we take care of our job, we perform really well. And it can be replicated in the near future.”

With a third healthy season, White could topple a pair of longstanding Memphis records. He needs 2,906 yards to break Danny Wimprine’s mark of 10,215 (set over four seasons, from 2001 to 2004). And 23 touchdown passes would break Wimprine’s record of 81. Like it or not, White has become a star quarterback.

“I know who I am,” says White. “I’m a genuine human being. With that comes belief and confidence. I’m a man of faith. I know who my creator is, and I know who he created me to be. I play for an audience of one. I love my family, my friends, and all of Tiger Nation, but I look to play for my audience of one, and that’s my lord and savior. It frees me up, because I have that peace and comfort as a player. I’m able to maximize the abilities I’ve been blessed with. I’m not perfect, but I’m my own unique and special player and quarterback. I know what value I have. At the end of the day, I’m an uber-competitor, and I just want to win ballgames. Whatever the coaches ask of me, I will get done, as long as we win the game.”

A star among stars.

College football’s annual “watch lists” are seriously overrated. There are no fewer than 90 players on the watch list for the Maxwell Award, given to the country’s finest player at season’s end. (Yes, it’s a poor man’s Heisman, and not the only one.) Nonetheless, Memphis had three players on the list and is one of only four programs that can count as many (along with Indiana of the Big Ten, Louisville, and, ahem, Alabama). White’s favorite target, senior wide receiver Damonte Coxie, made the cut, having caught 76 passes for 1,276 yards as a junior. Alas, the Tigers’ third selection, sophomore running back Kenneth Gainwell (1,459 rushing yards and 610 receiving yards in 2019) announced last Sunday that he’s opting out of the upcoming season.

With Coxie riding shotgun and even minus Gainwell, White will have the keys to one of the most powerful machines in college football. The Tigers averaged 40.8 points per game last season (eighth among 130 FBS programs) and it was no spike on the timeline. Memphis has averaged 40.7 points per game over the last six seasons, the 2017 squad putting up an astounding 45.5 per game (second in the country). Few scoreboards have been exercised like that at the Liberty Bowl, where Memphis has gone 35-5 since the start of the 2014 season. The Tigers win. And they score lots of points. Even with a second coaching change during this period — Ryan Silverfield takes over for Mike Norvell, who departed for Florida State — the Memphis program should be capable of winning shootouts, and regularly.

“Damonte and I love one another and we want what’s best [for the program],” says White. “We’re at it each day, trying to get better and make the most out of this last opportunity. It’s nice to have guys around you who share the same goals. I’m super thankful to have that guy by my side. He’s got great ability, but I love the dude’s mentality. It’s unique, extremely driven, competitive. He’s a special human being.”

Who will be taking handoffs out of the Tiger backfield in Gainwell’s absence? Junior Kylan Watkins — pride of Whitehaven High School — is the top returning ground-gainer, having rushed for 325 yards (on 5.2 yards per carry) a year ago. Also in the mix will be sophomore Rodrigues Clark. Look for a committee, of sorts, to fill the void left by Gainwell, who last season became the first player in 22 years to finish a game with 100 rushing yards and 200 receiving yards (against Tulane).

In addition to Coxie and Gainwell, junior guard Dylan Parham and senior kicker Riley Patterson (134 points in 2019) have received preseason all-conference recognition. On the defensive side of the ball, senior cornerback T.J. Carter has an NFL career in his sights. Three others seniors on defense — linemen O’Bryan Goodson and Joseph Dorceus and linebacker J.J. Russell — will make game days rough for Tiger opponents.

As for the new man in charge, Silverfield spent four years at Norvell’s side, most recently as the team’s deputy head coach. He knows what’s worked over the last four seasons and, with offense in his bloodstream, would seem the right man to keep this machine’s engine roaring. “I actually worked with Coach Silverfield briefly at Arizona State, before he left for the NFL,” notes White. “We’re really tight. I feel like we have an understanding of one another. Everyone’s confident in him as a coach. He’s the man for the job and deserves it. We love him. This team rallies behind him. There hasn’t been a lot of change. He’s his own coach, so there are little things he does differently, but it’s been an easy transition. There’s been no awkward feeling-out period.”

Reason to play.

Back to that AP poll. The defending AAC champions are not ranked to start the season, but two of their conference brethren are: Cincinnati (20) and UCF (21). If pandemic football proves manageable, the Tigers will face both the Bearcats and Knights in October, and they won’t need 40,000 fans in the stands for motivation.

“I’m my teammates’ biggest fan,” says White. “I want to see them do well so that they can achieve all their dreams and aspirations, take care of their families, and do everything they want in life. It’s a lot bigger than scoring touchdowns.”

The new normal.

Masks and 12 feet of space between fan groups will be part of college football in 2020. Tailgating, for now, is a thing of what seems like a distant past. But few sports are as structured as big-time college football, practice sessions broken down to the precise minute, position groups meeting for strategy and tactics within the larger context of a weekly team venture. Perhaps health protocols can be adopted into such structure, and perhaps college programs — particularly those in the southeastern United States — will prove to be the morale- and budget-boosters they’ve been for generations.

“Everything’s gonna be a lot different this year,” acknowledges White. “But I’ve been working out pretty intensely, studying film. You need to have a different approach, be safe and make sure you stay healthy. But [the pandemic] hasn’t changed my routine a whole lot. I’m still attacking it as if it’s a normal season.

“We recognize [the uncertain conditions], and we accept it. You’d rather over-prepare and be ready to go than sit on your hands and find yourself behind the eight ball. I love the way we’re doing it. The biggest thing is getting your mindset to go-mode, getting it cranked up. It’s been different, a ton of time off. That mindset has to change. Physically, guys should be feeling better than ever. We should be locked and loaded, ready to roll.”

Attending a Tiger game at the Liberty Bowl this fall will be significantly different than in previous seasons, allowing for social distancing and other protective measures against the spread of the coronavirus. For details, visit GoTigersGo.com/feature/2020football.