It’s hard to imagine a more dispiriting finish to the University of Memphis football season.
A week after being manhandled by a Temple team that finished the season 2-10, the Tigers traveled to UConn and were eviscerated by a Husky team that finishes its season 3-9 (albeit on a three-game winning streak). UConn quarterback Casey Cochran passed for 461 yards — the most passing yards the Tigers allowed all season — and four touchdowns, making a laugher of the latest regular-season game in U of M history. After allowing a total of 534 yards last week against the Owls, the Tiger defense surrendered 538 at Connecticut. (The Memphis defense entered the Temple game ranked 16th in the country.)
Memphis gained only 257 yards, with quarterback Paxton Lynch completing less than half his passes (18 of 37) for 169 yards and a touchdown pass to Keiwone Malone after the outcome had been decided. Brandon Hayes rushed for 33 yards on 11 carries.
The loss leaves the 3-9 Tigers in last place in the American Athletic Conference, their league record of 1-7 equal to that of Temple. The U of M went 4-8 in coach Justin Fuente‘s first season a year ago. A long offseason — with lots of questions — begins tomorrow.
Check back on Monday for some final thoughts (and a stab or two at answers to those questions) on the Tigers’ football season.
