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Tigers look to reach Conference USA championship 8/17/08

ncaafootball.com

fbwin.jpegMEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Not so long ago, the Memphis Tigers would have been satisfied with a winning record.

Not anymore.

Now, the program that went a couple decades between postseason games has finished four of the past five seasons with a bowl game, and the Tigers aren’t content with just any bowl invitation. It’s time to move things to the next level; and to them, that means a Conference USA championship and a trip to the Jan. 2 Liberty Bowl in their home stadium.

“That’s like the standard now,” senior defensive lineman Clinton McDonald said. “You can never be satisfied with just a bowl game. There are a lot of bowl games in this day and time. There are like 20 bowl games. Just to make it to a bowl game isn’t acceptable anymore.”

Memphis is coming off a a season that turned from a 2-4 start to a 7-5 finish and a berth in the New Orleans Bowl. The Tigers lost 44-27 to Florida Atlantic. But coach Tommy West has brought in a new defensive coordinator and a junior college transfer to take over at quarterback to keep improving.

The receiving corps remains the offense’s strength with the top five receivers from last season returning. Duke Calhoun, a 6-foot-4 junior who has caught a pass in 24 straight games, is joined by 6-8 Carlos Singleton, who had 11 touchdown catches. Seniors Maurice Jones, Earnest Williams and Steven Black are also back.

Gone is Martin Hankins, who threw for 3,220 yards and 25 touchdowns last year before graduating. He is replaced by Arkelon Hall, a 6-3, 220 pounder transfer from College of The Sequoias. He passed for 2,398 yards and 13 touchdowns last year but also likes to run, which West prizes.

“We started two years ago planning for this - a quarterback that can run. I’m always on the running game. Two years ago, we were 130 a game. Last year, we upped it to 160, but that’s still sub-par,” West said.

They also struggled to score inside an opponents’ 20, a shortcoming West attributes to the lack of a running game, particularly at quarterback, to keep defenses guessing.

West took the pressure off Hall, designating him the starter early.

“I think he deserves it,” West said. “We signed him for that reason. I thought in the spring, he gave us what we wanted. I wanted to take that pressure off him. … It was a relief almost. I wanted him to know I’ve got confidence in him.”

Hall should be protected well by a line anchored by tackle Brandon Pearce and featuring four seniors and a junior along with senior tight end Brett Russell.

“The play’s never over with a guy like Arkelon,” Calhoun said. “You never give up on routes because the ball could be going anywhere at any time.”

As for the defense, Memphis struggled and allowed an average of 441 yards a game and 32.2 points a game.

“We have to play better in the secondary than we’ve played. I think up front and at linebacker, we are plenty good,” West said.

To change that attitude, West hired Miami assistant Tim Walton as defensive coordinator hoping to boost intensity and swagger. Walton had coached Memphis defensive backs under West before stops at Syracuse, LSU during its national championship season, and Miami, where he eventually reached defensive coordinator.

“The big difference this year is Coach Walton came in with a certain attitude,” McDonald said. “Guys that already had that attitude have it even better. He’s going to bring intensity to the table, and if you don’t match it, you’ll fall off.”

West hopes the combination continues the building that has turned the Tigers from rare winning seasons when he took over in 2001 to a team not content to reach a bowl game to a program competing for conference championships.

“It’s a process if you want to build something that will be there and stand the test of time. I don’t believe in those one-hit wonders. I don’t like them. We’ve built this thing a certain way. Now, I think we’re in the process of getting it to a championship,” West said.

“It’s really been kind of fun to watch.”

Memphis at a Glance

Coach: Tommy West, eighth season, 41-44 record, 76-79 career.

Home stadium: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.

2007 record: 7-6 overall, 6-2 Conference USA

Returning starters: seven offense, nine defense.

Key players:
Offense - Arkelon Hall arrives at quarterback from College of the Sequoias junior college, providing a running threat who can throw in the spread offense. Duke Calhoun, a 6-foot-4 junior, and Carlos Singleton, at 6-foot-8, lead a corps of receivers. Calhoun has caught passes in 24 straight games, and Singleton grabbed 11 touchdown passes last season. Brandon Pearce anchors an experienced offensive line.
Defense - The strength is up front with ends Greg Terrell and Corey Mills lining up alongside Freddie Barnett and Clinton McDonald. The secondary should be better with Brandon Patterson, Tony Bell and Michael Grandberry back. Patterson and returner LeRico Mathis led the Tigers in interceptions last season with three each. The biggest addition could be defensive coordinator Tim Walton, expected to bring more intensity to the Tigers’ approach. Kicker Matt Reagan converted 35 of 38 extra points, but missed all three attempts outside of 40 yards.

Best bets: The Tigers should be more wide open with Hall’s versatility and an experienced group of receivers. That should mean a lot of points scored and a better start than 2007.

Questions: Will the Tigers’ defense play with more intensity and be stingier than last year when opponents averaged 442 yards and 32.2 points a game? Will Hall be able to get the ball to an experienced set of receivers like the graduated quarterback Martin Hankins? Is Memphis finally ready to put together a season that results in its first Conference USA championship?

Posted by rakuette | Filed under Football