Memphis Tigers Football, NCAA Football NEWS
Memphis, Louisville Set To Renew Rivalry
Published by MFSKEN on October 9, 2008
After playing four straight home games to open the season, the University of Louisville will hit the road for the first time when the Cardinals travel to Memphis to face the Tigers on Friday night in a nationally televised game on ESPN2.
The Tigers (3-3) will be looking to earn their fourth consecutive win after starting the season 0-3. Louisville (2-2) hopes to rebound after a disappointing 26-21 loss to Connecticut on September 26.
The Cardinals have a slight edge in the series against Memphis, holding a 21-19 advantage. The former Conference USA rivals are meeting for the first time since Louisville won 56-49 in Memphis during the 2004 season.
That meeting became one of the most memorable games in the rivalry, with the teams combining for 105 points, 1,202 yards of total offense and 15 plays of more than 20 yards. The Tigers hold the edge at home 11-10, but the Cards’ have won five of the last six meetings in the series and have won three straight in Memphis.
Louisville had last week off and have played only one game in the last 23 days. The Cardinals will look to establish their defense from the onset, having only given up a total of 283 yards on the ground this year.
In Louisville’s loss to Connecticut, the Cards’ defense gave up 157 yards to the Huskies’ Donald Brown, the nation’s leading rusher. The Louisville defense has allowed just two rushing touchdowns through four games and opponents are averaging just 2.6 yards per carry.
Louisville QB Hunter Cantwell
The Cardinals have done a good job of creating turnovers as well, having forced eight in the last three games, leading to 35 points.
The Cardinals offense has been well-balanced, averaging 212.8 yards on the ground and 222.5 yards through the air this season.
The Cardinals two-week layoff may have an affect on their passing game, which could provide a much needed relief for the Tigers’ vulnerable secondary.
Louisville quarterback Hunter Cantwell has struggled in the Cards’ four games, completing just 57.8% of his passes for 876 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions.
Louisville’s rushing attack features four backs averaging over 30 yards per game. Led by Victor Anderson, the red-shirt freshman has gained 421 yards and scored five touchdowns while averaging 6.9 yards per rush.
Louisville RB Victor Anderson
Anderson has three straight 100-yard games, including a career high 176 yards and three touchdowns against Kansas State. He also leads the team on kick returns with a 19.5 yard average.
The Louisville faithful are starting to put the heat on head coach Steve Kragthorpe. If you visit the web sites FireKragthorpeNow.com and Louisville Sports Report you’ll get a sense of their frustration.
Apparently they are not only upset with the coach but also Jack Coffee, who writes for LSR. In one of Coffee’s commentaries, he announced a new policy regarding fans who didn’t give unbridled support to the coach or program.
“From now on at every home game the LSR will attempt to take pictures of any fan who goes over the line in verbally assaulting the players. Those pictures will be published in the LSR and on CardinalSports.com.”
Fan reaction has been varied. “What the hell are you talking about? I haven’t noticed any booing,” said one commenter.
Another replied with “Actually he wasn’t just talking about the booing and the incident behind the U of L bench last game. He was referring to the clueless fan base in which we have. It was spot on. And it obviously stepped on your toes.”
I wonder if any disgruntled fans will take their act on the road and vent their frustrations in Memphis. They can feel free to vent and don’t have to worry about LSR’s policy of publishing their photo.
Louisville is 0-3 under head coach Steve Kragthorpe when the Cardinals play on Friday night. The last time Memphis hosted a Friday game was during the 2004 season when the Tigers became bowl eligible by defeating Southern Miss 30-26.
Since 2001, Memphis has a 29-8 record when it scores over 30 points, but are 8-31 when they allow the opponents 30 or more points.
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cowboyjoe on Fri, 10th Oct 2008 13:15
One of the best college basketball rivalries ever, I remember going to the old Mid-South Colisieum to watch some good Memphis State basketball. I’m so old that when I was in college in Memphis, we would watch Anfernee Hardaway play his high school games.
MoonDog on Fri, 10th Oct 2008 15:14
You aren’t that old. I remember Finch when he was coaching Messick. That was back in ‘76. Bill Laurie tried to get me to play for CBHS but we lived in Whitehaven and I went to Bishop Byrne – dominated.
But this is one of the better rivalries that people don’t know much about.