The rapid rotation of quarterbacks in and out of Saturday’s Homecoming game against Alabama-Birmingham had some fans wondering if The University of Memphis football team should add a bullpen to the sidelines.
In fact, at least one of Memphis’ three quarterbacks admitted Saturday to having a relief pitcher’s mentality.
“I am in a relief pitcher position right now, and I know that,” Tiger quarterback Neil Suber said after Memphis’ 17-10 loss to UAB. “I just have to produce when I get the chance to do so.”
Suber got his chance Saturday after an ineffective Danny Wimprine completed just 7-of-19 passes for 65 yards and two interceptions. Suber, a senior, managed to rally the Tigers from a 17-7 deficit in the second half, pulling Memphis to within 17-14 on a 4-yard TD pass to Jeff Cameron with 9:36 remaining in the game.
But when UAB blocked Ryan White’s 41-yard field goal attempt with 43 seconds to play, Suber’s comeback bid was extinguished.
“When I get my opportunity, I’ve got to go out there and do the best I can,” Suber said. “It just wasn’t enough today.”
Suber, who played mostly in the third and fourth quarter, finished the game 11-of-18 for 93 yards and a touchdown.
Early-season starter Travis Anglin also got a chance as the team’s signal caller. After Wimprine threw an interception in the third quarter that led to a UAB touchdown, he was pulled in favor of Anglin.
However, Anglin, who also played sparingly in the first half, remained in the game for just two plays, rushing for a 1-yard loss before throwing an incomplete pass to receiver Bunkie Perkins. On third down, Anglin was yanked and it was Suber’s turn.
Anglin, one of the team’s most athletic players, finished the contest without a completion in just two attempts. He did catch a six-yard pass from Wimprine on the Tigers’ first offensive possession.
In fact, Memphis head coach Tommy West said there is a chance Anglin will be used more at receiver when the Tigers return from a bye week this week to play on the road against No. 9 Tennessee.
“(Anglin) can help our team,” West said. “We’ll look at him in the open day and then we’ll decide about how to use him, but it’s a possibility.”
According to West, no position on the field is safe, including quarterback.
“Every position will be evaluated after every football game,” he said. “I don’t give a damn who it is.”
The fact that the longest pass completion for Memphis Saturday didn’t come from Wimprine, Suber or Anglin, but by defensive back Lionel Pieh in the first quarter illustrates West’s point.
Pieh, who played running back in high school, completed a 27-yarder to receiver Antoine Harden to the UAB 13, a play which eventually led to Dante Brown’s 7-yard TD and a 7-0 Tiger lead.
“I couldn’t get the job done today, and the other guys came in and got it done for us,” Wimprine said. “I don’t mind rotating in and out. I’ll do anything, as long as we win.”
