The Memphis Tigers are trying to avoid another flat tire as they head down to Birmingham Saturday.
The Tigers (2-2, 1-1 in Conference USA) have seen plenty of road troubles after losing at Ole Miss and Southern Miss.
Memphis will try to put their first road win on the board for 2002 against the UAB Blazers(1-3, 0-0 in C-USA).
Freshman defensive back O.C. Collins said the Tigers have their attention centered on beating the Blazers.
“I think we are going to go in there with a lot of focus,” Collins said. “We are going to take the game serious and hopefully walk out of there with a victory.”
Wide receiver Antoine Harden is also ready for a victory on the road. He agreed that earning the win will take psychological concentration and good preparation.
“We have to go down there to UAB, on the road and just prepare right,” Harden said. “If we don’t make any mental mistakes, we’ll be alright.”
The Tigers had few errors on both sides of the ball last week in a 38-10 win over Tulane. Memphis will try to bring the energy from the Tulane victory to Legion Field.
The Tiger defense has gained momentum by only giving up 106 yards rushing and 190 yards passing to the Green Wave.
On offense, the Tigers are putting up solid numbers on the ground and through the air.
Sophomore quarterback Danny Wimprine leads all C-USA quarterbacks in passing efficiency with a 97.7 rating.
Wimprine completed 57.8 percent of his passes for 822 yards this season.
His leading receiver, for total yards, wears No. 33. Harden has snatched 11 passes from the air for 283 yards, second in C-USA.
Harden has scored four touchdowns and averages 25.7 yards per catch.
Last week, Harden caught five passes for 85 yards, two long third down conversions.
The 6-2, 177 pound junior said he is doing his job when it comes to gaining the huge yards.
Harden said he can continue racking up big numbers if he keeps the faith of the coaching staff up by converting when they call a play for him.
“All I’m trying to do is make plays when I can,” Harden said. “We have three or four awesome receivers that can get the job done. It’s about taking advantages of your opportunities. When the coach calls my number, I want to do my best.”
It’s more than Harden putting up the numbers. Running back DeAngelo Williams is another Tiger gaining big yards when he touches the ball.
Williams is averaging 100.3 yards a game and 9.3 yards a carry this season with two touchdowns.
Head coach Tommy West said he is impressed with Williams’ performances in the first four games of his collegiate career.
West said Williams has good natural abilities and the intangibles needed to be a solid running back.
“He is just a good player,” West said. “He just makes things happen. He has a great feel (for the game).
“He has good vision. He is patient in the (backfield). He is a real talented player.”
Williams and his offensive teammates have scored 164 points this season, second to Louisville’s 175 points in C-USA. The offense has also gained 1,500 yards.
On the other end of the spectrum is UAB.
The Blazers are eighth in the conference in total offensive yards with 909 and next to last points with 56.
UAB’s two quarterbacks senior Thomas Cox and freshman Darrell Hackney have combined for 415 passing yards and one touchdown.
The ground game for the Blazers is sluggish too.
Leading rusher sophomore Kendal Gibson enters the game averaging 59.5 yards a game with no touchdowns.
As a team, UAB has rushed for 494 yards.
The Blazer defense is suffering from similar ineffective play. The defense is last in C-USA in total defense giving up 464.8 yards per game.
The UAB secondary has seen opposing quarterbacks toss 1,091 yards through the air. Opponents are putting up 34.3 points a game on the Blazer defense.
Harden said Memphis sees this weekend as a good opportunity to end their road woes and show the nation the real road Tigers.
“We are ready (to end the road losing streak),” Harden said. “That is why I’m kind of glad we are going on the road next. We can show people (when we played) those two games we were not ourselves. We are ready to go down to Birmingham and give it our best.”
