For the first time since their Miami Beach Bowl victory in December, Tiger football, and college football, is back in full flow this weekend.
After all of the spring and fall practices, workouts, scrimmages, etc. the Tigers will be excited to finally play a competitive game again when they play the Missouri State Bears at the Liberty Bowl Saturday night.
After coming off a 10-win year in 2014, Memphis coach Justin Fuente said they’ve highlighted what happened last year with their players this offseason, and that they have the hunger and realization to go out and repeat that success in 2015.
“The seniors that are in this class need to prove that they can lead, and do it this year,” Fuente said. “The young kids on this team need to prove that they can follow, and do things the right way… It’s about trying to do things the right way to get the end result we want.”
While the Bears, like last year’s first opponent Austin Peay, is an FCS team, but should provide Memphis more of a challenge than the Governors, who lost 63-0.
Because the Bears are under a new coaching staff, led by former University of Missouri defensive coordinator Dave Steckel, the Tigers will have to try and figure out the Bears’ schemes on offense and defense on the fly.
“It will be interesting for us to see quite honestly,” Fuente said on Monday. “We are trying to piece together exactly … They have a bunch of influences there. For us to say with great certainty which direction they will go would be a stretch. So, you try whatever you can do because it could be more than a coordinator. And it can be other assistants and what they got. You have to read their articles and history."
Saturday will be the first time Memphis redshirt junior quarterback Paxton Lynch takes the field for the Blue and Gray following his seven touchdown performance in the Miami Beach Bowl.
Fuente said Lynch, who threw for over 3,000 yards and accounted for 35 touchdowns last season, has done a good job of handling his newfound success, but said Lynch has to be more consistent in 2015.
“We have a tendency to notice that and point it out and he responds to it, so I like the way he’s continued to go about his business,” he said.
Senior tight end Alan Cross said with Lynch, Fuente leading the Tiger offense they “can be as good as they want to be this season” as long as they execute, but he said preparing this week will be tricky given the limited knowledge about the Bears.
“We’re just going to have to go on the fly this week to win,” Cross said.
The offense, however, is not full of question marks. The Tiger defense, which was ranked 11th in scoring defense in the nation last season, lost eight starters to graduation, meaning new leaders, such as senior linebacker Wynton McManis, will have to emerge in 2015.
McManis, who started five games last season, said he’s made big strides in being a leader and a more confident player this offseason.
“I’ve been in the system for awhile,” he said. “I know the system in and out, so being able to put my little touch to it to be able to play and help the team win as best as I can.”
Memphis and Missouri State will kick off at 6 p.m. Saturday at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The first 3,500 fans through the gates will receive replica American Athletic Conference and Miami Beach Bowl championship rings.
Coach Justin Fuente and the Tigers begin their fourth season together on Saturday.
