Perhaps, the Memphis Tigers football team is not as good as advertised.
Memphis’ offense has been explosive this season, and there is no denying that. Darrell Henderson is arguably one of the best running backs in all of college football. The 5-foot-9 junior has rushed for 760 yards on 65 attempts and has scored nine touchdowns in the season thus far.
It is also true that Brady White’s numbers prior to the game at Tulane are astounding. Regardless of the stat lines, when it mattered most and when the team needed one big play to turn things around as they did against Navy and Tulane, they failed.
“It was a very uncharacteristic performance,” head coach Mike Norvell said about the embarrassing loss at Tulane to reporters Monday at his weekly press conference.
Rightfully stated. Even so, the biggest tests of the legitimacy for this football team have yet to come. Granted, Memphis should demolish UConn like two other conference teams, UCF and Cincinnati, did already, this coming Saturday, but what happens when Memphis hosts Central Florida at 2:30 p.m. on Oct. 13? Additionally, how will the Tigers stack up against Mizzou for their homecoming Oct. 20?
So far the Tigers have displayed their mightiness against weak opponents like Mercer, but Navy outplayed and out-coached the Memphis team. In New Orleans, they just gave up against Tulane. It is only five games into the season, so it would be ill-advised to write the season off as a waste. Yet, the question remains, how does this team prove, not only to the fan base and this city but to themselves, they are a legitimate team?
To be fair, this team has dealt with some noteworthy injuries, and Norvell said in his press conference Monday that those players will be re-evaluated later this week prior to the game against UConn, so he can know if they will be able to play. Additionally, he said he is expecting Tito Windham, Emmanuel Cooper and Sam Craft to be on the field, but their status will be known more concretely later this week.
Injuries aside, Norvell said the low-effort way in which the Tigers played against Tulane was unlike any way they’ve played before. Is it time for this team to find themselves and ask they want this season to be?
As mentioned, Henderson will continue to shatter records and elevate his profile, especially when the Tigers are playing on national television.
It starts by winning against UConn and continues by defeating UCF, who is currently ranked No. 12 on the AP Top-25 Poll.
If the Tigers are as legitimate as they claim, they will win the next three games. If not, this will be a subpar season for Memphis that will land them in a bowl game no one will care to watch. If that’s the case, then bring on Memphis basketball.
Mike Norvell speaking with reporters at his weekly press conference. He mentioned he was disappointed in the loss to Tulane.
