Tigers Football Preview: Tulane

Friday, October 14

New Orleans, La.

7:00 PM

University of Memphis

Tulane

Tickets

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Oct 13, 2016 | Football

Memphis Game Notes vs. Tulane Tulane Football Game Notes The American Football Notes

Memphis plays conference road opener in New Orleans Friday.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Some call it a "trap game." It's a game that a team overlooks because it has come off a big win or it's focusing on the next opponent.

For Friday's match-up, some football experts and media are calling it just that for the University of Memphis football squad. Friday's Memphis-Tulane match-up starts at 7 p.m. (CT). ESPNU is televising the American Athletic Conference clash.

The Tigers are coming off a huge conference-opening victory over Temple Oct. 6, and next Saturday (Oct. 22) travel to nationally-ranked Navy – a squad that ended Memphis' perfect season in 2015. But, head coach Mike Norvell has kept the Tigers focused on the "next step" all season, and Friday is no different for his squad.

"It's our first conference road trip," said Norvell. "We're going there with one purpose, one focus and that is to maximize this step and work hard for a victory.

"This team (Tulane) is capable of winning no matter who it plays. We know we have to be at our best. I can assure you our guys are not looking past this game."

In his first season in The Big Easy, head coach Willie Fritz has the Green Wave on the right track. After only five games in 2016, Tulane has matched its win total (3) from its 2014 and 2015 seasons.

"Tulane is versatile," Norvell said. "They've presented over 110 different formations so far this season. Tulane is multiple in what it does, and they have some good personnel to work with.

"When you see what Coach Fritz has brought to their program, it presents a challenge. We've got to be sound and play assignment football."

Television: ESPNU
Radio: 600 WREC/102.9 FM (Flagship station)
Internet Video: ESPN3.com
Live Stats: www.sidearmstats.com/tulane/football/
LiveTweet: @Tigersmedia, @MemphisFB

Tigers Tidbits/Five Notes To Know
• Memphis holds a 20-11-1 lead in the overall series, but only has a narrow 9-8-1 advantage in games played in New Orleans. The Tigers have won nine straight over the Green Wave, the longest win streak for either team in the series. Last season, Memphis posted a 41-13 win over Tulane at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Oct. 31, 2015. The last time Memphis played in New Orleans was the 2014 campaign, and the Tigers defeated the Green Wave 38-7 on Nov. 15, 2014.
• Friday's contest at Tulane is Memphis' American Athletic Conference road opener. The Tigers are 2-1 in league road openers since joining The American prior to the 2013 campaign. Last season, Memphis posted a 24-17 win in its conference road opener at USF. In conference road games since joining The American, the Tigers have a 7-5 record.
• Although Memphis already played at Ole Miss two weeks ago for its first road game of 2016, the Tigers were still within the Mid-South region. Friday's game against Tulane is the first time Memphis steps outside the Mid-South area this season. However, it is not the latest date Memphis has played outside the Mid-South in the program's modern era (since World War II). The latest the Tigers traveled to play a game outside the Mid-South was in 1977. That season, Memphis opened the season at Ole Miss and followed with seven-consecutive home contests. The Tigers' first game outside the Mid-South in 1977 was a Nov. 5 contest at Tennessee.
• Points off turnovers is a statistic more associated with basketball. However, with the way the Tigers are turning takeaways into points, it may be statistic to keep for this 2016 squad. Through five games, Memphis has 15 takeaways, which ranks fourth nationally. Of those 15 takeaways, the Tigers have scored 10 times, including three interception returns for TD. Also, after Memphis' final takeaway versus Temple – a Chauncey Lanier interception with under a minute to play – the Tigers ran out the game clock.
• Phil Mayhue is making his move up the Tigers' career list for consecutive games with a reception. The junior WR enters Friday's contest with a catch in 21-straight games, which is tied for the 10^th-longest streak in program history. With a reception Friday, Mayhue climbs into a tie for the No. 7 spot on that list with Isaac Bruce, Bunkie Perkins and Ryan Roskelly.

Scouting Tulane
The Green Wave brings a 3-2 overall record and a 0-1 American Athletic Conference mark into Friday's encounter. Tulane comes off an unexpected bye week, as its Oct. 8 game at UCF was postponed to Nov. 5 as a result of Hurricane Matthew approaching Florida last weekend.

Tulane is on a two-game win streak coming into Friday's contest with victories over Louisiana-Lafayette and Massachusetts. The Green Wave's last setback was their conference opener Sept. 17, a narrow 21-14 loss to Navy at home.

The Green Wave rushing attack paces the offense, averaging nearly 250 yards a game on the ground (246.6 ypg). Tulane is ranked 16^th in the nation in rushing offense. Of the team's 17 offensive TD, 12 have come on the ground. Leading the Green Wave ground game is junior RB Dontrell Hilliard, who has 384 yards on 71 attempts with five scores.

Redshirt sophomore QB Glen Cuiellette is 34-of-68 passing for 472 yards and five TD. Cuiellette's favorite target is redshirt sophomore Terren Encalade, who has 19 receptions for 252 yards and four TD.

The Tulane defense is one of the nation's stingiest, allowing opponents only 309 yards of total offense per game (13^th in country). Senior LB Nico Marley leads the defense with 38 total stops, six TFL and three sacks. Senior DT Tanzel Smart shares team honors with Marley in TFL (6) and sacks (3). Redshirt junior CB Parry Nickerson has two interceptions, including a 96-yard return for a TD in the win over Southern.