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Welcome back to the Tigers Football Insider, where we bring you the latest news and analysis from The Daily Memphian’s Frank Bonner II, Geoff Calkins and John Martin each week.
Will Drennan will forever be remembered as a hero.
He sacrificed his life by jumping in to save a child who had been swept into a culvert under Neshoba Road by a torrent. Drennan died performing one of the most selfless acts imaginable and he will be recognized for his heroics at the home opener against Arkansas State on Saturday.
Drennan will be honored in the fourth timeout of the second quarter as the Simmons Bank Community Hero of the game two days before what would have been his 38th birthday. The 901 game kicks off at 6 p.m. and the Tigers are hoping to win the home opener for the city after it experienced a tough week of tragedies.
Saturday is also the game where the Tigers partnered with Kroger to sell $10 tickets and each ticket sold provided three meals through the Mid-South Food Bank, which supports Kroger’s Zero Hunger, Zero Waste program. Memphis wants to celebrate the city on Saturday and honoring Drennan will fall right in line with that goal. His selfless act represented the best parts of the Memphis community.
“We’re a city that responds well to adversity,” coach Ryan Silverfield said on Monday. “One of the best things about this city is the grit and then the soul of the city is its people.”
More from your Insider:
Antonio Gibson racked up 130 yards of total offense in to help the Washington Commanders beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 28-22.
The Tigers will have electronic ticketing for games, which will include the parking passes. But paper tickets are still available. And Saturday’s home opener will have more visible police presence.
The Tigers have four consecutive home games starting with Saturday’s home opener against Arkansas State. Memphis is 11-2 at home the last two seasons.
It was the most points the University of Memphis has ever scored in Annapolis, defeating the Midshipmen.
Memphis goes on the road to Annapolis, Maryland and defeats Navy, 37-13. QB Seth Henigan led the way with over 400 yards passing.
“We know this was such a tough week for the city of Memphis and this one was for those people. ...We hope that for a few hours we were able to be a small and shining light for our great community,” Coach Ryan Silverfield said.
When you’ve got Seth Henigan, who needs a running game? The Memphis Tigers won their first game of the season — and their first road game in exactly a year— by letting Seth be Seth.
The Tigers are in jeopardy of starting with an 0-2 record for the first time in nine years.
Memphis plays at Navy Saturday, the site of their last road conference victory two years ago. As Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo put it: “Both programs are desperate for a win right now.”
After a 49-23 loss at Mississippi State, Tigers coach Ryan Silverfield said Monday there were not a lot of bright spots from the first game of the season.
The Memphis Tigers were as lousy as the weather in losing their opener to Mississippi State. Now they have to beat Navy next week. Or else.
Box score from Saturday’s game in Starkville, Mississippi.
The first game for defensive coordinator Matt Barnes will be against a coach whom he has tremendous respect for.
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