Tigers focus on 10-win season after missing out on AAC title
Memphis Tiger defensive back AJ Watts (10) and Memphis Tiger defensive back Kourtlan Marsh (0) celebrate during the second half against the UAB Blazers on Nov 16, 2024, at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium. (Wes Hale/Special to the Daily Memphian)
The Memphis Tigers couldn’t have asked for a better Senior Night on Saturday, Nov 16.
The Tigers beat up on UAB 53-18 in the Battle for the Bones rivalry and were never in jeopardy of losing at any point of the game.
Tigers win the Battle for the Bones with a blowout victory on Senior Night
Several seniors scored touchdowns and forced turnovers. It went the way a Senior Night was supposed to go for a group that includes multiple four-year players.
“I think about those memories of so many seniors, and that’s what’s been so fun,” Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield said. “They’re all special, but I think the fact that so many of those guys who have been so committed ... 100%, this game was for them tonight. This group will certainly go down as something very, very special.”
One memory the seniors won’t have this year is playing for an American Athletic Conference Championship.
That’s the goalpost this team, with so many veterans on one of the most talented rosters in the league, was aiming for. It’s why the Tigers (9-2, 5-2 AAC) were voted as the preseason favorite in the AAC preseason media poll.
Memphis entered Saturday with an outside chance of finding itself in a four-way tie for second place. It was an improbable scenario anyway, but Tulane ended those hopes with a 35-0 win over Navy before Memphis kicked off against UAB.
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Silverfield said that outcome had no impact on the locker room.
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Memphis Tigers Football college football Ryan Silverfield Subscriber OnlyThank you for supporting local journalism.
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Frank Bonner II
Frank Bonner is the Memphis Tigers football beat writer. He is originally from Indiana but arrived in Memphis after spending two years in Tulsa, covering Oklahoma State football and basketball. He covered high school sports in Columbus, Indiana for two years before getting his Master’s degree in Sports Journalism at IUPUI. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in journalism from Indiana University.
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