3 LOSSES That Were Turning Points In Our Football Program
2003
Mississippi State 35 - Memphis 27
A hugely frustrating day. Turnovers, a botched punt, giving up a kick 6, on a day we should have clobbered them. At the end of the game, TW destroys Jackie Sherrill at midfield. From 3-3, to 6-1 after, with our first winning season and our first bowl win in 30 years.
2014
UCLA 42 - Memphis 35
I hadn't been that excited during a Tiger game for almost 10 years. We should have beaten them. The team played without fear, but Fuente coached with fear at the end of the game. Showed us that we could compete on equal terms with big time programs. From 1-1 to 9-2 after.
2019
Temple 30 - Memphis 28
I'm going to get pushback on this, but IMO, this is the game that transformed White from a good quarterback with good stats, who didn't perform well against good opponents, into a great quarterback. He showed a lot of guts making the throw to Magnifico when he knew he was going to get flattened. He was a different player after that.
(This post was last modified: 12-17-2020 06:35 PM by Stammers.)
RE: 3 LOSSES That Were Turning Points In Our Football Program
I used to often wonder, in the dying moments of the 2H of the 2015 Ole Miss game, if Hugh Freeze stood on that sideline and wondered to himself how his season has unraveled in front of him like this, and just how it could have happened against a team he beat 47.3 just four years prior in Jonesboro.
RE: 3 LOSSES That Were Turning Points In Our Football Program
2006
UT 76 - Memphis 58
It was horrible. Chris Loftin was unstoppable and scored 34 points.
After that game, even though they were only sophomores, Antonio Anderson and CDR became the leaders of the team, and CDR became the go-to scorer.
RE: 3 LOSSES That Were Turning Points In Our Football Program
(12-17-2020 04:05 PM)micman Wrote: 2006
UT 76 - Memphis 58
It was horrible. Chris Loftin was unstoppable and scored 34 points.
After that game, even though they were only sophomores, Antonio Anderson and CDR became the leaders of the team, and CDR became the go-to scorer.
Antonio and CDR played football for Memphis and helped turn around the program? Who knew? :)
(This post was last modified: 12-17-2020 04:12 PM by TripleA.)
RE: 3 LOSSES That Were Turning Points In Our Football Program
(12-17-2020 02:04 PM)Stammers Wrote: 2003
Mississippi State 35 - Memphis 27
A hugely frustrating day. Turnovers, a botched punt, giving up a kick 6, on a day we should have clobbered them. At the end of the game, TW destroys Jackie Sherrill at midfield. From 3-3, to 6-1 after, with our first winning season and our first bowl win in 30 years.
2014
UCLA 42 - Memphis 35
I hadn't been that excited during a Tiger game for almost 10 years. We should have beaten them. The team played without fear, but Fuente coached with fear at the end of the game. Showed us that we could compete at equal terms with big time programs. From 1-1 to 9-2 after.
2019
Temple 30 - Memphis 28
I'm going to get pushback on this, but IMO, this is the game that transformed White from a good quarterback with good stats, who didn't perform well against good opponents, into a great quarterback. He showed a lot of guts making the throw to Magnifico when he knew he was going to get flattened. He was a different player after that.
That UCLA game was probably the best I ever felt after a loss. I don't remember seeing it live, but getting updates as the game went along and thinking we can play with those guys on the road?
RE: 3 LOSSES That Were Turning Points In Our Football Program
(12-17-2020 05:40 PM)Tiger46 Wrote:
(12-17-2020 02:04 PM)Stammers Wrote: 2003
Mississippi State 35 - Memphis 27
A hugely frustrating day. Turnovers, a botched punt, giving up a kick 6, on a day we should have clobbered them. At the end of the game, TW destroys Jackie Sherrill at midfield. From 3-3, to 6-1 after, with our first winning season and our first bowl win in 30 years.
2014
UCLA 42 - Memphis 35
I hadn't been that excited during a Tiger game for almost 10 years. We should have beaten them. The team played without fear, but Fuente coached with fear at the end of the game. Showed us that we could compete at equal terms with big time programs. From 1-1 to 9-2 after.
2019
Temple 30 - Memphis 28
I'm going to get pushback on this, but IMO, this is the game that transformed White from a good quarterback with good stats, who didn't perform well against good opponents, into a great quarterback. He showed a lot of guts making the throw to Magnifico when he knew he was going to get flattened. He was a different player after that.
That UCLA game was probably the best I ever felt after a loss. I don't remember seeing it live, but getting updates as the game went along and thinking we can play with those guys on the road?
I didn't see the Arkansas State game. We were out celebrating my mom's birthday. I couldn't believe it every time I checked my phone.
RE: 3 LOSSES That Were Turning Points In Our Football Program
The UCLA loss was significant for the level of play.
We were a damn good offensive team and it was shown that night. The Game was not a fluke, we did not stay close by counting on UCLA slipping, making mistakes or hoping for a miracle- we played a good team straight up on their field 1000 miles from home. After watching that game on TV I had several friends comment that the Tigers were a team to look out for
RE: 3 LOSSES That Were Turning Points In Our Football Program
(12-17-2020 02:04 PM)Stammers Wrote: .....
2019
Temple 30 - Memphis 28
I'm going to get pushback on this, but IMO, this is the game that transformed White from a good quarterback with good stats, who didn't perform well against good opponents, into a great quarterback. He showed a lot of guts making the throw to Magnifico when he knew he was going to get flattened. He was a different player after that.
I'm not going to full-on "push back" on that, but I will say your conclusion about White is questionable IMHO. Be CAUSE.... I don't think he is a "great" quarterback. I think he is a "good" to "very good" QB. But what keeps him from being "great" is his poor decisions. Too often we see him 1)making the wrong choice on whether to keep or give on the option, 2)not recognizing when he could get a first down with his feet, and the thing that bugs me most of all - 3)not looking off his receivers. He will stare down a route with laser eyes. His superior accuracy is the only reason he hasn't been picked off more than he has. That forces him into throwing the ball into the holes of the defense where only our receivers can get it, instead of looking off a receiver, drawing the defense off of that receiver, and then having a more comfortable target.
Or maybe you are right, and the level I'm reading when you say "Great" is really "Elite".
RE: 3 LOSSES That Were Turning Points In Our Football Program
October 27, 1984, a 30-27 loss at home to North Carolina. Ray Dempsey had picked up Rex Dockery's momentum and had led the Tigers to a 5-1-1 start to to 84 season, including a convincing win over Mississippi State the week prior to this game. This game had a late fumble that allowed North Carolina to win. Tigers didn't win the rest of the season and finished 5-5-1. The 85 season collapsed to a 2-7-2 record and Rex Dockery's momentum was gone, and so was Dempsey.
RE: 3 LOSSES That Were Turning Points In Our Football Program
(12-18-2020 11:01 AM)UofMark Wrote: October 27, 1984, a 30-27 loss at home to North Carolina. Ray Dempsey had picked up Rex Dockery's momentum and had led the Tigers to a 5-1-1 start to to 84 season, including a convincing win over Mississippi State the week prior to this game. This game had a late fumble that allowed North Carolina to win. Tigers didn't win the rest of the season and finished 5-5-1. The 85 season collapsed to a 2-7-2 record and Rex Dockery's momentum was gone, and so was Dempsey.