bowl stories have begun in memphis paper

[tigerjeb]

there will be bowl game stories every day leading up to the game on www.gomemphis.com. you have to register to view the stories, but its free and you can opt out of spam lists so its ok. heres one from Saturday:

Tigers' bowl foe plays like Louisville
Bowling Green can ring up lots of points

By Phil Stukenborg
December 11, 2004

University of Memphis coach Tommy West welcomed his team back Friday after a 10-day layoff to begin preparations for a team the Tigers never have played, but one whose style is hauntingly familiar.

The UofM's opponent in the Dec. 22 GMAC Bowl in Mobile is Bowling Green of the Mid-American Conference. West said there's a Conference USA team that's got Bowling Green's numbers ... the ones that Tiger fans may not want to be reminded of.

''(Bowling Green) is an outstanding offensive team that has put up big, big numbers,'' West said. ''And they are a very aggressive defensive team, too. They remind me a lot of Louisville.

''Their quarterback (Omar Jacobs) has phenomenal statistics ... 36 touchdowns, three intercepts. It's incredible. He's 6-4 and 240 pounds, he runs pretty well, so we'll have our hands full.''

If Bowling Green is as explosive as Louisville was in its 56-49 nationally televised win over the Tigers Nov. 4, Memphis will need each of the next 10 days to study film, bolster its defense and retune its offense.

The Falcons (8-3) appear to do a credible Louisville impersonation. They average 43.6 points and 502 yards per game. Jacobs has passed for 3,637 yards and rushed for nearly 300 more.

''We're going to have to have some great practices this week,'' Tiger quarterback Danny Wimprine said. ''We've got a big challenge ahead in Bowling Green.''

With the outdoor fields soaked, the Tigers worked out indoors at the Murphy Athletic Complex's turf room. They'll practice again this morning before hustling downtown to FedExForum to be honored at halftime of the UofM's basketball game against Ole Miss.

The Tigers seemed to enjoy getting back into a game-week mode, particularly because it meant they were preparing for a second consecutive bowl game, a first in the program's history.

Back-to-back bowl trips was a familiar theme and one the players gladly entertained.

''It kind of shows everyone around the country that we belonged (in a bowl game) last year,'' Wimprine said. ''Last year it was our first bowl game, now there's more credibility behind the program by going to our second consecutive game, and that's exciting for us.''

Wimprine said the Tigers handled the pregame excitement like veterans a year ago at the New Orleans Bowl and he expects a similar business-like approach for the GMAC Bowl.

And that starts with the proper mindset during practices in Memphis. The Tigers leave for Mobile Friday.

''It's almost like preparing for a regular-season game,'' Wimprine said. ''The only thing that does change is that you're going to a different city for a week. So you have to be mature about your decisions and the things that you do when you are there.''

The Tigers, who hadn't been to a bowl in 32 years entering last season, beat North Texas, 27-17, in the New Orleans Bowl.

Memphis will bring a team to Mobile that placed nine players on the first two teams of the All-C-USA squads. Running back DeAngelo Williams was named the co-Offensive Player of the Year.

The Tigers hope their offense, nearly as potent, will be able to offset Bowling Green's. West said his team will be focused, in part because of its maturity.

''We got a chance to go 9-3 and that's important to these players,'' West said. ''These players want to win. Winning is important to us.''

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/tig ... 77,00.html

[always a falcon]

Thanks for sharing!