RB Curtis Steele and DL Steven Turner named MVP's of scrimmage
MEMPHIS, TENN. - The University of Memphis Tiger football team closed out its spring practice session with the annual Blue-Gray Game at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.
Fans were treated to much better weather than has been the case in most recent years. The sun was shining and the temperature was in the 60s for the 104-play scrimmage. The offensive MVP was running back Curtis Steele and the defensive MVP was defensive lineman Steven Turner.
"I thought it was a good day," said head coach Tommy West. "I thought everything went good except the five turnovers and the quarterbacks were involved in four of them. We have to get our ball security right with our quarterbacks."
Steele paced the running game with 15 carries for 94 yards and one touchdown. He scored on the third play of the scrimmage from 39 yards out. Jeremy Longstreet, who transitioned from linebacker to running back this spring, finished the day with 12 carries for 41 yards. Mike Davis, a freshman who redshirted in 2007, had 15 carries for 39 yards and a touchdown. Davis scored off a 1-yard run late in the scrimmage.
"I thought we did some good things with the running game," said West. "Curtis Steele gives us that burst, and he can score with it."
The competition continues at quarterback as Arkelon Hall led the way with 60 yards on six completions and one touchdown. Hall tossed a 19-yard pass to Carlos Singleton for a score on the fifth series of the game. Hall also rushed for 51 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. He had TD runs of five yards and four yards. Matt Malouf completed two of eight passes for 23 yards while Dallas Walker completed six of 11 passes for 78 yards and one interception. Brett Toney was 3-for-3 for 39 yards and tossed an 11-yard touchdown to Carlos Singleton, who finished the day with three catches for 39 yards and two touchdowns.
"I wanted to throw the ball more today coming in but the wind made it really tough to do that," said West. "We still have a good competition going on at quarterback. Arkelon is still learning the system and Matt has continued to have a solid spring. I am not ready to name anyone yet as the starter because I don't think either one is ready to win a game for us right now. We are going to continue this competition in the fall."
Earnest Williams led the receiving corps with three receptions for 54 yards while Carlton Robinzine logged three catches for 16 yards and Brian Hall finished the day with two receptions for 34 yards. Tight end Deven Onarheim made two catches for 14 yards.
Several defensive players made key plays in the scrimmage, including Steven Turner who was named the defensive MVP. Turner forced a fumble, had a fumble recovery, broke up a pass and also had a sack in addition to his two tackles. Defensive back Deante' Lamar also logged a fumble recovery and registered a pass breakup. Linebacker Terrence Thomas had the defense's only score when he scooped up a fumble midway through the scrimmage and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown. Curtis Echols, who transitioned from wide receiver to defensive back this spring, registered a pass breakup and an interception, while Greg Terrell totaled two sacks for minus 10 yards. Charlie Bryant also had a fumble recovery and three total tackles.
"I thought the defense was fine," added West. "I hampered the defense a little bit because with us being new I didn't want to do a whole lot of things."
Prior to the game, several Tigers were honored for their efforts this spring. The Chris Faros Most Improved Player Award was shared by three players. From the offense, the coaches selected offensive lineman Brent Todd and wide receiver Steven Black. Selected from the defense was defensive back Deante' Lamar.
The Glenn Jones Award, which is presented each year to a player who demonstrates leadership through determination and courage both on and off the field, was shared by center Philip Beliles and defensive lineman Clinton McDonald. The coaching staff selected two Tigers for the Top Newcomer Award this spring. The award was presented to linebacker Jeremy Rockette and running back Curtis Steele.
Three Tigers were selected as the MVPs of this spring session. Offensive lineman Brandon Pearce, defensive lineman Corey Mills and defensive back Michael Grandberry shared MVP honors for their efforts this spring.
Offensive lineman Terrence Echols, wide receiver Earnest Williams and linebacker Josh Weaver were each presented the True Tiger Award, which honors the players whose actions on and off the field most exemplifies those of a True Tiger.
Two freshmen who had been selected for honorary scholarships during the 2007 were also introduced. Offensive lineman Michael Antonescu, who prepped at Ridgeland High in Ridgeland, Miss., received the 2007 Rex Dockery Memorial Scholarship Award which is presented annually to an incoming freshman football player who most exemplifies the lofty football ideals of the late Rex Dockery. Defensive lineman Tommy Walker who played at Munford High earned the Ralph Hatley Scholar Athlete Award, which is presented annually to a Tiger football player who plans a career in the field of health, physical education or recreation.
Following the awards presentation, members of the 1963 Tiger football team were introduced to the crowd. This squad was one of three teams in Tiger football history to post an undefeated record. Under former head coach Billy J. Murphy, who the Tiger family lost in February, the Tigers amassed a 9-0-1 record which included shutouts over North Texas, Chattanooga, Louisville and South Carolina. This team is the first team to be inducted into the M Club Hall of Fame.
Statistics from the 2008 Blue-Gray Game
Passing
Arkelon Hall - 6 of 14 for 60 yards and 1 touchdown
Dallas Walker - 6 of 11 for 78 yards and 1 interception
Brett Toney - 3 of 3 for 39 yards and 1 touchdown
Matt Malouf - 2 of 8 for 23 yards
Maurice Jones - 1 of 1 for 16 yards
Receiving (Catches-Yds.-TD)
Earnest Williams - 3-54-0
Carlos Singleton - 3-39-2
Carlton Robinzine - 3-16-0
Brian Hall - 2-34-0
Deven Onarheim - 2-14-0
Steven Black - 1-25-0
Curtis Steele - 1-19-0
Jeremy Longstreet - 1-19-0
Matt Malouf - 1-16-0
Steven Joachim - 1-11-0
Rushing (Carries-Yds-TD)
Curtis Steele - 15-94-1
Arkelon Hall - 10-51-2
Jeremy Longstreet - 12-41-0
Mike Davis - 15-39-1
Brett Toney - 4-17-1
Byron Ingram - 1-3-0
Dallas Walker - 1-3-0
Matt Malouf - 4-(-10)-0
Defensive Highlights
Deante' Lamar - 2 solo, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recovery, 1 PBU
Terrence Thomas - 2 solo, 3 assists, 1 fumble recovery (TD)
Clinton McDonald - 4 solo, 4 assist, 2 TFL, 1 QB sack
Brandon Douglas - 2 solo, 1 assists
Charlie Bryant - 2 solo, 1 assist, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recovery
Greg Terrell - 3 solo, 2 QB sacks (-10 yards)
Steven Turner - 1 solo, 1 assist, 1 TFL, 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble, 1 QB sack (-3 yards), 1 PBU
Curtis Echols - 2 solo, 1 interception, 1 PBU
Special Teams
Field Goal - Matt Reagan - 1 of 1 for 33 yards
PAT - Matt Reagan - 4 of 4
Scoring Plays
Curtis Steele 39-yard run; PAT good by Matt Reagan
Arkelon Hall 19-yard pass to Carlos Singleton; PAT good by Reagan
Brett Toney 11-yard pass to Carlos Singleton; PAT good by Reagan
Arkelon Hall 5-yard run; PAT good by Reagan
Terrence Thomas 28-yard fumble recovery
Matt Reagan 33-yard field goal
Arkelon Hall 4-yard run
Mike Davis 1-yard run
Brett Toney 1-yard run
The Tiger football team will conclude its spring session with the Blue-Gray Game on Saturday at 1 p.m. at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The pre-game awards ceremony will begin at approximately 12:45 p.m., with the scrimmage to follow.
The interior stadium parking lot will be reserved for UM staff and coaches, and will require a pass for admittance. Fans can park in the lot closest to the Mid-South Coliseum and on the north side of the stadium in the Armory lot. Gates 1 and 4 will be open at 11 a.m. to enter the stadium. Concession stands will not be open on Saturday, but fans are allowed to bring in coolers with beverages and food.
From 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Tiger fans will be able to pick their seats and purchase season tickets for the upcoming 2008 season. Anyone interested in purchasing tickets can visit the tent that will be located at the front office of the Liberty Bowl off Hollywood. Cheerleaders and members of the Tiger Scholarship Fund staff will escort fans to the seats around the stadium and tickets can be purchased from the Ticket Office staff inside the main office. No cash will be accepted on site but fans are welcome to pay with Visa, Mastercard, Discover and checks.
There are two Early Bird specials again this season to encourage fans to purchase season tickets by May 30th. All fans who order or renew their football season tickets from April 15 – May 30 will receive a free Tiger tailgate stool. Only one stool will be given per season ticket account. In addition, in that same timeframe, anyone who orders or renews their tickets online will receive a complimentary copy of the 2008 Football Media Guide. Fans are eligible for both offers.
The shot earned Chalmers the most outstanding player honor.
The most memorable performance in this one came from freshman Derrick Rose of Memphis, who completely took over the game in the second half, scoring 14 of his team's 16 points during one stretch to lift the Tigers to a 60-51 lead.
Hustling the ball down the court with 10.8 seconds left and no timeouts, Sherron Collins handed off to Chalmers at the top of the 3-point line and Chalmers took the shot from the top. It hit nothing but net and tied the score at 63.
Robert Dozier missed a desperation shot at the buzzer. Brandon Rush, Darrell Arthur and Darnell Jackson scored the first six points of overtime to put Kansas ahead 69-63. Memphis didn't pull within three again.
Arthur was strong inside, finishing with 20 points and 10 rebounds, lots on dunks and lay-ups off lob passes. Chalmers finished with 18 points. Rush had 12 and Collins had 11 points and six assists.
Rose wound up with 18 points. He was 3-for-4 from the line.
This game was not about coaches or sidestories, though. It was about the game, and what a dandy it was.
This was the first overtime in the title game since 1997, when Arizona beat Kentucky 84-79.
Part 1
