September 9, 6:00 PM, Liberty Bowl, Memphis, TN
Broadcast: ESPN+
The Memphis Tigers are a 21.5-point favorite as of this writing
The Memphis Tigers and Arkansas State have met 61 times in what the old timers call The Paint Bucket Bowl, a rivalry for which disdain fuels the heat. Begun in 1914, the Paint Bucket Bowl stirs different emotions for different people. Red Wolves fans view Memphis as a natural, territorial enemy deserving of destruction. Tigers fans see Arkansas State as a seasonal litmus test – they despise losing to Arkansas State, and are indifferent to victories over Arkansas State. Disdain!
Arkansas State and Memphis will forever swing buckets at one another. The geography makes too much sense. The history is set in stone. Despite what Tigers fans believe, the programs are equal, each feeling the painful ebb of gravity from the region’s better-funded programs. Perhaps this truth is the source of Memphis’ disdain.
When Last These Titans Met
Last year, the Red Wolves entered the Liberty Bowl in Week 3 a precariously fragile team beset with depth issues. The game would eventually cost Arkansas State its best offensive linemen (Robert Holmes) and its most effective wide receiver (Champ Flemings). As a result, Arkansas State delivered what would be the first of a frustrating pattern games – the Red Wolves started the fourth quarter with a 21-17 lead. The Tigers took advantage of a string of aggravating, self-inflicted wounds committed by the A-State offense, and won the game 44-32. Quite frankly, the Red Wolves never fully recovered from the loss, while Memphis would go on to a solid 7-6 record with a bowl win over Utah State.
“I hope our fans are pissed. I’d be pissed too. It means our fans care.”
Yeah, nobody was wild about that 73-0 loss to Oklahoma last week. Condemnation was harsh both nationally and locally. But A-State head coach Butch Jones is refusing to allow the loss or the critics change his approach to Week 2. But he did acknowledge that the outcome was not what he expects from the team. “I was disappointed in our overall style of play,” said Jones. “We talk about playing to a standard. We did not play to that standard.”
Coach Jones made it clear that Norman was in the past, but he also leaned in on what the Red Wolves need moving forward. “The teams who have focus and can live in the moment are the teams that will have success,” said Jones.
A Familiar Foe Leads the Memphis Offense
“Offensively it starts with the QB – three-year starter Seth Henigan,” said Butch Jones when addressing the Tigers offense. Henigan threw for 360 yards and three touchdowns in Memphis’ victory over Arkansas State last season, and he seems in good form after Week 1 upon compiling 334 yards and two touchdowns in a 56-14 win over season opener Bethune-Cookman.
Henigan did have his issues with his FCS opponent; he threw a pair of picks. However, the Memphis run game has a two-headed attack in Sutton Smith (5’9″ 185 sophomore) and Blake Watson (5/9″ 195 senior), who combined for 190 ground yards and five touchdowns. As good as Henigan can be, putting a cork in the Tigers’ ground game will be a critical assignment for the defense.
We Might Be Seeing More of Freshman Wide Receiver Tennel Bryant
Bryant had his number called several times against Oklahoma, scooping up three catches for 33 yards. “I’m really excited about Tennel Bryant,” said Jones of the 5’7″ freshman. “He adds another element to our offense.” Look to see more of the sturdy Cincinnati native to line up against Memphis on Saturday.
Drops Continue to Haunt J.T. Shrout
Starting QB JT Shrout completed just 12 of 26 passes for 148 yards against Oklahoma, but he wasn’t helped by a number of mental miscues from his wide receivers. “I thought JT did some very good things,” said Coach Jones. “We had some drops along the perimeter.” Shrout, victim of a 19% drop rate last season with Colorado, is either cursed or is simply passing catchable passes that somehow can’t be caught. Either way, the offense will need to find its focus before the Tigers appear on the field on Saturday.
The Depth Chart Remains Unchanged
As is custom with Butch Jones, the depth chart isn’t changing unless it has to.
| Pos | Starter | H/W | 2 | 3 |
| QB | JT Shrout | 6-3 215 | Jaxon Dailey | Jaylen Raynor |
| RB | Ja’Quez Cross | 5-9 189 | Zak Wallace | Brian Snead |
| TE | Eammanual Stevenson | 6-3 233 | Miller McCrumby | Kevin Diaz |
| WR1 | Corey Rucker | 6-0 210 | Adam Jones | |
| WR2 | Courtney Jackson | 5-11 186 | Reagan Ealy | Wyatt Begeal |
| WR3 | Jeff Foreman | 6-0 186 | Khmari Thompson | |
| LT | Hamilton Hall | 6-5 311 | Aleric Watson | |
| LG | Mehki Butler | 6-3 330 | Elijah Zollicoffer | |
| C | Jacob Bayer | 6-3 315 | Cameron Ambrose | |
| RG | Jalen Cunningham | 6-5 350 | Ausin Woods | |
| RT | Makilan Thomas | 6-3 302 | Noah Smith | |
| DE | Ethan Hassler | 6-2 248 | Thurman Geathers | |
| NT | Micah Bland | 6-1 318 | Nate Martey | |
| DE | Keyron Crawford | 6-4 243 | Dennard Flowers | |
| LB | Charles Willkes | 6-1 228 | Gavin Potter | |
| LB | Javante Mackey | 6-2 228 | Dane Motley | |
| STAR | Melique Straker | 6-0 209 | Sam Graham | |
| CB | Samy Johnson | 5-10 190 | Dontay Joyner | |
| S | Tevian Thomas | 5-11 192 | Taylon Doss | |
| S | Eddie Smith | 6-0 212 | Justin Parks | |
| CB | Justin Hodges | 6-2 175 | Leon Jones | |
| P | Wiliam Przystup | |||
| FG | Dominic Zvada | |||
| PR | Courtney Jackson | |||
| KR | Ja’Quez Cross |
This Game Is Important
“If you’re a competitor, you’re going to love this environment,” said Butch Jones, speaking of the rivalry between Memphis and Arkansas State. The history between the two teams has certainly provided some storied moments for both sides. There’s the Memphis Comeback in 2004, when the Memphis Tigers rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Arkansas State 47-35 before 30,427 fans, the largest crowd to ever watch a game at Centennial Bank Stadium at that time. Who can forget the Miracle on the Bluff, when Corey Leonard’s Hail Mary connection delivered a last second win?
None of that history matters Saturday. The Red Wolves have a chance to prove that Oklahoma was the anomalous event uncharacteristic of this Arkansas State team. Before the home crowd, Butch Jones and the Red Wolves have a golden opportunity to win the confidence of fans with a good performance over a hated-program that has seen more success than A-State in recent seasons.
No pressure.
PHOTO CREDIT: Mine
Howlraiser 