C-USA Farewell Tour: Stop 4

Louisville seeks to avenge the home loss to Memphis last year and improve to 4-0 in Conference USA on Thursday night in front of a national audience on ESPN.

Louisville at Memphis
November 4, 2004 | 7:30 p.m.
Louisville, KY | Liberty Bowl
840 WHAS | ESPN

QUOTES

Louisville Head Coach Bobby Petrino

On of the Memphis defense:  Defensively, they play a difficult scheme. They're going to come after us and blitz and play a lot of man coverage. They're not as experienced as they were a year ago. I thought Cincinnati did a good job of running the ball right at them and being very patient. Last year we made lot of mistakes, and it was a game where we didn't execute and make plays. We had opportunities to make plays and didn't do it, so we've just got to make sure that that team doesn't show up again.

On the Memphis offense:  Offensively, they have 10 out of 11 starters returning from a year ago. They have a real good scheme, they execute it very well and it will be a good challenge for our defense. We've got to do a great job of preparing for them and playing our style and being aggressive.

On Memphis RB Deangelo Williams:  He's really good. He's so quick and he's got such a strong lower body. He has great vision and can catch the ball really well. He's got a bright future.

Memphis Head Coach Tommy West

On losing to Cincinnati last week:   Getting behind took us totally out of what we wanted to do. Our intentions were to put that game on DeAngelo's shoulders. We were going to run the ball more. Then, all of a sudden, that was gone.

Memphis RB Deangelo Williams

On playing U of L:  It's not the ranking.  When we played Louisville last year we were just as excited. It's just playing Louisville as whole. I know they are going to get up for us; they always have. It's just going to be two great teams on the field on national television playing the finest football in America.

NOTES

GAME NOTES

Tonight's game marks the 40th meeting between the Cardinals and the Tigers.

Louisville's 14th ranking in the AP poll is the programs highest ranking since being ranked 13th in 1993.

U of L holds a very slight series advantage at 20-19.

Memphis defeated Louisville 37-7 last year at Papa John's Cardinal Stadium.

U of L has four of the last five meetings.

LOUISVILLE

• Senior quarterback Stefan LeFors is currently the most efficient passer in the nation.  LeFors has completed more than 80% of his pass attempts in three games this season, including going 21 of 26 in the win over South Florida.

• Linebacker Robert McCune, who led the team with 143 tackles in 2003, is again tops on the team.  The senior has totaled 61 stops so far this season, an average of 10.1 per outing, which ranks him 23rd in the NCAA.

• U of L is 5-1 this season when seven or more players catch at least one pass in a game.  The team is 11-2 overall under Petrino when seven or more record at least one reception in a game.

• Stefan LeFors needs just 81 passing yards to surpass John Madeya for 8th place on the school's career yards list.  With 215 passing yards, LeFors to move ahead of Browning Nagle for 7th all-time.

• Through six games, the Cardinals have totaled 24 rushing touchdowns, which along with Virginia, is the most in the country.  U of L's single season record for rushing touchdowns is 38.
  

MEMPHIS

• When teams have off weeks, they like to use that time to get better. Well, the Tigers have done just that. Of its last three off weeks dating back to the 2003 season, Memphis is 3-0 in the following games.

• Tailback DeAngelo Williams is now one of 17 finalists for the Hossman Trophy which is presented each year to the top collegiate player, regardless of position. He is also one of 24 finalists for the John Wooden Trophy which is presented to one college and one professional athlete who best displays character, teamwork and citizenship.

• With the win over Tulane, Memphis improved to 5-1, marking the first time since 1967 that Memphis had opened with a 5-1 record.

• Running back Deangelo Williams ranks 8th in the nation in rushing with a per game average of 134.43.  Williams is averaging 5.17 yards per carry.

STATISTICAL COMPARISON

	Louisville	Memphis
Rushing Offense	228.33	179.43
Passing Offense	278.17	258.86
Total Offense	506.50	438.29
Scoring Offense	42.0	35.29
Rushing Defense	98.00	108.29
Passing Defense	181.83	270.85
Total Defense	279.83	379.14
Scoring Defense	13.0	27.29
3rd Down Conversion	22/80	38/100
Turnover Margain	+9	-2

ITV PREDICTION

The Louisville - Miami contest will be a nail-biter.  The Tigers offense has a dangerous one-two punch in back Deangelo Williams and quarterback Danny Wimprine.  Memphis will force the Cardinals defense to play honest, guarding against both the ground and air attack.  Louisville, even more so than the host Tigers, has a potent and balanced offensive attack, which will create trouble for Memphis defensive coordinator Joe Lee Dunn.

Problem for the Tigers is that they are suspect against the pass, so Petrino, LeFors and company will likely face a frequent blitz in an attempt to slow down the Cardinals passing game. Look for U of L pick Memphis apart early with short passes and then eventually burn them deep.

Both teams will run the ball with some success, so this game will be decided through the air. Advantage Louisville.

Louisville 37  Memphis 24

"Get Used To It!" - Bobby Petrino