Tigers-ECU: 5 things to know for Saturday
If Memphis needs any motivation for how it can reclaim its season, the Tigers can look back to two years ago in Mike Norvell’s first season as coach.
Just like now, they entered the bye week with consecutive defeats, including a blowout loss to Tulsa. Memphis responded by winning three of its final four regular-season games.
At 4-4 this year, the Tigers have a chance at a similar run and it starts Saturday at East Carolina. The Pirates (2-5) have yet to win a game in AAC play and have been outscored 128-36 during their three-game losing streak.
Here’s five things to know for the game, which kicks off at 11 a.m. CST on ESPNU.
Nov. 3, 2017 at Tulsa. That’s the last time the Tigers won away from the Liberty Bowl and Memphis needs that streak to end.
The Tigers have lost their last four games at ECU, with their last win com-
through a classification period. But that doesn't mean discussion shouldn't begin now. The focus should be on reducing the number of classes in Division I where 38 teams qualified for the playoffs with losing records. Leave Division II alone. It's a tradeoff for the private schools that were pushed to Division I despite not having equal representation on the TSSAA's two governing bodies. There are only three members from both the Board of Control and Legislative Council from private schools. There are 12 men on both the board and the council.
Now, how much do you reduce it? Look at going down to four classes and five. Examine what the regions would look like. Geography may help dictate if it's better to go to four or five. But six needs to be off the table.
TSSAA board members must do what's best for high school football in Tennessee, not what's best for their school. Nine state championships aren't the answer. Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.