Kragthorpe Previews Friday's Non-Conference Game at Memphis
October 06, 2008 | Football
Oct. 6, 2008
- Gameday Central
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Louisville football head coach Steve Kragthorpe, senior center Eric Wood and senior safety Bobby Buchanan met with members of the media on Monday to preview this week's non-conference game against Memphis. The Cards and Tigers will meet on Friday, at 8 p.m. ET at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis and the game will be televised nationally by ESPN.
The Cardinals will be on the road for the first time in 2008 to face the former conference foe. The Cards enter the game at 2-2 overall and 0-1 in BIG EAST play following a 26-21 loss to Connecticut on Sept. 26. The Cards led 21-17 in the fourth quarter before UConn rallied with a field goal and an interception return for a score. Louisville dominated the game from a statistical standpoint, out-gaining the Huskies 508-279 in total offense, but the Cards committed a couple of crucial turnovers, including the interception return for a touchdown for the game's final points with 2:45 to play.
For the second straight game, redshirt freshman Victor Anderson was the star of the game, rushing for 100 yards and a touchdown, while also catching an 18-yard touchdown pass. Senior quarterback Hunter Cantwell threw for 247 yards and a score, but did throw two interceptions.
Memphis won its third straight game, this time in dramatic fashion, when Vinny Zaccario booted a field goal with seconds left for a 33-30 win over UAB on Friday. After season-opening losses to Ole Miss (41-24), Rice (42-35) and Marshall (17-16), the Tigers have bounced back with wins over Nicholls State (31-10), Arkansas State (29-17) and UAB (33-30).
The Series - U of L and Memphis
Friday night's matchup will be the 41st meeting between U of L and Memphis all-time with the Cards holding a 21-19 series advantage. The two former Conference USA rivals are meeting for the first time since Louisville won 56-49 in Memphis during the 2004 season. The Cards are 10-11 all-time in Memphis and have won their last three games in the Liberty Bowl.
GAME FACTS - Louisville (2-2, 0-1 BIG EAST) at Memphis (3-3, 1-2 C-USA)
Date: Friday, Oct. 10
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Site: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (62,380), Memphis, Tenn.
TV: ESPN will televise the game with Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Chris Spielman (analyst) and Rob Stone (sideline)
Radio: Paul Rogers and Craig Swabek will call all the action and Doug Ormay will report from the sidelines on WHAS 840 AM
Also: SIRIUS Satellite Radio, Ch. 126
Rankings: Neither team is ranked in this week's major college football polls.
Coaches: Louisville's Steve Kragthorpe is 37-30 in six seasons as a head coach and 8-8 in his second year at Louisville, while Tommy West is 44-47 in his eighth season at Memphis.
