MEMPHIS Tigers (3-4, 1-2) vs. EAST CAROLINA Pirates (3-3, 1-1)

THE GAME
After facing four BCS opponents in its first six games, including two programs that were ranked among college football’s Top 25, East Carolina will return to Conference USA play for the remainder of the
2008 campaign beginning Saturday when the Pirates host Memphis at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. ECU will try to move its league record to 2-1 and bounce back from three straight setbacks suffered against N.C. State (30-24), Houston (41-24) and Virginia (35-20) after posting earlier triumphs against
No. 17 Virginia Tech (27-22), No. 8 West Virginia (24-3) and Tulane (28-24). The matchup against the Tigers will also close out East Carolina’s brief two-game October schedule and precede the Pirates’ second bye week of the season.

FAST FACTS
Record – 3-3 (.500); C-USA Record/East Division Standing – 1-1 (.500)/2nd
East Division; Last 5 Games – 2-3; Last 10 Games – 6-4; Last 15 Games – 10-5;

SCHEMES
Memphis utilizes a spread offensive attack while employing a multiple 4-3 defensive
alignment. ECU will line up in a multiple offense and use a multiple look when defending.

THE COACHES
SKIP HOLTZ
(Notre Dame ‘86) is 23-20 (.535) in his fourth season at East Carolina,
while overall, he is in year nine as a collegiate head coach with a 57-43 (.570) record.

TOMMY WEST (Tennessee ‘76) is in his eighth season heading the football program
at Memphis and sports a 44-48 (.478) record. Overall, he is in his 14th year as a
collegiate head coach with a 79-83 (.488) mark. Prior to his appointment to the top UM
football position in 2001, West served as head coach at Chattanooga (1993) and
Clemson (1993-98), where he guided the Tigers to a 31-28 mark and three bowl game
appearances (‘95 Gator Bowl, ‘96 and ‘97 Peach Bowls).
There’s that Clemson Tiger/Tommy West connection.

*****from ECU grad Big Jim Modlin, courtesy of Tom McClellan East Carolina Athletic Department*****