American Athletic Conference Football Report 2013 Season • Week 12 Contact: Chuck Sullivan, Director of Communications ([email protected] • 401.453.0660) 15 Park Row West • Providence, RI 02903 TheAmerican.org • Twitter: @American_FB • Facebook: fb.com/AmericanConf OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Garrett Gilbert • Sr. • QB • SMU • Austin, Texas Gilbert completed 38 of 47 passes for 403 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another TD in a 28-25 loss at Cincinnati. It was the third 400-yard game and the seventh 300-yard game of the season for Gilbert, who has thrown for multiple touchdowns in five consecutive games. Gilbert, the national leader in total offense (408.3 yards per game), has thrown for 2,634 yards and 15 touchdowns this season and has added five rushing touchdowns for the Mustangs. DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK Brandon Alexander • Jr. • S • UCF • Orlando, Fla. Alexander led a UCF defense that held Houston — which had averaged 42.0 points per game and scored in every quarter this season — to just 14 points in the Knights’ 19-14 win, lifting UCF into sole possession of first place in the American Athletic Conference. Alexander had seven tackles and an interception and clinched the win with a fourth-down pass breakup in the closing seconds. SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK Charles Gaines • So. • CB • Louisville • Miami, Fla. Gaines put Louisville on the board in the first quarter of the Cardinals’ 31-10 win at UConn when he blocked a punt and returned it seven yards for a touchdown. Gaines added four tackles and an interception for the Cardinals, who improved to 8-1 overall and 4-1 in The American with the win. HONOR ROLL William Stanback • Fr. • RB • UCF • Hempstead, N.Y. Rushed for 74 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries in a 19-14 win against Houston. Greg Blair • Sr. • LB • Cincinnati • Pittsburgh, Pa. Had 10 tackles in a 28-25 win against SMU. Trevon Stewart • So. • S • Houston • Patterson, La. Had 13 tackles and an interception in a 19-14 loss at UCF. Marcus Smith • Sr. • DE • Louisville • Columbus, Ga. Had seven tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in a 31-10 win at UConn. National leader in sacks (8.0). Brandon Hayes • Sr. • RB • Memphis • Chicago, Ill. Had 27 carries for 105 yards and two receptions for 15 yards and a touchdown in a 21-6 win against Tennessee-Martin. THIS WEEK Saturday, November 16 UCF at Temple .......................................... Noon American Game of the Week Television: ESPN Regional Series: First meeting Cincinnati at Rutgers............................... Noon Television: ESPNews Series: Rutgers leads, 9-8-1 Last Meeting: Nov. 17, 2012 — Rutgers, 10-3 UConn at SMU ........................................ 3 p.m. Television: ESPN3 Series: SMU leads, 1-0 Last Meeting: Sept. 16, 1989 — SMU, 31-30 Houston at Louisville ............................. 7 p.m. Television: ESPNU Series: Tied, 7-7 Last Meeting: Nov. 20, 2004 — Louisville, 65-27 Memphis at USF ..................................... 7 p.m. Television: ESPN3 Series: USF leads, 3-2 Last Meeting: Dec. 20, 2008 — USF, 41-14 2013 STANDINGS AMERICAN OVERALL SCHOOL W-L PCT PF PA H A W-L PCT PF PA H A N STREAK NOTABLE UCF 15/19 4-0 1.000 143 83 2-0 2-0 7-1 .875 278 149 3-1 4-0 0-0 Won 4 UCF is bowl-eligible for fourth time in five years Louisville 19/13 4-1 .800 154 68 1-1 3-0 8-1 .889 346 95 4-1 4-0 0-0 Won 2 Cardinals have won five straight road games Cincinnati -/rv 4-1 .800 161 108 3-0 1-1 7-2 .778 300 169 5-0 2-2 0-0 Won 4 Cincinnati is bowl-eligible for seventh time in eight years Houston rv/- 4-1 .800 145 84 2-0 2-1 7-2 .778 343 198 3-1 3-1 1-0 Lost 1 Houston’s streak of scoring in 39 straight quarters ended Rutgers 2-2 .500 102 145 1-1 1-1 5-3 .625 247 231 4-1 1-2 0-0 Won 1 Game-winning points against Temple came with 35 seconds left SMU 2-2 .500 170 161 1-1 1-1 3-5 .375 254 322 2-2 1-3 0-0 Lost 1 Mustangs had three 100-yard receivers against Cincinnati USF 2-2 .500 65 99 1-1 1-1 2-6 .250 123 250 1-4 1-2 0-0 Lost 2 Bulls had season-high 364 yards against Houston Memphis 0-4 .000 82 117 0-3 0-1 2-6 .250 163 175 2-4 0-2 0-0 Won 1 Tigers lead the nation in net punting UConn 0-4 .000 53 147 0-2 0-2 0-8 .000 125 277 0-5 0-3 0-0 Lost 9 Huskies have not scored more than 21 points this season Temple 0-5 .000 109 172 0-2 0-3 1-8 .111 201 270 1-3 0-5 0-0 Lost 2 Owls have led at halftime in each of their last four games Nov. 11 BCS Standings: 17 - UCF; 20 - Louisville Nov. 11 Associated Press Top 25: 15 - UCF; 19 - Louisville; rv - Houston Nov. 11 USA Today Top 25: 13 - Louisville; 19 - UCF; rv - Cincinnati Nov. 11 Harris Interactive Top 25: 14 - Louisville; 19 - UCF; rv - Houston
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American Athletic Conference Football Report2013 Season • Week 12
Contact: Chuck Sullivan, Director of Communications ([email protected] • 401.453.0660) 15 Park Row West • Providence, RI 02903
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEKGarrett Gilbert • Sr. • QB • SMU • Austin, TexasGilbert completed 38 of 47 passes for 403 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another TD in a 28-25 loss at Cincinnati. It was the third 400-yard game and the seventh 300-yard game of the season for Gilbert, who has thrown for multiple touchdowns in five consecutive games. Gilbert, the national leader in total offense (408.3 yards per game), has thrown for 2,634 yards and 15 touchdowns this season and has added five rushing touchdowns for the Mustangs.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEKBrandon Alexander • Jr. • S • UCF • Orlando, Fla.Alexander led a UCF defense that held Houston — which had averaged 42.0 points per game and scored in every quarter this season — to just 14 points in the Knights’ 19-14 win, lifting UCF into sole possession of first place in the American Athletic Conference. Alexander had seven tackles and an interception and clinched the win with a fourth-down pass breakup in the closing seconds.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEKCharles Gaines • So. • CB • Louisville • Miami, Fla.Gaines put Louisville on the board in the first quarter of the Cardinals’ 31-10 win at UConn when he blocked a punt and returned it seven yards for a touchdown. Gaines added four tackles and an interception for the Cardinals, who improved to 8-1 overall and 4-1 in The American with the win.
HONOR ROLLWilliam Stanback • Fr. • RB • UCF • Hempstead, N.Y.Rushed for 74 yards and two touchdowns on nine carries in a 19-14 win against Houston.
Greg Blair • Sr. • LB • Cincinnati • Pittsburgh, Pa.Had 10 tackles in a 28-25 win against SMU.
Trevon Stewart • So. • S • Houston • Patterson, La.Had 13 tackles and an interception in a 19-14 loss at UCF.
Marcus Smith • Sr. • DE • Louisville • Columbus, Ga.Had seven tackles, 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble in a 31-10 win at UConn. National leader in sacks (8.0).
Brandon Hayes • Sr. • RB • Memphis • Chicago, Ill.Had 27 carries for 105 yards and two receptions for 15 yards and a touchdown in a 21-6 win against Tennessee-Martin.
THIS WEEKSaturday, November 16UCF at Temple ..........................................NoonAmerican Game of the Week Television: ESPN Regional Series: First meeting
Cincinnati at Rutgers ...............................Noon Television: ESPNews Series: Rutgers leads, 9-8-1 Last Meeting: Nov. 17, 2012 — Rutgers, 10-3
UConn at SMU ........................................3 p.m. Television: ESPN3 Series: SMU leads, 1-0 Last Meeting: Sept. 16, 1989 — SMU, 31-30
Houston at Louisville .............................7 p.m. Television: ESPNU Series: Tied, 7-7 Last Meeting: Nov. 20, 2004 — Louisville, 65-27
Memphis at USF .....................................7 p.m. Television: ESPN3 Series: USF leads, 3-2 Last Meeting: Dec. 20, 2008 — USF, 41-14
2013 STANDINGS AMERICAN OVERALLSCHOOL W-L PCT PF PA H A W-L PCT PF PA H A N STREAK NOTABLEUCF 15/19 4-0 1.000 143 83 2-0 2-0 7-1 .875 278 149 3-1 4-0 0-0 Won 4 UCF is bowl-eligible for fourth time in five years
Louisville 19/13 4-1 .800 154 68 1-1 3-0 8-1 .889 346 95 4-1 4-0 0-0 Won 2 Cardinals have won five straight road games
Cincinnati -/rv 4-1 .800 161 108 3-0 1-1 7-2 .778 300 169 5-0 2-2 0-0 Won 4 Cincinnati is bowl-eligible for seventh time in eight years
Houston rv/- 4-1 .800 145 84 2-0 2-1 7-2 .778 343 198 3-1 3-1 1-0 Lost 1 Houston’s streak of scoring in 39 straight quarters ended
Rutgers 2-2 .500 102 145 1-1 1-1 5-3 .625 247 231 4-1 1-2 0-0 Won 1 Game-winning points against Temple came with 35 seconds left
SMU 2-2 .500 170 161 1-1 1-1 3-5 .375 254 322 2-2 1-3 0-0 Lost 1 Mustangs had three 100-yard receivers against Cincinnati
USF 2-2 .500 65 99 1-1 1-1 2-6 .250 123 250 1-4 1-2 0-0 Lost 2 Bulls had season-high 364 yards against Houston
Memphis 0-4 .000 82 117 0-3 0-1 2-6 .250 163 175 2-4 0-2 0-0 Won 1 Tigers lead the nation in net punting
UConn 0-4 .000 53 147 0-2 0-2 0-8 .000 125 277 0-5 0-3 0-0 Lost 9 Huskies have not scored more than 21 points this season
Temple 0-5 .000 109 172 0-2 0-3 1-8 .111 201 270 1-3 0-5 0-0 Lost 2 Owls have led at halftime in each of their last four games
IntroductionThe 2013 season is the first for the American Athletic Conference. The American consists of 10 Football Bowl Subdivision teams that will play eight conference games. The league champion will earn an automatic berth to the Bowl Championship Series.
What’s In A Name?The American Athletic Conference existed as the Big East Conference from 1979 through June 30, 2013. The league formally changed its name as of July 1.
View From The PenthouseUCF defeated Houston 19-14 Saturday to take sole possession of first place in the American Athletic Conference standings. .
StonewalledLouisville has allowed just 11 touchdowns this season. The Cardinals lead the nation in scoring defense (10.6 ppg).
Lines In The SandFour American Athletic Conference teams rank among the top 14 nationally in rushing defense. Rank Team Rushing Yards Allowed 2. Louisville 78.0 6. Cincinnati 96.2 11. Rutgers 104.3 14. Memphis 108.3
Security InstrumentsHouston leads the nation in turnover margin. The Cougars enter the week with 32 takeaways and have committed just 11 turnovers, a net average of 2.3 per game. Louisville is third nationally in turnover margin (1.6 per game), while UCF is eighth (1.0).
Top Of The ChartsLouisville QB Teddy Bridgewater has established him-self as arguably the top quarterback in college football this season. Here’s where he ranked among the national statistical leaders entering the week: Category Rank Total Pass Efficiency 4th 182.9 Passing Touchdowns 6th 24 Passing Yards 10th 2,845 Passing Yards/Game 10th 316.1 Yards Per Completion 14th 14.23 Points Responsible For 17th 144 Completion Percentage 6th 71.4
Fab FiveUSF freshman QB Mike White made his first career start Oct. 31 in the Bulls’ game against Houston. USF is the fifth team in The American to go with a freshman at quarterback (joining Paxton Lynch at Memphis, Tim Boyle at UConn, John O’Korn at Houston and P.J. Walker at Temple).
CougartownHouston QB John O’Korn ranks third among FBS fresh-men in passing yards per game. O’Korn is averaging 261.3 yards, trailing only California’s Jared Goff (314.1) and Florida State’s Jameis Winston (295.7) among rookies.
Totally OffensiveSMU QB Garrett Gilbert leads the nation in total offense (409.4 yards per game). Gilbert had 635 yards of total offense in the Mustangs’ 59-49 win against Temple Oct. 26, which ranks as the seventh-best individual total in NCAA FBS history.
Ordering RingsFour of the 10 teams in The American won or shared their conference’s regular-season championship last year. Cincinnati, Louisville and Rutgers were part of a four-way tie for first in the final Big East standings, while UCF won the Conference USA East Division crown.
7-10 SplitSeven of the 10 teams in the American Athletic Con-ference have been ranked in the top 25 of the Bowl Championship Series standings since 2008: Team Years Ranked UCF 2010 Cincinnati 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 UConn 2008 Houston 2009, 2011 Louisville 2012 Rutgers 2012 USF 2008, 2009
Best Of The BestFive of the 10 teams in The American have earned top-10 rankings in the BCS since the 2006 season: Team Highest Ranking - Year Cincinnati No. 3 - 2009 Houston No. 6 - 2011 Louisville No. 3 - 2006 Rutgers No. 6 - 2006 USF No. 2 - 2007
Best And BrightestSix American Athletic Conference players are among the 170 candidates for the National Football Founda-tion National Scholar-Athlete Awards. Houston OG Kevin Forsch, Memphis QB Jacob Karam, Rutgers WR Quron Pratt, USF DT Luke Sager and Temple WR Ryan Alderman.
Welcome AboardThe American is scheduled to undergo the following membership changes in the coming years: 2014 East Carolina, Tulane and Tulsa join the conference 2015 Navy joins the conference as a football-only
member
WATCH THIS A look at American Athletic Conference players under consid-eration for 2013 major national awards.
• Houston saw its streak of scoring in every quarter (32 straight this season, 39 dating to last year) end in the first quarter against UCF.
• Houston forced three turn-overs against UCF, giving the Cougars 32 takeaways on the year. Houston leads the nation in turnovers gained and turnover margin.
• QB John O’Korn leads all true freshmen nationally with 23 touchdown passes.
• WR Deontay Greenberry surpassed 1,000 yards for the season in the game against UCF (1,042).
• S Trevon Stewart has an interception in three con-secutive games.
LOUISVILLE(8-1, 4-1 American)
Last: Won at UConn, 31-10Next: Nov. 16 vs. Houston
• SMU had three 100-yard receivers, had a 403-299 advantage in total offense and won the turnover battle 3-0, but was unable to get past Cincinnati.
• WR Keenan Holman had 142 receiving yards, WR Darius Joseph had 103 and WR Jeremy Johnson had 102. It was the first time in school history that SMU had three 100-yard receivers.
• QB Garrett Gilbert threw for 403 yards and two touch-downs, completing 38 of 47 passes. It was Gilbert’s third 400-yard game this season.
• QB P.J. Walker threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns in the loss at Rutgers.
• Walker, who is the third starting quarterback Tem-ple has used this season, has thrown for 11 touch-downs and five intercep-tions in six games.
• LB Tyler Matakevich has 113 tackles, marking his second straight year with at least 100 stops.
• The Owls have dropped 10 straight conference games, dating to last year.
• Temple had a bye in Week 11.
4 • 2013 American Athletic Conference Football
WEEK 12 PREVIEWS
CINCINNATI BEARCATSat
RUTGERS SCARLET KNIGHTSHigh Point Solutions Stadium (52,454/FieldTurf)
Piscataway, N.J.
TelevisionESPNews — Beth Mowins, Joey Galloway and Paul Carcaterra
Cincinnati Radio Rutgers Radio WLW-AM 790 (flagship) WOR-AM 710 (flagship)
THE GAMESaturday’s game will be the 19th all-time matchup between Cincinnati and Rutgers … Rutgers leads the all-time series 9-8-1 … Rutgers won the previous two matchups, holding Cincinnati without a touchdown in a 10-3 win last season and a 20-3 win in 2011 … Cincinnati had won the previous five games before the two consecutive Scarlet Knight victories.
CINCINNATI (7-2, 4-1 American)Head Coach
Tommy Tuberville (Southern Arkansas ’76)7-2, first season at Cincinnati
NOTESCincinnati has won its last four American Athletic Conference games with victories against Temple (38-20), UConn (41-16), Memphis (34-21) and SMU (28-25) … The Bearcats rank eighth nationally in total defense (299.0 yards per game) … QB Brendon Kay, who had been limited in the first two games due to injury, has started the last seven contests … Kay leads the nation in completion percentage, having completed 171 of 231 passes (74.0 percent) for 2,008 yards and 16 touchdowns with seven interceptions … RB Hosey Williams has a team-leading 452 rushing yards with four touchdowns … WR Shaq Washington has a team-high 57 receptions for 483 yards … WR Anthony McClung has 44 catches for a team-leading 550 yards and five touchdowns … LB Greg Blair has a team-high 61 tackles, while LB Nick Temple has 48 stops with four sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss … DE Silverberry Mouhon has 5.5 sacks, good for fourth in the conference … CB Deven Drane has a team-high three interceptions.
NOTESRutgers snapped a two-game slide with a 23-20 win against Temple Nov. 2 and enjoyed a bye week in Week 11 … Rutgers’ only losses have come to teams that are ranked or receiving votes in this week’s national polls (Louisville, Fresno State, Houston) … RB Paul James, who was The American’s leading rusher, has missed the last four games due to a lower leg injury, but could return Saturday against Cincinnati … James has rushed for 573 yards and six touchdowns in four games … RB Justin Goodwin has been solid in James’ place, averaging 75.3 yards per game with four touchdowns … QB Gary Nova has completed 136 of 211 passes for 1,882 yards and 17 touchdowns, but has thrown 11 interceptions … WR Leonte Carroo has 24 receptions for 455 yards and nine touchdowns, while TE Tyler Kroft has 23 catches for 340 yards and two TDs … WR Brandon Coleman has 22 catches for 326 yards and two TDs … LB Steve Longa, a redshirt freshman has 80 tackles and is fourth in the conference at 10.0 tackles per game … Rutgers has blocked three kicks on special teams this season.
Saturday, Nov. 16 • Noon ET • ESPNews Saturday, Nov. 16 • 3 p.m. ET • ESPN3
UCONN HUSKIESat
SMU MUSTANGSGerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000/FieldTurf)
Dallas, Texas
TelevisionESPN3 — Trey Bender, Kevin O’Connell and Brooke Williamson
UConn Radio SMU Radio WTIC-AM 1080 (flagship) KTCK-AM 1310 (flagship)
THE GAMEThere has only been one previous matchup between UConn and SMU, a 31-30 SMU victory in 1989 … The win in 1989 was the first victory for the Mustangs since the 1986 season — SMU did not play in 1987 or 1988 … In the 1989 victory, SMU scored 17 points in the final five minutes of the game for a comeback victory, dubbed as the Miracle on Mockingbird.
UCONN (0-8, 0-4 American)Interim Head CoachT.J. Weist (Alabama ’88)
NOTESThe Huskies fell to 0-8 overall and 0-4 in the American Athletic Conference after a 31-10 setback to Louisville … UConn has lost nine straight, dating to last season … The Huskies have not scored more than 21 points in a game this season and rank 117th nationally in scoring at 15.6 points per game … Interim head coach T.J. Weist has gone with freshman QB Tim Boyle as the Huskies’ starter … Boyle has made four starts and has completed 58 of 132 passes for 619 yards … WR Geremy Davis has 41 catches for 620 yards … WR Shakim Phillips has 24 catches for 333 yards and three TDs … RB Lyle McCombs is the leading rusher at 62.0 yards per game and has four of the Huskies’ five rushing touchdowns … The defense is anchored by LB Yawin Smallwood, who has made 89 tackles through eight games and is sixth nationally with 11.1 tackles per game …Smallwood is a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s top linebacker … The Huskies have registered just six sacks of opposing quarterbacks this season.
SMU (3-5, 2-2 American)Head Coach
June Jones (New York State Regents College)34-39, sixth season at SMU
NOTESSMU saw a modest two-game winning streak end with a 28-25 setback at Cincinnati last Saturday… The Mustangs defeated Memphis (34-29) and Temple (59-49) to pick up their first two American Athletic Conference victories … SMU overcame a 28-7 deficit in the win against Temple … The Mustangs’ potent offense has been led by QB Garrett Gilbert, who has thrown for 3,037 yards and 17 touchdowns with just six interceptions … Gilbert leads the nation in total offense (409.4 yards per game) and is third nationally in passing yards (379.6 ypg) … Gilbert has three top-of-the-line receivers as well … WR Darius Joseph has 76 receptions for 664 yards and five touchdowns, while WR Jeremy Johnson has 75 catches for 894 yards and four TDs … WR Keenan Holman is the team leader in touchdown catches, meanwhile, with 806 yards and six TDs on 49 receptions … The defense is led by LB Randall Joyner, who has 65 tackles and three forced fumbles … DE Beau Barnes has five sacks and nine tackles for loss … K Chase Hover is a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker.
Saturday, Nov. 16 • Noon ET • ESPN Regional
UCF MUSTANGSat
TEMPLE OWLSLincoln Financial Field (68,532/Grass)
Philadelphia, Pa.
TelevisionAmerican Game of the Week • ESPN Regional
Eamon McAnaney, Anthony Becht and Brooke Weisbrod
UCF Radio Temple Radio WYGM-AM 740 (flagship) WPHT-AM 1230 (flagship)
THE GAMESaturday’s game is the first meeting between UCF and Temple … Both schools were formerly members of the Mid-American Conference, Temple from 2007-2012 and UCF from 2002-05 … The game will mark the first trip for the Knights to the state of Pennsylvania since a 37-13 loss to Penn State Sept. 18, 2004.
15/19 UCF (7-1, 4-0 American)Head Coach
George O’Leary (New Hampshire ’69)66-56, 10th season at UCF
NOTESThe Knights enter Saturday’s game as the winners of four straight, including a 19-14 victory against Houston that left UCF as the only unbeaten team in American Athletic Conference play … The Knights are ranked No. 17 in this week’s Bowl Champi-onship Series standings …QB Blake Bortles, a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award as the nation’s top quarterback, has completed 150 of 222 passes for 2,080 yards and 15 touchdowns with five interceptions … RB Storm Johnson has rushed for 719 yards and nine touchdowns on 142 carries, averaging 89.9 yards per game … Johnson, who has three touchdown receptions as well, leads the American Athletic Conference in scoring at 9.0 points per game … WR Rannell Hall leads a deep group of receivers with 31 catches for 480 yards and three touchdowns … LB Terrance Plummer has 68 tackles, seven tackles for loss, two sacks, two forced fumbles and two interceptions … K Shawn Moffitt has gone 11-for-12 in field goals … UCF has converted 51 percent of its third-down chances (50 of 99).
NOTESTemple looks to bounce back from a 23-20 loss to Rutgers Nov. 2 in which the Scarlet Knights got the game-winning points with 35 seconds left in the fourth quarter … It was the second time this season that the opponent rallied in the final minute against the Owls, who fell 30-29 to Fordham on a touchdown with four seconds remaining … Coach Matt Rhule has turned to freshman QB P.J. Walker, who has started the last four games … Walker has thrown for 1,094 yards and 11 touchdowns with five interceptions … Walker also rushed for 200 yards … WR Jalen Fitzpatrick has 29 receptions for 358 yards and three touchdowns … RB Zaire Williams leads the team with 486 rushing yards, while RB Kenny Harper has 463 rushing yards … The defense has been led by LB Tyler Matakevich, who is ranked second nationally with 113 tackles in nine games … Matakevich had a school-record 24 tackles in the Sept. 28 loss to Idaho … P Paul Layton is averaging 43.9 yards per punt … Temple has made just one field goal this season as three kickers have combined to go 1-for-6.
TelevisionESPNU — Clay Matvick, Matt Stinchcomb and Dawn Davenport
Houston Radio Louisville Radio KBME-AM 790 (flagship) WYGM-AM 740 (flagship)
THE GAMEThe all-time series between Houston and Louisville is tied 7-7 approaching Saturday’s 15th matchup … Louisville has won five of the past six games, including the last two games in 2003 (66-45) and 2004 (65-27) … The series was played consecutively from 1999-2004 … Houston coach Tony Levine was an assistant at Louisville in 2004 when the teams last met.
rv/- HOUSTON (7-2, 4-1 American)Head Coach
Tony Levine (Minnesota ’96)13-9, second full season
NOTESHouston suffered its first American Athletic Conference loss last Saturday as the Cougars fell 19-14 at USF … Houston ranks 18th nationally in scoring offense (38.4 ppg) and leads the nation in turnovers gained (32) and turnover margin (2.3 per game) … The Cougars have 18 defensive interceptions to lead the na-tion … QB John O’Korn has emerged as one of the nation’s top freshmen … O’Korn has completed 185 of 293 passes for 2,352 yards and 23 touchdowns and six interceptions … RB Ryan Jackson has rushed for 543 yards and five touchdowns … WR Deontay Greenberry is ranked seventh nationally in receiving (115.8 yards per game) and is 10th in receptions (7.8 rpg) … Greenberry has 70 catches for 1,042 yards and nine TDs… WR Daniel Spencer has averaged 63.9 receiving yards per game … LB Derrick Mathews has 82 tackles to go with five sacks, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and interception … S Trevon Stewart has four interceptions this season, including one in each of the last three games … P Richie Leone is a semifinalist for the Ray Guy awards as the nation’s top punter.
18/16 LOUISVILLE (8-1, 4-1 American)Head Coach
Charlie Strong (Central Arkansas ’82)32-14, third season at Louisville
NOTESLouisville has bounced back from its first loss of the season to win back-to-back games, including a 31-10 decision at UConn last Saturday … The Cardinals lead the nation in scor-ing defense (10.6 ppg) and are second in total defense (243.7 yards per game) and rushing defense (78.0 ypg) … QB Teddy Bridgewater is ranked fourth nationally in pass efficiency (182.9) and is 10th in passing yards (316.1 ypg) … Bridgewater has completed 200 of 280 passes (71.4 percent) for 2,845 yards and 24 touchdowns with just three interceptions … RB Dominique Brown has taken over as the leading rusher with 513 yards and four touchdowns on 84 carries … RB Senorise Perry has 482 rushing yards and six TDs on 99 attempts … The top receiving threats are WR Damian Copeland (39 rec., 569 yards, 4 TDs) and WR DeVante Gardner (32 rec., 528 yards, 8 TDs) … DE Marcus Smith is the national leader with 10.5 sacks (1.6 per game) and has 13.5 tackles for loss … LB Preston Brown has a team-high 62 tackles with 3.5 sacks … CB Terrell Floyd has four intercep-tions to lead The American.
Saturday, Nov. 16 • 7 p.m. ET • ESPNU
MEMPHIS TIGERSat
USF BULLSRaymond James Stadium (65,857/Grass)
Tampa, Fla.
TelevisionESPN3 — TBD
Memphis Radio USF Radio WREC-AM 600 (flagship) WHFS-FM 98.1 (flagship) THE GAMESaturday’s game will be the sixth matchup between the Tigers and Bulls … USF leads the series 3-2 after a 41-14 win in the 2008 MagicJack St. Petersburg Bowl (now the Beef O’Brady’s Bowl) … Memphis coach Justin Fuente quarterbacked Murray State to a 36-31 win against a Western Kentucky squad quarterbacked by USF coach Willie Taggart in 1998.
MEMPHIS (2-6, 0-4 American)Head Coach
Justin Fuente (Murray State ’99)6-14, second season
NOTESMemphis picked up its second win of the season as the Tigers scored a 21-6 victory against Tennessee-Martin … Memphis trailed 6-0 before scoring the last 21 points of the game … The Tigers rank 16th nationally in total defense (338.6 yards per game) and 14th in rushing defense (108.3 ypg) … QB Paxton Lynch has completed 149 of 247 passes for 1,522 yards and six touchdowns with seven interceptions … RB Brandon Hayes has rushed for 625 yards and four touchdowns on 132 carries … The defense is paced by DE Martin Ifedi, who has registered 8.5 sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss … LB Tank Jakes has a team-high 51 tackles with 7.5 tackles for loss and two sacks … CB Bobby McCain has three interceptions, including a 75-yard return for a touchdown … The Tigers are outstanding in the kicking game, leading the nation in net punting (42.49) … P Tom Hornsey, Ray Guy Award semifinalist, is averaging 45.2 yards per punt and has hit 13 punts of 50 or more yards … K Jake Elliott, a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, has made 11 of his 12 field goal attempts.
USF (2-6, 2-2 American)Head Coach
Willie Taggart (Western Kentucky ’98)2-6, first season at USF
NOTESUSF won its first two American Athletic Conference games, but has dropped back-to-back contests to Louisville (34-3) and Houston (35-23) to stand at 2-2 in the conference … The Bulls were idle in Week 11 … USF may have found the spark to its offense it was seeking as the Bulls registered season highs in total offense (364 yards) and first downs (18) against Houston … QB Mike White, a true freshman who is the fourth player to start behind center for USF this year, threw for 311 yards and two touchdowns against Houston in his first career start … RB Marcus Shaw leads the American Athletic Conference in rushing at 97.7 yards per game … WR Andre Davis is the top receiver with 29 receptions for 411 yards and a touchdown … The defense is led by LB DeDe Lattimore, who has 64 tackles with two sacks, five tackles for loss, an interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries … DE Ryne Giddins leads the team with four sacks … K Marvin Kloss is a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award … Kloss has made 13 of 14 field goals, including 4-of-4 from 50 yards or longer.
Receiving votes: Mississippi 68, Minnesota 60, Nebraska 16, Duke 11, USC 10, Washington 9, Ball State 7, Virginia Tech 5, Brigham Young 3, Notre Dame 2, Houston 1
WEEK-BY-WEEK IN THE NATIONAL POLLSBelow is a weekly look at each American Athletic Conference team’s spot in the Associated Press, USA Today and Harris Interactive polls in 2013. The USA Today and Harris Interactive polls are both components of the Bowl Championship Series selection process, while the AP poll is not included in the BCS process. The Associated Press and USA Today polls begin with preseason rankings, while the Harris Interactive poll begins the week of Oct. 13.
Rankings are listed as AP/USA Today until Oct. 6 and AP/USA Today/Harris Interactive from Oct. 13 to Dec. 1. The final rankings are listed as AP/USA Today.
POLL EXPLANATION & ABOUT THE BCS:To derive a team’s poll percentages in the Harris Interactive and USA Today polls, each team’s point total is divided by a maximum 2625 possible points in the Harris Inter-active Poll and 1550 possible points in the USA Today Poll. Teams are assigned a point total for each of their respective computer poll rankings to determine the overall computer component. The highest and lowest ranking for each team is dropped, and the sum total of the remaining four rankings is divided by 100 (the maximum possible points). This figure produces a Computer Rankings Percentage. The six computer ranking providers are Anderson & Hester (A&H), Richard Billingsley (B), Colley Matrix (CM), Kenneth Massey (M), Jeff Sagarin (S) and Peter Wolfe (W). Each computer ranking accounts for schedule strength within its formula. The BCS Average is calculated by averaging the percent totals of the Harris Interactive and USA Today Polls, and Computer rankings. The highest BCS Average receives the No. 1 ranking, the second highest receives No. 2, and so forth.
The BCS is a five-game arrangement for post-season college football that is managed by the 10 Bowl Subdivision conferences and Notre Dame. Its purpose is to match the two top-ranked teams in the final BCS standings in a national championship game and to create competitive matchups in the four other BCS bowl games. For more infor-mation, visit www.bcsfootball.org. The No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the Dec. 8 BCS standings will play in the Vizio BCS National Championship Game Jan. 6, 2014 in Pasadena, Calif. The winner of the game will be presented the American Football Coaches Association National Championship Trophy.
COMMEMORATIVE COIN In celebration of the first year of American Athletic Conference Football, the confer-ence has issued a commemorative coin that will be used by game officials through-out the 2013 season.
The front of the coin (heads) depicts the American Athletic Conference logo. The back of the coin (tails) lists the opening home conference game for each of the 10 American schools. A specially numbered coin will be used during each school’s American home opener and will be included in the full collec-tion of coins that will be displayed at the conference office.
THE RECORD BOOK The American’s single-game records (through Nov. 9, 2013).
Most Rushing Yards 1. Paul James, Rutgers vs. Eastern Michigan (9/14/13) 192 2. Paul James, Rutgers at Fresno State (8/29/13) 182
Most Rushing Touchdowns 1. Storm Johnson, UCF at FIU (9/6/13) 3 Paul James, Rutgers vs. Norfolk State (9/7/13) 3 Paul James, Rutgers vs. Eastern Michigan (9/14/13) 3
Longest Rush 1. Marcus Shaw, USF vs. McNeese State (8/31/13) 80 yards
Most Passing Yards 1. Garrett Gilbert, SMU vs. Temple (10/26/13) 538 1. Garrett Gilbert, SMU vs. Rutgers (10/5/13) 484
Most Pass Completions 1. Garrett Gilbert, SMU, vs. Rutgers (10/5/13) 45 2. Garrett Gilbert, SMU vs. Texas Tech (8/30/13) 41
Most Touchdown Passes 1. Gary Nova, Rutgers at Fresno State (8/29/13) 5 Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville vs. Ohio (9/1/13) 5 Garrett Gilbert, SMU vs. Rutgers (10/5/13) 5 John O’Korn, Houston vs. Rutgers (10/26/13) 5
Most Receiving Yards 1. Jeremy Johnson, SMU vs. Rutgers (10/5/15) 217 2. Keenan Holman, SMU vs. Temple (10/26/13) 209
Most Receptions 1. Jeremy Johnson, SMU vs. Rutgers (10/5/15) 18 2. Deontay Greenberry, Houston at Temple (9/7/13) 14
Most Touchdown Receptions 1. Leonte Carroo, Rutgers at Fresno State (8/29/13) 3 Jeremy Johnson, SMU vs. Rutgers (10/5/15) 3 Deontay Greenberry, Houston vs. Rutgers (10/26/13) 3 Jeff Godfrey, UCF vs. UConn (10/26/13) 3
BIG TEN (2-3)Cincinnati 42, Purdue 7 (8/31)Illinois 45, Cincinnati 17 (9/7)Michigan State 21, USF 6 (9/7)UCF 34, Penn State 31 (9/14)Michigan 24, UConn 21 (9/21)
INDEPENDENTS (1-3)Notre Dame 28, Temple 6 (8/31)Idaho 26, Temple 24 (9/28)Temple 33, Army 14 (10/19)Brigham Young 47, Houston 46 (10/19)
Total Nonconference Records All Games.....................................................20-20 FBS Opponents ...........................................14-17 BCS Automatic Qualifiers .............................3-9 FCS Opponents ...............................................6-3 AP Top 25 .........................................................0-5 USA Today Top 25 ...........................................0-5 Bowl Games ....................................................0-0
will be the 16th year for the BCS, which is a five-game arrange-ment that is designed to match the two top-rated teams in a national championship game and to create exciting and competitive match-ups among eight other highly regarded teams in four other bowl games. It enhances the importance of the regular season and maintains the bowl system for the benefit of the game. It has been undeniably successful in achieving those goals; college football has never been more popular, and the BCS is a significant reason for that. Additionally, it has provided more access to the major bowls, more television exposure, and more postseason revenue than ever before.
The five bowl games are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the Discover Orange Bowl, the Rose Bowl Game Presented by VIZIO, the Allstate Sugar Bowl, and the 2014 VIZIO BCS National Championship Game, which will be played at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
The BCS is an event managed by the 10 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision conferences, all of them “BCS Conferences,” and the indepen-dent institutions through a series of contracts among bowls and television networks. The con-ferences are the American Athletic, Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, Pacific, and Southeastern.
College Football PlayoffComing In 2014-15
Beginning with the 2014-15 season, college football will enter a new four-team playoff era. The format is simple: the best four teams, two semifinals played in bowl games and a cham-pionship game played in a different city each year. It’s the best of all worlds and the biggest innovation in the sport in decades.
BCS Automatic Qualifications 1. The top two teams in the final BCS
Standings will play in the National Championship Game.
2. The champions of the American Athletic, Atlantic Coast, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and Southeastern Conferences will have automatic berths in one of the participating bowls each year through the 2013 regular season.
3. The champion of Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference or the Sun Belt Conference will earn an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game if either: a:) Such team is ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS Standings, or b:) Such team is ranked in the top 16 of the final BCS Standings and its ranking in the final BCS Standings is higher than that of a champion of a conference that has an annual automatic berth in one of the BCS bowls.
No more than one such team from Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, and the Sun Belt Conference shall earn an automatic berth in any year. (Note: A second team could be eligible for at-large selection.) If two or more teams from those conferences satisfy the provi-sions for an automatic berth, then the team with the highest finish in the final BCS Standings will receive the automatic berth, and the remaining team or teams will be in the pool of teams eligible for selection by the bowls as at-large teams.
4. Notre Dame will have an automatic berth if it is in the top eight of the final BCS Standings.
5. If any of the 10 slots remain open after application of provisions 1 through 4, and an at-large team from a conference with an annual automatic berth for its champion is ranked No. 3 in the final BCS Standings, that team will become an automatic qualifi-er, provided that no at-large team from the same conference qualifies for the National Championship Game.
6. If any of the 10 slots remain open after application of provisions 1 through 5, and if no team qualifies under paragraph No. 5 and an at-large team from a conference with an annual automatic berth for its champion is ranked No. 4 in the final BCS Standings, that team will become an auto-matic qualifier, provided that no at-large team from the same conference qualifies for the NCG.
Pool of Eligible Teams
If berths are available after the automatic qualifiers have been identified, then the bowls shall select at-large participants from the “pool of eligible teams,” which shall include any Bowl Subdivision team that is bowl-eligible and meets the following requirements:
A. Has won at least nine regular-season games, and
B. Is among the top 14 teams in the final BCS Standings
BCS Schedule Of GamesJanuary 2014
Rose Bowl Game presented by VizioJan. 1 • Pasadena, Calif.
4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Discover Orange BowlJan. 3 • Miami Gardens, Fla.
8 p.m., ESPN
Allstate Sugar BowlJan. 2 • New Orleans, La.
8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Tostitos Fiesta BowlJan. 1 • Glendale, Ariz.
8:30 p.m., ESPN
VIZIO BCS National Championship GameJan. 6 • Pasadena, Calif.
8:30 p.m., ESPN
12 • 2013 American Athletic Conference Football
AMERICAN BOWL LINEUP
The LineupIn addition to the Bowl Championship Series, the American Athletic
Conference also has agreements with a number of other postseason bowl games. The conference’s current lineup, which began in the 2010 season, has The American paired against three of the other five automat-ic-qualifying Bowl Championship Series conferences in the postseason.
The American is in the final year of a four-year agreement with Florida Citrus Sports and the Russell Athletic Bowl to send a team to the Orlando, Fla., game.
The Russell Athletic Bowl will have the first selection from The American after the league’s BCS representative has been determined. The American Athletic Conference’s opponent in the Russell Athletic Bowl will be from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The American extended its agreement with the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., through the 2013 season as well. The Belk Bowl will have the American’s third selection, after the BCS and Russell Athletic Bowl.
The conference has been aligned with the Belk Bowl since the incep-tion of the game in 2002. The game has averaged more than 62,000 fans and was named one of the five best startups in sports in the previous five years by Sports Business Journal.
The 2010 season featured the introduction of a new bowl game in New York City when the New Era Pinstripe Bowl was played at Yankee Stadium. The New Era Pinstripe Bowl pits the fourth overall selection from The American against a team from the Big 12 Conference. In the event that the Big 12 is unable to supply a team for the game, Notre Dame could step in as the opponent of The American’s representative.
The American also has longstanding deals with the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Ala., and the Beef ‘O’Brady’s Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla. The conference additionally has an agreement with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn. The American will send teams to two of those three games in the 2013 season.
The BBVA Compass Bowl pairs an American Athletic Conference team against an opponent from the Southeastern Conference at Legion Field in Birmingham.
If an American team is chosen for the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, the con-ference’s representative would face either the Conference USA cham-pion or an opponent from the Southeastern Conference.
The Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl will be played for the fifth time in 2013. The American representative will face a Conference USA opponent at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.
All-Time Bowl Record of American SchoolsSchool Record Last Bowl/ResultUCF 2-3 2012 Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl - UCF 38, Ball State 17Cincinnati 8-6 2012 Belk Bowl — Cincinnati 48, Duke 34UConn 3-2 2011 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl — Oklahoma 48, UConn 20Houston 9-11-1 2011 Ticket City Bowl — Houston 30, Penn State 14Louisville 8-7-1 2012 Allstate Sugar Bowl — Louisville 33, Florida 23Memphis 3-3 2008 St. Petersburg Bowl — USF 41, Memphis 14Rutgers 5-3 2012 Russell Athletic Bowl — Virginia Tech 13, Rutgers 10 (ot)USF 4-2 2010 Meineke Car Care Bowl — USF 31, Clemson 26SMU 7-7-1 2012 Hawaii Bowl — SMU 43, Fresno State 10Temple 2-2 2011 New Mexico Bowl — Temple 37, Wyoming 15
Russell Athletic BowlFlorida Citrus Bowl • Orlando, Fla.
Dec. 28, 2013 • ESPN
vs.
Belk BowlBank of America Stadium • Charlotte, N.C.
Dec. 28, 2013 • ESPN
vs.
New Era Pinstripe BowlYankee Stadium • Bronx, N.Y.
Dec. 28, 2013 • ESPN
vs.
BBVA Compass BowlLegion Field • Birmingham, Ala.
Jan. 4, 2014 • ESPN
vs.
AutoZone Liberty BowlLiberty Bowl Memorial Stadium • Memphis, Tenn.
Dec. 31, 2013 • ESPN
vs.
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s BowlTropicana Field • St. Petersburg, Fla.
Dec. 23, 2013 • ESPN
vs.
or
13 • 2013 American Athletic Conference Football
AMERICAN ON TELEVISION
American Athletic Conference Game of the WeekThe 2013 season will feature nine editions of the American Athletic Conference Game of the Week, including eight consecutive Saturdays, at noon beginning Sept. 7. The following dates and games were scheduled at press time. Many picks will be made later in the season as 12-day selections are made. Eamon McAnaney will handle play-by-play duties for the American Athletic Conference Game of the Week. He will be joined in the booth by former NFL tight end Anthony Becht, while Brooke Weisbrod reports from the sidelines.
Date GameSat., Sept. 7 Houston at TempleSat., Oct. 5 Louisville at TempleSat., Oct. 12 USF at UConnSat., Oct. 19 SMU at MemphisSat., Oct. 26 UConn at UCFSat., Nov. 2 Temple at RutgersSat., Nov. 9 SMU at CincinnatiSat., Nov. 16 UCF at TempleSat., Nov. 23 TBD
Syndication Station LineupVisit TheAmerican.org for the latest station lineup for the ESPN Regional/American Athletic Conference Game of the Week. The syndication network clearance report is listed by DMA market. Games will be available through syndication to nearly 30 states and more than 45 million households and available to the rest of the nation on ESPN3. Additional channels will be added throughout the season (stations may not carry all games every week – check local listings or the TheAmerican.org for schedule).
The National SceneThe American Athletic Conference will have an extensive schedule of games on national television. The following telecasts were known at press time. Other games will be added via the 12-day and 6-day advance selection process.
ABCSat., Sept. 21 Michigan at UConn 8 p.m.Sat., Sept. 28 South Carolina at UCF Noon
ESPNFri., Aug. 30 Texas Tech at SMU 8 p.m.Sun., Sept. 1 Ohio at Louisville 3:30 p.m.Sat., Sept. 14 Louisville at Kentucky 1 p.m.Sat., Sept. 21 Arkansas at Rutgers 3:30 p.m.Thu., Oct. 10 Rutgers at Louisville * 7:30 p.m.Fri., Oct. 18 UCF at Louisville * 8 p.m.Thu., Oct. 31 USF at Houston * 7 p.m.Thu., Nov. 21 Rutgers at UCF * 7:30 p.m.Thu., Dec. 5 Louisville at Cincinnati * 7:30 p.m.
ESPN2Sat., Sept. 7 Cincinnati at Illinois NoonFri., Oct. 11 Temple at Cincinnati * 8:30 p.m.Sat., Oct. 26 Louisville at USF * NoonWed., Oct. 30 Cincinnati at Memphis * 8 p.m.Fri., Nov. 8 Louisville at UConn * 8:30 p.m.Sat., Nov. 9 Houston at UCF * 7 p.m.
ABC, ESPN or ESPN2Fri., Nov. 29 USF at UCF * TBD SMU at Houston * TBD
ESPNUThu., Aug. 29 Rutgers at Fresno State 10:30 p.m.Sat., Aug. 31 Purdue at Cincinnati NoonSat., Sept. 7 USF at Michigan State NoonSat., Sept. 21 SMU at Texas A&M 7 p.m.Sat., Sept. 28 Miami (Fla.) at USF NoonSat., Oct. 19 UConn at Cincinnati * NoonSat., Nov. 16 Houston at Louisville * 7 p.m.
ESPNewsSat., Oct. 5 Rutgers at SMU * NoonSat., Oct. 12 Memphis at Houston * NoonSat., Oct. 19 Brigham Young at Houston 3:30 p.m.Sat., Oct. 26 Houston at Rutgers * NoonSat., Nov. 16 Cincinnati at Rutgers * Noon
ESPN3Thu., Aug. 29 Akron at UCF 7 p.m. Towson at UConn 7:30 p.m.Fri., Aug. 30 Southern at Houston 8:30 p.m.Sat., Aug. 31 McNeese State at USF 7 p.m.Sat., Sept. 7 Eastern Kentucky at Louisville Noon Duke at Memphis 4:30 p.m. Montana State at SMU 8 p.m.Sat., Sept. 14 Eastern Michigan at Rutgers 1 p.m. Fordham at Temple 1 p.m. Northwestern State at Cincinnati 7 p.m. Florida Atlantic at USF 7 p.m. Maryland at UConn 7:30 p.m.Sat., Sept. 21 Cincinnati at Miami (Ohio) 4 p.m. Arkansas State at Memphis 4:30 p.m.Sat., Sept. 28 UConn at Buffalo 3:30 p.m.Sat., Oct. 5 UCF at Memphis * 4:30 p.m. Cincinnati at USF * 7 p.m.Sat., Oct. 19 Army at Temple 1 p.m.Sat., Oct. 26 Temple at SMU * 3 p.m.Sat., Nov. 9 Tennessee-Martin at Memphis 4:30 p.m.Sat., Nov. 16 UConn at SMU * 3 p.m. Memphis at USF * 7 p.m.Sat., Nov. 23 UConn at Temple * 7 p.m. SMU at USF * 7 p.m.
NBCSat., Aug. 31 Temple at Notre Dame 3:30 p.m.
Big Ten NetworkSat., Sept. 14 UCF at Penn State 6 p.m.
CBS SNFri., Sept. 6 UCF at Florida International 8 p.m.Sat., Sept. 7 Norfolk State at Rutgers Noon
Fox Sports 1Sat., Sept. 28 SMU at TCU Noon
FSNSat., Sept. 21 Houston at Rice 3 p.m.Sat., Sept. 28 Houston at Texas-San Antonio 4 p.m.
All times Eastern and subject to change. * American Athletic Conference game
14 • 2013 American Athletic Conference Football
MEDIA SERVICES
TheAmerican.orgThe official website of the American Athletic Conference features up-to-date information on all facets of the league. Football standings, results, statistics and notes are updated as games are played. In addition, in-game scores for all football contests involving American Athletic Conference teams will be updated in-progress.
CollegePressBox.com is the official media website for American Athletic Conference football and the media home for information on every Division I team and conference. Access and download weekly game notes, quotes, statistics, media guides, photos and more for the conference and each of its eight member schools throughout the season. Login information will be distributed to accredited media, or you can apply for a password by sending an e-mail to [email protected].
Weekly TeleconferenceThe American Athletic Conference will hold weekly teleconferences with its 10 head football coaches, beginning Monday, Aug. 26 and continuing each Mon-day through Dec 2. Each coach will be available for 10 minutes. Media representatives wishing to participate in the teleconference should contact The American office for the phone number. This year’s schedule is as follows (all times Eastern):
11 a.m. Conference news/award winners 11:10 a.m. Kyle Flood, Rutgers 11:20 a.m. Charlie Strong, Louisville 11:30 a.m. June Jones, SMU 11:40 a.m. T.J. Weist, UConn 11:50 a.m. Tony Levine, Houston Noon Tommy Tuberville, Cincinnati 12:10 p.m. Willie Taggart, USF 12:20 p.m. Matt Rhule, Temple 12:30 p.m. Justin Fuente, Memphis 12:40 p.m. George O’Leary, UCF
Twitter & FacebookFans and media members are invited to follow the latest American Athletic Conference football news through social media. The American Twitter feed may be ac-cessed @American_FB and the conference’s official Facebook page is available @AmericanConf.
Weekly Release & StatisticsMedia members may access PDF versions of the complete weekly release, including conference and team-by-team statistics, on TheAmerican.org or via CollegePressBox.com. Regular updates of the weekly release will be distributed via e-mail from the confer-ence office. To be included on the distribution list, send an e-mail request to Chuck Sullivan at [email protected].
Weekly Football HighlightsThe American Athletic Conference offers video highlights and clips of selected press conferences on a weekly basis through the XOS Digital XChange FTP tool. Content is available in full broadcast-quality resolution. Contact Chuck Sullivan ([email protected]) for information on how to access the highlights.
Weekly AwardsThe American names offensive, defensive and special teams Players of the Week each Monday morning dur-ing the season. Winners are chosen from nominations provided by conference sports information directors. The information will be available from the conference office via release as well as on the league web site.
Annual AwardsThe American Athletic Conference will name first and second all-conference teams, players of the year on offense, defense and special teams, rookie of the year and coach of the year. The awards are chosen by a vote of the league’s 10 head coaches at the conclusion of the regular season. The awards will be announced on Dec. 4 2013. The American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team is comprised of players who have an overall grade-point average of 3.00 or better over the previous academic year and completed at least two semesters of academic work. The team is announced in early February. The American Athletic Conference Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year was established to recognize student-athletes who have achieved success in the classroom and on the field. The winner receives a scholarship which may be applied to graduate or professional studies.