Football Writers Association of America Nov. 4, 2019
For Immediate Release
Contact: Ted Gangi
214-909-9314
Tigers hand SMU first loss in front of sellout crowd
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MEMPHIS IS REVEAL SUITS NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) – The Memphis Tigers rolled up 514 total yards behind a record-setting day from receiver Antonio Gibson and took a shootout 54-48 home win over unbeaten SMU. The win in ABC's prime-time setting earned Memphis (8-1) the Reveal Suits National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Nov. 2.

The announcement came on "Playbook" on ESPNU Radio on SiriusXM. Each Monday during the season the Reveal Suits National Team of the Week will be unveiled during the program, which airs weekdays from 1-4 p.m. ET. The FWAA's All-America Committee selects the weekly winner and all Division I FBS and FCS schools are eligible to be selected.

Gibson exploded for a school-record 386 all-purpose yards and three scores that included a 78-yard touchdown run, a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open the second-half and a 50-yard reception. Gibson's final line was 159 kick return yards, 130 receiving yards and 97 rushing yards. Brady White finished with 350 passing yards, including two touchdowns to Damonte Coxe as part of his 143-yard day.

The win came on the heels of Memphis hosting ESPN's "College GameDay" on Beale Street with wrestler Jerry Lawler as its guest. This is the second time for Memphis to win the FWAA's National Team of the Week honor; the other came in 2015 after a 37-24 win over No. 12 Ole Miss that extended the Tigers' 13-game win streak in front of 60,241 at the Liberty Bowl. Saturday's sellout crowd (59,506) was the largest since that game.

"I'm so proud of our football team ... this stage, this moment, this opportunity," head coach Mike Norvell said. "They came out and played with everything they had against a really good football team through momentum swings, (through) highs and lows. There was a great response from these Memphis Tigers. And I want to say 'Thank you' to Memphis. Memphis had an opportunity to be showcased today. And much like this football team, it rose to the occasion."

The other National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Nov. 2 were:

Georgia Southern (5-3): The Eagles rushed for 335 yards and upset unbeaten Appalachian State on the road, 24-21. It was the first win for Georgia Southern at App State in 12 years and the second consecutive season for the Eagles to beat a nationally-ranked App State team. Wesley Kennedy III ran for 145 yards and two touchdowns, one of them a 68-yarder.

Utah (8-1): The Utes rallied from an 11-point deficit in the first half, then scored 21 unanswered points in the second half to win at Washington, 33-28. Utah's national-best rushing defense held the Huskies to just 53 yards on the ground and minus-seven in the fourth quarter.

The Football Writers Association of America has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. In addition to the members of the FWAA All-America Committee, one fan vote from Twitter decides the weekly honor.

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Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of 1,400 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game-day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its award programs, contact Steve Richardson at tiger@fwaa.com.

2019 Reveal Suits National Teams of the Week
Weekend of Aug. 31: Georgia State Panthers
Weekend of Sept. 7: LSU Tigers
Weekend of Sept. 14: Kansas Jayhawks
Weekend of Sept. 21: San José State Spartans
Weekend of Sept. 28: Ohio State Buckeyes
Weekend of Oct. 5: SMU Mustangs
Weekend of Oct. 12: South Carolina Gamecocks
Weekend of Oct. 19: Illinois Fighting Illini
Weekend of Oct. 26: Kansas State Wildcats
Weekend of Nov. 2: Memphis Tigers
Weekend of Nov. 9: Minnesota Golden Gophers
Weekend of Nov. 16: Oklahoma Sooners
Weekend of Nov. 23: FIU Panthers
Weekend of Nov. 30: Virginia Cavaliers