Memphis looking for end to Hattiesburg horrors

HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI - When Memphis scored 40 points and beat Division I-AA Tennessee Tech in week one, it hardly caused a stir. <br> <br> When the Tigers scored 44 points and rallied to beat Mississippi last week, it turned heads. <br> <br> The Tigers will find out Saturday just how potent their offense has become when they play at Southern Mississippi (1-1, 1-0 Conference USA). <br> <br> ``This will be the best defense we&#39;ve played against yet,&#39;&#39; Tigers coach Tommy West said. <br> <br> With their victory over Ole Miss last week, the Tigers snapped several dubious streaks. Memphis beat Ole Miss for the first time since 1994, broke a 13-game losing streak against Southeastern Conference teams and moved to 2-0 for the first time since 1976. <br> <br> ``That tells you how bad we&#39;ve been,&#39;&#39; West said. ``The thing we have to worry about is can we handle a little success. We&#39;ve only played two ballgames, we have to get ourselves back down to earth.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Over the years, Memphis has often come crashing down against Southern Miss. The so-called ``Black and Blue&#39;&#39; game has turned into a one-sided rivalry. <br> <br> Southern Miss has won nine of the last 10 meetings and 20 of 24. And in Hattiesburg, Memphis is just two for 19 with the last victory coming in 1984. <br> <br> Memphis&#39; trips to M.M. Roberts Stadium have been so bad that last year&#39;s 33-14 loss represented a small victory for the Tigers. For the first time since 1992, Memphis scored a touchdown in Hattiesburg. <br> <br> Memphis quarterback Danny Wimprine said Roberts Stadium is a nasty place for visitors. <br> <br> ``They pretty much pack the whole place. It&#39;s not a very big place, but everybody feels like it&#39;s right on top of you. The fans, they&#39;re right on top of you, yelling at you the whole time. It&#39;s a great place for them,&#39;&#39; he said. <br> <br> So, as great as last week&#39;s victory over Ole Miss was for the Tigers, a conference road win against the Golden Eagles would be even bigger. <br> <br> ``They always have great athletes, always have a great defense,&#39;&#39; Wimprine said. ``If we can go down there and maybe get physical with them and come out with a win, I think it&#39;s big for us. It can hopefully set the tempo for the rest of the season.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Wimprine has been near flawless in directing the Tigers&#39; spread offense. The junior has thrown for 621 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions. <br> <br> ``He&#39;s been poised in the pocket,&#39;&#39; Southern Miss linebacker Michael Boley said. <br> <br> Memphis has yet to commit a turnover while using an array of misdirections, screens and trick plays. <br> <br> Meanwhile, Southern Miss&#39; highly regarded defense has been mediocre. The Golden Eagles rank eighth in C-USA in total defense. <br> <br> ``I think this is going to be a good challenge for our defense,&#39;&#39; cornerback Greg Brooks said. ``I just don&#39;t think we&#39;re at our peak right now. We&#39;ve got to get it together because this is a big game.&#39;&#39;