The University of Memphis football program may never find itself in a more difficult situation, emotionally, than it will experience Tuesday against Marshall.

How does a team focus and maintain its collective composure after the loss of a teammate?

Defensive lineman Taylor Bradford, a reserve noseguard, was killed during a Sunday night on-campus shooting. He will be remembered before Tuesday night’s kickoff with a moment of silence.

Then, his teammates will attempt to collect themselves and play football less than 48 hours after Bradford’s death.

As for the one liners . . .

** Marshall opens its Conference USA season after having dropped its first four games of 2007, including losses to Miami, West Virginia and Cincinnati, all ranked in the top 30 nationally.

** Marshall quarterback Bernard Morris has passed for 1,087 yards and seven touchdowns in four games and is the team’s second-leading rusher with 74 yards.

** Marshall set a record by selling 19,800 season tickets AFTER going 5-7 a year ago and AFTER losing running back Ahmad Bradshaw after his junior season to the NFL.

** Memphis has converted 37 percent of its 59 third-down attempts; Tiger opponents have converted 53 percent of the same number of attemps.

** Tiger backup QB Matt Malouf has accounted for a touchdown in each of the team’s four games, rushing to scores in three games and tossing a touchdown in the other.

** Memphis has given up 990 yards in back-to-back losses at UCF and Arkansas State.