Battle for the Bones

Battle for the Bones
	Memphis Tigers UAB Blazers
Sport	College football
First meeting	September 6, 1997; Memphis 28, UAB 7
Latest meeting	November 16, 2024; Memphis 53, UAB 18
Next meeting	October 18, 2025; Birmingham, Alabama
Trophy	The Bones
Statistics
Meetings total	17
All-time series	UAB, 10–7
Largest victory	Memphis, 46–9 (November 17, 2012)
Longest win streak	UAB, 7 (October 14, 2000 – October 7, 2006)
Current win streak	Memphis, 3 (November 17, 2012 – present)

Memphis–UAB men's basketball rivalry
	Memphis Tigers UAB Blazers
Sport	College basketball
First meeting	February 2, 1984; No. 9 Memphis 53 – UAB 51
Latest meeting	March 16, 2025; Memphis 84 – UAB 72
Statistics
Meetings total	55
All-time series	Memphis, 40–12
Largest victory	Memphis by 38* (March 8, 2008)
Longest win streak	Memphis, 17* (January 26, 2006–December 10, 2016)
Current win streak	Memphis, 4 (March 3, 2024–present)

Memphis–UAB rivalry
	Memphis Tigers UAB Blazers
Sport	Football, basketball, others
First meeting	1984

Last updated March 17, 2025

150km
100miles

Memphis

UAB

Locations of Memphis and UAB

The Battle for the Bones is a sports rivalry between the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers and the University of Memphis Tigers. The two NCAA Division I schools compete in various sports, with men's basketball and college football in particular being prominent.

The future of the rivalry was unclear as Memphis joined the American Athletic Conference in 2013 during the 2010–2013 Big East Conference realignment. However, the series continued semi-regularly in basketball after the Tigers departure from Conference USA. However, in October 2021, the UAB Blazers accepted an invitation to join the American Athletic Conference, thus renewing the rivalry and trophy as regular conference match-ups.^[1]^[2]

Men's basketball

The Memphis–UAB men's basketball rivalry has the longest history of all their sports, and tends to be the most intense and heated affair. The first matchup between the Memphis Tigers and UAB Blazers was played in 1984, when the teams first met in basketball. The two teams have played at least twice a year since 1992, when they both moved to the Great Midwest Conference and later to Conference USA.

Head coach Gene Bartow was influential in both programs. He coached Memphis (then Memphis State) from 1970 to 1974, and in 1978 he became the first head coach of UAB's new program, which he led until 1996. His long tenure and success with the Blazers have led to him being known as the "Father of UAB Athletics".^[3]

Notable games

March 17, 1985†: In only the second meeting between two schools, 2nd-seed Memphis took on 7th-seed UAB in the Second round of the 1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. The Blazers, led by former Memphis coach Gene Bartow in their fifth consecutive NCAA appearance, played the Tigers closely in a game that had to go into overtime. Despite the best effort from UAB, Memphis would win 67–66 and go onto the Final Four.

March 10, 2006: After splitting the regular season series, the Blazers and Tigers met in the 2006 Conference USA men's basketball tournament final hosted at FedExForum. The John Calipari lead Tigers ultimately would win the game 57–46, clinching the first Conference USA title for Memphis.

February 16, 2008†: The #1-ranked Memphis Tigers were nearly upset before pulling out a 79–78 win. As the Tigers were down by 8 points with 2 minutes left, they went on a 9–1 run. After the conclusion of the game, an altercation between Memphis players and UAB fans occurred. Ultimately, people in the stands began booing the Memphis players off the court and throwing drinks and shakers at them as the players were escorted off the court by local police officers.^[4]

† Denotes game vacated by Memphis

Game results

Rankings are from the AP poll (1936–present)

UAB victories	Memphis victories	Tie games	Vacated wins^{[n 1]}

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	February 4, 1984	Mid-South Coliseum	No. 9 Memphis State	53–51
2	March 17, 1985 ^A	Hofheinz Pavilion	No. 5 Memphis State^†	67–66^OT
3	March 14, 1991	Mid-South Coliseum	Memphis State	82–76
4	January 1, 1992	UAB Arena	Memphis State	67–63
5	February 22, 1992	Pyramid Arena	Memphis State	63–58
6	March 12, 1992 ^B	Chicago Stadium	Memphis State	79–67
7	January 16, 1993	UAB Arena	UAB	50–47
8	January 30, 1993	UAB Arena	Memphis State	69–53
9	January 16, 1994	UAB Arena	No. 22 UAB	85–57
10	February 12, 1994	Pyramid Arena	Memphis State	58–53
11	March 10, 1994 ^C	Shoemaker Center	Memphis State	91–86
12	January 21, 1995	UAB Arena	UAB	80–63
13	January 28, 1995	Pyramid Arena	Memphis	74–67
14	January 24, 1996	Pyramid Arena	No. 12 Memphis	86–77
15	January 25, 1997	Bartow Arena	UAB	51–48
16	January 22, 1998	Pyramid Arena	Memphis	86–70
17	February 8, 1998	Bartow Arena	UAB	88–77
18	January 2, 1999	Pyramid Arena	UAB	91–83
19	February 11, 1999	Bartow Arena	Memphis	78–75
20	January 26, 2000	Pyramid Arena	Memphis	84–70
21	February 16, 2000	Bartow Arena	UAB	102–75
22	January 27, 2001	Bartow Arena	Memphis	76–73^OT
23	February 19, 2001	Pyramid Arena	Memphis	86–69
24	January 23, 2002	Pyramid Arena	Memphis	102–81
25	February 8, 2002	Bartow Arena	UAB	64–46
26	February 15, 2003	Pyramid Arena	Memphis	94–70
27	March 8, 2003	Bartow Arena	No. 18 Memphis	90–79
28	February 21, 2004	Pyramid Arena	No. 23 Memphis	73–66
29	January 22, 2005	Bartow Arena	UAB	73–70

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
30	January 26, 2006	FedExForum	No. 3 Memphis	73–66
31	March 2, 2006	Bartow Arena	UAB	80–74
32	March 10, 2006 ^D	FedExForum	No. 5 Memphis	57–46
33	January 16, 2007	FedExForum	No. 17 Memphis	79–54
34	February 8, 2007	Bartow Arena	No. 8 Memphis	70–56
35	February 16, 2008	Bartow Arena	No. 1 Memphis^†	79–78
36	March 8, 2008	FedExForum	No. 2 Memphis^†	94–56
37	January 17, 2009	FedExForum	Memphis	81–68
38	February 26, 2009	Bartow Arena	No. 5 Memphis	71–60
39	February 3, 2010	FedExForum	Memphis	85–75
40	March 3, 2010	Bartow Arena	Memphis	70–65
41	January 22, 2011	Bartow Arena	Memphis	76–73^OT
42	February 16, 2011	FedExForum	Memphis	62–58
43	January 7, 2012	Bartow Arena	Memphis	62–59
44	February 11, 2012	FedExForum	Memphis	79–45
45	January 12, 2013	Bartow Arena	Memphis	69–53
46	March 9, 2013	FedExForum	No. 25 Memphis	86–71
47	December 10, 2016	FedExForum	Memphis	62–55
48	November 30, 2017	Bartow Arena	UAB	71–56
49	December 8, 2018	FedExForum	Memphis	94–76
50	December 7, 2019	Bartow Arena	No. 15 Memphis	65–57
51	January 29, 2024	Bartow Arena	UAB	97–88
52	March 3, 2024	FedExForum	Memphis	106–87
53	January 26, 2025	FedExForm	No. 24 Memphis	100–77
54	March 2, 2025	Bartow Arena	No. 18 Memphis	88–81
55	March 16, 2025 ^E	Dickies Arena	No. 16 Memphis	84–72
Series: Memphis leads 40–12^[7]
† Vacated by Memphis

Notes

↑ Memphis has vacated all NCAA Tournament wins and loses between 1982 until 1986, including the game against UAB during that period.^[5] Memphis has also vacated all of its victories from the 2007–08 season. These 38 wins are not included in Memphis's all-time record, nor is the victory against UAB during this season counted in the series record between the two teams.^[6]

^A NCAA second round
^B 1992 Great Midwest Conference men's basketball tournament
^C 1994 Great Midwest Conference men's basketball tournament
^D 2006 Conference USA men's basketball tournament
^E 2025 American Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament

Football

The Blazers and Tigers began competing in football after the Blazers football team joined Division I in 1997. The series has been played nearly every year since, and is led by UAB with a win–loss record of 10 to 7. In 2006, the schools introduced a trophy, a 100-pound (45 kg) bronze rack of ribs alluding to the two cities' reputation for barbecue, and dubbed the game the "Battle for the Bones".^[8] In keeping with the theme, a fan barbecue competition accompanies the game.^[8]^[9]

Game results

Rankings are from the AP Poll (1936–present)

UAB victories	Memphis victories	Tie games

No.	Date	Location	Winner	Score
1	September 6, 1997	Memphis, TN	Memphis	28–7
2	October 9, 1999	Birmingham, AL	Memphis	38–14
3	October 14, 2000	Birmingham, AL	UAB	13–9
4	October 27, 2001	Memphis, TN	UAB	17–14
5	September 28, 2002	Birmingham, AL	UAB	31–17
6	October 4, 2003	Memphis, TN	UAB	24–10
7	September 25, 2004	Birmingham, AL	UAB	35–28
8	November 1, 2005	Memphis, TN	UAB	37–20
9	October 7, 2006	Birmingham, AL	UAB	35–29
10	November 17, 2007	Memphis, TN	Memphis	25–9
11	October 2, 2008	Birmingham, AL	Memphis	33–30
12	November 14, 2009	Memphis, TN	UAB	31–21
13	November 20, 2010	Birmingham, AL	UAB	31–15
14	November 12, 2011	Memphis, TN	UAB	41–35
15	November 17, 2012	Birmingham, AL	Memphis	46–9
16	October 21, 2023	Birmingham, AL	Memphis	45–21
17	November 16, 2024	Memphis, TN	Memphis	53–18
Series: UAB leads 10–7^[10]

References

↑ Bonesteel, Matt (October 21, 2021). "Finally, something good comes out of conference realignment: The ribs trophy is coming back". Washington Post . Retrieved October 23, 2021.
↑ Goodman, Joseph (October 21, 2021). "UAB, Birmingham breathe in the sweet smell of victory". al.com. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
↑ Irvine, Steve (January 7, 2012). "UAB trying to treat today's game against Memphis as just another day at Bartow Arena". The Birmingham News. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
↑ "C-USA officials investigating what happened after Memphis-UAB game", ESPN , The Associated Press, February 18, 2008, retrieved March 26, 2024
↑ . ESPN, February 16, 2010.
↑ . ESPN, March 22, 2010.
↑ "Matchup Finder - UAB Blazers vs. Memphis Tigers basketball series history". Sports Reference.
1 2 Timanus, Eddie (October 7, 2006), "Weekend Preview: Plenty to watch in SEC games involving unbeatens", USA Today , retrieved June 4, 2012, In a tasty twist, the game will inaugurate a new rivalry trophy, a 100-pound bronze rack of ribs. The newly christened "Battle for the Bones" will also feature a barbecuing contest for fans.
↑ Bryant, Walter (October 8, 2006) "Legion Field has nothing on ribs." The Birmingham News
↑ "Winsipedia - UAB Blazers vs. Memphis Tigers football series history". Winsipedia. Retrieved March 26, 2024.

v t e Memphis Tigers football
Venues	Normal Field (1912–1916) Russwood Park (1912–1915, 1918–1920, 1922–1924) Hodges Field (1917, 1919, 1921–1923, 1926–1929) Memorial Field (1924–1936) Fairgrounds Stadium (1937) Crump Stadium (1937–1964) Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium (1965–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Arkansas State: Paint Bucket Bowl Cincinnati Louisville Ole Miss Southern Miss: Black and Blue Bowl UAB: Battle for the Bones
Culture & lore	History Pouncer TOM (mascot) "Go Tigers Go" Mighty Sound of the South Miami Beach Brawl
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943–1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

v t e Memphis Tigers men's basketball
Venues	Various locations (1920–1929) Memorial Fieldhouse (1929–1966) Mid-South Coliseum (1966–1991) Pyramid Arena (1991–2004) FedExForum (2004–present)
Rivalries	Cincinnati Louisville UAB
Culture & lore	Pouncer Newby's TOM (mascot) "Go Tigers Go" Mighty Sound of the South
People	Head coaches NBA players Statistical leaders
Seasons	List of seasons 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1942–42 1942–43 1943–44 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25
NCAA Final Four appearances in italics

v t e UAB Blazers football
Venues	Legion Field (1991–2014, 2017–2020) Protective Stadium (2021–present)
Bowls & rivalries	Bowl games Memphis: Battle for the Bones
Culture & lore	Blaze
People	Head coaches NFL draftees Statistical leaders
Seasons	1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015–2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

v t e UAB Blazers men's basketball
Venues	BJCC Coliseum (1978–1988) Bartow Arena (1988–present)
Rivalries	Auburn Memphis
Culture & lore	Blaze
People	Head coaches Statistical leaders
Seasons	1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

Battle for the Bones

Contents

Men's basketball

Notable games

Game results

Notes

Football

Game results

References

Further reading

Memphis Tigers UAB Blazers
Sport	Football, basketball, others
First meeting	1984