An emotional win for Memphis

Memphis, playing only two days after the violent death of a teammate, converted that emotion into a 24-21 victory over Marshall on Tuesday night as Will Hudgens threw for a career-high 346 yards at Memphis, Tenn.

Memphis defensive lineman Taylor Bradford was killed in an on-campus shooting Sunday night. The team voted after the tragedy to play the game in the junior’s honor.

Memphis, 2-3 overall and 1-1 in Conference USA, recognized Bradford in several ways, from black “TB” stickers on the back of players’ helmets to a moment of silence before the game. Students, some clad in black and many wearing stickers with Bradford’s No. 93, released balloons before the game.

Hudgens, subbing for injured starter Martin Hankins, completed 30 of 45 passes. His two second-half touchdown passes and a pass for a two-point conversion to Carlos Singleton erased a Marshall (0-5, 0-1) lead in the third quarter.

Texas A&M; Coach Dennis Franchione -- under fire for a blowout loss to Miami and news of his secretive, for-pay newsletter to boosters -- gave a defiant, emotional speech in an auditorium packed with his players. He said he had the support of Athletic Director Bill Byrne and had no intention of stepping down.

“I love this job. I love these players. I love this university,” Franchione said, “and my desire is to remain here and elevate this program to the highest level.”

Franchione, whose $2 million-a-year contract runs through 2012, last week acknowledged he provided inside information about his team to an exclusive group of boosters who paid $1,200 to get it. That came a week after a 34-17 loss to Miami that renewed calls for Franchione’s firing.

Safety Tony Joiner is the eighth Florida player in the last nine months to get in legal trouble, a growing concern for the defending national champions.

Joiner, a senior captain and defensive leader, was arrested early Tuesday and charged with felony burglary, police in Gainesville, Fla., said.

Joiner, who ranks fifth on the team with 20 tackles, was arrested around 5 a.m. outside the fenced impound lot of a local towing company, according to police.

But the owner of the property leased by the towing company, Stan Forron, said that the whole thing is a misunderstanding.

Joiner was accused of pushing a heavy electric gate open to enter the lot in an attempt to retrieve his girlfriend’s car, which was being held in lieu of a $76 towing bill, a police report said.

Forron said Joiner had made arrangements to pay the towing bill and pick up the car. But when Joiner arrived, no one was around to help him.

Michigan quarterback Chad Henne, who sat out home wins against Notre Dame and Penn State while nursing a knee injury but returned last weekend to lead Michigan past Northwestern, pronounced himself ready for Saturday’s game against Eastern Michigan at Ann Arbor, Mich.

Brad Lester, who was projected to be Auburn’s starter at tailback before the season started, will return from a suspension for academic issues Saturday against Vanderbilt.

Coach Tommy Tuberville says Lester will play but won’t start and will have to work his way past Ben Tate and Mario Fannin on the depth chart.

Texas Tech linebacker Kellen Tillman was arrested on a marijuana possession charge, two days after being suspended for the Red Raiders’ most recent game.