2009 Liberty Bowl

Last updated

2009 AutoZone Liberty Bowl
50th Liberty Bowl
LibertyBowl50logo.jpg
Liberty Bowl 50th Anniversary logo.
1234Total
Kentucky0313925
East Carolina3133019
DateJanuary 2, 2009
Season 2008
Stadium Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Location Memphis, Tennessee
MVP DT Ventrell Jenkins, Kentucky
Referee Bill LeMonnier (Big Ten Conference)
Attendance56,125
Payout US$1.8 million per team [1]
United States TV coverage
Network ESPN
Announcers Mark Jones, Bob Davie
Nielsen ratings 2.3
Liberty Bowl
  2007 2010 (Jan)  

The 2009 Liberty Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game played at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 2, 2009. The 50th edition of the Liberty Bowl, it was the first edition ever played in January. With sponsorship from AutoZone, the game was officially the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The game featured the East Carolina Pirates of Conference USA (C-USA) and the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Kentucky overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to win, 25–19.

Contents

Background

East Carolina accepted an invitation to the bowl after their victory over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the 2008 C-USA Championship Game. [2] [3] [4] East Carolina entered the game with a record of 9-4 and had been ranked as high as No. 15[ dubious discuss ] in the AP Poll during the season. [5] Kentucky was 6–6 and unranked.

Game summary

East Carolina led through much of the game. However, late in the fourth quarter, Kentucky defensive tackle Ventrell Jenkins picked up a fumble and returned it 56 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Jenkins was named the MVP of the game. [6] The fumble recovery and return, marked by a vicious stiff arm Jenkins put on the opposing quarterback, received generous replay during bowl game broadcasts. [7]

Scoring summary

Scoring PlayScore
1st Quarter
ECU - Ben Hartman 22-yard FG, 5:25ECU 3-0
2nd Quarter
ECU - Brandon Simmons 28-yard TD run (Hartman kick), 14:14ECU 10-0
UK - Lones Seiber 21-yard FG, 8:59ECU 10-3
ECU - Darryl Freeney 80-yard TD pass from Patrick Pinkney (kick blocked), 8:47ECU 16-3
3rd Quarter
UK - David Jones 99-yard kickoff return (kick blocked), 14:48ECU 16-9
UK - Kyrus Lanxster 19-yard TD pass from Mike Hartline (Seiber kick), 8:13Tie 16-16
ECU - Hartman 43-yard FG, :06ECU 19-16
4th Quarter
UK - Seiber 34-yard FG, 14:07Tie 19-19
UK - Ventrell Jenkins 56-yard fumble return (kick blocked), 3:02UK 25-19

References

  1. Archived December 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Dawson, Brett (December 7, 2008). "UK accepts Liberty Bowl bid". courier-journal.com. The Courier-Journal / Gannett. Archived from the original on September 4, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2008.
  3. Dawson, Brett (December 8, 2008). "Liberty Bowl awaits Wildcats: Jan. 2 in Memphis vs. East Carolina / UK: Has East Carolina in Liberty Bowl". Courier-Journal. Vol. 141, no. 20. Louisville, Ky. pp. C1, C2. Newspapers.com 181777305, 181777317; 181777227; 181776714, 181776735. ProQuest   241465477.
  4. "ECU gets Kentucky in Liberty Bowl". Cox News Service. Cox Newspapers, Inc. December 7, 2008. Factiva   COXNS00020081208e4c7000xf.
  5. "AP Poll Archive". Archived from the original on April 26, 2009. Retrieved December 5, 2010.[ full citation needed ]
  6. CNN and AP report on 2009 Liberty Bowl [ dead link ]
  7. Video clip of ESPN broadcast: ajcgn6 (January 2, 2009). "Greatest Stiff Arm of the Year?". YouTube.