Rhett Nelson, Fr., DB
Tonight's attendance of 54,866 is the largest Liberty Bowl crowd since a bowl record of 61,497 watched the Air Force-Mississippi State game in 1991.
This is the fourth straight year that Conference USA's champion has appeared in the AXA Liberty Bowl and the seventh straight year that a team from C-USA has played in the game. Conference USA has now won three straight games and is 5-2 over that span. C-USA teams are 6-3 all-time in the bowl.
This is the first year of the Mountain West's agreement to send its champion to the AXA Liberty Bowl. The league's members are not strangers to the bowl, however. Colorado State became the fourth member of the eight-team eague to appear in the bowl. Teams that comprise the Mountain West are now 3-4 in the Liberty Bowl following the loss by Colorado State today.
When Southern Miss sophomore safety Chad Williams recovered a first quarter fumble and returned it 5 yards for a touchdown, it marked the third straight year that a defensive touchdown had been scored in the Liberty Bowl. It also marked the fifth straight year in which a defense scored points (six touchdowns and one safety over that period).
Chad Williams' touchdown was the sixth scored by the Southern Miss defense this season.
The blocked punt by Colorado State in the first quarter was the first by a Rams player since a 1995 game vs. Texas-El Paso (a span of 50 games).
The blocked punt by Southern Miss for a touchdown in the first quarter was the eighth blocked kick by the Golden Eagles this season, the third-highest total in Division I-A. Only Nebraska (10) and Memphis (9) have blocked more kicks. It was also the first blocked punt returned for a touchdown in the Liberty Bowl since Stanford in 1995.
Southern Miss senior wide receiver Todd Pinkston finished his career with at least one catch in his final 41 games as a Golden Eagle. He caught 4 passes for 49 yards tonight.
Southern Miss' 20-17 lead marked the highest scoring first half of a Liberty Bowl since 1972 (Iowa State 21, Georgia Tech 17). Conversely, the three points scored in the second half was the lowest total since 1992 (Mississippi-Air Force).
The Southern Miss defense recorded just one sack, but had 13 quarterback hurries and 9 pass breakups this evening. The unit also recorded 9 tackles for loss.
Playing in his final collegiate game, USM's Adalius Thomas recorded 8 tackles (5 solo), three sacks and one pass break up. He was named the Southern Miss Defensive Player of the Game for the second time in his career, as he earned that honor following the Golden Eagles victory over Pittsburgh in the 1997 Liberty Bowl.
The Southern Miss defense faced three of the top 14 rushers in Division I-A this season and held each of them below 100 yards rushing. After holding Louisville's Frank Moreau (8th/128.9) and Cincinnati's Robert Cooper (11th/124.5) below the century mark previously, tonight it held CSU's Kevin McDougal (14th/116.4) to just 59 yards on 25 carries.
CSU QB Matt Newton attempted a career-high 46 passes.
The 187 yards allowed by Colorado State is a season low.
CSU head coach Sonny Lubick is now 9-10 against Top 25 teams, 1-2 this season.
Colorado State's 40 yards net rushing is a season low.
Freshman defensive back Rhett Nelson made his first career start tonight and earned CSU Defensive MVP honors after making 6 tackles (5 solo), two tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and an interception (which he returned 41 yards).
Colorado State's all-time bowl record is now 2-4. In those six games, CSU has led at the half only once (the 1949 Raisin Bowl).
Prior to today's game, Colorado State announced that head coach Sonny Lubick had been given a five-year contract extension that will run through the 2005 season. The winningest coach in school history, Lubick has compiled a 57-27 overall record in seven seasons, including four conference championships and four bowl appearances.