Dec. 9, 2005

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A league-record six Conference USA teams will be participating in bowl games this holiday season. C-USA Champion Tulsa will be joined by Houston, Memphis, Southern Miss, UCF and UTEP in playing in this year's postseason action. Southern Miss gets the entire 2005-06 bowl season underway on December 20 when it faces Arkansas State in the New Orleans Bowl. C-USA's bowl season concludes on December 31 when league champion Tulsa plays Fresno State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Get ready for C-USA's postseason action by reading the league's bowl release.

BOWL TEAMS
Conference USA has a record six teams in bowl games this season. Only the ACC, Big 12 and Big Ten had more Here's a look at the number of bowl teams each league produced this year:

8 ACC, Big 12
7 Big Ten
6 C-USA, SEC
5 Pac-10
4 Big East, Mountain West
3 WAC
2 Mid-American
1 Sun Belt

C-USA ALL-AMERICANS
Here's a look at the C-USA players that have been named All-Americans in 2005 (as of Dec. 9):

AFCA
First Team
RB - DeAngelo Williams, Memphis

CBSSportsline.com
First Team
TE - Garrett Mills, Tulsa

SI.com
First Team
TE - Garrett Mills, Tulsa
Second Team
RB - DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
Third Team
LB - Kevis Coley, Southern Miss
K - Stephen Gostkowski, Memphis
K - Darren McCaleb, Southern Miss
P - Luke Johnson, Southern Miss

Walter Camp
First Team
RB - DeAngelo Williams, Memphis
Second Team
TE - Garrett Mills, Tulsa

FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICANS
Here's a look at the C-USA players that have been named Freshman All-Americans in 2005 (as of Dec. 9):

College FootballNews.com
First Team
DB - Joe Burnett, UCF
PR - Joe Burnett, UCF
Second Team
TE - Shawn Nelson, Southern Miss
Third Team
S - Jason Venson, UCF
PR - Jessie Henderson, SMU

POSTSEASON ALL-STARS
Several C-USA players have committed to play in postseason All-Star games. Here's a look at those players (as of Dec. 9):

EAST-WEST SHRINE GAME
Thomas Howard, LB, UTEP

HULA BOWL
Chris Moore, LB, East Carolina
Guy Whimper, OT, East Carolina
John Syptak, DE, Rice
Brandon Marshall, WR, UCF

LAS VEGAS ALL-AMERICAN CLASSIC
Anthony Cannon, LB, Tulane
Tyler Ebell, RB, UTEP
Ryan Gilbert, RB, Houston
Tim Goodwell, LB, Memphis
Darcy Johnson, TE, UCF

SENIOR BOWL
Darrell Hackney, QB, UAB
Thomas Howard, LB, UTEP

HOUSTON COUGARS
The Cougars will be making their 16th bowl appearance overall and second in three seasons under head coach Art Briles when they face the Kansas Jayhawks in the Fort Worth Bowl on Dec. 23. UH has not had to travel far for a majority of their postseason trips as this will be the Cougars' 10th bowl game played in the Lone Star State (four Cotton's, four Bluebonnet's and one Sun). Houston took back the Bayou Bucket from Rice and earned bowl-eligible status with its 35-18 victory over the Owls in the regular season finale at Robertson Stadium. Junior QB Kevin Kolb became Houston's all-time total offense leader after passing for 222 yards and rushing for 75 more in the victory. Kolb now has 9,530 yards as he passed legendary David Klinger (9,327 yards, 1988-91) in the record books. Senior RB Ryan Gilbert rushed for 76 yards to become just the 21st Cougar in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in a season. He has 1,030 yards on the season. Junior WR Vincent Marshall posted his 12th 100-yard receiving game of his career and needs just two more to tie the school record. Marshall finished the game with 125 receiving yards, including an 80-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

MEMPHIS TIGERS
With their 26-3 victory over Marshall on Nov. 26, the Tigers secured their third-straight bowl berth, which is a new school record. Memphis will be headed North for the Motor City Bowl in Detroit, Mich., where the Tigers will face MAC Champion Akron on Dec. 26. Senior RB DeAngelo Williams and PK Stephen Gostkowski were the fitting stars of the game for the Tigers. Williams racked up his NCAA-record tying 33rd 100-yard rushing game of his career after toting the ball 27 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Williams is the NCAA's active leader in career rushing yards (5,788) and touchdowns (52). Gostkowski broke the C-USA career record for field goals made after connecting on all four of his attempts. Included in his four makes of 40-plus yards was a school-record 53-yarder in the third quarter. Senior QB Maurice Avery, the Tigers' fourth different starting quarterback this season, also shared the spotlight as he rushed 18 times for 93 yards as the Tigers improved to 4-2 on the season with him behind center. Memphis enters the postseason as the sixth-ranked rushing offense in the nation averaging 260.8 ypg. Williams accounts for 172.6 of those - which is a number that has him ranked third nationally.

SOUTHERN MISS GOLDEN EAGLES
The Golden Eagles improved their consecutive winning-seasons streak to 12 and secured bowl eligibility with a 26-7 victory over Tulane in the regular season finale on Nov. 26. The Golden Eagles are just one of seven teams who can make that claim as they prepare for a Dec. 20 match-up with Arkansas State in the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl, which will be played in Lafayette, La., this year. Redshirt freshman Shawn Nelson set career highs in receptions (five) and yards (113) as he became just the second tight end in school history to post a 100-yard receiving game and the first since 1977. Junior PK Darren McCaleb went 4-for-4 on field goals (33, 41, 41 and 34) tying his career high and made two extra points to set the USM career record for points scored with 248. McCaleb has made 22 field goals this season, which is a new school record. The Southern Miss defense forced three turnovers bringing its season total to 32. The offense has turned those miscues into 127 points. Senior LB Kevis Coley had 12 tackles to give nine contests this season with double-figure stops. Coley had a pair of 19-tackle games against N.C. State and Memphis, respectively.

TULSA GOLDEN HURRICANE The Golden Hurricane won the inaugural C-USA Football Championship Game and in doing so earned a berth in the 47th Annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl to play Fresno State on New Year's Eve. Tulsa's 44-27 victory was its eighth of the season - matching the total from head coach Steve Kragthorpe's first season in 2003. In his three seasons, Kragthorpe has led the Golden Hurricane to 20 wins - a total that wasn't exceeded in the previous seven seasons prior to his arrival. Senior Garrett Mills became the first tight end in league history to eclipse the 1,000-yard receiving mark in a season after he caught four passes for 88 yards in a 38-14 victory over Tulane to bring his total to 1,031 yards. In his MVP effort in the championship game, Mills added 152 yards to become the NCAA's single-season record holder for receiving yards by a tight end with 1,183. The Golden Hurricane is 18-4 when scoring 30 or more points under Kragthorpe. Sophomore QB Paul Smith's 2,613 passing yards this season are the fourth-most in a single season by a Tulsa signal caller.

UCF GOLDEN KNIGHTS
The Golden Knights fell victim to Tulsa, 44-27, in the league's inaugural C-USA Championship game on Dec. 3, but did so in front of a record home crowd of 51,978. The loss was disappointing, but an 8-4 record was good enough to earn the school's first berth in a bowl game as the Golden Knights will face Nevada in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl on Dec. 24. The Golden Knights are one win away from posting the second-best turnaround in NCAA history after going winless one season ago. UCF is also the first team in NCAA history to record a five-game winning streak and reach a conference championship game following a winless season. The Golden Knights are only the fourth team in NCAA history to play seven road games and advance to a bowl. Freshman CB Joe Burnett returned his second punt for a touchdown in as many games with a 68-yard return in the second quarter. Burnett is just the third player in school history to return two punts for a touchdown in the same season. Freshman Kevin Smith rushed for 108 yards to bring his season total to 974 yards - the sixth-best single season effort in school history and also the sixth-highest total by a freshman in Division I-A this season.

UTEP MINERS
UTEP accepted a bid to play in the GMAC Bowl on Dec. 3 - marking the first time since the 1954 season and only the third time in school history that a team has made back-to-back bowl appearances. The Miners will be looking for their first bowl win since a 14-7 victory over Mississippi in the 1967 Sun Bowl in El Paso. UTEP has not ended a season with a win since 1986 - dropping their last 18 season finales. Sophomore RB Marcus Thomas amassed 238 all-purpose yards (118 rushing, 120 receiving) in a 40-27 loss to SMU on Nov. 26. Thomas rushed 22 times for 118 yards and a touchdown, marking his fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game. He also caught seven passes totaling 120 yards and a score, including a 75-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Palmer that was UTEP's longest play from scrimmage this year. Senior WR Chris Francies has caught a pass in 42 consecutive games and ranks second on the team with 42 receptions and 751 yards.

NEW ORLEANS BOWL

SOUTHERN MISS vs. ARKANSAS ST.
Tuesday, December 20 Lafayette, La.
7:00 p.m. (CST) Cajun Field (31,000)
All-Time Series: Southern Miss leads 6-2
Last Meeting: Southern Miss 35, Arkansas State 0 (Oct. 18, 1980)
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Mark Jones (PxP), Chris Spielman (Analyst)

Southern Miss (6-5, 5-3 in C-USA)
Head Coach: Jeff Bower (Southern Miss `75)
Career Record: 19-17 (3rd year)
Record at USM: 19-17 (3rd year)
Last Game: Southern Miss 26, Tulane 7 (Nov. 26)
Last Bowl: 2004 New Orleans (Southern Miss 31, North Texas 10)
Website: www.southernmiss.com

Southern Miss Leaders:
Passing: Dustin Almond, 199-362, 2,607 yards, 21 TDs
Rushing: Larry Thomas, 638 yards, 4 TDs
Receiving: Josh Barnes, 30 rec., 398 yards, 5 TDs

NOTING THE GOLDEN EAGLES: Having assured itself of a 12th-consecutive season at .500 or better, Southern Miss will be making its eighth bowl appearance in nine years, playing in the New Orleans Bowl for the second straight year....Senior Kevis Coley is the third Southern Miss linebacker in as many years to be named C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, following current Atlanta Falcon Michael Boley (2004) and current Minnesota Viking Rod Davis (2003).

Arkansas State (6-5, 5-2 in Sun Belt)
Head Coach: Steve Roberts (Ouachita Baptist, '87)
Career Record: 69-60-1 (12th year)
Record at ASU: 20-27-0 (4th year)
Last Game: Arkansas State 31, North Texas 24 (Nov. 26)
Last Bowl: First Division I-A Bowl Appearance
Website: www.asuindians.com

Arkansas State Leaders:
Passing: Nick Noce, 146-263, 1,839 yards, 11 TDs
Rushing: Antonio Warren, 1,046 yards, 6 TDs
Receiving: Levi Dejhonette, 42 rec., 505 yards, 1 TD

NOTING THE INDIANS: Head coach Steve Roberts was named Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year after guiding a team that was picked sixth in the preseason poll to a regular season title and first bowl berth as a I-A program....Senior RB Antonio Warren rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the last two years, becoming the 14th player in school history to reach the 1,000-yard mark....He has rushed for more than 100 yards in eight of the nine games he has played in this season....The Indians last bowl game was the 1970 Pecan Bowl in Arlington, Texas....Also in 1970, ASU was crowned NCAA College Division National Champion by AP and UPI.

GAME NOTES: Arkansas State is the first team other than North Texas to represent the Sun Belt Conference in the five-year old New Orleans Bowl....The Indians won a three-way tie for the regular season championship in the Sun Belt based on a head-to-head victory over Louisiana-Lafayette....Louisiana-Monroe, which also finished 5-2 in league play, was not bowl-eligible....Southern Miss is ranked 35th nationally in passing offense (257.2 ypg), but just 107th in rushing offense (104.0)....Arkansas State is 23rd in rushing (199.9 ypg), and 101st in passing (188.8).

GMAC BOWL

UTEP vs. TOLEDO
Wednesday, December 21 Mobile, Ala.
7:00 p.m. (CST) Ladd-Peebles Stadium (40,646)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Ron Franklin (PxP), Bob Davie (Analyst)

UTEP (8-3, 5-3 in C-USA)
Head Coach: Mike Price (Puget Sound `69)
Career Record: 145-129 (24th year)
Record at UTEP: 16-7 (2nd year)
Last Game: SMU 40, UTEP 27 (Nov. 26)
Last Bowl: 2004 Ev1.net Houston (Colorado 33, UTEP 28)
Website: www.utepathletics.com

UTEP Leaders:
Passing: Jordan Palmer, 244-401, 3,340 yards, 28 TDs
Rushing: Marcus Thomas, 720 yards, 5 TDs
Receiving: Johnnie Lee Higgins, 47 rec., 807 yards, 8 TDs

NOTING THE MINERS: UTEP is making back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time since 1954-55....This is the fourth straight year that a Mike Price-coached team has played in a bowl game (two at UTEP and two at Washington State). His teams have a 36-12 overall record during that span....Junior QB Jordan Palmer already owns the school's career records for completions (555), attempts (965), yards (7,326) and touchdowns (61)....UTEP is trying to end the season with a victory for the first time since 1986...A victory would also give the Miners a nine-win season for just the third time in school history.

Toledo (8-3, 6-2 in MAC- co-Western Division Champions)
Head Coach: Tom Amstutz (Toledo, '77)
Career Record: 44-18 (5th year)
Record at UT: 44-18 (5th year)
Last Game: Toledo 44, Bowling Green 41 (Nov. 22)
Last Bowl: 2004 Motor City (Connecticut 39, Toledo 10)
Website: www.utrockets.com

Toledo Leaders:
Passing: Bruce Gradkowski, 189-302, 2,171 yards, 24 TDs
Rushing: Trinity Dawson, 1,170 yards, 5 TDs
Receiving: Steve Odom, 50 rec., 593 yards, 5 TDs

NOTING THE ROCKETS: Toledo is playing in a bowl game for the second straight season and the fourth time in five years....The Rockets scored 30 or more points in all but one game this season, topping the 40-point mark on five occasions....Senior QB Bruce Gradkowski, owner of 19 UT single-game, single-season and career passing records, was the co-winner of the Vern Smith Award as the MVP of the Mid-American Conference....Senior K Jason Robbins was named MAC Special Teams Player of the Year after going 12-for-12 on field goals and 48-of-49 on extra points with his lone miss coming on a blocked kick....Since the beginning of the 2000 season, Toledo has a record of 54-19 (.740), making it the 11th-winningest program in I-A over that time.

GAME NOTES: This marks the first meeting between the schools....Both teams are ranked in the top 20 in total offense - UTEP ranks 17th, averaging 454.4 yards per game, just edging out Toledo, who is 18th with a 453.9 average....Quarterbacks Jordan Palmer (UTEP) and Bruce Gradkowski (Toledo) have combined to pass for 16,253 yards and 141 touchdowns in their careers....Gradkowski will be the sixth different QB from a MAC school to play at Ladd-Peebles Stadium since 2000. In either the GMAC Bowl or Senior Bowl, the previous five have combined to complete 60 percent of their passes for 1,974 yards and 19 touchdowns with just four interceptions.

FORT WORTH BOWL

HOUSTON vs. KANSASb
Friday, December 23 Fort Worth, Texas
7:00 p.m. (CST) Amon G. Carter Stadium (44,008)
All-Time Series: Kansas leads 2-0
Last Meeting: Kansas 20, Houston 13 (Sept. 2, 1995)
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Gary Thorne (PxP), Ed Cunningham (Analyst)
Amon G. Carter Stadium Press Box Phone: (817) 257-7981

Houston (6-5, 4-4 in C-USA)
Head Coach: Art Briles (Texas Tech `79)
Career Record: 16-19 (3rd year)
Record at UH: 16-19 (3rd year)
Last Game: Houston 35, Rice 18 (Nov. 26)
Last Bowl: 2003 Sheraton Hawaii (Hawaii 54, Houston 48 - 3ot)
Website: www.uhcougars.com

Houston Leaders:
Passing: Kevin Kolb, 234-376, 3,044 yards, 19 TDs
Rushing: Ryan Gilbert, 1,030 yards, 9 TDs
Receiving: Vincent Marshall, 69 rec., 927 yards, 6 TDs

NOTING THE COUGARS: Houston is in a bowl game for the second time in three years under head coach Art Briles....He is the first Cougar coach to take a team to multiple bowl games since the legendary Bill Yeoman led UH to 11 bowl games from 1962 to 1984....UH is one of seven bowl teams that have produced a 3,000 yard passer (Kevin Kolb) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Ryan Gilbert). USC, Notre Dame, BYU, Fresno State, Northwestern and Akron are the others.

Kansas (6-5, 3-5 in Big 12)
Head Coach: Mark Mangino (Youngstown State, '87)
Career Record: 18-29 (4th year)
Record at KU: 18-29 (4th year)
Last Game: Kansas 24, Iowa State 21 (ot) (Nov. 26)
Last Bowl: 2003 Tangerine (N.C. State 56, Kansas 26)
Website: www.kuathletics.com

Kansas Leaders:
Passing: Brian Luke, 85-168, 934 yards, 6 TDs
Rushing: Jon Cornish, 679 yards, 9 TDs
Receiving: Mark Simmons, 39 rec., 554 yards, 3 TDs

NOTING THE JAYHAWKS: Kansas is also in a bowl game for the second time in three years, as the Jayhawks lost to Philip Rivers and North Carolina State in the 2003 Tangerine Bowl....KU linebacker Nick Reid was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year after leading the league in tackles per game at 9.6 ....Senior WR Mark Simmons, who has 39 catches for 554 yards this season, needs 181 yards receiving to break the school's career receiving record of 2,226 yards, held by Willie Vaughn....The Jayhawks have held eight of their 11 opponents to 21 points or less....Kansas was 6-0 at Memorial Stadium this season, but 0-5 on the road or at neutral sites.

GAME NOTES: Game features a classic battle of offense vs. defense - Houston ranks No. 14 in the nation in total offense, while Kansas is ranked 19th in total defense....Houston is seeking its first bowl victory since the 1980 Garden State Bowl, while Kansas last won a postseason game in the 1995 Aloha Bowl.

SHERATON HAWAI'I BOWL

UCF vs. NEVADA
Saturday, December 24 Honolulu, Hawai'i
3:00 p.m. (HST) (8:00 p.m. EST) Aloha Stadium (50,000)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Dave Barnett (PxP), Craig James (Analyst)

UCF (8-4, 7-1 C-USA East Division Champions)
Head Coach: George O'Leary (New Hampshire, '69)
Career Record: 60-48-0 (9th year)
Record at UCF: 8-15-0 (2nd year)
Last Game: Tulsa 44, UCF 27 (Dec. 3 - C-USA Championship)
Last Bowl: First Bowl Appearance
Website: www.ucfathletics.com

UCF Leaders:
Passing: Steven Moffett, 204-339, 2,624 yards, 19 TDs
Rushing: Kevin Smith, 976 yards, 6 TDs
Receiving: Brandon Marshall, 63 rec., 985 yards, 8 TDs

NOTING THE GOLDEN KNIGHTS: A win would match UCF's record for most victories since moving to Division I-A....The 1998 squad, led by Daunte Culpepper, finished 9-2....The Golden Knights are just the fourth team in I-A history to reach a bowl game after playing only four regular season home games....The Golden Knights will travel 4,753 miles to play in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl....Navy has the next-longest trip, going 2,738 miles from Annapolis, Md. to San Diego for the Poinsettia Bowl....UCF has played in Hawaii one other time, dropping a 45-14 decision to Hawaii on Oct. 21, 1995.

Nevada (8-3, 6-2 in WAC - Co-Champions)
Head Coach: Chris Ault (Nevada, '68)
Career Record: 176-73-1 (21st year)
Record at UN: 176-73-1 (21st year)
Last Game: Nevada 38, Fresno State 35 (Nov. 26)
Last Bowl: 1996 Las Vegas (Nevada 18, Ball State 15)
Website: www.nevadawolfpack.com

Nevada Leaders:
Passing: Jeff Rowe, 219-357, 2,751 yards, 20 TDs
Rushing: B.J. Mitchell, 1,221 yards, 10 TDs
Receiving: Caleb Spencer, 55 rec., 775 yards, 7 TDs

NOTING THE WOLFPACK: Nevada is making its first bowl appearance since defeating Ball State in the 1996 Las Vegas Bowl....This was the Wolfpack's first championship in the WAC since joining the league for the 2000 season....Head coach Chris Ault, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, was named Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year....It was the sixth conference Coach of the Year award for Ault in 21 years (covering three separate stints) as coach of the Wolfpack....Senior RB B.J. Mitchell was named WAC Offensive Player of the Year after the leading the league in rushing at 111.0 yards per game....He ran for 1,221 yards, the seventh-highest total in school history and had six 100-yard games....Nevada has scored 30 or more points in six of its last seven games and in all but one of its victories this season.

GAME NOTES: Nevada is the first team other than Hawaii to represent the WAC in the fourth year Sheraton Hawaii Bowl...UCF is playing in a bowl game for the first time in its history.

MOTOR CITY BOWL

MEMPHIS vs. AKRON
Monday, December 26 Detroit, Mich.
4:00 p.m. (EST) Ford Field (65,000)
All-Time Series: First Meeting
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Mark Jones (PxP), Chris Spielman (Analyst)

Memphis (6-5, 5-3 C-USA)
Head Coach: Tommy West (Tennessee `76)
Career Record: 66-63 (11th year)
Record at UM: 31-28 (5th year)
Last Game: Memphis 26, Marshall 3 (Nov. 26)
Last Bowl: 2004 GMAC (Bowling Green 51, Memphis 35)
Website: www.gotigersgo.com

Memphis Leaders:
Passing: Maurice Avery, 60-105, 724 yards, 5 TDs
Rushing: DeAngelo Williams, 1,726 yards, 15 TDs
Receiving: Ryan Scott, 34 rec., 474 yards, 3 TDs

NOTING THE TIGERS: Memphis is playing in its third consecutive bowl game, making it one of 29 programs that has done that....DeAngelo Williams has established new NCAA records for 100-yard games (33) and all-purpose yards (7,337). He ranks third in the nation in rushing this season with 1,726 yards....Maurice Avery is the fourth different Tiger to start at quarterback this season. He is the team's leading passer, second-leading rusher and second-leading receiver.

Akron (7-5, 5-3 in MAC - Eastern Division Champions)
Head Coach: J.D. Brookhart (Colorado State, '88)
Career Record: 13-10 (2nd year)
Record at Akron: 13-10 (2nd year)
Last Game: Akron 31, Northern Illinois 30 (Dec. 1)
Last Bowl: First Bowl Appearance
Website: www.gozips.com

Akron Leaders:
Passing: Luke Getsy, 244-455, 3,000 yards, 19 TDs
Rushing: Brett Biggs, 1,184 yards, 10 TDs
Receiving: Domenik Hixon, 68 rec., 1,147 yards, 7 TDs

NOTING THE ZIPS: Akron will be making its first-ever bowl appearance....The Zips earned the appearance after QB Luke Getsy threw a 36-yard TD pass to WR Domenik Hixon with 10 seconds remaining to give Akron a 31-30 win over Northern Illinois and the school's first MAC Championship....Akron is one of four teams this season (USC, Notre Dame, Miami (Ohio)) and 31 teams all-time to have a 3,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher and a 1,000-yard receiver....The Zips defense is ranked 23rd in the nation and is led by linebacker Jay Rohr (123 tackles).

GAME NOTES: This marks the first meeting between the schools....Memphis lost to Mid-American Conference member Bowling Green in last year's GMAC Bowl, 51-35....The Tigers played at both Michigan (1995) and Michigan State (1997) during the 1990's, but this will be their first game in the city of Detroit....Tiger RB DeAngelo Williams' size and style may remind some of a famous former No. 20 that played in Detroit, former Lion and Pro Football Hall of Famer Barry Sanders.

AUTO ZONE LIBERTY BOWL

TULSA at FRESNO STATE
Saturday, December 31 Memphis, Tenn.
12:00 p.m. (CST) Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium (62,380)
All-Time Series: Fresno State leads 4-0
Last Meeting: Fresno State 31, Tulsa 12 (Nov. 9, 2002)
Television: ESPN
Announcers: Gary Bender (PxP), Bill Curry (Analyst)
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Press Box Phone: (901) 272-0136

Tulsa (8-4, 6-2 C-USA West Division Champions)
Head Coach: Steve Kragthorpe (West Texas State `87)
Career Record: 20-17 (3rd year)
Record at Tulsa: 20-17 (3rd year)
Last Game: Tulsa 44, UCF 27 (Dec. 3 - C-USA Championship)
Last Bowl: 2003 Humanitarian (Georgia Tech 52, Tulsa 10)
Website: www.tulsahurricane.com

Tulsa Leaders:
Passing: Paul Smith, 209-337, 2,613 yards, 19 TDs
Rushing: Uril Parrish, 724 yards, 8 TDs
Receiving: Garrett Mills, 83 rec., 1,183 yards, 9 TDs

NOTING THE GOLDEN HURRICANE: Tulsa has won six of its last seven games, including winning the inaugural C-USA Championship game, 44-27 at UCF....The Golden Hurricane's two losses in league play were each by a touchdown or less. The offense averaged a league-high 34.5 points per C-USA game and the defense ranked second allowing just 22.5 points per league game....Senior Garrett Mills was the first tight end in league history to register a 1,000-yard receiving season and during the C-USA championship he established a new NCAA record for receiving yards by a tight end, currently at 1,183....Junior DB Nick Graham tied for fifth nationally and leads C-USA with six interceptions.

Fresno State (7-4, 5-3 in WAC)
Head Coach: Pat Hill (UC Riverside,'73)
Career Record: 71-42 (9th year)
Record at FSU: 71-42 (9th year)
Last Game: Louisiana Tech 40, Fresno State 28 (Dec. 2)
Last Bowl: 2004 MPC Computers (Fresno St. 37, Virginia 34 - ot)
Website: www.gobulldogs.com

Fresno State Leaders:
Passing: Paul Pinegar, 246-386, 3,122 yards, 29 TDs
Rushing: Wendell Mathis, 1,196 yards, 14 TDs
Receiving: Paul Williams, 40 rec., 682 yards, 7 TDs

NOTING THE BULLDOGS: Fresno State will be making its seventh straight bowl appearance....Senior defensive end Garrett McIntyre was named Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Despite missing two games, he had seven sacks, 10.5 tackles for loss and a blocked field goal...Senior QB Paul Pinegar has thrown 29 touchdown passes this season, giving him 83 in his career, a new Fresno State record and a figure that trails only USC's Matt Leinart among active quarterbacks.

GAME NOTES: Teams are former rivals in the Western Athletic Conference...Tulsa's Conference USA title was its first in football in 1985 when the Golden Hurricane were a perfect 5-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play....In all, Tulsa won 24 MVC titles in football....C-USA teams have won five of the last seven Liberty Bowls.