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The New Orleans bowl was important to the city as well as the Owls

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The New Orleans bowl was important to the city as well as the Owls

Here is their comment on the game itself

Game Blog: New Orleans Bowl, 4th Quarter | NOLA.com

Game Blog: New Orleans Bowl, 4th Quarter
Posted by David Gladow December 21, 2007 9:58PM
Categories: College Sports, New Orleans Bowl
Memphis gets a gift at the end of the quarter, thanks to an ill-advised Rusty Smith interception. Down 10, this could be the play that gets them back in it.

Then again, with their starting quarterback out, the Tigers could have trouble moving it, let alone getting 10.

It's been an intriguing game, and the final period figures to be just as interesting.

And the rule of no starting quarterback outweighs the rule of bad momentum … at least on this possession. FAU could stand to have a few more smart plays and a few less dumb ones from here on.

The Tigers are having problems covering Harmon. He just notched his sixth reception of the day, this one going for 30 yards … FAU is in the unique position of having to run out the clock with a passing offense. Then again, given the spread of the spread (offense, I mean) around the country, I guess several teams run into this issue with regularity nowadays … On fourth-and-3 they go, rather than attempt a long field goal, and they convert. Smith is making the throws tonight … Great individual effort by Jean for a 21-yard gain on the screen pass. The Owls are close to putting this game away … Edgecomb goes in for the touchdown, and it looks like an FAU bowl win. FAU 44, Memphis 27.

So we trade some punts, and the clock continues to run.

With the game wrapping up, let's recap, shall we?

I said early on the most ineresting battle would be of physicality – had FAU's recruiting proceded to such a degree that they could physically match up with a more established program? The answer was a resounding yes. Memphis ran the ball better, and generated some heat on Smith from time-to-time, but it didn't affect the outcome of the game in the slightest. FAU controlled this one almost entirely from the outset.

What a fantastic performance by Rusty Smith (five touchdowns!), and what a great win for Howard Schnellenberger. The mustached one has his share of big bowl wins, but for an upstart program in its first bowl game ever, it's a special win, and it's a win few coaches will ever get to experience.

Congrats to the Owls, and thanks to the Tigers for making it as good a contest as it was. A quality New Orleans Bowl can only help the city and community at large, and games like this will help make it so. For that, I'm thankful to to both teams
.

Happy Holidays, folks!

Final score: FAU 44, Memphis 27.

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COMMENTS (2)Post a commentPosted by SlidellSam on 12/22/07 at 1:01AM
Watched entire game. By far the best match-up in this Bowl's history. The crowd looked like it might have been the largest, but nowhere near what it could be.
Perhaps some VERY INNOVATIVE marketing ideas could be implemented by the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the folks at the Superdome, and others to dramatically increase the attendance. I'm sure those folks in town a few days before Christmas helps the economy.
It was really a pretty good game and show-cased some excellent players. That FAU quarterback is going to be a 'winner.' Always good to see Howard S. who by now is truly a legernd.
This used to be a game I "wrote off." I'm glad I watched!

Inappropriate?  Alert us. Post a commentPosted by div1lb on 12/22/07 at 2:00AM
I thought it was a great game to watch. It was fun, exciting, and interesting when Memphs got within 3 points. New Orleans is going to make out like fat rats this year with all the bowls and All star game. I hope this New Orleans Bowl grows and grows.

Remember this is the bigest game many of these kids will ever play. Nice that it is the only game on tv, so the entire nation can watch it (technically)

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