By Charlie Leffler
Tune out after 15 seconds?
It was predicted that the match up between BYU and Louisville would be one of the most exciting offensive games of the bowl season. BYU came into the game as the top offensive team in the country. Louisville was known as a highly potent team on offense. So, it was ironic that the game turned into a defensive battle. What was even more ironic was the fact that the most exciting play of the game was the very first one.
U of L’s Zek Parker took the opening kickoff and ran it back 70 yards to the Cougar 22.
The play won Parker ‘The Most Electrifying Play of the Game’ award.
“It just came to me,” said Parker. “When the hole opened, I just hit it and the next thing I knew, I was at the thirty and forty and then I made the play. It think it was a big lift… it started the team off right and got our confidence going so we were ready to play.
Record Setting Receiver?
BYU’s only touchdown of the game came off a trick play. With 7:56 left in the second quarter, Cougar offensive lineman Dustin Rykert moved backwards from the line and caught a lateral from quarterback Brandon Dolman. The 6-7, 310 Rykert then rumbled 10-yard to the goal line bowling over several Cardinal defensive players on his way in for the score.
Afterwards it was jokingly announced that the touchdown reception might have set a record for the biggest receiver ever to score a touchdown in Liberty Bowl history.
Louisville’s Curry Burns was named defensive player of the game, and when asked if it was possible to stop a player that size he had an immediate response. “Yeah,” Burns said it could be done, “put eleven people on him.”
It is also ironic that only a week earlier the play was one that BYU head coach Gary Crowton had lobbied to have made illegal.
No Freeze on Attendance this Year
After Cardinal fans had to sit through last year’s sub-zero wind-chill it was thought that attendance would be down for this year’s Liberty Bowl. To make matters worse, it was reported that several problems had occurred with gates being locked making it difficult for fans to enter and leave and also the treatment they received by stadium employees.
Bowl officials made several pleas to fans that problems with last year’s bowl were corrected and they should come to the game but still it was expected that there would be a low turnout.
Weather forecasts predicted temperatures to once again be around freezing and not may BYU fans were expected to make the trip from Utah.
Yet when the final tallies were collected 58,968 fans attended the game making it the largest Liberty Bowl attendance since 61,497 watched Air Force defeat Mississippi State ten years ago.
Taking Care of Your Friends Part II
Earlier this year, Dave Ragone sit up his best friend tight end Chip Mattingly for a touchdown catch. The score was Mattingly’s only reception of the year.
With 14-seconds left in the first half Ragone took care of his friend once again. On a second and goal from the one yard line Mattingly broke to the left and became wide open in the endzone. Ragone’s quick strike was pulled in and the Cards led 14-7.
It was only Mattingly’s second reception of the year. Both were for touchdowns.
No Monkeys?
With four straight appearances in bowl games and four consecutive losses many felt that U of L head coach John L. Smith had to win the Liberty Bowl to get the monkey off his back.
“Everybody says I got the monkey off my back,” said Smith, “I’m just proud for my kids, they’re the ones playing the game, they’re the ones this is all about… Coaches are paid to live with a monkey on your back.”
In fact, Smith could have been carrying two monkeys. Up until Louisville defeated BYU, Conference USA had gone 0-3 in bowl games.
Don’t Pick on the Little Guy
Cardinal receiver Damien Dorsey has had a trying year to say the least. Earlier this year Dorsey’s mother passed away. He wanted to take his mind off of the tradgey through his play on the field. Yet, in football he broke his wrist and was forced to sit out yet he would not be kept off the field. It was thought he would be out for the season.
Still, Dorsey returned to play against Cincinnati had had several receptions despite the fact that he wore a cast. The next week against Tulane, Dorsey broke his toe and was once again forced to the sidelines. Once again it was said that he was out for the season.
Yet, once again Dorsey worked to get back on the field. And despite the small cast on his arm he played in the Liberty Bowl.
So when a BYU defensive back made comments about his size Dorsey and his teammates wanted to make him pay.
“It was third and three,” said Louisville quarterback Dave Ragone. “The play’s not supposed to go to him (Dorsey) but prior to that their (BYU) DB said something to Damien Dorsey that upset me a little bit. He looked at him and goes, ‘You shouldn’t be playing Division I football because of your size.'” The 5-7, 170 receiver did not reply verbally but with his play.
“Anyone who knows Damien Dorsey’s story and how he’s come through adversity and what he’s gone through this year, I knew that if I got him the ball he make something happen,” said Ragone.
Dorsey took the two yard pass and broke it for 17-yards. Two plays later tight end Ronnie Ghent scored to put Louisville ahead 28-10.
