1994 Liberty Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1994 Liberty Bowl
was held on December 31, 1994, in Memphis, Tennessee
at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
. The game featured the , of the Big Ten Conference
, and the East Carolina Pirates, an independent team. Illinois won the game 30–0.
Illinois was led by head coach Lou Tepper
and quarterback Johnny Johnson, and had lost its previous two games. The team was making its twelfth bowl appearance, and its sixth bowl appearance in seven years, having lost its previous three bowls.
East Carolina entered the game with a 7–3 record.
and Jasper Strong. In the second quarter the Illini added a Chris Richardson field goal and a touchdown reception by Jason Dulick to pull away, 24-0. Illinois' final score came in the third quarter on another Johnson TD strike, this time to Ty Douthard. Johnson's four touchdown passes and 250 yards passing earned him Most Valuable Offensive Player and Most Valuable Player of the Game honors. The Illini defense forced four interceptions and a fumble, allowing a total of only 271 total yards. All-American linebacker Simeon Rice led the way with 10 tackles. The Liberty Bowl was the Illini's first Bowl victory since 1990. Illinois' 30-0 victory was the most lopsided win in Liberty Bowl history and was the only shutout posted among the 1994-95 Bowls.
(Rushing-Passing-Total): UI - 134-255-389; ECU - 92-179-271
Individual Statistical Leaders
Rushing (Att.-Yds.-TD): UI - Ty Douthard 13-52-0; Robert Holcombe
12- 46-0; ECU - Marcus Crandell 41-20-4-0-179.
Passing (Att.-Comp.-Int.-TD-Yds.): UI - Johnny Johnson 30-18-0-4-250; Scott Weaver 4-2-0-0-5; ECU - Marcus Crandell 41-20-4-0-179.
Receiving (No.-Yds.-TD): UI - Jasper Strong 3-96-1, Ken Dilger 7-60-1, Jason Dulick 3-30-1; ECU - Scott Richards 4-25-0, Jason Nichols 6-55-0.
Liberty Bowl
The Liberty Bowl is an annual U.S. American college football bowl game played in December of each year from 1959 to 2007 and in January in 2009 and 2010. The Liberty Bowl was sponsored by AXA Financial and was known as the AXA Liberty Bowl from 1997 to 2003...
was held on December 31, 1994, in Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium is a football stadium, located at the Mid-South Fairgrounds, in Midtown Memphis, Tennessee, United States. The stadium is the site of the annual AutoZone Liberty Bowl, and is the home field of the University of Memphis Tigers football team...
. The game featured the , of the Big Ten Conference
Big Ten Conference
The Big Ten Conference is the United States' oldest Division I college athletic conference. Its twelve member institutions are located primarily in the Midwestern United States, stretching from Nebraska in the west to Pennsylvania in the east...
, and the East Carolina Pirates, an independent team. Illinois won the game 30–0.
Illinois was led by head coach Lou Tepper
Lou Tepper
Lou Tepper is an American football coach and former player. He was the head football coach at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, a position he has held since the 2006 season. Previously, tepper served as the head coach at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Edinboro University of...
and quarterback Johnny Johnson, and had lost its previous two games. The team was making its twelfth bowl appearance, and its sixth bowl appearance in seven years, having lost its previous three bowls.
East Carolina entered the game with a 7–3 record.
Game
The Illini took a 14-0 first-quarter lead on Johnny Johnson touchdown passes to Ken DilgerKen Dilger
Kenneth Ray Dilger is a retired professional American football player.-Early years:Ken Dilger was raised in Mariah Hill, Spencer County, Indiana. He attended Heritage Hills High School in Lincoln City, Indiana where he played quarterback; he also starred in basketball and baseball...
and Jasper Strong. In the second quarter the Illini added a Chris Richardson field goal and a touchdown reception by Jason Dulick to pull away, 24-0. Illinois' final score came in the third quarter on another Johnson TD strike, this time to Ty Douthard. Johnson's four touchdown passes and 250 yards passing earned him Most Valuable Offensive Player and Most Valuable Player of the Game honors. The Illini defense forced four interceptions and a fumble, allowing a total of only 271 total yards. All-American linebacker Simeon Rice led the way with 10 tackles. The Liberty Bowl was the Illini's first Bowl victory since 1990. Illinois' 30-0 victory was the most lopsided win in Liberty Bowl history and was the only shutout posted among the 1994-95 Bowls.
Scoring summary
| Quarter | |Team | |Scoring summary | |Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | East Carolina | |||
| 1 | Illinois | Ken Dilger 17-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Johnson, Chris Richardson kick good | 7 | 0 |
| Illinois | Jasper Strong 73-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Johnson, Chris Richardson kick good | 14 | 0 | |
| 2 | Illinois | Chris Richardson 21-yard field goal | 17 | 0 |
| Illinois | Jason Dulick 5-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Johnson, Chris Richardson kick good | 24 | 0 | |
| 3 | Illinois | Ty Douthard 30-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Johnson, Chris Richardson kick no good | 30 | 0 |
| 4 | 30 | 0 | ||
| 30 | 0 | |||
Team Statistics
Team Statistics(Rushing-Passing-Total): UI - 134-255-389; ECU - 92-179-271
Individual Statistical Leaders
Rushing (Att.-Yds.-TD): UI - Ty Douthard 13-52-0; Robert Holcombe
Robert Holcombe
Robert Wayne Holcombe is a free agent fullback who has played for the St. Louis Rams and Tennessee Titans of the National Football League.-St. Louis Rams:...
12- 46-0; ECU - Marcus Crandell 41-20-4-0-179.
Passing (Att.-Comp.-Int.-TD-Yds.): UI - Johnny Johnson 30-18-0-4-250; Scott Weaver 4-2-0-0-5; ECU - Marcus Crandell 41-20-4-0-179.
Receiving (No.-Yds.-TD): UI - Jasper Strong 3-96-1, Ken Dilger 7-60-1, Jason Dulick 3-30-1; ECU - Scott Richards 4-25-0, Jason Nichols 6-55-0.