(Memphis, Tenn.) -- No. 10 Tulane completed the best season in school history with a
new coach and a convincing 41-27 victory over Brigham Young in the Liberty Bowl.
Quarterback Shaun King accounted for three touchdowns and cornerback Michael Jordan
returned an interception for a score to lead Tulane (12-0), which set a school-record for
wins. The Green Wave could be the nation's lone unbeaten team if top-ranked Tennessee
falls to Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl on Monday.
It is Tulane's third perfect season, having gone 9-0 in 1929 and 5-0 in 1900, and their first
bowl victory since a 17-3 triumph over Colorado in this game in 1970.
"We had something to prove today," said King. "Hopefully, we answered some of our
doubters. Any time you go undefeated, you should be ranked in the top five. I'd love to play
Tennessee and I think it would be a good game. We've got a great group of guys who work
hard and know what it takes to be successful."
Tulane also become the ninth team and the seventh school to complete an undefeated season
during the decade, joining Nebraska (1994, '95, '97), Michigan (1997), Penn State (1994),
Alabama (1992), Miami (1991) and Washington (1991).
With assistant Chris Scelfo named as coach to replace Tommy Bowden, who left to take the
Clemson job on December 2nd, the Green Wave blitzed the Cougars, using a numer of big
plays to score 34 unanswered points after BYU had grabbed a 6-0 lead. Offensive
coordinator Rich Rodriguez, who is joining Bowden in South Carolina, stuck around for this
game and Tulane's offensive never missed a beat.
King tossed two scoring passes, including a perfectly-thrown 60-yard TD strike to Kerwin
Cook, and ran for another touchdown as the Green Wave shattered their record for points in
a bowl game. Tulane, which snapped a four-game bowl-losing streak, beat Temple, 20-14,
in the 1935 Sugar Bowl.
"You can't take anything away from my kids, and they are my kids," Scelfo said. "They can
beat anybody on any given Saturday."
Forced to play without suspended running back Ronney Jenkins, the Cougars' offense
scored on its second possession, but then was held out of the end zone until adding three
tallies in the fourth quarter.
"I want to congratulate Tulane," said BYU coach LaVell Edwards. "They did an excellent
job of preparing and executing their game plan. We had a bad third quarter and we just
didn't get it done today. We couldn't run the ball and the pass protection broke down."
Brigham Young (9-5) suffered its first bowl loss since falling to Ohio State in the 1993
Holiday Bowl.
The Cougars drove 65 yards in seven plays early in the first quarter and took a 6-0 lead
when Kevin Feterik hit Ben Horton for an 11-yard touchdown. BYU received a penalty for
excessive celebration and the 35-yard extra-point attempt was blocked, an ominous sign
because the Cougars would not score again until 11:38 remained and Tulane had the game
well in hand.
Brad Palazzo booted a 31-yard field goal for Tulane's first points and BYU was driving on
the ensuing possession when Jordan stepped in front of Feterik's pass into the right flat and
raced down the left sideline for a 79-yard score.
"The interception changed the momentum of the game," said King. "Mike made a great play
and the momentum never switched back. We showed a lot of composure. In the third
quarter, we found our rythym and maintained it."
King and Cook hooked up on a 37-yard completion on the ensuing drive that placed the ball
on BYU's 4-yard line and moments later King barreled his way for a three-yard TD run.
Palazzo's 23-yarder with 41 seconds left in the half gave the Green Wave a 20-6 lead.
King compiled 385 yards offensive yards. He completed 23-of-38 passes for 276 yards
without an interception and added 109 yards on 16 carries for the Green Wave, who
amassed 528 yards to 321 for the Cougars.
"Shaun King is a great player," said Scelfo. "But what impresses me most is what a great
person he is. He has a positive attitude, he is always smiling and he is someone kids can look
up to."
Cook caught four passes for 123 yards and the starting wideout tandem of JaJuan Dawson
and P.J. Franklin each hauled in six receptions apiece for 83 and 47 yards, respectively, for
Tulane.
"We had never seen their offense before," said Cougars linebacker Rob Morris. "They made
us spread out defensively and were were out of our element. Tulane is one of the best teams
in the country."
Tulane's offensive fireworks continued right away in the second half. On the fourth play of the
third quarter, King lofted a pass down the left side for Cook, who hauled in the perfect strike
for the 60-yard touchdown. King found Jamaican Dartez on a 13-yard score just over six
minutes later for a 34-6 Tulane lead.
"Tulane is a very good football team," added Edwards. "They are one of only two
undefeated teams in the country, and that's no small task. Shaun King is everything he's
cracked up to be. He made some nice choices and executed well."
Aaron Cupp ran for a three-yard score early in the fourth quarter for BYU and hauled in a
five-yard TD pass from Feterik with 9:24 left. Junior Mahe, who gained 70 yards on 16
carries in place of Jenkins, added a three-yard run with 1:30 remaining to complete the
scoring.
Feterik was 27-of-44 for 267 yards with one interception and Horton caught six passes for
67 yards for the Cougars.
The game marked the first meeting between the schools.
