Memphis’ Bowl Drought Comes to Winning End

Danny Wimprine had only great memories of playing in the Louisiana Superdome, and kept it that way in the New Orleans Bowl.

Wimprine threw for 254 yards and accounted for two touchdowns as Memphis (9-4) won its first bowl game in 32 years, a 27-17 victory over North Texas (9-4) on Tuesday night.

“It’s been a long time coming for this university,” said Wimprine, who was born about a decade after Memphis’ last bowl appearance -- a 28-9 victory over San Jose State in the 1971 Pasadena Bowl.

Memphis has been bad for most seasons since, including last season, when the Tigers went 3-9.

“All those seniors, those guys who have been here through so many tough times ... to go out as winners makes me feel great for this team,” said Wimprine, a junior.

Wimprine grew up in New Orleans and had played in the Superdome three times before, winning two Louisiana high school championships and a regular-season game for Memphis over Tulane this season.

He was named the most valuable player in the first of 28 college bowls.

“This is a great place for me,” Wimprine said. “It’s just another memory to add to the collection, and this is probably the best one.”

Memphis was without running back DeAngelo Williams, who was the Conference USA player of the year. But Wimprine moved the offense early by completing his first 10 passes, including passes of 63 yards to Darren Garcia and 50 yards to Mario Pratcher. Both passes set up touchdowns as the Tigers took a 17-3 lead. Wimprine finished 17 of 23 with no interceptions.

“He did a great job running the offense and not making a mistake, and that was the key,” Memphis Coach Tommy West said.

Wimprine’s touchdown pass was a 10-yarder to Chris Kelley as he crouched in tight coverage along the sideline. Wimprine also ran for a seven-yard score.

“He made some outstanding throws. He’s a smart quarterback. He moves around the pocket well,” North Texas Coach Darrell Dickey said. “We hadn’t given up a ton of big plays, but they hit us for some big plays.”

North Texas’ Patrick Cobbs, the nation’s leader in rushing yards per game with 157, gained 110 yards and scored two touchdowns.

“They would blitz the gaps and stop our offense,” Cobbs said.

“I thought we could break a big play if we kept pounding it, and we had a couple.”