Dec. 10, 2008

Liberty Bowl Pregame Notes


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Bowl Central

Kentucky will be trying for a school record third-consecutive bowl victory when the Wildcats face the East Carolina Pirates in the 50th year of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tenn.

Three-straight bowl wins is something never accomplished in school history. The Wildcats knocked off Clemson, 28-20, in the 2006 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl, and then followed with a 35-28 win over Florida State in the 2007 Music City Bowl.

Just by playing in the game, the Wildcats duplicate a feat done only once before in school annals – participating in a third-consecutive post-season game. The 1949-50-51 teams played in the Orange, Sugar and Cotton bowls respectively, winning the last two.

This will be the 13th post-season appearance in school history, with the Wildcats carrying a 7-5 record in bowl games.

Kentucky enters the bowl game with a 6-6 record, marking the first time since 1954-55-56 that the Wildcats have won six games in three consecutive seasons.

East Carolina, led by Coach Skip Holtz, has a 9-4 record this year. With season-opening victories over ranked foes in Virginia Tech and West Virginia, the Pirates were among the nation’s top-25 ranked teams. East Carolina closed the regular season with three consecutive wins, including a 27-24 triumph at Tulsa on Dec. 6 in the Conference USA championship game.