Liberty Bowl Postgame

First things first. Lets get down to the football business. The game had a bizarre, almost poetic feel. With six minutes left and the game tied, I realized that we were teetering on all sorts of ledges. Is this a winning season or a losing one? A good team or a bad team? A group of chokers who stared down victory and blinked against South Carolina and Georgia, or a resilient bunch who shrugged off injury and gaping holes in experience to find a way to win 6 games and get to a bowl? A program on the rise or one that has peaked?

The Cats answered. They answered. Where to start?

Mike Hartline who, while reportedly battling a case of what San Diegans refer to as Montezuma's Revenge, played the best game he can play at perfect time.

Kyrus Lanxter and Gene McKaskill played well, factored in the win and gave us some hope for next year's outlook at wideout. (Recall that the WRs confidence going into next year was one of my keys to the game. It played out the way I'd hoped.)

David "Bookends"Jones, after playing his best overall game week one against Louisville, made the biggest play of his career in his final game as a collegiate with a 99 yard kickoff return to start the second half. (Which I missed, by the way, thanks to the Liberty Bowl's lack of television monitors and world's worst PA system)

The D. After arm tackling their way through a Mumme era-esque first half, they stepped up big in the second.

Tony Dixon, for finishing his career the right way and gaining some tough yards when the Cats needed them.

All in all, a great way to end the season. More about the overall Memphis experience (awesome) later.