{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Use American English|date=March 2026}} {{Infobox NCAA football yearly game |game_name=Liberty Bowl |subheader=40th Liberty Bowl |date_game_played=December 31 |year_game_played=1998 |football_season=1998 |title_sponsor=AXA/Equitable |image=AXA Equitable Liberty Bowl logo.gif |caption= |visitor_school=Brigham Young University |visitor_name_short=BYU |visitor_nickname=Cougars |visitor_record=9–4 |visitor_rank_AP= |visitor_rank_coaches= |visitor_rank_BCS= |visitor_coach=LaVell Edwards |visitor_conference=WAC |visitor_1q=6 |visitor_2q=0 |visitor_3q=0 |visitor_4q=21 |home_school=Tulane University |home_name_short=Tulane |home_nickname=Green Wave |home_record=11–0 |home_rank_AP=10 |home_rank_coaches=10 |home_rank_BCS=10 |home_coach=Chris Scelfo<br> (interim) |home_conference=C-USA |home_1q=10 |home_2q=10 |home_3q=14 |home_4q=7 |type=bg |stadium=Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium |city=Memphis, Tennessee |MVP=Shaun King, Tulane QB |odds= |anthem= |referee= Doyle Jackson (SEC) |halftime= |attendance=52,197 |payout=1,100,000 |us_network=ESPN |us_announcers=Rich Waltz, Rod Gilmore, Holly Rowe |intl_network= |intl_announcers= }}
The '''1998 Liberty Bowl''' was a college football bowl game played on December 31, 1998, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee. The 40th edition of the Liberty Bowl, the game matched the BYU Cougars of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and the Tulane Green Wave of Conference USA (C-USA). The game was sponsored by the Axa Equitable Life Insurance Company and was branded as the '''AXA/Equitable Liberty Bowl'''.
Tulane won the game, 41–27, to finish—along with the Tennessee Volunteers—as the only undefeated Division I-A teams for the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season.<ref name="unde">{{cite news |title=No surprise: Vols No. 1; Tennessee unanimous pick; Tulane seventh |first=Richard |last=Rosenblatt |agency=The Associated Press |newspaper=The Advocate |location=Baton Rouge, LA |date=January 6, 1999 |page=1D}}</ref>
==Teams==
===BYU=== {{see also|1998 BYU Cougars football team}} After opening the season 2–3, BYU won seven consecutive games to earn a spot in the WAC Championship Game. In that contest, the Cougars lost to Air Force 20–13.<ref name="UTNovember 25, 1998">{{cite news |title=Falcons find win even sweeter vs. BYU |first=Jeff |last=Call |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, UT |date=December 6, 1998 |page=D2}}</ref> Prior to the championship game, the Cougars accepted a bid to play in the 40th Liberty Bowl.<ref name="UTDecember 6, 1998">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=0lJWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=POwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5626%2C4729576 |title=Liberty rings for BYU |first=Jeff |last=Call |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, UT |date=November 25, 1998 |page=D1}}</ref> The appearance in the game marked BYU's first New Year's Eve bowl, and their first all-time appearance in the Liberty Bowl.<ref name="UTDecember 6, 1998"/> In mid-December, BYU head coach LaVell Edwards announced that starting running back Ronney Jenkins and defensive back Heshimu Robertson would be suspended for the Liberty Bowl for violating the Brigham Young University Honor Code.<ref name="UTDecember 17, 1998">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CqgpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RewDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5419%2C611788 |title=BYU suspends 2 key players |first=Dirk |last=Facer |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, UT |date=December 17, 1998 |access-date=January 17, 2010 |page=D1}}</ref>
===Tulane=== {{see also|1998 Tulane Green Wave football team}} The 1998 Tulane squad entered the season with returning C-USA Offensive Player of the Year Shaun King at quarterback and picked to finish tied for second place with East Carolina in the preseason conference rankings.<ref name="July 23, 1998">{{cite news |title=Wave's King picked to be tops on offense |first=Trey |last=Iles |newspaper=The Times-Picayune |location=New Orleans, LA |date=July 23, 1998 |page=D2}}</ref> Following their week two victory over SMU, local media started to mention the Green Wave as a potential at-large opponent to play in the Sugar Bowl as part of the inaugural Bowl Championship Series (BCS).<ref name="September 18, 1998">{{cite news |title=If Wave finishes perfect, Sugar may call |first=Ted |last=Lewis |newspaper=The Times-Picayune |location=New Orleans, LA |date=September 18, 1998 |page=D1}}</ref> Although Tulane finished the regular season with an 11–0 record, since they finished outside the sixth position in the final BCS standings, the Green Wave did not qualify for a BCS bowl game. Instead they were invited to the Liberty Bowl as C-USA champions.<ref name="November 25, 1998">{{cite news |title=Tulane to face BYU in Liberty |agency=The Associated Press |newspaper=The Times-Picayune |location=New Orleans, LA |date=November 25, 1998 |page=C1}}</ref> The appearance in the game marked Tulane's first bowl since the 1987 Independence Bowl, and their third all-time appearance in the Liberty Bowl.<ref name="November 21, 1998">{{cite news |title=Tulane already Liberty's top choice |first=Trey |last=Iles |newspaper=The Times-Picayune |location=New Orleans, LA |date=November 21, 1998 |page=D3}}</ref>
Following the conclusion of the regular season, on December 2 head coach Tommy Bowden resigned as head coach to accept the same position at Clemson.<ref name="December 3, 1998">{{cite news |title=Bowden bows out, takes Clemson job |first=Trey |last=Iles |newspaper=The Times-Picayune |location=New Orleans, LA |date=December 3, 1998 |page=A1}}</ref> At that time offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez was named interim head coach through at least the Liberty Bowl.<ref name="December 3, 1998"/> Although Rodriguez was thought to be the top candidate for the coaching vacancy, on December 7 Tulane announced Georgia offensive coordinator Chris Scelfo as Tulane's new head coach.<ref name="December 8, 1998">{{cite news |title=Tulane surprises: It's coach Scelfo |first=Trey |last=Iles |newspaper=The Times-Picayune |location=New Orleans, LA |date=December 8, 1998 |page=A1}}</ref> At the time of the announcement, officials also stated Scelfo would serve as head coach in the bowl game instead of Rodriguez, and that most of Bowden's staff would remain in place for the Liberty Bowl.<ref name="December 9, 1998">{{cite news |title=Tulane assistants will stay through Liberty Bowl game |first=Mary |last=Foster |agency=The Associated Press |newspaper=The Advocate |location=Baton Rouge, LA |date=December 9, 1998 |page=2D}}</ref>
==Game summary== In a game ultimately dominated by Tulane, BYU scored the first points of the game. Early in the first, Kevin Feterik hit Ben Horton for an 11-yard touchdown reception, and after Owen Pochman missed the extra point the Cougars took an early 6–0 lead.<ref name="UTJan 1, 1999">{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GegRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=TOwDAAAAIBAJ&dq=liberty%20bowl%20tulane&pg=3086%2C167146 |title=King in Memphis: Green Wave QB drowns BYU |first=Dirk |last=Facer |newspaper=Deseret News |location=Salt Lake City, UT |date=January 1, 1999 |access-date=January 17, 2010 |page=D1}}</ref><ref name="1NOJanuary 1, 1999">{{cite news |title=Liberty Bowl statistics |newspaper=The Times-Picayune |location=New Orleans, LA |date=January 1, 1999 |page=D7}}</ref> The Green Wave responded on the following drive with a 31-yard Brad Palazzo field goal to cut the lead in half.<ref name="1NOJanuary 1, 1999"/> With BYU driving on the ensuing possession, Michael Jordan intercepted a Feterik pass and returned it 79 yards for touchdown.<ref name="UTJan 1, 1999"/><ref name="int">{{cite news |title=Jordan's interception breaks record |first=Glenn |last=Guilbeau |newspaper=The Advocate |location=Baton Rouge, LA |date=January 1, 1999 |page=8D}}</ref> The return was the longest in the history on the Liberty Bowl and gave Tulane a 10–6 lead.<ref name="UTJan 1, 1999"/><ref name="int"/> In the second quarter, Shaun King scored on a three-yard run and Palazzo hit a 23-yard field goal to give Tulane a 20–6 lead at the half.<ref name="1NOJanuary 1, 1999"/><ref name="king">{{cite news |title=Perfect. King, Tulane shred BYU for 12–0 record |first=Trey |last=Iles |newspaper=The Times-Picayune |location=New Orleans, LA |date=January 1, 1999 |page=D1}}</ref> King continued the scoring in the third with a pair of touchdown passes to cap two 82-yard drives. The first came on a 60-yard pass to Kerwin Cook and the second on a 13-yard pass to Jamaican Dartez.<ref name="1NOJanuary 1, 1999"/><ref name="king"/> With Tulane leading 34–6 entering the fourth quarter, BYU scored the first of three late touchdowns on a three-yard Aaron Cupp touchdown run.<ref name="UTJan 1, 1999"/><ref name="1NOJanuary 1, 1999"/> Tulane responded on the next drive with its final points of the game on a five-yard Toney Converse run to extend their lead to 41–13.<ref name="1NOJanuary 1, 1999"/> The Cougars closed the contest with an 18-yard Cupp reception for a score and a three-yard Reno Mahe touchdown run to bring the final score to 41–27.<ref name="UTJan 1, 1999"/><ref name="1NOJanuary 1, 1999"/> For his 276 yards passing, 109 yards rushing and three total touchdowns, Tulane quarterback Shaun King was named the game's Most Valuable Player.<ref name="king"/>
{{AmFootballScoreSummaryStart|VisitorName=BYU|HomeName=TU|state=expand}} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=1 | Time=8:49 | Team=BYU | DrivePlays=7 | DriveLength=65 | DriveTime=2:50 | Type=RecTD | Receiver=Ben Horton | QB=Kevin Feterik | yards=11 | kickresult=no good | Kicker=Owen Pochman | Visitor=6 | Home=0 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=1 | Time=4:23 | Team=TU | DrivePlays=11 | DriveLength=56 | DriveTime=4:26 | Type=FG | yards=31 | Kicker=Brad Palazzo | Visitor=6 | Home=3 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=1 | Time=1:35 | Team=TU | DrivePlays= | DriveLength= | DriveTime= | Type=IntTD | Def=Michael Jordan | yards=79 | kickresult=good | Kicker=Brad Palazzo | Visitor=6 | Home=10 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=2 | Time=10:18 | Team=TU | DrivePlays=7 | DriveLength=58 | DriveTime=2:29 | Type=RushTD | Runner=Shaun King | yards=3 | kickresult=good | Kicker=Brad Palazzo | Visitor=6 | Home=17 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=2 | Time=00:41 | Team=TU | DrivePlays=10 | DriveLength=45 | DriveTime=4:09 | Type=FG | yards=23 | Kicker=Brad Palazzo | Visitor=6 | Home=20 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=3 | Time=13:48 | Team=TU | DrivePlays=4 | DriveLength=82 | DriveTime=2:12 | Type=RecTD | Receiver=Kerwin Cook | QB=Shaun King | yards=60 | kickresult=good | Kicker=Brad Palazzo | Visitor=6 | Home=27 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=3 | Time=7:27 | Team=TU | DrivePlays=11 | DriveLength=82 | DriveTime=2:12 | Type=RecTD | Receiver=Jamaican Dartez | QB=Shaun King | yards=13 | kickresult=good | Kicker=Brad Palazzo | Visitor=6 | Home=34 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=4 | Time=11:38 | Team=BYU | DrivePlays=9 | DriveLength=67 | DriveTime=3:27 | Type=RushTD | Runner=Aaron Cupp | yards=3 | kickresult=good | Kicker=Owen Pochman | Visitor=13 | Home=34 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=4 | Time=9:24 | Team=TU | DrivePlays=6 | DriveLength=76 | DriveTime=2:14 | Type=RushTD | Runner=Toney Converse | yards=5 | kickresult=good | Kicker=Brad Palazzo | Visitor=13 | Home=41 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=4 | Time=8:06 | Team=BYU | DrivePlays=4 | DriveLength=20 | DriveTime=1:18 | Type=RecTD | Receiver=Aaron Cupp | QB=Kevin Feterik | yards=18 | kickresult=good | Kicker=Owen Pochman | Visitor=20 | Home=41 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry | Quarter=4 | Time=1:30 | Team=BYU | DrivePlays= | DriveLength= | DriveTime= | Type=RushTD | Runner=Reno Mahe | yards=3 | kickresult=good | Kicker=Owen Pochman | Visitor=27 | Home=41 }} {{AmFootballScoreSummaryEnd|Visitor=27|Home=41}}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
{{1998 bowl game navbox}} {{Liberty Bowl navbox}} {{BYU Cougars bowl game navbox}} {{Tulane Green Wave bowl game navbox}}
Liberty Bowl Category:Liberty Bowl Category:BYU Cougars football bowl games Category:Tulane Green Wave football bowl games Category:1998 in sports in Tennessee Category:December 1998 sports events in the United States