1994 Liberty Bowl

May 2026 August 2023 March 2026 Liberty Bowl 36th Liberty Bowl 1994 1994 December 31 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, Tennessee St. Jude Illinois Fighting Illini 6–5 Lou Tepper Big Ten 14 10 6 0 East Carolina Pirates 7–4 Steve Logan Independent 0 0 0 0 46,212 Illinois QB Johnny Johnson ESPN List of announcers of major college bowl games Gary Thorne and Mike Mayock The 1994 Liberty Bowl was held on December 31, 1994, in Memphis, Tennessee, at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. The 36th edition of the Liberty Bowl, the game featured the Illinois Fighting Illini of the Big Ten Conference and the East Carolina Pirates, a football independent. Illinois won the game, 30–0. Illinois was led by head coach Lou Tepper and quarterback Johnny Johnson, and had lost its final two regular season games. The program was making its twelfth bowl appearance, and its sixth bowl appearance in seven years, having lost its previous three bowls. East Carolina was led by head coach Steve Logan, and had won its final two regular season games. This was the eighth bowl game in Pirates' team history. Game summary The Illini took a 14-0 first-quarter lead on Johnny Johnson touchdown passes to Ken Dilger and Jasper Strong. In the second quarter the Illini added a Chris Richardson field goal and a touchdown reception by Jason Dulick to pull away, 24-0. Illinois' final score came in the third quarter on another Johnson TD strike, this time to Ty Douthard. Johnson's four touchdown passes and 250 yards passing earned him Most Valuable Offensive Player and Most Valuable Player of the Game honors. The Illini defense forced four interceptions and a fumble, allowing a total of only 271 total yards. All-American linebacker Simeon Rice led the way with 10 tackles. The Liberty Bowl was the Illini's first Bowl victory since 1990. Illinois' 30-0 victory was the most lopsided win in Liberty Bowl history and was the only shutout posted among the 1994-95 bowls. Scoring summary Quarter Team Scoring summary Score Illinois East Carolina1 IllinoisKen Dilger 17-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Johnson, Chris Richardson kick good 7 0 Illinois Jasper Strong 73-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Johnson, Chris Richardson kick good 14 02 IllinoisChris Richardson 21-yard field goal 17 0 Illinois Jason Dulick 5-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Johnson, Chris Richardson kick good 24 0 3 Illinois Ty Douthard 30-yard touchdown reception from Johnny Johnson, Chris Richardson kick no good 30 0 4 30 0 30 0 Statistics Team statistics (Rushing-Passing-Total): UI - 134-255-389; ECU - 92-179-271 Individual statistical leaders Rushing (Att.-Yds.-TD): UI - Ty Douthard 13-52-0; Robert Holcombe 12- 46-0; ECU - Marcus Crandell 41-20-4-0-179. Passing (Att.-Comp.-Int.-TD-Yds.): UI - Johnny Johnson 30-18-0-4-250; Scott Weaver 4-2-0-0-5; ECU - Marcus Crandell 41-20-4-0-179. Receiving (No.-Yds.-TD): UI - Jasper Strong 3-96-1, Ken Dilger 7-60-1, Jason Dulick 3-30-1; ECU - Scott Richards 4-25-0, Jason Nichols 6-55-0. References Liberty Bowl Category:Liberty Bowl Category:East Carolina Pirates football bowl games Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football bowl games Category:December 1994 sports events in the United States Liberty Bowl