2009 Liberty Bowl

August 2023 March 2026 2009 AutoZone Liberty Bowl 50th Liberty Bowl LibertyBowl50logo.jpg Liberty Bowl 50th Anniversary logo. 2008 Kentucky Wildcats University of Kentucky East Carolina Pirates East Carolina University 6–6 SEC 9–4 C-USA Rich Brooks Skip Holtz 0 3 13 9 3 13 3 0 January 2 Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Memphis, Tennessee DT Ventrell Jenkins, Kentucky Bill LeMonnier (Big Ten Conference) 56,125 1.8 million per team https://web.archive.org/web/20081219075027/http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=494772 December 19, 2008 ESPN List of announcers of major college bowl games Mark Jones, Bob Davie 2.3 2007 2010 (Jan) The 2009 Liberty Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game played at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 2, 2009. The 50th edition of the Liberty Bowl, it was the first edition ever played in January. With sponsorship from AutoZone, the game was officially the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The game featured the East Carolina Pirates of Conference USA (C-USA) and the Kentucky Wildcats of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Kentucky overcame a 13-point halftime deficit to win, 25–19. Background East Carolina accepted an invitation to the bowl after their victory over the Tulsa Golden Hurricane in the 2008 C-USA Championship Game.Dawson Brett Dec 7, 2008 UK accepts Liberty Bowl bid http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20081207/SPORTS03/81207011/-1/nletter05?source=nletter-breakingnews dead https://archive.today/20120904190248/http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20081207/SPORTS03/81207011/-1/nletter05?source=nletter-breakingnews&nclick_check=1 2012-09-04 December 7, 2008 courier-journal.com The Courier-Journal / GannettDawson Brett December 8, 2008 Liberty Bowl awaits Wildcats: Jan. 2 in Memphis vs. East Carolina / UK: Has East Carolina in Liberty Bowl Courier-Journal C1, C2 Louisville, Ky. 141 20 Newspapers.com 181777305, 181777317; 181777227; 181776714, 181776735. 241465477.7 December 2008 ECU gets Kentucky in Liberty Bowl Cox News Service Cox Newspapers, Inc. COXNS00020081208e4c7000xf. East Carolina entered the game with a record of 9-4 and had been ranked as high as No. 15August 2025 In Associated Press Newswires, "Underdogs no more: East Carolina's latest upset pushes Pirates into AP Top 25" By RALPH D. RUSSO, 7 September 2008 (D9325NAO1; Factiva APRS000020080907e497003ta) says "East Carolina was No. 14 in the media poll released Sunday", and "FBC Top 25 Preview Capsules", 11 September 2008 (D934P2HO4; Factiva APRS000020080911e49b00318) says "Following upsets of Virginia Tech and West Virginia, East Carolina has climbed to 14th in the national rankings". in the AP Poll during the season.AP Poll Archive http://www.appollarchive.com/ dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090426041941/http://www.appollarchive.com/ 2009-04-26 2010-12-05August 2025 Kentucky was 6–6 and unranked. Game summary East Carolina led through much of the game. However, late in the fourth quarter, Kentucky defensive tackle Ventrell Jenkins picked up a fumble and returned it 56 yards for the game-winning touchdown. Jenkins was named the MVP of the game.CNN and AP report on 2009 Liberty BowlAugust 2025 The fumble recovery and return, marked by a vicious stiff arm Jenkins put on the opposing quarterback, received generous replay during bowl game broadcasts.Video clip of ESPN broadcast: ((ajcgn6)) Jan 2, 2009 Greatest Stiff Arm of the Year? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuHR9r26aE4 YouTube Scoring summary Scoring Play Score 1st QuarterECU - Ben Hartman 22-yard FG, 5:25ECU 3-0 2nd QuarterECU - Brandon Simmons 28-yard TD run (Hartman kick), 14:14ECU 10-0UK - Lones Seiber 21-yard FG, 8:59ECU 10-3ECU - Darryl Freeney 80-yard TD pass from Patrick Pinkney (kick blocked), 8:47ECU 16-3 3rd QuarterUK - David Jones 99-yard kickoff return (kick blocked), 14:48ECU 16-9UK - Kyrus Lanxster 19-yard TD pass from Mike Hartline (Seiber kick), 8:13Tie 16-16ECU - Hartman 43-yard FG, :06ECU 19-16 4th QuarterUK - Seiber 34-yard FG, 14:07Tie 19-19UK - Ventrell Jenkins 56-yard fumble return (kick blocked), 3:02UK 25-19 References Liberty Bowl Category:Liberty Bowl Category:East Carolina Pirates football bowl games Category:Kentucky Wildcats football bowl games Liberty Bowl Liberty Bowl