| The city of Memphis was electrified. Excitement abounded and Tiger faithful began buying tickets and preparing for the trip to the "Big Easy". |
| Playing in the first bowl game of the 2003 postseason and before a national television audience on ESPN, the Tigers would be challenged to stop the nation's top running back in Patrick Cobbs of UNT. And the team would have to succeed without the services of its top tailback, DeAngelo Williams. |
| Following three days of fun and practice, game day finally arrived on December 16th. |
| Memphis won the coin toss and deferred until the second half, giving the Mean Green the ball. |
| UNT gave the ball to Cobbs six times on the opening drive but were forced to call on kicker Nick Bazaldua when the drive stalled at the Tiger 30 yard line. Bazaldua booted a 47-yard field goal and the Mean Green led 3-0. |
| But this night would belong to the bowl hungry Tigers and the North Texas lead would be short lived. |
| After UM receiver Chris Kelley returned the kickoff to the Memphis 34-yard line, junior quarterback and New Orleans native Danny Wimprine took over. |
| When rushes by Darron White and Derron Parquet failed to gain yardage, Wimprine went up top and connected with wide out Darren Garcia for 63 yards to the UNT six yard line. Three plays later, Wimprine kept the ball and raced seven yards into the end zone for the go ahead score. |
| The Tiger defense, having had a taste of the North Texas offense, returned to the field determined to shut down the Mean Green. Three plays later, punter Brad Kadlubar kicked the ball back to the Tigers. |
| But possible disaster struck as tailback Parquet was knocked out of the game with a shoulder injury. Memphis would be forced to punt the ball in the hands of walk-on back LaKendus Cole to win the game. |
| Midway through the second quarter North Texas was forced to punt and the Memphis offense got the ball at the UM 24. Powered by the running of Cole and the passing of Wimprine, the Tigers drove the ball to the UNT 10 yard line before Wimprine found Kelley in the end zone for the team's second score of the game. Stephen Gostkowski added the extra point and the Tiger lead was 14-3. |
| Lightning would soon strike again. On the ensuing kick-off, Memphis's Shaka Hill would strip the ball from returner Kevin Moore and Cato Mott would recover at the UNT eight yard line. After three plays, Gostkowski was called on and connected on a 21-yard field goal. |
| The Tigers went to the locker room with a 17-3 halftime lead. |
| The third stanza of the 2003 New Orleans Bowl became a defensive battle and both teams were unable to move the ball until the two minute mark. |
| The Mean Green, starting near midfield, marched 58 yards in six plays with Cobbs going the final 35 yards for their first touchdown of the night. Suddenly the score read Memphis 17, North Texas 10 as the third quarter ended. |
| But the Tigers were on a mission and this game would not be lost in the final period. |
| With 12:28 left in the contest, Memphis regained the ball at their own 38 yard line. |
| Wimprine, the Tigers' record setting signal caller, hit receiver Darron White for 20 yards and fullback Robert Douglas gained three on his first carry of the game. After a face mask penalty against UNT, Cole had gains of two yards and 14 yards to the Mean Green five yard line. On second and goal, the sophomore from Houston High in Memphis, burst up the middle for the touchdown and a 24-10 lead. It was Cole's first collegiate touchdown and gave Memphis an insurmountable lead. |
| North Texas fought hard and with 2:26 left in the game scored again on a Cobbs run of two yards. |
| But the Tigers were undaunted and immediately pushed the Mean Green down field for yet another score. This one would ice the victory that had been so long awaited. |
| With Cole gaining yards on the ground and Wimprine connected with receivers Mario Pratcher and John Doucette, Memphis moved within field goal range and Gostkowski brought on the celebration with a 42 yard kick. |
| As the final seconds ticked off the clock, the players gave head coach Tommy West the traditional cooler bath and then carried their coach onto the field on their shoulders. |
| New Orleans Bowl director Ron Maestri presented the Tigers the championship trophy at midfield and Memphis quarterback Danny Wimprine was named the game's MVP. |
| Wimprine finished the game completing 17-of-23 pass attempts for 254 yards and one touchdown and ran for another. |
| LaKendus Cole was presented the game ball by head coach Tommy West after rushing for 62 yards and one score in a reserve role. |
| Memphis would complete the 2003 season with a record of 9-4, marking the best finish by a Tiger team since the 1963 season. |
| Indvidual Statistics |
| Rushing: MEM - Cole 27-62-1, Parquet 3-9-0, White 4-8-0, Wimprine 6-17-1, Avery 2-3-0, Douglas 1-3-0; UNT - Cobbs 23-110-2, Branch 2-10-0, Hall 8-2-0. |
| Passing: MEM - Wimprine 17-23-0-254-1; UNT - Hall 9-21-0-151-0. |
| Receiving: MEM - White 3-34-0, Scott 1-8-0, Garcia 2-109-0, Pratcher 2-62-0, Avery 3-13-0, Doucette 2-14-0, Kelley 1-10-1, Cole 3-3-0; UNT - Quinn 4-56-0, Branch 3-50-0, Blount 2-46-0. |
| Attendance: 25,184 (weather-temp 72 degrees indoor, wind-none). |