The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

CONSIDERED a “game changer” in the country’s sports tourism product, the inaugural Popeyes Bahamas Bowl provided a new arena of exposure for the Bahamas, proved the country could serve as a destination for elite NCAA Division I football and the winners of that historic contest were rewarded to commemorate that feat.

In the first of six bowl games scheduled to be hosted in the Bahamas, the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers withstood a 34-point rally from Central Michigan Chippewas and held on for the 49-48 win at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium on December 24.

Hilltopper players still on the roster were awarded with the official rings to commemorate the historic bowl win.

The rings have the WKU red towel logo and “Bahamas Bowl Champions” engraved on the front, with the Bahamas Bowl logo on one side and WKU’s helmet on the other.

Over 110 million viewers tuned in to watch the thrilling finish on Christmas Eve, which was broadcast live on ESPN.

The 2014 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl will be the first bowl game played outside the United States since the 2010 International Bowl in Toronto, and is the first postseason NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) bowl game outside of either the United States or Canada between two US teams since 1937.

It was also the first FBS Bowl win in school history for the Hilltoppers.

WKU senior quarterback Brandon Doughty was named the game’s offensive MVP and finished 31-42 for 486 yards and five touchdowns.

“When you get to come to a bowl like the Bahamas, you think it’s going to be pretty cool, but it has exceeded our expectations,” he said. “I think that’s important for us as a team, as a community in Bowling Green. So, it’s been really cool, really different, and something I’ll take with me the rest of my life.”

It was one of the most memorable finishes in NCAA bowl game history and set historic arks for offensive efficiency.

Trailing 49-42 with one second left to play, Chippewas quarterback Cooper Rush completed a hail mary to Jesse Kroll and after a series of laterals, the ball found its way into the hands of Titus Davis who dove to the pylon for the game’s tying touchdown.

The Chippewas elected to go for two and the win, however the pass fell to the turf incomplete.

Davis finished with six catches for 142 yards and four touchdowns.

The teams combined for 971 yards and 12 touchdowns, both new NCAA FBS bowl game records, and finished with a combined total of 1,254 yards, the second highest of all time.

The Popeyes Bahamas Bowl will feature a team from the Mid-American Conference in 2014 through 2016. In 2014 and 2015, the opponent will be from Conference USA and in 2016 it will be from the American Athletic Conference.