There’s an aura felt on the turf of a New Year’s Six bowl, a feeling many Memphis faithful experienced for the first time. Underneath the 218 x 94.6 foot video board at the world-famous AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, the Tigers stormed onto the field for a monumental occasion in the program’s history, in hopes of capping off a wildly successful decade with a statement victory.
Tiger fans showed up in droves of blue and occupied more than half of the 55,000 onlookers, surprisingly outnumbering Penn State and the largest living alumni base in the world. But when the confetti cleared and the glimmering Cotton Bowl trophy was raised to the sky, a darker shade of blue remained celebrating.