Bo's Bits: Blasts from the Past: SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

By Bo Carter, National Football Foundation 

Just when you thought he might be in retirement, record-setting Houston Cougars quarterback Case Keenum was literally back in the saddle for the NFL’s Houston Texans victories in the last two weekends. 

Who can forget his showing in the 2012 Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl (predecessor to the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl)? Keenum obliterated Big Ten Conference power Penn State for still-standing FRB records of 532 passing yards (45-of-69 with three touchdowns), 542 total offense yards and 76 total plays from scrimmage. It was a simply marvelous mastery of the Nittany Lions in a 30-14 Cougars triumph that cool afternoon Jan. 2, 2012. 

Incidentally, all those Keenum numbers remain as single-game records for venerable Cotton Bowl Stadium, where nearly 500 all-time college games have been played since it opened in 1930 – 93 years ago.

And those are just some of the accomplishments and game-breaking players in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl since its inception on Jan. 1, 2011. The inaugural Ticket City Bowl (predecessor to the Heart of Dallas Bowl) kept the longstanding New Year’s Day tradition at Cotton Bowl Stadium alive when Texas Tech of the Big 12, defeated Northwestern of the Big Ten, 45-36. 

Though the bowl switched venues to scenic Gerald J. Ford Stadium on the SMU campus in 2019, there have been no less memorable games and nationally-known individuals besides Keenum performing at peak levels. 

Take for example, 2011 game MVP and Texas Tech QB Taylor Potts, who passed for an impressive 369 yards, connecting on 43-of-56 attempts, and three TDs to pace the Red Raiders past Northwestern. 

Three years later, Louisiana Tech LB Houston Bates (a future NFL player) harassed, tackled and generally caused mayhem as his Bulldogs topped Illinois of the Big Ten, 35-18. His 4.5 sacks nabbed him game MVP laurels. 

And in 2013 Oklahoma State QB Clint Chelf (MVP) and his backup and current Oklahoma State offensive coordinator J.W. Walsh combined for five TD passes as the Cowboys outlasted Purdue, 58-14. 

In recent years, Louisiana star and future NFL San Francisco 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell had a field day as MVP for the Cajuns as they edged UTSA, 31-24, for the 2020 bowl trophy. All-American Athletic Conference QB Seth Henigan of nearby Denton, Texas, made Denton County residents and Memphis Tigers fan proud as he passed for 284 yards and three TDs on 20-of-29 tries to help Memphis blast Utah State, 38-10, in last year’s contest.

Yes, fans will have a chance to see many of this week’s SERVPRO First Responder Bowl participants and their relatives (Rice’s standout receiver Luke McCaffrey is the younger brother of former Stanford and current NFL San Francisco 49ers ace RB Christian McCaffrey) play on NFL Sundays or other levels of football after what promises to be one of the more intriguing tussles among the post-2023 season between the Owls and Bobcats.  

For additional information, pregame pageantry and ticket purchases, please access Firstresponderbowl.com. 

-www.firstresponderbowl.com-