PRE-GAME NOTES

• Western Michigan University enters tonight's game 0-3 all-time in bowl games, dating back to the Aviation Bowl in 1961.
• WMU has been to two bowl games in the past three years (2006 and 2008 seasons).  It had only been to two bowls in the previous 45 years.
• Coming into tonight's game, WMU is 3-5-1 against teams from the state of Texas.  The last time was in 1992 when the Broncos tied TCU, 17-17.
• Game captains: E.J. Biggers, Louis Delmas, Tim Hiller, Branden Ledbetter
• WMU won the coin toss and elected to defer its choice to the second half.

FIRST QUARTER NOTES

• Jamarko Simmons' reception on WMU's first play from scrimmage was his 99^th reception this season, which is a new single-season record at WMU.  Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings previously held the record.
• After Rice's 26-yard touchdown rush by Chase Clement, WMU has not scored first in four-straight bowl games.
• For the fourth time in as many bowl games, WMU found itself down by double-digits at some point in the game (30-yard field goal by Rice's Clark Fangmeier made it 10-0).
• In the first quarter Simmons, who is the Bronco's leading receiver, was thrown at just one time.
• Rice was 3-for-5 on third down, while WMU was 0-for-2.

SECOND QUARTER NOTES

• Londen Fryar moved into a fifth place tie with Mike Wood for career pass break-ups at WMU.  Fryar now has 27 in his four years as a Bronco.
• Simmons' second reception of the game gives him 100 receptions on the season.  He is the only Bronco to ever record 100 catches in a season.
• Second straight bowl game WMU has opened in a 0-24 deficit (24-0 in second quarter of 2006 International Bowl vs. Cincinnati).
• The Broncos have only been down 24-points once this season, against Ball State in the regular season finale (38-14 heading into the fourth quarter).
• Branden Ledbetter recorded his first reception in the waning seconds of the first half.
• Tim Hiller has thrown multiple interceptions in back-to-back games (two at Ball State and two at the Texas Bowl).
• The scoreless first half is the first time WMU has been shutout in a half this season.  The fewest points scored in a half this season is eight (at Ball State).
• Rice led WMU in time of possession (21:02 to 8:58) and in third down conversions (9-for-12 to 1-for-7).

THIRD QUARTER NOTES

• WMU's defense forced a punt on Rice's first possession in the first and second half.  The three-and-out on the first possession in the third quarter was Rice's first of the game.
• Brandon West went over the 1,000 yard mark on the season after gaining 56 yards in the game. 
• Attendance: 58,880. Largest crowd ever in WMU bowl history.
• E.J. Biggers completed his second career pass in a bowl game to senior free safety Louis Delmas.  It is Delmas' first career reception.
• The scoreless three quarters for WMU is the longest scoring drought of the season for the Broncos.  It is the second time this season WMU has been shutout in three quarters of play (at Temple ? 1^st, 2^nd, and 4^th quarters).

FOURTH QUARTER NOTES

• Rice's 38 points is the most points scored in the three year history of the Texas Bowl.
• Simmons broke the single-season record for receiving yards at WMU with 92 yards tonight, giving him 1,276 this year. Jennings previously held that record as well.
• Hiller's touchdown pass to Kirk Elsworth was his 35^th of the year, which is a single-season record at WMU.  The score snapped a 53:27 scoring drought.
• Rice's 457 total yards is the most yards allowed in a bowl game in WMU history.
• Hiller's two touchdown passes ties the school record for TD passes in a bowl game (Tony Kimbrough ? 1988 California Bowl).
• The nine wins this season ties the school record for most wins in a season (1988).
• Hiller's 198 yards passing gives him 3,725 for the season, breaking single-season yardage mark previously held by Tim Lester (who was in attendance at tonight's game.