MOBILE, Ala. — Giving Paul Smith and the nation’s top-rated offense extra chances can lead to disaster — and a plethora of points. Just ask Bowling Green.
Smith had his NCAA-record 14th consecutive 300-yard passing game, and Tulsa converted four fumble recoveries into first-half touchdowns on the way to a 63-7 romp over the Falcons in the GMAC Bowl on Sunday night.
With all that help, the Golden Hurricane (10-4) took a 35-0 halftime lead and capped coach Todd Graham’s first season by reaching 10 wins for the first time since 1991. Tulsa had never scored more than 31 points in 14 previous bowl games.
“We did exactly what we set out to do, so it was an incredible win,” Graham said. “It’s going to give us something to build on.”
They’ll do it without the departing Smith, who passed for 312 yards and five touchdowns.
It was the largest margin of victory in bowl history, topping Alabama’s 61-6 win over Syracuse in the 1953 Orange Bowl.
