At some point Saturday, The University of Memphis football Tigers' season finale against Tulane before 17,269 at the Superdome in New Orleans turned into the Patrick Ramsey Air Show.
The Tulane quarterback scorched Memphis's No. 2-ranked defense for 360 yards and three touchdowns on 29-of-56 passing en route to a 37-14 victory over the Tigers.
Memphis, which lost five consecutive games to end the season after starting the year at 4-2, finished the 2000 campaign Saturday with a record of 4-7, including 2-5 in Conference USA while Tulane moved to 6-5 and 3-4 in C-USA.
Tulane, the nation's 109th-ranked defense after giving up a whopping 724 yards to Navy two Saturdays ago, held Memphis to just 301 total yards, the fewest given up by the Green Wave this season.
Meanwhile, Ramsey ignited his team offensively with two, second-quarter touchdown passes to Adrian Burnette, who finished the game with seven catches for 122 yards and three touchdowns. Terrell Harris added 100 yards on 10 receptions, helping Tulane to a 17-0 lead at half-time.
But Memphis safety Idrees Bashir would cut that margin to 17-7 with 9:03 remaining in the third quarter when he returned Green Wave running back Brant Hocke's fumble 66 yards for a touchdown.
Ramsey and Burnette would answer the Tigers four minutes later, though, this time hooking up for a 15-yard score and a 24-7 lead. Then, on Memphis's next possession, Tulane's Quentin Brown returned an interception 48 yards for touchdown, effectively ending the Tigers' chances at a comeback bid.
Memphis, after turning the ball over seven times against Cincinnati last week, had six turnovers Saturday.
After two Seth Marler field goals stretched Tulane's lead to 37-7, Tiger junior quarterback Neil Suber found Ryan Johnson for a 15-yard score with 3:58 remaining. Suber completed 14-of-30 passes for 133 yards, an interception and one TD. An ineffective Scott Scherer threw two interceptions on 10-of-24 passing.
The game marked only the second time this season an opponent has rushed for more than 100 yards on the Memphis defense. Mewelde Moore's 104 yards on 23 carries was the most rushing yards gained against the Tigers since Arkansas State rushed for 102 yards earlier this season.
