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UNC likely headed to Charlotte for bowl
Submitted by jpg on 12/02/2008 - 21:42
North Carolina’s football team appears to be the choice of the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte.
“I think the chances are good that it’s going to happen,” said Will Webb, the executive director of the Meineke Car Care Bowl.
He added that an offer had not yet been formally made to the university.
UNC officials could not be reached for comment.
UNC (8-4) is likely to play No. 23 Pittsburgh or West Virginia in the Dec. 27 game at Bank of America Stadium.
The ACC has nine bowl tie-ins and the complete lineup won’t be finalized until after Saturday’s championship game between Virginia Tech and Boston College.
But some major pieces appeared to have fallen into place Tuesday, setting off a chain reaction.
Clemson, with newly-minted head coach Dabo Swinney, will jump up the ACC bowl ladder and make a trip to the Gator Bowl, according to ACC and bowl sources, allowing Charlotte an opportunity to bring in UNC.
The Tar Heels’ last bowl trip was to Charlotte in 2004, a 37-24 loss to Boston College.
Butch Davis’ second team improved from 4-8 to 8-4 and was in the Coastal Division title mix deep into November.
A late loss to N.C. State appears to have cost the Heels a bigger bowl prize.
The Chick-fil-A Bowl in Atlanta, which chooses first after the ACC champion is decided for the Orange Bowl, is set to select No. 15 Georgia Tech (9-3), the highest-ranked ACC team. Tech would play on Dec. 31 against either Mississippi or LSU.
Clemson would be the big mover in heading to the Gator, which chooses next. The Tigers didn’t reach bowl eligibility until the final Saturday of the regular season. They beat South Carolina 31-14, which secured the job for Swinney and improved the Tigers’ record to 7-5 overall.
At 4-4 in the league, they are eligible for any conference bowl tie-in except the Orange Bowl, which goes to the league champion.
The Champs Bowl in Orlando, Fla., chooses after the Gator Bowl and is ready to select Florida State (8-4), according to ACC and bowl sources.
Under the ACC bowl agreement, the championship game loser cannot fall past the Music City Bowl in Nashville, meaning either Virginia Tech or Boston College would likely head there.
The Charlotte bowl had targeted Clemson, UNC and N.C. State. On Monday, the league announced the NCAA would not allow the Wolfpack to fill one of its conference affiliated bowl
tie-ins because, at 6-6, they can’t jump a 7-5 team.
The Meineke Car Care Bowl, originally known as the Continental Tire Bowl, has been a success story since its inception in 2002 in part because of its ability to attract regional teams.
The Tar Heels’ Big East opponent would be determined on Saturday but Pittsburgh, which is 8-3, is considered the favorite heading into its game against Connecticut on Saturday.
UNC has already played Big East eligible teams Rutgers and UConn this season, and Charlotte bowl officials want to avoid a rematch. That leaves Pitt or West Virginia. The Panthers beat WVU on Saturday. If Pitt loses on Saturday, the Mountaineers (7-4) could take the bid with a win over South Florida.
Miami, Wake Forest, Maryland and N.C. State are the ACC’s other bowl-eligible teams.
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Comments
dejavu
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 23:49 — gvillegatrall i'm saying is we saw the same thing out of NCSU the year before. slow, putrid start and then a late run. same thing this year.
blame it on people getting hurt. that is fine with me. just let other Tarheel fans blame injuries for not winning 9 - 10 games this year when they feel the need.
we'll have to wait till next year to see if things change. I know one thing, the future looks bright at QB for the Pack. the rest of the positions i'm not so sure about.
Children please...
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 14:01 — JPDOhioAs much as I love and understand the passion for both schools, let's take a step back and look at where both programs are today. My take is that the programs are closer to each other than many fans of either would like to admit.
UNC got off to a great start, but I had the feeling that they were on a bubble that was likely to burst at some point. The loss of Yates started it all. Like State, UNC is a one QB team. Cam Sexton is their Daniel Evans and it is not a good sign that Mike Paulus has not stepped up. Good young QBs show it early (see Russell Wilson and Philip Rivers for example).
Losing Tate was the bubble burster (is that a word?). As a multiple threat, he not only made plays, but drew enough attention that it was easier for others to make plays. Others like Nicks stepped up in his absence, but the loss of both Yates and Tate was just too much.
Also, there is no excuse for UNC's pathetic performance against the Pack. Even with the early turnovers, they were still in the game at halftime and I was nervous about the squandered opportunities by the Pack. Frankly, I was surprised that UNC did not come out stronger and with more passion in the second half than they did. It was a rivalry game for Pete's sake!
As for the Pack, the mediocrity comments are not valid. They are a young and upcoming team that got better as they gained experience and got healthy. Depth is still a problem. If Russell Wilson had gotten hurt again, we would not be talking about State and any Bowl in the same sentence. But it remains a fact that the Pack was playing as well as any team in the conference at the end of the season.
Both Butch Davis and Tom O'Brien are excellent coaches and recruiters. Right now, both programs are just scratching the surface of how good they can be. I believe they are both on the road to being consistent contenders for the ACC championship, maybe as soon as next year. But, at this moment, I don't believe it is correct to say that one program is much better than the other. I will watch both teams in whatever bowl they end up in and root for the ACC.
Thanks for a well-written
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 14:46 — purpleroseThanks for a well-written comment that doesn't put either team down. Seriously... the way that both schools are playing can only mean good things for the ACC.Â
Indeed, well done.
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 18:02 — UNC1998While I'll be the first to admit that UNC "slid" to the finish of the season....they still have so much to look forward to. This team will lose some players, but next year looks so promising. Certainly, the schedule will be tough, but so should the Heels.
As for NCSU, I just don't follow them. It sure seems that O'Brien gets them cranked up for the last half of the season, though. Surely, good things are coming for them, also.
another example of who will be where in due time
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 12:22 — gvillegatrDonovan Tate just commited to UNC. lets look at who he decided to tell no ... SHALL WE!
Schools of Interest:
North Carolina Verbal Yes 11/22/2008
Alabama No Interest Yes None
Georgia No Interest Yes None
Michigan No Interest Yes 11/14/2008
Texas No Interest Yes None
USC No Interest Yes 10/10/2008
I read this same information.
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 18:03 — UNC1998He looks to be a very athletic qb recruit. The only question is whether he will sign a MLB contract in June.
"Mediocrity kicked your butt"....with walk-ons!!! Again....
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 17:18 — corkeyAs I said...doesn't matter how may stars they have next to their name when recruited. It did you no good this year...right?....your rear end handed to you by walk-ons and true freshmen. We'll take our 2-3 stars all day long....is that all you got?
"Mediocrity kicked your butt"....with walk-ons!!!
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 20:03 — corkeymakes no sense.
New Tue, 12/02/2008 - 17:04 — gvillegatr
"I dont care so much that UNC is playing in Charlotte but ClemPson is playing in the Gayturd Bowl as if they were 9-3 or at absolute worse 8-4. whats next? NCSU playing in the Sun Bowl?? lets reward mediocrity."
Comment:
All I want to say so you will understand is..."mediocrity" kicked your powder blue butts.... and I believe that was with walk-ons and freshmen as I see it!!! You are so not deserving of any bowl....much less the "Flat Tire Bowl" You better take what ya can get. Oh...see ya next year in Carter-Finley and we'll talk bowls after that one!
Corkey, let's be serious
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 00:13 — boomoouCorkey: Surely you can't be serious. You're just excited y'all won your last several games to join the rest of the ACC in being bowl eligible. Congratulations, you are 6-6 (a very mediocre 6-6) and might, MIGHT get to go to a bowl.
BTW, I seriously hope your basketball team can score more than 13 points in the first half when you play us this year..... that's just pitiful
nice name corky
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 22:38 — gvillegatrdid you get that name from the slow person on "Life Goes On?" you know, the tv show from the 80's!Â
anywho,
you are a hater who cant decipher a simple post. it was a back handed compliment to the two worse bowl eligible teams in the ACC ... ClemPson and NCSU. If you're going to reward one of them (ClemPson), might as well reward the other (NCSU) while you're at it.
you prolly couldn't get your hands on two tickets no matter where they play. If you'd like (and all you ahve to do is ask) i'll order 8 tickets for you! lol.
Not a hater but certainly a
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 10:27 — corkeyNot a hater but certainly a realist..... back handed it was. Who should know "mediocrity" better than UNC, who in essence remind me of termites who have run out of wood....disappear....can't find them anywhere...until BB season. It's a shame that's all you have to live for....that's pitiful.
Lets face it, we both know the "McCheese State" and Rutgers games were against inferior teams and you were lucky to get out of Miami alive....a team we spanked and took names, as we did over at your place. You could very easily be 4-8, and if your wimpy athletic director had of scheduled USC and S. Florida rather than the patsies he did you would have been.
anywho,
On the (bowl) tickets....these are not UNC regular season tickets which you couldn't give away this year, but no help needed here .....let me know if YOU need tickets to the "Flat Tire Bowl" .....I'm sure the excitement will be there for you.... until the third quarter at least!
is that all you got rookie!?
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 11:18 — gvillegatrwe'll see who the "termities" are as soon as we see what sh*tty bowl game the Puppies go to.Â
how bout reading JPG's latest bowl update to see where God, err, I mean ESPN is getting their paws into the bowl lineups. when it is all said and done, NCSU will be lucky to be playing a Div 1-AA team in a bowl game!Â
lets see who goes to that game!! all we will hear is excuses which is what NCSU ought to change their nickname too! other peoples fault would be another great name to change to as well. b/c that is what we will hear. no one ever wants to see the truth and the truth is your team finished 6-6. you could have started the season off 0-6 and then beat the #1 team in the BCS every week to 6 wins and you still would be in the same position you are in right now.Â
anywho,
back to your scehulde. you act as if S. Florida was a great team on your schedule. true, they looked like a top 5 team against you guys, but sadly they were 2-4 in the mighty Big Least and finished 6th out of 8 teams. USC finished 7-5 and played .500 ball in a conference that was considerbaly down comapred to the last 5 years or so. tally those two mediocre teams scores up and you get around 78 pts to your lowly 10. at least when UNC was playing good/great teams, every non conference game, a few years back, they were actually good teams on paper and on the field ... unlike the Packs non conference schedule this year.
stay classy, Corkey, and i'll be around later if you want another thumping.
Don't understand
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 20:23 — JPMajorPlease explain why UNC isnt deserving of a bowl? Last time i checked UNC's record was 8-4 which is 2 games over bowl eligibilty. We beat conference championship contender Boston College and most likely would have beatin Virginia Tech if it wasnt for the injury to TJ Yates. Beat two Big East teams that finished better than the South Florida team that gave NC State a whooping. Beat a Georgia Tech team who is going to a bowl game, Miami who is going to a bowl game, Notre Dame who is going to a bowl game, UConn who is going to a bowl game. 6 of our 8 wins came agianst teams that are going to bowls. So basically i dont get your logic in saying that UNC doesn't deserve a bowl? Last time i checked NC State was 6-6 and having trouble with the whole bowl situation. Seems like your team that is less deserving of a bowl..
but in saying that, i believe NC State should go to a bowl game. They are on a hot streak and really perservered at the end. You act like the "Flat Tire Bowl" is bad. NC State will be going to a bowl that it further down the latter.. sorry!Â
Maybe one day!
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 20:02 — lil576Maybe one day the Heels will get to leave the state and play in a man size bowl, but not this year. UNC needs to watch the ACC Championship game on Sat. and see how a real program, ie. HOKIE NATION, gets it done year after year and without making a bunch of excuses. The title game was handed to the Heels on a silver platter and they just could'nt close the deal. Good luck in Blacksburg next year. Sorry, but it's going to be more of the same.
I'd like to congratulate VT on it's accomplishments
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 21:27 — UNC1998That said, I do not think you understand where UNC is coming from. Just 2 years ago this team went 3-9. Last year the team went 4-8. If you think VT will continue to dominate the Coastal division, I'm afraid you have another thing coming. Not only UNC, but Miami and GT are getting better. The ACC as a whole is getting better. The days of one team doing it every year are gone. So, I'd say to you to enjoy this season to the fullest.
Heels Bowl
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 19:50 — CARRBOROredneckWe don't deserve the Peach or Gator, I want to go to Disney World or see Alan Jackson in NashVegas. Gives us the Champs or Music City. By the way, there were a lot of Heels fans in Wallace Wade on Saturday. If you were out of sight of the field you could not tell if the crowd roar was for Puke or UNC.
jlplotki?????
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 18:56 — Worz4UNCWere you at the UNC-DOOK game? NOT from your estimate of UNC fans there. I was there and estimate a 60%/40% UNC crowd of about 20K.
UNC sold 31K tickets the last time we went to Charlotte.
Charlotte..
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 18:46 — JPMajorI would prefer a higher bowl on the scale, but Charlotte is fine.
I really wanted to see UNC in the Peach Bowl, but that most likely won't happen. Wherever UNC goes, i hope they have a strong performance and come home with a W.
GO HEELS!
NewEnglandHeel
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 18:13 — gvillegatrI'm with you. i'd rather play a little higher too. But UNC screwed that up down the stretch. Atlanta is not an option so go ahead and deflate your baloon or you will be extremely disappointed.
And this is a reliable source?
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 18:08 — NewEnglandHeelHardly so. GT going to the Peach bowl? I doubt it.
If VT beats BC sat, then I think the Heels will be going to Atlanta for the Chick FIl A peach bowl. Otherwise, then the Music City or Orlando bowl will probably be in the works.
I personally would rather play an SEC team than a big least team.
I look forward to seeing the bowl results after Saturday's games...
Yes, hardly so
Wed, 12/03/2008 - 11:51 — jpg (author) http://myespn.go.com/blogs/acc
Worldwide Leader decided to join us a day later ...
 — JPG
makes no sense.
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 18:04 — gvillegatrI dont care so much that UNC is playing in Charlotte but ClemPson is playing in the Gayturd Bowl as if they were 9-3 or at absolute worse 8-4. whats next? NCSU playing in the Sun Bowl?? lets reward mediocrity.
Why don't you have anyone ...
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 17:48 — marault... at UNC confirming this?
They're all still in Maui.
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 17:59 — JamesinWillowSpringsThey're all still in Maui.
I sure wish I was...
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 19:27 — UNC1998in Maui. That would be a great Christmas present.
Because they travel so well....
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 17:30 — jlplotkiI can only assume that this is because they travel so well....by the way I do my math:
UNC had about 200-300 people travel 8 miles to Duke...
So Charlotte being about 100 miles away should expect no more than 15 people.
I guess all those fans dressed in Carolina Blue in Maui
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 17:53 — UNC1998were Columbia fans.
I'm sure Charlotte will be painted Carolina Blue for the Heels and their fans.
The Car Care Bowl has
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 17:26 — JamesinWillowSpringsThe Car Care Bowl has quietly grown into one of the better bowls out there. I'd seriously take it over the Champs or Music City bowl, which are the two slots "above" it in the pecking order.
Carolina sent a lot of folks to Charlotte in '04, if I remember correctly. It certainly doesn't hurt that Charlotte is a very "light blue" town.
Good work by the Tar Heel folks for locking that one up as soon as possible.
Boy, UNC is sliding fast.....
Tue, 12/02/2008 - 17:03 — UNC1998I hope they do well where ever they end up.