USF will make its sixth consecutive bowl appearance when it travels to Charlotte, N.C. to take on Clemson in the Meineke Car Care Bowl on Friday, Dec. 31.
This will mark USF’s second trip to the Meineke Car Care Bowl and first return since its inaugural bowl-game appearance there in 2005. The game is scheduled for a 12 p.m. Eastern kickoff on ESPN.
“It's a great honor to be selected by the Meineke Car Care Bowl,” said USF Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Doug Woolard. “Executive Director Will Webb, Charlotte Collegiate Football and the wonderful volunteers associated with the bowl have established a terrific reputation for hosting a game and event that is truly first class.
"We had the opportunity to experience their hospitality firsthand, when we made our inaugural bowl trip to Charlotte in 2005. Our fans had a wonderful time and there is no doubt they will be very excited to return.”
USF is one of only six schools that have made a bowl appearance in every season as a BCS league member, joining Florida, Florida St., Georgia, Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech.
The Bulls are 3-2 in their five bowl game appearances. In USF’s first trip to the Meineke Car Care Bowl following their first season in the BIG EAST, the Bulls dropped a 14-0 decision to N.C. State. In 2006, USF headed to Birmingham, Ala. to face East Carolina in the Papajohns.com Bowl, earning a 24-7 victory.
After falling to Oregon in the Brut Sun Bowl in 2007, USF won its next two bowl games, a 41-14 victory over Memphis in the 2008 MagicJack St. Petersburg Bowl and a 27-3 win over Northern Illinois in the 2010 International Bowl.
“I’m extremely excited for this coaching staff, these players and our fan base about having the opportunity to play in the Meineke Car Care Bowl,” USF head coach Skip Holtz said. “This group has worked extremely hard throughout the year, so a trip to Charlotte is the perfect way to finish off the season.
"I’ve been fortunate enough to have many great bowl experiences during my career and I hear that the Meineke Car Care Bowl is as good as any bowl in the country. It is a first-class operation and we’re really excited to have the opportunity to represent the BIG EAST conference. We’re looking forward to a great week and a great game in Charlotte.”
USF finished the regular season at 7-5, winning four of its last six. All six games were decided by eight points or less, including two overtime victories. The Bulls will enter the Meineke Car Care Bowl looking to extend their streak of eight-win seasons to five. The game will mark the first-ever meeting between USF and Clemson.
“Currently, our program is riding a wave of momentum behind first-year head coach Skip Holtz. I think people around the country recognize that and it was reflected in our selection by the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Coach Holtz has done a magnificent job with this football team and program in just a short time. He has provided outstanding leadership from day one and built a very competitive product on the field. I am so proud of our football team. They have shown tremendous character throughout the year and the young men and their outstanding coaching staff are very, very deserving of this opportunity.”
To order tickets for the Meineke Car Care Bowl, visit the ticket page at GoUSFBulls.com. Tickets are priced at $95 for club level, $75 for lower level and $40 for upper level.
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