2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl Preview
| 2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl |
| Date | December 31, 2005 |
| Time | 11:00 a.m. |
| Television Network | ESPN2 |
| Location | Charlotte, NC |
| Stadium | Bank of America Stadium |
History of the Meineke Car Care Bowl
2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl Preview
| 2005 Meineke Car Care Bowl |
| Date | December 31, 2005 |
| Time | 11:00 a.m. |
| Television Network | ESPN2 |
| Location | Charlotte, NC |
| Stadium | Bank of America Stadium |
History of the Meineke Car Care Bowl
In 1996, after Bank of America Stadium was built as the home to the NFL's Carolina Panthers, Raycom Sports began looking for ways to bring college games to Charlotte.
The first step was to have the "Carolinas' Clash." The stadium hosted games
between North Carolina State and East Carolina in 1996 and 2004. North
Carolina and NC State played in 1998 and 1999. The natural evolution was to
pursue a major college bowl game. While there was community support, the NCAA
had a moratorium on new bowl games, capping the number of games at 26.
In June 2001, word came that one of the bowl games might not return for 2002. The Raycom group was scheduled to make a formal presentation to the NCAA for the Charlotte bid on September 11, 2001 in Philadelphia, however, the terrorist attacks that day postponed that meeting. It was not until May 1, 2002, at the NCAA meetings in San Antonio, that the presentation was made to the Bowl Certification Committee. Two days later, approval for a new bowl game in Charlotte was granted.
The following week, Continental Tire was announced as the title sponsor of
the game. There was already an agreement in place for the Atlantic Coast and
Big East Conferences to send teams to the bowl.
The inaugural Continental Tire Bowl sold out within one week of announcing the teams and it is believed to be the fastest sellout of a first year bowl game. Virginia defeated West Virginia 48-22 and Virginia topped Pittsburgh 23-16 the following year. In 2004, the third annual Continental Tire Bowl saw another sellout and Boston College defeat North Carolina 37-24.
In January, 2005, Raycom Sports announced that Meineke Car Care Centers had agreed to become the new title sponsor for the game. This year the renamed Meineke Car Care Bowl features South Florida and NC State.
| Past Results |
| 2004 - Boston College 37, North Carolina 24 |
| 2003 - Virginia 23, Pittsburgh 16 |
| 2002 - Virginia 48, West Virginia 22 |
| University of South Florida |
| Location | Tampa |
| Founded | 1956 |
| Enrollment | 35,118 |
| Nickname | Bulls |
The South Florida Bulls are making the school's first bowl appearence. The football program played its first game in 1997 and has played at the Division I-A level for just five seasons. The Meineke Car Care Bowl will be just the 100th game in USF history.
USF finished the 2005 season with a 6-5 record and went 4-3 in the team's first
year in the Big East Conference. The biggest win in school history came when
the Bulls dominated then nineth ranked Louisville 45-14. USF was in the hunt
for a BCS bowl, before dropping their last two games. The Bulls posted a 3-3
record against six teams that are going to bowl games.
Jim Leavitt, the only head football coach in USF history, said of the game, "We're excited to play a program the caliber of NC State. We know they are an outstanding program with a tremendous coach and we're excited about the challenge." On the progress of his young football program, Leavitt proclaimed, "How many teams go to a bowl in their fifth year of Division I-A? It will never happen again."
| 2005 USF Bulls Results (6-5) |
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Sat Sep 3 | at Penn State | Lost 23-13 |
| Sat Sep 10 | Florida A&M | Won 37-3 |
| Sat Sep 17 | Central Florida | Won 31-14 |
| Sat Sep 24 | Louisville | Won 45-14 |
| Sat Oct 1 | at Miami (FL) | Lost 27-7 |
| Fri Oct 15 | at Pittsburgh | Lost 31-17 |
| Sat Nov 5 | at Rutgers | Won 45-31 |
| Sat Nov 12 | at Syracuse | Won 27-0 |
| Sat Nov 19 | Cincinnati | Won 31-16 |
| Sat Nov 26 | at Connecticut | Lost 15-10 |
| Sat Dec 3 | West Virginia | Lost 28-13 |
| North Carolina State University |
| Location | Raleigh |
| Founded | 1887 |
| Enrollment | 28,011 |
| Nickname | Wolfpack |
North Carolina State is going to its fifth straight bowl game and the school's twenty-third overall.
NC State finished the season 6-5 overall and 3-5 in the Atlantic Coast
Conference. The biggest win for the Wolfpack was over then ninth ranked
Florida State, in Tallahassee, 20-15. The team won four of its last five
games.
Head coach Chuck Amato, in his sixth season at NC State, said, "We are thrilled to be able to play a postseason bowl in our home state. One of the big reasons that we are headed to a bowl is because of our unbelieveable fans, and to be able to play in a place that is accessible to them is icing on the cake."
| 2005 NC State Wolfpack Results (6-5) |
| Date | Opponent | Result |
| Sun Sep 4 | Virginia Tech | Lost 16-20 |
| Sat Sep 17 | Eastern Kentucky | Won 54-10 |
| Sat Sep 24 | North Carolina | Lost 24-31 |
| Thu Oct 6 | at Georgia Tech | Won 17-14 |
| Thu Oct 13 | Clemson | Lost 10-31 |
| Sat Oct 22 | at Wake Forest | Lost 19-27 |
| Sat Oct 29 | Southern Miss | Won 21-17 |
| Sat Nov 5 | at Florida State | Won 20-15 |
| Sat Nov 12 | at Boston College | Lost 10-30 |
| Sat Nov 19 | Middle Tennessee | Won 24-3 |
| Sat Nov 26 | Maryland | Won 20-14 |
| Past NC State Bowl Games (11-10-1) |
| Season | Bowl Game | Result |
| 2003 | Tangerine | NC State 56, Kansas 26 |
| 2002 | Gator | NC State 28, Notre Dame 6 |
| 2001 | Tangerine | Pittsburgh 34, NC State 19 |
| 2000 | Micron PC | N.C. State 38, Minnesota 30 |
| 1998 | Micron PC | Miami 46, NC State 23 |
| 1994 | Peach | NC State 28, Mississippi 24 |
| 1993 | Hall of Fame | Michigan 42, NC State 7 |
| 1992 | Gator | Florida 27, NC State 10 |
| 1991 | Peach | East Carolina 37, NC State 34 |
| 1990 | All American | NC State 31, Southern Miss 27 |
| 1989 | Copper | Arizona 17, NC State 10 |
| 1988 | Peach | NC State 28, Iowa 23 |
| 1986 | Peach | Virginia Tech 24, NC State 24 |
| 1978 | Tangerine | NC State 30, Pittsburgh 17 |
| 1977 | Peach | NC State 24, Iowa State 14 |
| 1975 | Peach | West Virginia 13, NC State 10 |
| 1974 | Astro-Bluebonnet | NC State 31, Houston 31 |
| 1973 | Liberty | NC State 31, Kansas 18 |
| 1972 | Peach | NC State 49, West Virginia 13 |
| 1967 | Liberty | NC State 14, Georgia 7 |
| 1963 | Liberty | Miss State 16, NC State 12 |
| 1940 | Gator | Oklahoma 34, NC State 13 |
South Florida and North Carolina State are similar in many ways and not just because they have the same record. The quarterbacks, Pat Julmiste for USF and Marcus Stone for NC State, have both been very inconsistent. On average, the Bulls scored a few more points per game (25.1 compared to 21.4) and allowed less (18.4 to 19.3).
Behind Andre Hall, this game's biggest star, USF averaged 209.1 rushing yards per game, while the Wolfpack averaged 120.0. NC State had a 195.9 to 143.3 advantage in passing yards, so the Bulls had the edge in total yards 352.4 to 315.0. That powerful Bulls rushing offensive will have to go against a team that allowed an average of 104.5 yards on the ground. One to watch is Wolfpack defensive end Mario Williams who lead the team with 13 sacks. Running back Andre Brown got hot towards the end of the season and will face a USF defense that gave up an average of 144.1 rushing yards. NC State gave up more passing yards, 194.5 to 168.9, but still has a slim advantage in total yards allowed (299.0 to 313.0).
As in most South Florida games this year, the Bulls will have to run the ball to come away with a victory. For NC State, the Wolfpack will have to avoid the slow start that hampered them all season. Another factor will be the crowd. With this game being played in the Wolfpack's home state, it will be like a road game for USF.
The odds-makers have installed NC State as a six point favorite.
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