Quick glance: Birmingham Bowl tidbits
Tuesday, December 9, 2014 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – One season after missing a bowl game for the first time in more than 20 years, the Gators learned Sunday evening that they are headed to the Birmingham Bowl to face East Carolina.
The schools have met once before, a 24-17 Homecoming victory for the Gators in 1983. Coincidentally, Florida will play East Carolina in two of its next three games. Florida hosts the Pirates on Sept. 15 in the second game of the 2015 season.
The Gators' trip to Birmingham represents their first game in the city since a 28-13 victory over Alabama in the 1993 Southeastern Conference Championship Game, the second year of the game's existence. It was a rematch of the inaugural SEC title game in 1992, won by Alabama.
The game moved to the Georgia Dome in Atlanta in 1994.
While Florida introduced new head coach Jim McElwain at a press conference Saturday, defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin is serving as UF's interim head coach through the bowl game. McElwain hit the road to recruit Monday and will be on the road for several days.
Here is more information to get you ready for the Birmingham Bowl, which is scheduled for Jan. 3 at noon EST, and the bowl season:
Official Website: http://www.birminghambowl.com/
Bowl Schedule: The folks at SBNation.com created this fun bowl schedule guide and offer their picks.
First Look: ESPN.com offers a quick breakdown of the matchup between the Gators (6-5) and the Pirates (8-4).
Florida Factoid: This is not Florida's first bowl trip to Birmingham. The Gators defeated Illinois 14-10 in the All-American Bowl at Legion Field on Dec. 29, 1988. Emmitt Smith rushed for 159 yards and two touchdowns to earn MVP honors.
Legion Field: The “Old Grey Lady” is without a regular tenant for the first time in its history now that UAB has dropped its football program. However, city officials want to keep the stadium open for business.
Prolific Pirate: East Carolina receiver Justin Hardy was named winner of the Burlsworth Trophy on Monday, given annually to the top player in the country who started his career as a walk-on. Heading into the Birmingham Bowl, Hardy has 110 receptions for 1,334 yards on the season. He has caught more career passes (376) than any player in FBS history after earning a spot on the scout team in 2010 as a walk-on.
Pirates Coach Ruffin McNeill: In his fifth season, McNeill met with local reporters on Monday to discuss the bowl matchup against the Gators.
