| Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | |
|---|---|
| File:Famous Idaho Potato Bowl logo.jpg Famous Idaho Potato Bowl logo for 2011 | |
| Stadium | Bronco Stadium |
| Location | Boise, Idaho, U.S. |
| Operated | 1997–present |
| Conference tie-ins | WAC, MAC |
| Previous conference tie-ins | MWC (2009), ACC (2001-08), Big West (1997-2000), C-USA (1997-99) |
| Payout | US$750,000 (As of 2011[update]) [1] |
| Sponsors | |
| Crucial.com (1999–2002) MPC Computers (Dec. 2004–06) Roady's Truck Stops (2007–09) uDrove (2010) Idaho Potato Commission (2011–present) | |
| Former names | |
| Humanitarian Bowl (1997–98) Crucial.com Humanitarian Bowl (1999–2002) Humanitarian Bowl (Jan. 2004) MPC Computers Bowl (Dec. 2004–06) Roady's Humanitarian Bowl (2007–09) U Drove Humanitarian Bowl (2010) | |
| 2012 matchup | |
| Utah State vs. Toledo (Utah State 41-15) | |
| 2013 matchup | |
| TBA vs. TBA (TBA) | |
The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl is an NCAA-sanctioned post-season college football bowl game that has been played annually since 1997 at Bronco Stadium on the campus of Boise State University in Boise, Idaho.
Beginning in 2013, the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will match a team from the Mountain West Conference against a team from the Mid-American Conference.[2] The game is televised nationally on the ESPN family of networks. Cincinnati defeated Utah State, 35–19, in the inaugural game in 1997. The current Potato Bowl champions are the Utah State Aggies; they defeated the Toledo Rockets 41–15 in the 2012 game.[3]
History[]
For its first four years, the then-named Humanitarian Bowl offered an automatic bid to the Big West Conference champion, after that conference lost its contract with the Las Vegas Bowl. From 1997 to 1999, the opponent was a team from Conference USA, while in 2000 an at-large was chosen. Beginning in 2000 and continuing until 2012, the automatic bid was given to the Western Athletic Conference, with the bid going to the conference's champion unless that team qualified for the Bowl Championship Series or was chosen by another bowl, or if Hawai'i was the WAC champion (Hawai'i has an automatic tie in to the Hawai'i Bowl, played in their home stadium, if it is bowl eligible). From 2000 until 2008, the Atlantic Coast Conference was to provide an opponent if it had enough bowl-eligible teams; otherwise an at-large would be chosen. In 2009, the Mountain West Conference replaced the ACC as the WAC's opponent, but ended its agreement after one season. For the 2010 playing, the Humanitarian Bowl inherited the MAC's International Bowl tie-in after the Toronto-based bowl folded, and have continued to keep it. After the 2012 season, the WAC stopped sponsoring football and the bowl committee announced that the Mountain West (Boise State's home since 2011) would return to playing in the bowl.
Boise State, the game's host school, holds the record for most bowl wins with three. Fresno State and Idaho also have multiple wins, with two each. Boise State's four appearances are the most of any team.
Sponsors[]
The game was sponsored by Micron Technology, an Idaho-based manufacturer, from 1999 to 2002 under the name Crucial.com, which sold computer memory upgrades from Micron. The bowl game then briefly had no sponsor for the January 2004 game. In December 2004, the name was changed to the MPC Computers Bowl. MPC Computers, which is also based in Idaho, was formerly MicronPC, the computer manufacturing division of Micron, but was later split off as a separate company. In April 2007, it was announced that the bowl will again be called the Humanitarian Bowl.[4] In May 2007, Boise-based Roady's Truck Stops was announced as the new sponsor, thus renaming the game the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl.[5] On May 25, 2010, mobile business application, uDrove became the sponsor of the Humanitarian Bowl, signing a four-year agreement to replace Roady's.[6] On August 3, 2011 The Idaho Potato Commission signed six-year naming rights deal to sponsor the bowl, renaming it the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.[7]
With fifteen games played through 2011, it is the longest running cold weather bowl game currently in operation. The payout is $750,000, but teams are required to provide a corporate sponsor, purchase a minimum number of tickets, and stay at a selected hotel for a minimum stay. Because of this, 7–4 UCLA declined an invitation to the 2001 Humanitarian Bowl.[8]
Beginning in 2008, the Humanitarian Bowl (in conjunction with the Truckload Carriers Association) featured a "Highway Angel", a truck driver who performed a heroic feat to save the life of another motorist. The 2008 Highway Angel, Leonard T. "Lenny" Roach, pulled a driver from a water-filled ditch near South Bend, Indiana, even though the wind chill factor was −20 °F (−29 °C).[9] The 2009 Highway Angel, Michael Hunt, used his truck to push away a vehicle (and its driver) from a fiery collision near Spring Lake, North Carolina which had already claimed the life of the other driver.[10] The 2010 Highway Angel, Shawn L. Hubbard was honored on December 18, 2010.[11] While driving his truck near Diamond Bar, California, Hubbard came upon a fiery car crash in which the driver was deceased, but the passenger was still alive and trapped in the burning car. Hubbard freed the passenger and pulled him from the vehicle just moments before it was completely engulfed in flames.[12] The 2011 Highway Angel, Marcus Beam, received his award on December 17, 2011. Beam was driving near Benson, North Carolina when he observed a speeding car strike another vehicle, causing the second car to overturn and roll down an embankment. While other motorists watched without offering help, Beam freed the female driver from the wreckage, and pulled two small children from the mangled vehicle as well.[13] The 2012 Highway Angel, Kenny Cass, was honored on December 15, 2012. Cass was driving in Portland, Oregon when he witnessed a pick-up truck rear-end a 53’ tractor trailer and become wedged up to its windshield under the trailer. Cass made the scene safe by placing emergency triangles on the road, freed the pick-up truck driver from his vehicle while smoke billowed from beneath the truck and tended to the drivers wounds until emergency personnel arrived 20 minutes later.[14]
Game results[]
Blue turf of Bronco Stadium
| No. | Date | Winning Team | Losing Team | notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 29, 1997 | Cincinnati | 35 | Utah State | 19 | notes |
| 2 | December 30, 1998 | Idaho | 42 | Southern Miss | 35 | notes |
| 3 | December 30, 1999 | Boise State | 34 | Louisville | 31 | notes |
| 4 | December 28, 2000 | Boise State | 38 | UTEP | 23 | notes |
| 5 | December 31, 2001 | Clemson | 49 | Louisiana Tech | 24 | notes |
| 6 | December 31, 2002 | Boise State | 34 | Iowa State | 16 | notes |
| 7 | January 3, 2004 | Georgia Tech | 52 | Tulsa | 10 | notes |
| 8 | December 27, 2004 | Fresno State | 37 | Virginia | 34 | (OT) - notes |
| 9 | December 28, 2005 | Boston College | 27 | Boise State | 21 | notes |
| 10 | December 31, 2006 | Miami | 21 | Nevada | 20 | notes |
| 11 | December 31, 2007 | Fresno State | 40 | Georgia Tech | 28 | notes |
| 12 | December 30, 2008 | Maryland | 42 | Nevada | 35 | notes |
| 13 | December 30, 2009 | Idaho | 43 | Bowling Green | 42 | notes |
| 14 | December 18, 2010 | Northern Illinois | 40 | Fresno State | 17 | notes |
| 15 | December 17, 2011 | Ohio | 24 | Utah State | 23 | notes |
| 16 | December 15, 2012 | Utah State | 41 | Toledo | 15 | notes |
MVPs[]
| Year | MVPs | Team | Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Steve Smith | Utah State | WR |
| Chad Plummer | Cincinnati | QB | |
| 1998 | Lee Roberts | Southern Miss | QB |
| John Welsh | Idaho | QB | |
| 1999 | Brock Forsey | Boise State | RB |
| Chris Redman | Louisville | QB | |
| 2000 | Bart Hendricks | Boise State | QB |
| Chris Porter | UTEP | RB | |
| 2001 | Woodrow Dantzler | Clemson | QB |
| Delwyn Daigre | Louisiana Tech | WR | |
| 2002 | Bobby Hammer | Boise State | DT |
| Anthony Forrest | Iowa State | DB | |
| Jan. 2004 | P. J. Daniels | Georgia Tech | RB |
| Cort Moffitt | Tulsa | P | |
| Dec. 2004 | Paul Pinegar | Fresno State | QB |
| Marques Hagans | Virginia | QB | |
| 2005 | Matt Ryan | Boston College | QB |
| Jared Zabransky | Boise State | QB | |
| 2006 | Kirby Freeman | Miami | QB |
| Jeff Rowe | Nevada | QB | |
| 2007 | Tom Brandstater | Fresno State | QB |
| Jonathan Dwyer | Georgia Tech | RB | |
| 2008 | Da'Rel Scott | Maryland | RB |
| Colin Kaepernick | Nevada | QB | |
| 2009 | DeMaundray Woolridge | Idaho | RB |
| Freddie Barnes | Bowling Green | WR | |
| 2010 | Chandler Harnish | Northern Illinois | QB |
| Ryan Colburn | Fresno State | QB | |
| 2011 | LaVon Brazill | Ohio | WR |
| Michael Smith | Utah State | RB | |
| 2012 | Kerwynn Williams | Utah State | RB |
| Bernard Reedy | Toledo | WR |
Most appearances[]
| Rank | Team | Appearances | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boise State | 4 | 3–1 |
| T2 | Fresno State | 3 | 2–1 |
| Utah State | 3 | 1-2 | |
| T4 | Idaho | 2 | 2–0 |
| Georgia Tech | 2 | 1–1 | |
| Nevada | 2 | 0–2 | |
| Utah State | 2 | 1–2 | |
| T8 | Boston College | 1 | 1–0 |
| Cincinnati | 1 | 1–0 | |
| Clemson | 1 | 1–0 | |
| Maryland | 1 | 1–0 | |
| Miami | 1 | 1–0 | |
| Northern Illinois | 1 | 1–0 | |
| Ohio | 1 | 1–0 | |
| Bowling Green | 1 | 0–1 | |
| Iowa State | 1 | 0–1 | |
| Louisiana Tech | 1 | 0–1 | |
| Louisville | 1 | 0–1 | |
| Southern Miss | 1 | 0–1 | |
| Toledo | 1 | 0-1 | |
| Tulsa | 1 | 0–1 | |
| UTEP | 1 | 0–1 | |
| Virginia | 1 | 0–1 |
Wins by conference[]
| Conference | Wins | Losses | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACC | 5 | 2 | .714 |
| Western Athletic | 5 | 7 | .416 |
| Big West | 3 | 1 | .750 |
| MAC | 2 | 2 | .500 |
| Conference USA | 1 | 3 | .250 |
| Big 12 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
Game records[]
| Team | Performance vs. Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Most points scored | 52, Georgia Tech vs. Tulsa | Jan. 2004 |
| Fewest points allowed | 10, Georgia Tech vs. Tulsa | Jan. 2004 |
| Margin of victory | 42, Georgia Tech vs. Tulsa | Jan. 2004 |
| First downs | 29, Fresno State vs. Georgia Tech | 2007 |
| Rushing yards | 371, Georgia Tech vs. Tulsa | Jan. 2004 |
| Passing yards | 401, Louisiana Tech vs. Clemson | 2001 |
| Total yards | 582, Utah State vs. Toledo | 2012 |
| Individual | Player, Team | Year |
| Points scored | 18, many times (Last:Chandler Harnish, Northern Illinois) | 2010 |
| Passing touchdowns | 5, Paul Pinegar, Fresno State | 2004 |
| Rushing yards | 307, P.J. Daniels, Georgia Tech | 2004 |
| Passing yards | 387, Tyler Sheehan, Bowling Green | 2009 |
| Receiving Yards | 219, Freddie Barnes, Bowling Green | 2009 |
Attendance[]
| Year | Attendance | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 16,289 | Cincinnati vs. Utah State |
| 1998 | 19,667 | Southern Miss vs. Idaho |
| 1999 | 29,500 | Boise State vs. Louisville |
| 2000 | 26,203 | Boise State vs. UTEP |
| 2001 | 25,364 | Clemson vs. Louisiana Tech |
| 2002 | 30,446 | Boise State vs. Iowa State |
| Jan. 2004 | 23,114 | Georgia Tech vs. Tulsa |
| Dec. 2004 | 28,516 | Fresno State vs. Virginia |
| 2005 | 30,112 | Boise State vs. Boston College |
| 2006 | 28,654 | Miami vs. Nevada |
| 2007 | 27,062 | Fresno State vs. Georgia Tech |
| 2008 | 26,781 | Maryland vs. Nevada |
| 2009 | 26,726 | Bowling Green vs. Idaho |
| 2010 | 25,449 | Fresno State vs. Northern Illinois |
| 2011 | 28,076 | Ohio vs. Utah State |
| 2012 | 29,243 | Utah State vs. Toledo |
Television coverage[]
Former logos[]
References[]
- ↑ http://www.collegefootballpoll.com/bowl_games_bowl_schedule.html
- ↑ http://denver.sbnation.com/2012/12/15/3769946/famous-idaho-potato-bowl-2013-mountain-west
- ↑ http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/55471260-77/state-utah-aggies-usu.html.csp
- ↑ http://www.idahostatesman.com/104/story/80015.html
- ↑ http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2887632
- ↑ http://www.ktvb.com/sports/Humanitarian-Bowl-changing-title-sponsor-to-uDrove-94770359.html
- ↑ http://newsblaze.com/story/2011080313010300004.pnw/topstory.html
- ↑ UCLA Addresses Bowl Situation - Statement from UCLA athletic director Peter Dalis
- ↑ http://www.truckload.org/index.asp?bid=232&nid=89&archiveyear=2008
- ↑ http://www.truckload.org/index.asp?bid=232&nid=130&archiveyear=2009
- ↑ http://www.truckload.org/index.asp?bid=232&nid=206&archiveyear=2010
- ↑ http://www.truckload.org/index.asp?bid=10&nid=204&archiveyear=2010
- ↑ http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2011/11/16/EpesdriverMarcusBeamnamedTCAsHighwayAngeloftheYear.aspx
- ↑ http://www.truckload.org/index.asp?bid=10&nid=332&archiveyear=2012
External links[]
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