Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
| Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Stadium | Albertsons Stadium |
| Location | Boise, Idaho, U.S. |
| Operated | 1997–present |
| Conference tie-ins | MWC, MAC |
| Previous conference tie-ins |
Big West (1997–2000) C-USA (1997–1999) WAC (2000–2012) ACC (2001–2008) MWC (2009) |
| Payout |
US$750,000 (As of 2011) [1] |
| Sponsors | |
|
Humanitarian Bowl Association (1997–1998) Crucial Technology (1999–2003) MPC Computers (2004–2006) Roady's Truck Stops (2007–2009) uDrove (2010) Idaho Potato Commission (2011–present) | |
| Former names | |
|
Sports Humanitarian Bowl (1997) Humanitarian Bowl (1998) Crucial.com Humanitarian Bowl (1999–2003) MPC Computers Bowl (2004–2006) Roady's Humanitarian Bowl (2007–2009) uDrove Humanitarian Bowl (2010) | |
| 2014 matchup | |
| Western Michigan vs. Air Force[2] (AF 38–24) | |
| 2015 matchup | |
| Akron vs. Utah State (Akron 23–21) | |
The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (previously the Humanitarian Bowl and the MPC Computers Bowl) is an NCAA-sanctioned post-season college football bowl game that has been played annually since 1997 at Albertsons Stadium on the campus of Boise State University in Boise, Idaho. As of 2013, the bowl pits a team from the Mountain West Conference against a team from the Mid-American Conference.[3]
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 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl champions are the University of Akron, who defeated Utah State in the 2015 edition of the bowl.
History
The Humanitarian Bowl was launched in part to give the Big West Conference a bowl to send its champion to; after the 1996 season, the Big West lost its automatic tie in with the Las Vegas Bowl, where its champion met the Mid-American Conference champion. From 1997 to 1999, the opponent was a team from Conference USA, while in 2000 the Western Athletic Conference sent a representative. The Big West stopped sponsoring football at the end of the 2000 season.
After the 2000 Humanitarian Bowl, the organizers extended a permanent invite to the WAC to replace the Big West as host of the game and struck an agreement with the Atlantic Coast Conference to provide a bowl-eligible team if it had yet to fill its bowl allotment. The WAC champion would receive the automatic bid to the game unless that team received a better offer from another bowl game or qualified for the Bowl Championship Series. The bowl also had to contend with the "hometown guarantee" tie-in with the Hawai'i Bowl, which guaranteed a spot to The University of Hawai'i-Manoa if it was bowl eligible and did not make the BCS.
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. The WAC stopped sponsoring football in 2012 and the Mountain West inherited its spot as host.
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 a 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
| 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* | notes |
| 9 | December 28, 2005 | Boston College | 27 | Boise State | 21 | notes |
| 10 | December 31, 2006 | Miami (FL) | 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 |
| 17 | December 21, 2013 | San Diego State | 49 | Buffalo | 24 | notes |
| 18 | December 20, 2014 | Air Force | 38 | Western Michigan | 24 | notes |
| 19 | December 22, 2015 | Akron | 23 | Utah State | 21 | notes |
Number of overtime periods indicated with *
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 | |
| 2013 | Adam Muema | San Diego State | RB |
| Branden Oliver | Buffalo | RB | |
| 2014 | Shayne Davern | Air Force | RB |
| Corey Davis | Western Michigan | WR | |
| 2015 | Robert Stein | Akron | K |
Most appearances
| Rank | Team | Appearances | Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Boise State | 4 | 3–1 |
| Utah State | 4 | 1–3 | |
| 3 | Fresno State | 3 | 2–1 |
| T4 | Idaho | 2 | 2–0 |
| Georgia Tech | 2 | 1–1 | |
| Nevada | 2 | 0–2 | |
| T7 | Air Force | 1 | 1–0 |
| Akron | 1 | 1–0 | |
| 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 | |
| San Diego State | 1 | 1–0 | |
| Bowling Green | 1 | 0–1 | |
| Buffalo | 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 | |
| Western Michigan | 1 | 0-1 |
Wins by conference
| Conference | Wins | Losses | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACC | 5 | 2 | .714 |
| Western Athletic | 5 | 7 | .416 |
| Big West | 3 | 1 | .750 |
| MWC | 2 | 1 | .667 |
| MAC | 3 | 4 | .429 |
| 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 |
| 2013 | 21,951 | Buffalo vs. San Diego State |
| 2014 | 18,223 | Air Force vs. Western Michigan |
Television coverage
References
- ↑ "College Football Bowl Schedule". Collegefootballpoll.com. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ↑ "2014-15 College Football Bowl Schedule - 2015 Playoff". Fbschedules.com. November 5, 2014. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ↑ "Famous Idaho Potato Bowl will be Mountain West partner in 2013 - SB Nation Denver". Denver.sbnation.com. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ↑ "Boise, Meridian, Nampa, Caldwell news by Idaho Statesman". Idahostatesman.com. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ↑ "Humanitarian bowl teams up with Idaho-based truck stop chain - College Football - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. May 30, 2007. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ↑ Archived May 30, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ Archived November 25, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.
- ↑ UCLA Addresses Bowl Situation - Statement from UCLA athletic director Peter Dalis
- ↑ "ESPN will Broadcast Heroic Trucking Story to Millions of Non-Trucking Viewers". Truckload.org. December 19, 2008. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ↑ "Selfless Truck Driver to Be Honored as "2009 Highway Angel of the Year"". Truckload.org. December 14, 2009. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ↑ "TCA's Highway Angel of the Year to Share Moment in Spotlight with Motorist He Saved". Truckload.org. November 16, 2010. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ↑ "Shawn Hubbard of Ruan Transport Corporation Selected as TCA's 2010 Highway Angel of the Year". Truckload.org. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ↑ "America's Trucking Newspaper". TheTrucker.com. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
- ↑ "Truckload Carriers Association Selects Highway Angel of the Year". Truckload.org. December 3, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2014.