Tag: Birmingham Bowl

Nov 25, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Duke Blue Devils wide receiver Jalon Calhoun (5) celebrates a play during the second half of the game against Pittsburgh Panthers at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

Enter the interim: Duke, Troy seek bowl win for coaching fill-ins

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Unique is a fair description for the Birmingham Bowl matchup of teams linked by their current coaching circumstances.

Interim coaches direct Duke and Troy for Saturday’s game at Birmingham, Ala., and insist their clubs have plenty to play for even if changes at the top are a predominant theme.

“We’re going to prepare like any other game,” Troy quarterback Gunnar Watson said.

Trooper Taylor, Blue Devils running backs coach, was placed in charge at Duke after Mike Elko left for Texas A&M. For Troy, defensive coordinator Greg Gasparato is the interim coach after Jon Sumrall’s departure to Tulane.

Troy (11-2) has a 10-game winning streak with hopes of landing a national ranking to end the 2023 season. Duke (7-5) spent time in the Top 25 before a midseason slump.

“I think does (provide) us a little edge to try to get ranked,” Watson said. “I think it’s a good opportunity.”

Manny Diaz, most recently Penn State’s defensive coordinator and former Miami Hurricanes head coach, is Duke’s head coach for next season.

Gerad Parker, who was Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator this season, was named as the next Troy head coach earlier this week. Parker was a member of Duke’s staff in 2017-18 under coach David Cutcliffe.

But before those men take full control of the respective programs, the teams are attempting to put a bow on the current season. In short, there’s a bowl game to be played.

“Despite the adversity, the turmoil, the locker room stuck together,” Duke quarterback Grayson Loftis said. “Like Coach Troop says, ‘The standard is the standard.’ It doesn’t change.”

Troy has won five straight bowl appearances. Duke has a four-game bowl winning streak.

The Trojans are Sun Belt Conference champions and co-defensive coordinator Tayler Polk will handle defensive play-calling. Troy entered the bowl season sixth nationally in sacks and 15th in total defense.

Watson has thrown for 3,339 yards and 27 touchdowns this year.

“We know we have a challenge and have to step up and prepare like we’re playing a great team,” Duke linebacker Tre Freeman said.

Loftis, a freshman who had been the third-stringer, became Duke’s starting quarterback for the final four games of the regular season after injuries to Riley Leonard and Henry Belin IV. The Blue Devils went 2-2 in those games.

Senior receiver Jalon Calhoun of Duke will try to add to his lofty receiving totals. He eclipsed 3,000 career yards in the regular-season finale vs. Pitt.

“It just speaks volumes about my hard work,” Calhoun said. “My teammates really helped me in pushing me every day, so I really appreciate that.”

Duke entered the bowl season ranked 14th nationally in red-zone defense. However, defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles, an All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection who had a team-leading 8.5 sacks, and defensive end RJ Oben entered the transfer portal and won’t play in the bowl. On offense, running back Jordan Waters also has left the Blue Devils.

This is the first time a Sun Belt Conference team will face a team from a Power 5 conference in a bowl.

“That’s going to be exciting,” Watson said. “Like everybody has been saying, it’s a chance for us to showcase our football program.

Taylor spent 2009-12 on Auburn’s staff along with earlier stints at Southeastern Conference member Tennessee.

“I am very familiar with the City of Birmingham, so I know our players and fans will have a great experience,” Taylor said.

Duke won the only two previous meetings with Troy. This time, the Trojans are hoping for a home state boost.

“Being in Birmingham and in the state of Alabama, I think Troy fans will really show up and show out,” Watson said.

–Field Level Media

Oct 1, 2022; Conway, South Carolina, USA; Coastal Carolina Chanticleers quarterback Grayson McCall (10) throw a pass warmups prior to a game against the Georgia Southern Eagles at Brooks Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports

Amid upheaval, Coastal Carolina faces ECU in Birmingham Bowl

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Coastal Carolina is a team in transition, but the Chanticleers still want to make a good final impression when they oppose East Carolina in the Birmingham Bowl.

The Pirates hope to put a positive finishing touch on this season, something they were unable to do a year ago.

The teams meet Tuesday in Birmingham, Ala.

Jamey Chadwell left his coaching post with Coastal Carolina on Dec. 4 to become Liberty’s head coach, so interim coach Chad Staggs, the defensive coordinator, will oversee the team for the bowl.

The Chanticleers (9-3) are trying to reach the 10-win mark for the third year in a row.

“It would be awesome to get another one,” Staggs said.

East Carolina (7-5) hasn’t won a bowl game in nine years, but the Pirates have put together consecutive winning records for the first time since 2013 and 2014.

“There’s a lot of motivation to get down there and get the win,” Pirates coach Mike Houston said.

Both teams have quarterbacks who have been largely adored by their teams and fans.

Record-setting Coastal Carolina quarterback Grayson McCall is expected to play in the Birmingham Bowl despite entering the transfer portal. McCall has thrown for 2,633 yards and 24 touchdowns with just two interceptions this year, giving him 8,019 passing yards, 78 TD passes and eight interceptions in four seasons with the Chanticleers.

“He should be fine for the bowl game,” Staggs said. “He’s tough as nails. He’s a big competitor and I think the team rallies around that. He’s going to still battle for his team. ‘One last ride’ type of thing is what he said.”

Despite the changes around the Coastal Carolina program, the Pirates are preparing to see the Chanticleers at their best.

“We expect to see the Coastal that everybody has seen all season,” Houston said.

East Carolina was set to play Boston College in last year’s Military Bowl, but COVID-19 cases involving the Eagles nixed that game.

The Pirates have quarterback Holton Ahlers wrapping up a five-year career while playing for his hometown school. He has thrown for 3,408 yards and 23 touchdowns with five interceptions this season.

Staggs maintains that the Chanticleers are in a good mindset despite losing 45-26 to Troy in the Sun Belt Conference title game.

“I got them in the weight room and got them around each other and that’s the best way to wipe away a game (such as that),” Staggs said. “It has been kind of business as usual.”

That’s how the players view it as well.

“We’re going into this thing no different than any other game,” Coastal Carolina linebacker Shane Bruce said. “I don’t think from a mental standpoint we’re going to be any different than how we have been all season.”

Tim Beck, the offensive coordinator at North Carolina State, is set to take over as Coastal Carolina’s head coach in 2023.

This will be the first football meeting between the Chanticleers and Pirates. East Carolina will be in Birmingham for a bowl for the third time, having lost to South Florida in December 2006 and to Florida in January 2015.

–Field Level Media

Dec 28, 2021; Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Auburn Tigers quarterback TJ Finley (1) passes against the Houston Cougars during the first half of the 2021 Birmingham Bowl at Protective Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

No. 20 Houston rallies to edge Auburn in Birmingham Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Clayton Tune completed 26 of 40 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead score late in the fourth quarter, as No. 20 Houston rallied for a 17-13 win over Auburn on Tuesday in the Birmingham Bowl in Birmingham, Ala.

Alton McCaskill and Jake Herslow each had a touchdown reception for Houston (12-2). Nathaniel Dell had 10 catches for 150 yards to lead the Cougars.

T.J. Finley completed 19 of 37 passes for 227 yards and one touchdown for Auburn (6-7). Tank Bigsby had 16 carries for 96 yards.

Herslow hauled in the decisive touchdown catch with 3:27 to go. Tune hit him for a 26-yard touchdown that capped a dramatic eight-play, 80-yard drive to knock off Auburn in its home state.

Houston had a 398-352 edge in total yards.

Auburn carried a 13-10 lead into the fourth quarter. The Tigers scored 10 unanswered points in the third.

Ben Patton made a 35-yard field goal early in the third quarter to draw the Tigers within 10-6.

Then, with 3:52 left in the third quarter, Finley found Kobe Hudson for a 12-yard touchdown to put Auburn on top. It was the fourth receiving touchdown of the season for Hudson.

Auburn opened the scoring in the first quarter on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Tune to McCaskill. It was the second touchdown catch of the season for McCaskill, who also had 16 scores on the ground.

A 52-yard field goal by Dalton Witherspoon made it 10-0 Houston midway through the second quarter. It was Witherspoon’s longest kick of the season.

Auburn got on the scoreboard with 3:10 to go in the first half when Patton made a 27-yard field goal.

McCaskill finished with 14 carries for 78 yards to go along with four catches for 15 yards and a touchdown.

–Field Level Media

Dec 4, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Houston Cougars quarterback Clayton Tune (3) plays the field against the Cincinnati Bearcats in the first half during the American Athletic Conference championship game at Nippert Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Auburn chases in-state bowl win vs. No. 20 Houston

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No. 20 Houston will look to finish its season on a winning note when it plays Auburn on Tuesday afternoon in the Birmingham Bowl.

The Cougars (11-2) dropped their opener, then won 11 games in a row before losing 35-20 against No. 4 Cincinnati in the American Athletic Conference championship game on Dec. 4. Eight of their 11 wins came by double digits.

Houston coach Dana Holgorsen knows that an end-of-season victory would give the Cougars a positive feeling heading into the offseason. It also would show improvement from last season’s disappointing performance in the New Mexico Bowl, where the Cougars lost 28-14 against Hawaii.

During an era in which spread offenses and high-octane passing attacks have become more common, Holgorsen said he still wants Houston’s identity to begin with running the ball and playing sound defense.

Holgorsen is completing his third season in Houston after joining the program from West Virginia, where he coached from 2011-18.

“We run the ball a good bit and control the clock, or a least we try to,” Holgorsen said. “We are a top 10 team in time of possession. There are different things we can do to help the defense. We started noticing that probably the last three years at the previous place I was at when we won 10 games a couple of times and had the first- or second-ranked defense in the country. We took that same model to Houston.

“What we try to do offensively makes it easier to be able to play defense. That’s what championship teams do. I know (coach Bryan Harsin) is doing the same thing at Auburn. If you want to get into that championship conversation, you better play good defense, but your offense is going to have something to do with that.”

Auburn (6-6) is desperate for a win after dropping its final four regular-season games. The Tigers lost by 17 points to then-No. 14 Texas A&M, fell by nine points to Mississippi State, lost by four points to South Carolina and lost by two points in four overtimes to then-No. 3 Alabama.

Harsin is in his first season with Auburn, and a postseason win within the state of Alabama could help him improve buy-in with his current roster as well as boost recruiting efforts.

“We are preparing to represent our school and team well,” Harsin said. “We have a chance for our team to play one last game together, and it’s great to play in our home state. We’re excited to play a game in a new stadium here in Birmingham.”

Auburn will need to be ready for Houston’s offense, led by quarterback Clayton Tune (3,263 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, nine interceptions) and running back Alton McCaskill (883 rushing yards, 16 TDs).

Meanwhile, the Tigers expect to turn to TJ Finley at quarterback after starter Bo Nix announced that he would transfer to Oregon. Finley, who is coming off an ankle injury, completed 51 of 91 passes (56 percent) for 600 yards with five touchdowns and one interception this season.

Auburn will be without three players who will sit out to protect their potential NFL draft status: linebacker Zakoby McClain, cornerback Roger McCreary and offensive lineman Brodarious Hamm.

Houston will be minus a key performer too, as cornerback/wide receiver/kick returner/punt returner Marcus Jones will skip the game. Jones won the Paul Hornung Award this season as the nation’s most versatile player.

Houston is 11-15-1 in bowl games, and it is looking for its first win since claiming the 2015 Peach Bowl.

Auburn is 24-19-2 in bowl games, with its last win coming in the 2018 Music City Bowl.

–Field Level Media

Jan 2, 2020; Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats offensive lineman Chris Ferguson (75) accepts the trophy from Ticketsmarter.com president Heather Goodman (right) after defeating the Boston College Eagles at Legion Field. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

Guaranteed Rate, Birmingham bowls look to return in ’21

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The Guaranteed Rate Bowl and Birmingham Bowl are expected to return in 2021 following the cancellation of this year’s games due to a lack of teams.

“Due to unprecedented ramifications from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Guaranteed Rate Bowl has been forced to cancel its 2020 game, originally set for Dec. 26,” the organization wrote on Twitter on Sunday. “We were excited to host two quality institutions and stage a memorable experience for all involved.”

The game was to be held at Chase Field in Phoenix and feature teams from the Big Ten and Big 12. But with a number of programs opting out of postseason play following the struggles of playing amid the pandemic, the bowl game was left without teams to play.

That was the case with the Birmingham Bowl, as well. The game, held annually in Alabama since 2006, was scheduled for Jan. 1.

“We have made the difficult decision to cancel the TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl,” executive director Mark Meadows said. “As the inventory of available teams lessened, our ability to stage the game was compromised. We will direct our focus to next year’s bowl, and look forward to staging the game in the 2021 season.”

–Field Level Media