Cardinals Accept Invitation To Crucial.com Humanitarian Bowl
July 20, 2000 | Football
December 1, 1999
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville director of athletics Tom Jurich announced today the Cardinal football team has accepted an invitation to play in the Crucial.com Humanitarian Bowl in Boise, Idaho. The game is scheduled for Dec. 30 at 3:00 p.m. ET and will be televised live by ESPN2.
The Cardinals will take on Big West champion Boise State (9-3).
U of L will be playing in its seventh bowl game in history and will make a trip to the post-season for the second consecutive season. The Cardinals hold an all-time mark of 3-2-1 in bowl games including last season's 48-29 loss to Marshall in the '98 Motor City Bowl.
While the Cards will be making their first trip to Idaho, John L. Smith and his staff are no strangers to the Boise area. Smith and five members of his coaching staff took Utah State to the inaugural Humanitarian Bowl in 1996, losing to C-USA representative Cincinnati, 35-19.
Smith owns a long rivalry with the Cardinals' bowl opponent, Boise State, dating back to his days as the head coach of the Idaho Vandals and the Utah State Aggies.
A native of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Smith owns a career mark of 7-2 against BSU including a 5-1 record in his six seasons as top man at Idaho.
The Cardinals enter the Humanitarian Bowl as one of the nation's top offensive teams averaging 37.5 points per game to stand in a fourth-place tie nationally with Florida State. The Cards rank seventh in total offense averaging 466.9 yards per game.
Recently-named Johnny Unitas Golden Arm honoree Chris Redman pulls the trigger on the nation's number two passing attack. The Unitas Award is given annually to the nation's top senior quarterback.
Redman, who holds the NCAA I-A record for career attempts (1,679) and completions (1,031), has thrown for 12,541 yards in his standout four-year career. A Louisville native, Redman has been listed by many NFL previews as the top quarterback available in the 2000 draft and a sure first-round selection.
