Champssports Bowl
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The Champs Sports Bowl has been played annually since 1990. From 1990-2000, the game was played at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. The game moved to the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida in 2001. Over the years, the game has undergone many name changes. From 1990-1993, the game was referred to as the Blockbuster Bowl. From 1994-1997, the game was known as the Carquest Bowl. From 1998-2000, the game was called the MicronPC Bowl. From 2001-2003, the game was known as the Tangerine Bowl. The game became known as the Champs Sports Bowl after Champs Sports became the official sponsor in 2004. As of 2006, the game has conference tie-ins with the Big Ten and the Atlantic Coast Conference. The 2006 game had a $2.25 million payout to each school.
The inaugural game featured a matchup of two legendary coaches. Bobby Bowden and the Florida State Seminoles took on Joe Paterno and the Penn State Nittany Lions. Florida State won the game 24-17 and running back Amp Lee was named game MVP.
The 2000 game featured the North Carolina State Wolfpack against the Minnesota Golden Gophers. Led by freshman quarterback Phillip Rivers, NC State won the game 38-30. Rivers was named game MVP. NC State returned in 2003, this time taking on the Kansas Jayhawks. NC State won the game 56-26 as Rivers was named game MVP once again. Rivers is the only player to be named MVP of the Champs Sports Bowl twice.
Three teams have won the bowl game on more than one occasion. Along with NC State, the Miami Hurricanes (1996, 1998) and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1997, 2004) have won the game twice. NC State has made the most appearances with four.
Last year’s matchup featured the Maryland Terrapins and the Purdue Boilermakers. Maryland won the game 24-7 behind the stellar play of quarterback Sam Hollenbach. This year’s contest will be played December 28 and will be televised on ESPN.
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