Russell Athletic Bowl: Louisville vs. Miami

Mark BlankenbakerDecember 9, 2013

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The University of Louisville football team doesn’t have to wait until next fall to face one of its new league opponents. Instead, the Cardinals are going to face future Atlantic Coast Conference foe Miami (Fla.) in the 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl.

On Sunday night, it was announced the Cardinals and Hurricanes will square off Dec. 28 at 6:45 p.m. in the Florida Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Louisville, which is scheduled to join the ACC beginning in 2014, will face Miami in 2014 at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.

Louisville is making its 18th bowl appearance in school history, its fourth in as many years. The Cardinals are 8-8-1 all-time in bowl games and will be playing in their 12th bowl in the last 15 years. The Cardinals defeated fourth-ranked Florida 33-23 in last season’s Sugar Bowl and have won three of their last four postseason appearances.

The selection to the Russell Athletic Bowl marks Louisville’s fourth Florida bowl game in school history, having played in the Gator Bowl in 2005, the Orange Bowl in 2007, and the Beef `O’ Brady’s Bowl in 2010, head coach Charlie Strong’s first season.

The Cardinals and Hurricanes will face off for the 12th time in series history and the first in the postseason. Miami holds a commanding 1-9-1 series advantage, but the Cardinals won the last meeting between the two schools, with a 31-7 win at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in 2006.

Louisville’s roster boasts 39 Floridians, 23 who hail just from the Miami area, including junior quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.

Miami assured itself of its first nine-win season since 2009, with the victory over Pittsburgh to close out the regular season. The Hurricanes, 9-3 overall and 5-3 in the ACC, are led by quarterback Stephen Morris, who has thrown for 2,868 yards and 21 touchdowns.

The Cardinals were awarded the bid after defeating Cincinnati 31-24 in overtime on Thursday night at Nippert Stadium, finishing 11-1 overall and 7-1 in the American Athletic Conference. After securing its 11th win of the season, Louisville is 23-3 over the last two seasons under Strong.

ESPN will televise the Russell Athletic Bowl, while ESPN Radio has the national radio broadcast rights to the bowl. The Louisville Radio Network begins pre-game coverage of the Russell Athletic Bowl at 5:15 p.m.

The last time Louisville played an ACC team in a bowl was the 2011 Belk Bowl against NC State. The Wolfpack handed the Cardinals a 31-24 defeat in Charlotte, N.C.

The bowl plans to show Louisville’s men’s basketball game against Kentucky, which will be played earlier in the afternoon on the same day, in the Fan Fest adjacent to the stadium. Details will be announced at a later date.