2008 Meieke - Profiles, History & More

Player profiles, team history, the breakout players, the best bowl moments and more for the 2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl.

2008 Meineke Car Care Bowl Player Profile

Western Michigan (8-4) vs. North Carolina (8-4)

Dec. 27, 1:00 p.m. ET, ESPN

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Scroll Down For Each Team's Bowl History

Meieke Bowl History
2007	Wake Forest 24, Connecticut 10
2006	Boston Coll 25, Navy 24
2005	NC State 14, South Florida 0
2004	Boston College 37, North Carolina 24
2003	Virginia 23, Pittsburgh 16
2002	Virginia 48, West Virginia 22

By Richard Cirminiello

Best Tar Heel Bowl Moment: The Gator Bowl has been the scene of some of North Carolina’s biggest postseason triumphs, and nearly half of its 12 bowl wins. None was more impressive than the 1998 win, which featured a 42-3 Tar Heel demolition of Virginia Tech. The blowout put an exclamation point on an 11-1 season, one of the most successful in Carolina history.

Best Mountaineer Bowl Moment: The postseason had been a horror show for West Virginia…until the 2006 Sugar Bowl and the 2008 Fiesta Bowl. The same program that had lost 11 of its previous 12 bowl games jumped all over heavily-favored Georgia in the Georgia Dome before holding on for a 38-35 win that ranks among the most important in school history. This past January, the ‘eers, seemingly a rudderless ship, rallied around interim coach Bill Stewart, to stun Oklahoma in Arizona, 48-28, behind the heroics of Pat White and Noel Devine.

The Last Time You'll See ...

North Carolina: WR Hakeem Nicks. Nicks won’t decide about his future until after this game, but he’s giving a long look at the NFL, especially with the dearth of can’t-miss senior receivers. A three-year starter with 173 career receptions and little left to prove, he’s produced big plays every season in Chapel Hill. There’s no telling how good Nicks might have been had he not been saddled with mediocre quarterbacks.  

West Virginia: QB Pat White. If White’s not the best player in Mountaineer history, he’s certainly in the team photo. The kid from Alabama, who few schools recruited to play quarterback, went on to become a cult-hero in the state of West Virginia. Now the NCAA leader in rushing by a quarterback and a polished passer, his legacy in Morgantown will be felt long after he’s gone.

Breakout Player ...

North Carolina: LB Bruce Carter. Carter may be a linebacker these days, but he plays with all of the explosiveness and big-play ability of a former high school running back. He has blossomed in his second season into the type of defender and special teams performer who can change the momentum of a game with his speed and range. Carter leads the Heels in tackles for loss and sacks, and has four blocked punts, three coming in the Connecticut game.

West Virginia: WR Jock Sanders. Think Noel Devine with better pass-catching skills. Sanders is a diminutive slot receiver who the Mountaineers like to get in space in a multitude of different ways. He’s caught a team-high 48 passes, averaged almost six yards on 45 carries, and leads the team in touchdowns scored. No. 9 is the kind of gamebreaker who can go the distance with one timely block.

Charitable Component
Through the title sponsor, the bowl has a relationship with Levine Children's Home. It is a wing of Carolinas Medical Center dedicated to serving sick children.

How Success is Measured
The bowl game is a success if the players and fans leave saying it was one of the best experiences they have had at a sporting event.

MVP of the Bowl
The Meineke Car Care Bowl staff works as a true team. Everyone is involved in all facets of the bowl game.

Impact to the Community
The event has an estimated economic impact of $20 million each year. Hotels and restaurants in Uptown saw very slow business during the end of December before the Meineke Car Care Bowl. Now, they have some of their busiest nights of the year.

Role of Volunteers
The Meineke Car Care Bowl has a limited number of volunteers, but they are crucial. The volunteers work with the teams, as liaisons and hospitality room managers.  

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North Carolina Bowl History (12-13)

2004	Continental Tire	Boston College 37, North Carolina 24
2001	Peach	North Carolina 16, Auburn 10
1998	Las Vegas	North Carolina 20, San Diego State 13
1997	Gator	North Carolina 42, Virginia Tech 3
1996	Gator	North Carolina 20, West Virginia 13
1995	Carquest	North Carolina 20, Arkansas 10
1994	Sun	Texas 35, North Carolina 31
1993	Gator	Alabama 24, North Carolina 10
1992	Peach	North Carolina 21, Mississippi State 17
1986	Aloha	Arizona 30, North Carolina 21
1983	Peach	Florida State 28, North Carolina 3
1982	Sun	North Carolina 26, Texas 10
1981	Gator	North Carolina 31, Arkansas 27
1980	Bluebonnet	North Carolina 16, Texas 7
1979	Gator	North Carolina 17, MichiganState 15
1977	Liberty	Nebraska 21, North Carolina 17
1976	Peach	Kentucky 21, North Carolina 0
1974	Sun	Mississippi State 26, North Carolina 24
1972	Sun	North Carolina 32, Texas Tech 28
1971	Gator	Georgia 7, North Carolina 3
1970	Peach	Arizona State 48, North Carolina 26
1963	Gator	North Carolina 35, Air Force 0
1949	Cotton	Rice 27, North Carolina 13
1948	Sugar	Oklahoma 14, North Carolina 6
1946	Sugar	Georgia 20, North Carolina 10

West Virginia Bowl History (12-16)

2007	Gator	West Virginia 38, Georgia Tech 35
2006	Sugar	West Virginia 38, Georgia 35
2004	Gator	Florida State 30, West Virginia 18
2003	Gator	Maryland 41, West Virginia 7
2002	Continental Tire	Virginia 48, West Virginia 22
2000	Music City	West Virginia 49, Mississippi 38
1998	Insight.com	Missouri 34, West Virginia 31
1997	Carquest	Georgia Tech 35, West Virginia 30
1996	Gator	North Carolina 20, West Virginia 13
1994	Carquest	South Carolina 24, West Virginia 21
1993	Sugar	Florida 41, West Virginia 7
1989	Gator	Clemson 27, West Virginia 7
1988	Fiesta	Notre Dame 34, West Virginia 21
1987	Sun	Oklahoma State 35, West Virginia 33
1984	Bluebonnet	West Virginia 31, TCU 14
1983	Hall of Fame	West Virginia 20, Kentucky 16
1982	Gator	Florida State 31, West Virginia 12
1981	Peach	West Virginia 26, Florida 6
1975	Peach	West Virginia 13, North Carolina State 10
1972	Peach	North Carolina State 49, West Virginia 13
1969	Peach	West Virginia 14, South Carolina 3
1964	Liberty	Utah 32, West Virginia 6
1953	Sugar	Georgia Tech 42, West Virginia 19
1948	Sun	West Virginia 21, Texas Western 12
1937	Sun	West Virginia 7, Texas Tech 6
1922	East-West	West Virginia 21, Gonzaga 13

2007 CFN Meineke Car Care Bowl Preview