Miami to Meet No. 18 Louisville in Russell Athletic Bowl

The Miami Hurricanes have been selected to play in the 2013 Russell Athletic Bowl against the Louisville Cardinals. The game takes place December 28th at 6:45 p.m. from Orlando’s Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium, and will be televised nationally by ESPN.

Miami will make its fourth trip to the Russell Athletic Bowl after a nine-win season, its best since posting nine in 2009, a season that concluded with a Champs Sports Bowl appearance. QB Stephen Morris enters the game ranked third in school history with 7,736 career passing yards. WR Allen Hurns sits just 19 yards shy of the Miami single-season receiving yards record with 1,138. UM’s defense is tied for 11th in the FBS with 27 forced turnovers, including 18 interceptions.

“We are absolutely thrilled to accept an invitation to play in such a great game like the Russell Athletic Bowl,” head coach Al Golden said. “We’ve sat out the last two seasons and our players are thankful for the opportunity to play in a bowl game so close to home against a great opponent like Louisville. Orlando and the Citrus Bowl are great football venues and our students, fans and alumni have a great opportunity to attend this year’s bowl game. We have tons of alumni within driving distance of Orlando and we look forward to a great game.”

This will be Al Golden’s first bowl appearance as Miami’s head coach. He enters the game with a record of 22-14 at the helm in Coral Gables. Golden played in the inaugural Russell Athletic Bowl in 1990, then known as the Blockbuster Bowl, as a linebacker with Penn State.

“We’re excited for the second annual Russell Athletic Bowl, and the news of Miami joining Louisville to play in this year’s game,” said Gary Barfield, Senior Vice President, Russell Athletic. “Both programs have excellent tradition and heritage much like Russell Athletic, and have had tremendous seasons that should be celebrated. We are truly looking forward to what should be an amazing game.”