2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl

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PapaJohns.com Bowl logo 2009.png

The 2010 PapaJohns.com Bowl was held for Saturday, January 2, 2010 with the 7-5 South Carolina Gamecocks of the SEC facing the 7-5 Connecticut Huskies of the Big East Conference. It was the fourth Birmingham Bowl, and the final bowl to be sponsored by Papa John's Pizza, which decided to focus its football marketing efforts towards the NFL. It also marked the first game played in January, with the previous three games played in December.

The Golden Flake Legend of Birmingham Award was presented to Alabama Crimson Tide football great and Birmingham Steeldogs coach Bobby Humphrey during the Wednesday team luncheon at the Sheraton Birmingham. 1992 Heisman Trophy winner Gino Torretta delivered the keynote address.

The teams arrived in Birmingham on December 30. The Huskies practiced at Hoover High School and the Gamecocks at Birmingham-Southern College. Both teams visited the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and made visits to Children's Hospital and the Birmingham VA Medical Center. A bowling and barbecue was held on Thursday evening at the Vestavia Bowl. On Friday afternoon, Papa John's Pizza founder John Schnatter made an appearance at the chain's 1429 11th Avenue South location. A pep rally and street festival took place at Five Points South on Friday evening and the game kicked off at 1:00 Saturday at Legion Field.

The Huskies defeated South Carolina 20-7, led by Andre Dixon's 126 yards rushing on 33 carries in Connecticut's ball-control offense. He was named the game's most valuable player. The Gamecocks' quarterback Stephen Garcia was held to 129 yards passing on 16 of 38 attempts with four sacks.

The official attendance was 45,254, which set the record at the time, and made it the highest attended game of the four branded as the PapaJohns.com Bowl. The Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated the economic impact of the game at $18 million, with about 35,000 out-of-town fans (mostly from South Carolina) making the trip to Birmingham.

Birmingham Bowl
Site:Legion Field (2006–2020), Protective Stadium (2021–)
Names: Papajohns.com Bowl (2006–2010), BBVA Compass Bowl (2011–2014), Birmingham Bowl (2015–2017), Jared Birmingham Bowl (2018), TicketSmarter Birmingham Bowl (2020–2022), 76® Birmingham Bowl (2023)
By year: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, Jan. 2015, Dec. 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023

References

  • Cooper, Lauren B. (January 8, 2010) "PapaJohns.com bowl game pumped $18M into Birmingham." The Birmingham News
  • Solomon, Jon (August 7, 2010) "Papa John's: New NFL strategy, higher ESPN financial demand mean cutting bowl ties." The Birmingham News