MOBILE, ALA. Despite bowl's low profile, GMAC has colorful history

Thursday's game pits Louisville (9-3) against Miami of Ohio (12-1).
MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -- The GMAC Bowl nearly added a new chapter to its recent unconventional history.
Last year the game saw Louisville coach John L. Smith leave for Michigan State after it ended, a departure that became a subplot during the contest. Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich even held a halftime news conference confirming Michigan State had requested permission to interview Smith.
So who replaced Smith?
Bobby Petrino, who will lead the Cardinals (9-3) against No. 14 Miami of Ohio (12-1) on Thursday night. Petrino goes into the game hoping to put last month's ill-fated flirtation with Auburn behind him.
Typical GMAC Bowl.
The sideshows
In the past three years the game -- formerly the Mobile Alabama Bowl -- has bid farewell to Smith, introduced new TCU coach Gary Patterson while freshly departed Dennis Franchione looked on, and produced the highest scoring game -- 125 points -- in bowl history.
Petrino gave the bowl another wrinkle as he returned to a state still stinging from the under-the-table machinations of Auburn's administration.
Auburn President William Walker, athletic director David Housel and two trustees had flown -- on a third trustee's jet -- to Louisville two days before the Nov. 22 game against Alabama for a secret interview with Petrino, who initially denied contact with Auburn.
The Auburn officials hadn't told coach Tommy Tuberville that his job was in jeopardy, and a furor ensued when the trip was disclosed.
Petrino has profusely apologized for his meeting with officials from Auburn, where he was offensive coordinator last season, and the subsequent denials.
"It's a relief that it's over with," said Petrino, who has since spoken with his former boss. "It's just really unfortunate that the situation came up. I definitely made mistakes. A lot of other people made mistakes but it is nice that it's behind me.
Stated objective
"I'm down here to coach a bowl game that's about the University of Louisville and our players and Miami of Ohio."
Tuberville remained as Auburn's head coach, signing a one-year contract extension last week, and Petrino stuck with Louisville.
So Petrino avoided becoming the game's big story instead of just a sidebar.
Still, for a young bowl with tie-ins to the mostly low-profile Conference USA and Mid-American Conference, the GMAC has quite a history.
In 2000, TCU and Heisman Trophy finalist LaDainian Tomlinson came to town. So did Franchione -- but in Alabama crimson, not TCU purple. He had left after the regular season to take over the Crimson Tide, replaced by his defensive coordinator, Patterson, in time for the game.
Franchione still stole the show, having to hold a halftime news conference to satiate a local media hungry for all things Bama.
In 2001, Byron Leftwich threw for 576 yards, rallying Marshall from a 38-8 halftime deficit. The Thundering Herd helped trample the combined bowl scoring record with a 64-61, double-overtime win over East Carolina.
Last season, it was Smith's rumored departure that put the Louisville AD on the halftime cameras.
Maybe Jurich can relax and watch the game this time.
Louisville star tight end Ronnie Ghent, who was on the sidelines with an injury last year, said the players have forgiven and forgotten their coach's deception to the public and his bosses.
"Coach Petrino came straight out with us and told us everything," Ghent said. "He told us he wasn't interested in the [Auburn] job. When a man tells you that, you can only take him at his word. He's our coach and we believe everything he said. As you can see, he's still our coach."