Positive approach by Heels

CHAPEL HILL -- Marvin Austin knew exactly what Florida State's jump to the Gator Bowl meant for North Carolina's bowl hopes.

The UNC defensive tackle cringed when FSU coach Bobby Bowden announced his retirement, prompting Gator Bowl officials to use a contract loophole to land the Seminoles for Bowden's finale.

"I was like, 'Freakin' Bobby Bowden, what the freak?' " Austin joked.

Instead of a bowl trip to Florida, the Tar Heels (8-4, 4-4 ACC) were invited back to Charlotte for the second time in as many years and third time in six years. All joking aside, Austin said the short in-state trip to play No. 17 Pittsburgh in the Dec. 26 Meineke Car Care Bowl at Bank of America Stadium beats the alternative.

"Going home for Christmas is no fun," said Austin, a junior. "We did that once, and that's enough."

On Thursday, the Tar Heels met with the media for the first time since a disappointing 28-27 loss to N.C. State on Nov. 28. The bowl pairings were announced eight days later.

Before the road loss to the Wolfpack, UNC was on track for its own spot in the Gator, on Jan. 1 in Jacksonville, Fla., or the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 29 in Orlando, Fla. The Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tenn., also was an attractive alternative with a matchup against an SEC team.

All three bowls are higher on the ACC's pecking order and pay out more than Meineke's $1 million. They also would have given the Heels a chance to travel beyond the state's borders.

In Pittsburgh, though, UNC gets the highest-ranked opponent possible and a chance to atone for last year's loss to West Virginia, another Big East foe. The Heels lost that Meineke Bowl 31-30 despite an epic performance from receiver Hakeem Nicks.

UNC coach Butch Davis said he understood the bowl process and how FSU jumped ahead in line. He didn't care to elaborate on that decision, but he did downplay any disappointment his team might have for going to the same bowl twice.

"We are excited about going to Charlotte," Davis said with emphasis to open his news conference. "Our kids had a phenomenal time there last year."

Junior cornerback Kendric Burney said it wasn't just Bowden's or the Gator Bowl's decision that caused the Heels to fall to sixth in the ACC bowl order.

"We can't point the finger and say, 'We should have been in a better bowl,' " Burney said. "We did that to ourselves."

With Miami at 9-3 and ranked No. 14 , the Champs Sports Bowl chose the Hurricanes over the Tar Heels, who beat the Hurricanes earlier in the season. The Music City Bowl was contractually obligated to take the ACC championship game loser, Clemson, even though officials preferred the Tar Heels.

There was one part of the Heels' trip to Charlotte that disappointed Davis. The game's early date (the day after Christmas) allows for only 10 practices -- six in Chapel Hill, four in Charlotte. That's five fewer than the number of bowl-preparation practices allowed by the NCAA.