CHARLOTTE, N.C -- Ticket sales for this week's Meineke Car Care Bowl between North Carolina (8-4) and Pitt (9-3) are slower than organizers had hoped, but Pitt redshirt sophomore linebacker Max Gruder certainly has done more than his part to put fans in the seats.

"I needed about 12 to 15 just for my immediate family," said Gruder, who was born and raised in Charlotte. Gruder's family still lives 10 minutes from Bank of America Stadium, where the game will be played.

"But when I add friends, former teammates, teachers -- I need to find like 50 or 60. This has been really an exciting week for me to get to come home and be with my friends and family all week."

Gruder is the only current Panthers player from North Carolina. That is not a surprise because the state isn't a primary or secondary area for Pitt to recruit. Gruder played high school football at Charlotte Country Day School -- the school whose stadium Pitt is using to practice this week.

Gruder's first introduction to Pitt was during the 2003 Continental Tire Bowl when the Panthers lost to Virginia, 23-16.

Gruder was in the stands that day and said he was hoping to play for an ACC team and never really gave much thought to Pitt, even though he liked what he saw from the Panthers that day.

But scholarship offers never rolled in for Gruder like he thought they would, so he decided to be proactive and search for a school willing to give him a shot.

"I knew nothing about Pitt back then and never would have thought in a million years I'd be playing here, but I am obviously glad I am here," Gruder said. "In fact, if you would have told me back then I was going to play in this game this year between these two teams, I'd have said, 'Oh, I must be going to North Carolina.' But I'm obviously at Pitt and I couldn't be happier.

"I sent tapes out to a lot of places and pretty much took visits to every school that gave me any attention at all. Coach [Dave] Wannstedt was one of the coaches who showed some interest, and I went up for a visit then went for camp and just loved it."

Gruder has been one of the most requested interviewees by local TV, radio and newspaper reporters this week.

Practicing at his high school stadium has brought back a lot of great memories for Gruder but also one not-so-great memory.

"I sat and watched Virginia practice here the year they were playing Pitt," Gruder said. "But the last time I was on this field I was walking off the field after losing a state championship game, so it is good to get back out here and get some practices in."

Gruder started all 12 games at weakside linebacker and after a slow start developed into one of the most reliable players on the Panthers' defense. He finished second on the team with 80 tackles, had four tackles for loss and recovered a fumble.

Early in the season he struggled so much that coaches contemplated making some changes to the lineup, but they stuck with him. As he gained experience, he improved and developed into a reliable linebacker.

"My work ethic, my film study, my level of conditioning," Gruder said, "none of that changed. The only thing that did change was I gained experience, and that makes all the difference no matter what position you play."

Gruder's position coach, Joe Tumpkin, added: "He just got comfortable with what he was doing, and he started to see the game a little bit quicker as he played more. He understood what he was doing early, but as he played more he gained more confidence, and that makes all the difference for every player."

So far this week the Panthers are 2-0 in contests against the Tar Heels, a trend they hope continues through the game.

First, a trio of Pitt players -- Cedric McGee, Aaron Berry and Nate Byham -- beat a trio of Tar Heels in a relay race during one of the timeouts at the Charlotte Bobcats-Detroit Pistons game Tuesday night. In the race, the players had to exchange jerseys and make layups.

Then, Pitt guard John Malecki won the tire-changing contest at Lowe's Motor Speedway against a North Carolina player.

"It was all heart," Malecki said laughing. "It was all mental. It just took a lot of heart and I wouldn't have been able to do it without my teammates rooting me on."

Pitt had its second practice since arriving yesterday, and for the first time Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt had something to smile about. "A great practice, the best one we've had," he said. Tackle Jason Pinkston agreed: "It is easy to see we are all buckling down now and getting down to business. We've had some fun, but we want that 10th win and it shows." ... The Pep Rally/Tailgate party, which usually is held the night before the game, will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday. ... Pitt's final practice of the year will take place today.

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