EagleBank Bowl Release
EAGLEBANK BOWL ANNOUNCES PARTICIPANTS FOR 2009 GAME
Temple to meet Army or UCLA on December 29th in Washington, D.C.'s RFK Stadium
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The EagleBank Bowl announced today that Temple will meet Army or UCLA in the 2009 game to be held Tuesday, December 29th in Washington, D.C.'s RFK Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN starting at 4:30 p.m.
"In either scenario, we feel we have a great matchup for this year's EagleBank Bowl," said Steve Beck, Executive Director of the EagleBank Bowl. "We look forward to hosting the players, coaches and their fans for a tremendous week of fun in the nation's capital."
With one of the youngest rosters in the country, UCLA won three straight games in November for a 6-6 record and are playing in their first bowl game under head coach Rick Neuheisel. The Bruins have gotten it done with defense as they boast the nation's interception leader in free safety Rahim Moore and defensive tackle Brian Price is tied for third nationally with 22.5 tackles for loss.
"I think a berth in the EagleBank Bowl is a nice reward for our program, which made steady progress this season," said UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero. "The bowl is in a great location, we will be playing an outstanding oppoent, and we hope our fans, especially those on the East Coast, take the opportunity to support their Bruins on Dec. 29."
Temple received an at-large invitation to the EagleBank Bowl and will be playing in their first bowl game in 30 years. The Owls have experienced a football resurgence under fourth-year head coach Al Golden, going 9-3 this season and tieing for first-place in the Mid-American Conference.
Temple's opponent is contingent on the outcome of the Army-Navy game to be held Saturday in Philadelphia. If Army beats Navy, the Cadets will advance to their first bowl game since 1996. If Army loses to Navy, Temple will face UCLA in the EagleBank Bowl.
In just his first season, Army head coach Rich Ellerson has already made an impact. The Cadets are 5-6 and have their most wins since 1996. Army is led by freshman quarterback Trent Steelman and boast the tallest player in Division 1A in wide receiver Alejandro Villanueva.
In the inaugural EagleBank Bowl in 2008, Wake Forest defeated Navy Midshipmen, 29-19, at before nearly 30,000 fans at RFK Stadium.
UCLA fans wishing to purchase tickets for the EagleBank Bowl should call the UCLA Ticket Office at 310/UCLA-WIN.
For more information, please visit www.EagleBankBowl.org.
About the EagleBank Bowl
The EagleBank Bowl, the first NCAA-sanctioned postseason bowl game in Washington, D.C., has been held in the District's historic RFK Stadium since 2008. Organized by the DC Bowl Committee, Inc., the Washington Convention and Sports Authority and title sponsor EagleBank, the EagleBank Bowl serves as a premier regional event. With first-rate participants and events, the EagleBank Bowl seeks to positively impact the regional economy and charitable partners, honor the U.S. military and solidify the nation's capital as a leading college football destination. The 2009 EagleBank Bowl is Tuesday, December 29 at 4:30 p.m. (ESPN). For more information, please visit www.EagleBankBowl.org.
Not sure if this means we're allowed to practice, but it's finals week, so it's unlikely that our guys would get much time in before the Army/Navy game even if we are permitted to do so. However, I do feel that Marshall, an at-large team that just fired it's head coach, got blown out by 4-8 UTEP during it's last game, and had to beat an FCS team just to become bowl eligible, should be put in the situation of possibly missing out, not us.
And what if Army beats Navy?
Does UCLA get an invite to any other bowl or are all our eggs in this basket?
I wonder what the strategy is for accepting this bowl over the Humanitarian. Do we feel Temple is an easier opponent and gives us a great shot at the 7th win?
I'm guessing ESPN may have made a contribution to the Humantarian Bowl and Eagle Bank Bowl to shift their lineups. If UCLA were to play in the Humanitarian Bowl, then one of the other bowls. perhaps GMAC or Motor City, would be stuck with two teams from the Mid American conference. That would be a game that nobody would watch, even if you did call it a bowl game.
I'm guessing that part of the reason we chose this route may be that the EagleBank bowl has a bigger payout (1M) than the Humanitarian bowl or any of our other options. (750K) I had read somewhere that UCLA would actually lose money if they accepted a bid to Boise after travel and administration costs. Why, one might even say that RN was ...(wait for it).....gambling on Army losing in order to get more money, probably an easier opponent, and a more central location for east coast Bruins to come out and support the team.
I'm an optimist and see all the calories I'm burning thinking about our current toilet bowl prospects as practice for when I'll be debating our position in BCS bowls a few years from now. (if we haven't converted to a playoff system by then)
The only Bowl game that is still undecided is the Eagle Bank Bowl. Army loses we are in, Army wins, the season is over.
@Bruinswin! -
The situation would be exactly the same if we were banking on the Humanitarian Bowl. Bowling Green would be going to the Eaglebank Bowl and our bowl fate would depend on Army losing to Navy. I'm sure they accepted the bid to the Eaglebank Bowl because of the higher payout and the fact that it's simpler to take Army's automatic spot if they don't qualify, rather than switch things around.