December 6, 2009

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.”

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 tying 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 Black Knights 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 guided the Black Knights to a 5-6 record, their most wins since 1996. Army is led by freshman quarterback Trent Steelman and sport one of the nation’s stingiest defenses, allowing just 309.9 yards and 22.4 points per game to rank 17th and 40th nationally in those respective categories. Josh McNary heads Army’s defensive attack, ranking second nationally in tackles for loss (2.05) and third in quarterback sacks (1.14).

With one of the youngest rosters in the country, UCLA won three straight games in November for a 6-6 record and would play 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.

In the inaugural EagleBank Bowl in 2008, Wake Forest defeated Navy, 29-19, before nearly 30,000 fans at RFK Stadium.

Tickets for this year’s game start at $30 and can be purchased at any Ticketmaster outlet, by calling (800) 551-7328 or at www.ticketmaster.com.

For more information, please visit www.EagleBankBowl.org.

Team Media Contacts
Temple: Cathy Bongiovi (215-204-1608 or cathyb@temple.edu)
Army: Bob Beretta (845-938-6416 or robert.beretta@usma.edu)
UCLA: Marc Dellins (310-206-8194 or mdellins@athletics.ucla.edu)

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.