[Official Release] Bruins Heading To DC For Bowl Game?
by Nestor on Dec 6, 2009 6:59 PM PST
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PrintWell it looks like the bowl game picture has gotten crystal clear. As Ryan fanshotted it's either DC or bust for CRN's football program.Bruins will be playing in the EagleBank Bowl in DC on December 29, provided Navy beats Army next weekend. UCLA has also sent out an official release with more details:
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The EagleBank Bowl announced today that Temple will meet Army or UCLA in the 2009 game to be held Tuesday, Dec. 29 in Washington, D.C.'s RFK Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN starting at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT).
"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.
So yeah, GO NAVY.
If a Temple v. UCLA matchup materializes, expect to hear lot more about the matchup between Golden and CRN. Golden is now a certifiable hot commodity in the collegiate coaching ranks. He will probably be one of the leading contenders to replace Joe Pa at PSU. He was also one the key candidates Dan Guerrro interviewed during UCLA's last search for a head coach. So that story line will be interesting.
The official release has more info on the Eagle Bowl. However, the tidbits Jason dug up are even more interesting:
To put this in perspective, here are the payouts for the other bowls UCLA was in the running for:
Humanitarian Bowl: $750K
GMAC Bowl: $750K
PapaJohns.com Bowl: $300K
EagleBank: $1MAnd also for reference, the Pac-10 payouts :
Poinsettia Bowl: $500K
Emerald Bowl: $700K
Las Vegas Bowl: $1MIn other words, from a $$’s perspective, the EagleBank bowl is as good as the Las Vegas Bowl, and better than where USC is going to (Emerald Bowl). Hehe.
So that seems like good news. Now all we need is for Navy to take care business for us next Sat. Looks like we will have another wacky Saturday open thread to enjoy on BN.
GO BRUINS.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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Army's wins have come against teams that are a combined 8-51.
E. Michigan (0-12)
Ball St. (2-10)
Vanderbilt (2-10)
VMI (2-9)
North Texas (2-10)
Navy, OTOH, came oh so close to beating Ohio State and handled Notre Dame.
UCLA SHOULD go bowling, but they don’t play the games on paper.
Rivalry games are always emotional. Army will bring its “A” game. Should be interesting.
What happens if
Army wins? they would be 6-6 also. Did EagleBank Bowl say they would take Army if they beat Navy?
Yep. Heard it was something about a pre-existing contractual obligation.
"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008
Army is tied in to the Eagle Bank Bowl
if they’re ever bowl eligible.
by SuperBruinMan on Dec 6, 2009 8:20 PM PST up reply actions
I won't begrudge Army ...
if they manage to pull out a victory against the Midshipmen. Especially not given the high likelihood that their cadets will soon be in harm’s way serving our country overseas.
On a side note, I think it would be really cool if we scheduled a service academy game every year going home and home with each one on a cyclical basis.
That said, I’ve always rooted for Navy when they’re playing anyone but Air Force and that ain’t going to change this year. Go Navy!
I love how Notre Dame plays Navy every year
Some Notre Dame alums, boosters and fans began calling for Notre Dame to end the series when the Domers were in the midst of their 40 something game win streak, but Notre Dame refused. There was talk of discontinuing the series in the middle of the last century as well, but Notre Dame continued to play Navy every single year as a way of repaying Navy for paying the university to use the campus as a Naval training center during World War II when the university was in danger of financially collapsing. Notre Dame has since said that they will continue to play Navy each and every year as continued appreciation of Navy helping them when they needed it. A classy move by Notre Dame and one that makes me think very highly of the university.
Formerly ryebreadraz
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Dec 6, 2009 9:55 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Plus, Weis had his team go to the Navy end of the field for their alma mater after the first loss, two years ago
Very classy move, when you know Weis and his players wanted to go crawl under a rock. That showed me enormous class by Weis and the Irish.
Okay Nestor,
Did you promise the EagleBank Bowl officials that you can get 5,000 BNers out to D.C., stay in local hotels, and attend the game? ;-)
Hopefully, the Bruins will play Temple in D.C. You deserve having the game in your city.
by UCLA Championships Made Here on Dec 6, 2009 8:01 PM PST reply actions
You mean you don't schedule your travel plans around UCLA events? : )
by UCLA Championships Made Here on Dec 6, 2009 8:23 PM PST up reply actions
I know, I know
I am lobbying hard to see if we change our travel plans. Unfortunately we set everything in stone last month. One way or other we will get in our fill of UCLA sports. Will be coming to Pauley to check our hoops team.
What happened to the Humanitarian?
Admittedly it was for selfish reasons I wanted them here since I live here, but it seems like the Humanitarian was itching to get us for the bowl. Was it because the Army-Navy game was so late and the Eaglebank Bowl was the only one who could do a either or situation?
Simplicity, I think
If Army pulls the upset on Saturday, our bowl eligibility goes away (effectively, not in terms of being ‘bowl eligible’), due to no at-large spots being available for 6-6 teams: Army would be contractually taken by the DC game, while the 7-5 at-large team holding Army’s place would still have to be placed in a bowl game before any 6-6 team, which would = that hypothetical team taking us away from the Humanitarian Bowl.
Simpler to make the DC game an either/or scenario, and not drag another team and another bowl into the picture, particularly in the face of relatively last minute changes.
formerly bruinhoo
In regards to the thread...
Im so glad that BADGERBADGERBADGER etc… will not be available haha
But im definitely looking forward to see that classic NAVY vs ARMY rivalry…
Payouts
I’m just surprised to see the payout of the Eaglebank bowl is higher than the two Pac-10 bowls.
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