Army and Navy continue their seasons as both teams head to bowl games in late December. Navy has accepted an invitation to play in the 10th anniversary Military Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 28 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. The Army West Point football team will take on the San Diego State Aztecs in the 2017 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, in Fort Worth, Texas.
ARMY
The Black Knights will participate in the 15th edition of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 23, at TCU's Amon G. Carter Stadium. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT (3:30 p.m. ET).
"We are extremely excited to announce that the United States Military Academy and San Diego State University will square off at Amon G. Carter Stadium this year," Ringler said. "We are honored to host Army West Point for the second time and to have a service academy playing in the game for the ninth time in the past 11 years. We also are very pleased to be able to bring in a strong San Diego State program that has enjoyed so much success this year and over the past decade."
Army (9-3) leads the nation in rushing at 368.1 yards per game (6.2 yards per carry) and has scored with 43 touchdowns on the ground. The Black Knights won six straight games earlier this season and own a 4-2 mark in games decided by a touchdown or less.
Jeff Monken is in his fourth year as head coach of the Black Knights. Over the past two years, Army is 16-8, including 11-3 in the past 14 games, and is making back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time since 1984-85. If Army, which shut out Air Force last month (21-0), defeats Navy on Saturday, it would claim the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the first time since 1996.
This will mark the program's seventh all-time bowl appearance. Army is 4-2 in previous games, and those six postseason appearances have been decided by a total of 19 points, and all by a touchdown or less. The most recent contest was a 38-31 overtime win last year at the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl.
San Diego State (10-2, 6-2 Mountain West) ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak. Earlier in the year, the Aztecs defeated nationally-ranked Stanford, the eventual Pac-12 runner up by the final of 20-17. Walter Camp Award finalist Rashaad Penny leads the nation in rushing yards (2,027) and all-purpose yards (2,698).
Head coach Rocky Long is in his seventh season at the helm of the program. Long has amassed the most victories (64-28, .696) of any Mountain West head coach since the league's inception in 1999. His teams have now reached double-digit wins in each of the past three seasons.
The Aztecs will be playing in their 12th major college bowl game and eighth straight. The team is 4-6 in those games. It is the first time that San Diego State will play in the Armed Forces Bowl.
"This promises to be an exciting matchup between two talented, well-coached teams," Ringler said. "We are looking forward to welcoming both programs and their great fans to Fort Worth in a little over two weeks."
The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl, played in honor of the armed forces of the United States, is the only collegiate football bowl game that has hosted all three U.S. Military Academy football teams. Air Force has appeared in the game five times (2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 and 2015), while Navy has played twice (2013, 2016). Army, which made its debut in 2010, will be making its second appearance.
The annual game has featured the "armed forces" theme since 2006. Patriotic overtones recognizing all five branches of service are prevalent throughout the game. Past Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowls have included fan-fest adventure areas showcasing armed forces hardware; flyovers; demonstrations by several of the military's top skydiving teams; custom homes awarded to wounded warriors; on-field induction ceremonies; armed forces bands and honor guards; and the annual Great American Patriot Award presented by Armed Forces Insurance.
The matchup will be televised nationally on ESPN. It also will be aired in both English and Spanish on the Armed Forces Bowl Radio Network.
The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl is one of 14 bowl games owned and operated by ESPN Events, a subsidiary of ESPN.
Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets through the Army West Point Athletic Association to have a direct impact on our cadet-athletes at West Point.
Fans can also access ArmyGameday.com/armedforcesbowl for all bowl information, including seating maps and activities surrounding the game.
NAVY
The Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman, benefiting the USO, today announced that the United States Naval Academy and the University of Virginia have accepted invitations to play in the 10th anniversary Military Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 28 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ESPN.
"We are thrilled to renew this regional matchup in our 10th anniversary game," Military Bowl President & Executive Director Steve Beck said. "Navy and Coach Ken Niumatalolo annually show that they deserve a place in college football's upper echelon and we are happy to welcome Virginia back to the postseason. Congratulations to Coach Bronco Mendenhall for the work he has done turning around the Cavaliers. We look forward to a great Bowl Week in Washington and another awesome gameday in Annapolis."
Navy (6-6) will be making its third appearance in the Military Bowl. The Mids lost to Wake Forest, 29-19, in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl at RFK Stadium in 2008 and beat Pittsburgh, 44-28, in the 2015 Military Bowl in Annapolis.
"Exposure to the great city of Washington with all of its historic attractions will be a wonderful experience for our Midshipmen," said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. "Then with the main event on our home turf against a successful team from the ACC completes what I call the total postseason package. You combine those two factors and it's easy to see why the Military Bowl was the top possible bowl for Navy to play in this year. Thanks to Steve Beck and his staff and of course Commissioner Mike Aresco and Scott Draper of the American Athletic Conference for all their hard work over the last month."
"Our players are excited about the opportunity to play one last game in what is hallowed ground at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium," said Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo. "Having the opportunity to represent the American Athletic Conference against a team from the ACC makes it even more exciting. The 34 seniors that will be playing their last football game for Navy deserve to play in front of a full house at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium one final time."
This will be the 14th bowl appearance in 15 years for Navy, which concluded its regular season by playing Army on Saturday, Dec. 9 in Philadelphia.
Led by a group of seniors focused on setting a "New Standard," Virginia (6-6) will be making its first bowl appearance since 2011. It will be the Cavaliers' first-ever appearance in the Military Bowl. The Cavaliers own victories over William & Mary (28-10), UConn (38-18), Boise State (42-23), Duke (28-21), North Carolina (20-14) and Georgia Tech (40-36). The Cavaliers lost to Indiana (34-17), Boston College (41-10), Pitt (31-14), Louisville (38-21), Miami (44-28) and Virginia Tech (10-0).
This will be the 40th meeting between the two schools, but the first since 1994. Navy leads the all-time series, 28-11, but Virginia is riding a five-game winning streak in the series, beating the Midshipmen annually from 1990 to 1994, including a 47-10 victory in Annapolis on Sept. 10, 1994.
Virginia's coach at that time was George Welsh, who guided the Cavaliers from 1982 to 2000 and is the all-time winningest coach in school history. Welsh previously coached Navy from 1973 to 1981 and his 55 victories at Navy are second only to current Midshipmen coach Ken Niumatalolo.
Navy fans can purchase tickets to attend the Military Bowl or donate tickets right now at https://goo.gl/MP2D9H or by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY during business hours. Ticket prices are $80 for the lower level, $60 for the upper level and $25 for standing room only. Donated tickets are $60 and will be given to either midshipmen or enlisted personnel in the area.
Navy season ticket holders that donate 10 or more tickets will receive 10% off their 2018 season tickets.
Additionally, the Naval Academy class competition will be in effect which includes: 30% off 2018 Navy Football Season Tickets to the class that donates the highest amount of tickets for every member of the class that donates four or more tickets; 25% off 2018 Navy Football Season Tickets to the class that donates the second highest amount of tickets for every member of the class that donates four or more tickets; 20% off 2018 Navy Football Season Tickets to the class that donates the third highest amount of tickets for every member of the class that donates four or more tickets and 10% off 2018 Navy Football Season Tickets for any class that donates 100 or more tickets for every member of that class that donates four or more tickets.
The Brigade of Midshipmen Bowl Game Tailgate brought to you by the Naval Academy Business Services Division will take place from 10:30 AM-1:30 PM. Cost is $50 for adults, $30 for children (ages 5-12) and you can sponsor a midshipman for $50. The menu includes a fully smoked whole pig, pulled pork BBQ, herb roasted chicken, slow smoked beef BBQ, au gratin potatoes, jumbo shrimp, seared scallops and a warm beverage station. You can purchase tailgate wristbands online at usna.com/bowlgame
Fans are reminded that although the game will be played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, it is not a Navy administered contest and some traditional accommodations will not be available for this contest. All of Navy's tickets will be on the blue or press box side of the stadium.
