Bowl History

Bowl History
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Bowl History

The idea of holding a college football bowl game in the National Capital Region started innocently enough. As friends Marie Rudolph and Sean Metcalf met at a neighborhood restaurant, they saw television commercials promoting upcoming bowl games across the nation and wondered why the Washington area did not have a game of its own.

Rudolph and Metcalf researched requirements to host a bowl game. They sought opinions from local political, business and community leaders.

Though the initial response was lukewarm, the former D.C. government employees remained confident. They continued their outreach and used their connections to gain support and build interest. The DC Bowl Committee, Inc., was created in August 2008.

The committee aimed to align the game – first named the Congressional Bowl – with team and conference tie-ins. Rudolph and Metcalf met with officials from the United States Naval Academy, the United States Military Academy at West Point and the Atlantic Coast Conference, which all expressed interest. Soon after, the bowl signed a TV contract with ESPN.

After the DC Bowl Committee, Inc., attained an NCAA license, the Washington Convention and Sports Authority (now known as Events DC) joined the initiative as a partner, bringing the city’s support on a broader scale. In September 2008, Bethesda, Md.-based EagleBank signed on as the title sponsor and shortly thereafter the committee hired Steve Beck as President and Executive Director.

In October 2010, Northrop Grumman, a leading global security company based in Falls Church, Va., signed on as the bowl’s new title sponsor, bringing with it a partnership with the USO. The bowl was renamed the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman.

The game moved to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md., beginning with the 2013 game and added a new partner in the American Athletic Conference the following year.

In 2017, the Bowl celebrated its 10th anniversary as Navy beat Virginia before a crowd of 35,921, the Bowl’s third sellout in four years.

In 2019, the Bowl extended its partnerships with the Atlantic Coast Conference, the American Athletic Conference.

In 2022, the Military Bowl returned to action at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium with Duke defeating UCF, 30-13.

 

DATERESULTATTENDANCEMVP
2022 Military Bowl presented by PeratonDec. 28, 2022Duke 30, UCF 1317,974Riley Leonard, Duke
2019 Military Bowl presented by Northrop GrummanDec. 27, 2019North Carolina 55, Temple 1324,242Sam Howell, UNC
2018 Military Bowl presented by Northrop GrummanDec. 31, 2018Cincinnati 35, Virginia Tech 3132,832Michael Warren, Cincinnati
2017 Military Bowl presented by Northrop GrummanDec. 28, 2017Navy 49, Virginia 735,921Zach Abey, Navy
2016 Military Bowl presented by Northrop GrummanDec. 27, 2016Wake Forest 34, Temple 2626,656Thomas Brown, Wake Forest
2015 Military Bowl presented by Northrop GrummanDec. 28, 2015Navy 44, Pittsburgh 2836,352Keenan Reynolds, Navy
2014 Military Bowl presented by Northrop GrummanDec. 27, 2014Virginia Tech 33, Cincinnati 1734,277J.C. Coleman, Virginia Tech
2013 Military Bowl presented by Northrop GrummanDec. 27, 2013Marshall 31, Maryland 2030,163Rakeem Cato, Marshall
2012 Military Bowl presented by Northrop GrummanDec. 27, 2012San Jose St. 29, Bowling Green 2017,835David Fales, San Jose State
2011 Military Bowl presented by Northrop GrummanDec. 28, 2011Toledo 42, Air Force 4125,042Bernard Reedy, Toldeo
2010 Military Bowl presented by Northrop GrummanDec. 29, 2010Maryland 51, East Carolina 2038,794Da'Rel Scott, Maryland
2009 EagleBank BowlDec. 29, 2009UCLA 30, Temple 2123,072Akeem Ayers, UCLA
2008 EagleBank BowlDec. 27, 2008Wake Forest 29, Navy 1928,777Riley Skinner, Wake Forest