The EagleBank Bowl announced today that Temple will meet Army or UCLA in the 2009 game to be held at 4:30 pm on Tuesday, December 29, at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. ESPN will broadcast the game live.
“In either scenario, we feel we have a great matchup for this year’s EagleBank Bowl,” says 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 play in its 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, which will take place this Saturday, December 12, 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 sports 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 last year’s inaugural EagleBank Bowl, Wake Forest defeated the Navy Midshipmen, 29-19, before nearly 30,000 fans at RFK Stadium.
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)
