EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY TO REPRESENT CONFERENCE USA IN
MILITARY BOWL PRESENTED BY NORTHROP GRUMMAN DEC. 29 IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Atlantic Coast Conference Opponent Will Be Announced Sunday
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Military Bowl announced Tuesday that East Carolina University (ECU) has officially accepted its invitation to represent Conference USA in the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman benefitting the USO. ECU will play an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) opponent on December 29 at 2:30 p.m. ET at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. The game will be televised live on ESPN.
“We are thrilled that East Carolina University will represent Conference USA in this year’s Military Bowl,” said Steve Beck, Executive Director of the Military Bowl. “We look forward to playing host to the Pirate Nation in D.C., as well as welcoming the players and coaches for an exciting and memorable experience in our nation’s capital.”
For ECU, the Military Bowl marks the school’s fifth consecutive trip to a postseason bowl game. For first-year Pirate head coach Ruffin McNeill, it’s his second straight bowl game appearance. As interim head coach at Texas Tech a year ago, he led the Red Raiders to a 41-31 victory over Michigan State in the 2010 Alamo Bowl.
“It is certainly a privilege and honor to have the opportunity to represent East Carolina in our nation’s capital by playing in the Military Bowl,” said McNeill. “I’m happy our seniors, a group that have provided this program with loyal leadership and stability during their careers and a time of transition, will have the chance to compete for a bowl championship and reach one of our goals this season. We are all looking forward to this special experience, something I know will provide us with lasting memories.”
The Pirates (6-6) played three ACC teams during the regular season, losing at Virginia Tech, which owns the best record in the ACC, and at North Carolina, before rebounding to defeat N.C. State, which suffered just four losses all season.
In 2010, nine ACC teams qualified for postseason play. An announcement on the Pirates’ opponent will be made on Selection Sunday, December 5.
“There is growing anticipation to know which ACC school will play against ECU,” continued Beck. “With two participating teams from the eastern seaboard, the experience for our teams, their fans and the D.C. metro area will be that much more exciting. This is shaping up to be an outstanding bowl at RFK.”
Game tickets are priced at $25, $55 and $90 and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster locations or by calling 800-555-SEAT. Tickets for the Official Tailgate Party at the DC Armory are $20.
For more information, please visit www.MilitaryBowl.org.
