http://www.themwc.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/120609aab.html
Dec. 6, 2009
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -
Air Force has accepted a bid as the Mountain West Conference representative to play in the 2009 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 31 in Fort Worth, Texas. Air Force will take on #25 Houston of Conference-USA. The game will be played at Amon G. Carter Stadium beginning at 11 a.m. (CST) and will be aired nationally by ESPN.
"We are thrilled to have the Air Force Academy as the Mountain West Conference's representative in the 2009 game," said Brant B. Ringler, the executive director of the bowl. "What better way to honor our military than with a service academy competing in our game. With Falcon and military fans numerous at our past two New Year's Eve games, we have established record attendance figures for our bowl game the last two years."
"It's quite an accomplishment by our team to earn a bowl bid for the third straight year. We look forward to playing in such a tremendous and well-run event as the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. We know the University of Houston has a very rich football history and currently has an incredibly talented team. Our administration, coaches, players, staff and supporters are excited to spend five days in Fort Worth," said Troy Calhoun, head coach at Air Force.
The match-up will be the third between Air Force and Houston in a 15 month span. The schools first played Sept. 13 in Dallas, Texas, in a game moved due to weather. The Falcons won the game, 31-28. The two then played in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth Dec. 31. The Cougars won the game, 34-28.
Air Force concluded the regular season with a 7-5 overall record and finished fourth in the Mountain West Conference with a 5-3 mark. The Falcons are headed to a post-season bowl game for the 20th time in school history and third consecutive season. This season marks the first time since 1990-92 that the Falcons have played in three consecutive bowl games.
Houston finished the season 10-3 overall and won the C-USA West division with a 6-2 record. The Cougars feature the nation's top passing offense, averaging 450 yards per game. Houston ranks No. 1 in total offense with a 581.23 per-game average and is second nationally in scoring offense with a 43.92 norm.
Air Force's defense ranks as one of the best in the history of the school. The Falcons have allowed just 15.3 points per game on the year which is the best mark since the 1998 team averaged 13.3 per game. Air Force has ranked among the nation's top 10 in scoring defense (ninth), passing defense (first) and total defense (10th) all season, including allowing just over 280 yards per game which is the best mark at the school since 1966. Air Force has the nation's top pass defense, allowing just 148.7 yards per game.
The Falcons rank among the nation's elite in turnover margin as well, ranking third nationally with a +17 mark this season that include a 1.42 average margin per game. Air Force has been among the nation's top five all season and has scored five defensive touchdowns this season, two on fumble returns and three on interception returns.
The offense has ranked among the nation's top five in rushing all season with over 270 yards per game. The Falcons are poised to win an 11th straight MWC rushing title this season. Air Force is one of just 15 teams nationally to score in 75 percent or more of the quarters it has played.
Media Note:
Air Force is scheduled to practice on the following days prior to departing for the holidays and then to Fort Worth for the bowl game. The team is scheduled to arrive in Fort Worth on Dec. 26. The practice days and times in Fort Worth will be release when they are finalized. Air Force players and coaches are available following each practice.
Friday, Dec. 11, 9:15 a.m.
Monday, Dec. 14, 5 p.m. (tentative)
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 9:15 a.m.
Air Force Bowl History
Air Force will play in its 20th bowl game in 2009. The Falcons are 8-10-1 all-time in bowls, dating back to the 1958 season. The Falcons snapped a five-year drought by playing in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl. A closer look at Air Force's bowl history follows.
Season Bowl Opponent Result
1958 Cotton TCU Tied 0-0
1963 Gator North Carolina Lost 0-35
1970 Sugar Tennessee Lost 13-34
1982 Hall of Fame Vanderbilt Won 36-28
1983 Independence Mississippi Won 9-3
1984 Independence Virginia Tech Won 23-7
1985 Bluebonnet Texas Won 24-16
1987 Freedom Arizona State Lost 28-33
1989 Liberty Mississippi Lost 29-42
1990 Liberty Ohio State Won 23-11
1991 Liberty Mississippi State Won 38-15
1992 Liberty Mississippi Lost 0-13
1995 Copper Texas Tech Lost 41-55
1997 Las Vegas Oregon Lost 13-41
1998 O'ahu Washington Won 45-25
2000 Silicon Valley Fresno State Won 37-34
2002 San Francisco Virginia Tech Lost 13-20
2007 Armed Forces California Lost 36-42
2008 Armed Forces Houston Lost 28-34
2009 Armed Forces Houston
Dec. 6, 2009
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -
Air Force has accepted a bid as the Mountain West Conference representative to play in the 2009 Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 31 in Fort Worth, Texas. Air Force will take on #25 Houston of Conference-USA. The game will be played at Amon G. Carter Stadium beginning at 11 a.m. (CST) and will be aired nationally by ESPN.
"We are thrilled to have the Air Force Academy as the Mountain West Conference's representative in the 2009 game," said Brant B. Ringler, the executive director of the bowl. "What better way to honor our military than with a service academy competing in our game. With Falcon and military fans numerous at our past two New Year's Eve games, we have established record attendance figures for our bowl game the last two years."
"It's quite an accomplishment by our team to earn a bowl bid for the third straight year. We look forward to playing in such a tremendous and well-run event as the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. We know the University of Houston has a very rich football history and currently has an incredibly talented team. Our administration, coaches, players, staff and supporters are excited to spend five days in Fort Worth," said Troy Calhoun, head coach at Air Force.
The match-up will be the third between Air Force and Houston in a 15 month span. The schools first played Sept. 13 in Dallas, Texas, in a game moved due to weather. The Falcons won the game, 31-28. The two then played in the 2008 Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth Dec. 31. The Cougars won the game, 34-28.
Air Force concluded the regular season with a 7-5 overall record and finished fourth in the Mountain West Conference with a 5-3 mark. The Falcons are headed to a post-season bowl game for the 20th time in school history and third consecutive season. This season marks the first time since 1990-92 that the Falcons have played in three consecutive bowl games.
Houston finished the season 10-3 overall and won the C-USA West division with a 6-2 record. The Cougars feature the nation's top passing offense, averaging 450 yards per game. Houston ranks No. 1 in total offense with a 581.23 per-game average and is second nationally in scoring offense with a 43.92 norm.
Air Force's defense ranks as one of the best in the history of the school. The Falcons have allowed just 15.3 points per game on the year which is the best mark since the 1998 team averaged 13.3 per game. Air Force has ranked among the nation's top 10 in scoring defense (ninth), passing defense (first) and total defense (10th) all season, including allowing just over 280 yards per game which is the best mark at the school since 1966. Air Force has the nation's top pass defense, allowing just 148.7 yards per game.
The Falcons rank among the nation's elite in turnover margin as well, ranking third nationally with a +17 mark this season that include a 1.42 average margin per game. Air Force has been among the nation's top five all season and has scored five defensive touchdowns this season, two on fumble returns and three on interception returns.
The offense has ranked among the nation's top five in rushing all season with over 270 yards per game. The Falcons are poised to win an 11th straight MWC rushing title this season. Air Force is one of just 15 teams nationally to score in 75 percent or more of the quarters it has played.
Media Note:
Air Force is scheduled to practice on the following days prior to departing for the holidays and then to Fort Worth for the bowl game. The team is scheduled to arrive in Fort Worth on Dec. 26. The practice days and times in Fort Worth will be release when they are finalized. Air Force players and coaches are available following each practice.
Friday, Dec. 11, 9:15 a.m.
Monday, Dec. 14, 5 p.m. (tentative)
Tuesday, Dec. 15, 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 16, 9:15 a.m.
Air Force Bowl History
Air Force will play in its 20th bowl game in 2009. The Falcons are 8-10-1 all-time in bowls, dating back to the 1958 season. The Falcons snapped a five-year drought by playing in the 2007 Armed Forces Bowl. A closer look at Air Force's bowl history follows.
Season Bowl Opponent Result
1958 Cotton TCU Tied 0-0
1963 Gator North Carolina Lost 0-35
1970 Sugar Tennessee Lost 13-34
1982 Hall of Fame Vanderbilt Won 36-28
1983 Independence Mississippi Won 9-3
1984 Independence Virginia Tech Won 23-7
1985 Bluebonnet Texas Won 24-16
1987 Freedom Arizona State Lost 28-33
1989 Liberty Mississippi Lost 29-42
1990 Liberty Ohio State Won 23-11
1991 Liberty Mississippi State Won 38-15
1992 Liberty Mississippi Lost 0-13
1995 Copper Texas Tech Lost 41-55
1997 Las Vegas Oregon Lost 13-41
1998 O'ahu Washington Won 45-25
2000 Silicon Valley Fresno State Won 37-34
2002 San Francisco Virginia Tech Lost 13-20
2007 Armed Forces California Lost 36-42
2008 Armed Forces Houston Lost 28-34
2009 Armed Forces Houston
