12/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | General
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Tickets On Sale Now Shreveport, La. - The United States Air Force Academy will play in the 2010 AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl against an Atlantic Coast Conference team on Monday, Dec. 27 at 4 p.m. on ESPN2 at Independence Stadium, it was announced Wednesday, Dec. 1st. Air Force will learn its opponent on Sunday, as the matchup will be formally announced. The AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl is beginning partnerships with the ACC and Mountain West Conference in an agreement that runs through 2013. This year's game marks the 35th anniversary of the Independence Bowl, the nation's 11th-oldest bowl game. "We are thrilled to have Air Force play in the 2010 AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl this year as we begin a new partnership with the Mountain West Conference," said 2010 Bowl Chair Jim Hagan. "We feel this matchup between Air Force and a quality opponent from the ACC will excite our fans in Shreveport-Bossier City and throughout the region and we look forward to a great game on Dec. 27 at 4 p.m." The Air Force Falcons finished their season with an 8-4 overall record and a 5-3 mark in Mountain West Conference play, good for a third-place tie in the conference with BYU and San Diego State. The Falcons become the first service academy team to play in the I-Bowl since Army in 1996. The Falcons have posted at least eight wins and qualified for a bowl game the last four seasons. Air Force enters the 2010 AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl riding a three-game winning streak. Air Force claimed the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy with wins over Navy and Army this season, capturing the trophy for the 17th time. "The Air Force Falcons are honored to get a chance to come back to the Shreveport-Bossier City and Barksdale Air Force Base community," said Head coach Troy Calhoun. "Our cadets, administration, coaches, and supporters are excited to soon head south to be a part of one of college football's treasures- the Independence Bowl," said Calhoun. "We're proud and excited to be headed to the Independence Bowl to take on a great opponent from the ACC, said Director of Athletics Dr. Hans J. Mueh. "This is a great opportunity for our school, coaches, players, and fans. Our football team has had a great season and this is an outstanding way for them to close it out." Army and Navy will play in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces and San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl respectively, marking the first time in history that all three U.S. service academies will play in bowl games in the same season. Senior defensive back Reggie Rembert was named to the All-MWC First-Team while eight of his teammates were named to the second team or earned honorable-mention distinction. The Falcons have made three-straight appearances in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas, facing Houston the last two years and playing California in 2007. Air Force lost three of its four games by a total of only 10 points, two to ranked opponents. The Falcons fell 27-24 to No. 7 Oklahoma on the road and then lost 27-25 at San Diego State. Air Force also lost 28-23 at home to then-No. 8 Utah. Calhoun, in his fourth year at the helm, is a semifinalist for the first annual Joseph V. Paterno Award for Coach of the Year. The three finalists for the award will be announced on Dec. 6. Calhoun has led the Falcons to a 33-18 overall mark and 21-11 record in conference play. TICKETS Tickets can be purchased by calling the Air Force Athletic ticket office at 1-800-666-USAF or 719-472-1895 or by clicking here. Tickets are on sale now. Tickets are available for the "Big Game Show Team Welcome Party", a new event this year that will be held on Thursday, Dec. 23 at Riverview Hall. The "Big Game Show" Team Welcome Party gives fans a unique chance to watch the teams perform in several game show activities. Food will be provided at the event and is included with each ticket. Tickets for this event cen be purchased at the Bowl Office at (318) 221-0712 or toll free at 888-414-BOWL (2695) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, or at www.independencebowl.org. From Air Force Head Coach Troy Calhoun "This is a magnificent opportunity and our guys are so fired up. I can't think of anything more appropriate than for our guys who have committed to serve their countries and fight for our independence, to play in this bowl." "Anytime we are in a city where there is an Air Force base and to play a bowl game is even more exciting. The kind of pride and spirit and to be associated with our cadets and the commitment they made to serve our county and then to be in a city where service men and women are doing just that, there is a special bond there." "If you pinpoint one bowl where there is a great lineage to the Air Force Academy, it is this one. You feel like you fell in to a bunch of four leaf clovers going to this bowl." "What we are enthused about is this bowl. To play in the south, to play a marquee opponent from the ACC, to experience the great hospitality that is this bowl, we are darn lucky to be able to do that." From Air Force Director of Athletics Dr. Hans Mueh "We are really excited to be coming to Shreveport. We haven't been there is a few years. Thanks so much for the opportunity to showcase our great football team and the Mountain West Conference." From 2010 Independence Bowl Chair Jim Hagan "We are elated to have Air Force. We feel like we are getting a great football team for a great football game." |
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