Armed Forces Bowl Team Announcement

{fshare id=4635}

FORT WORTH, Texas – It’s another day closer to completing the Armed Forces Bell Helicopter Bowl’s armed services trifecta.

Bowl executive director Brant Ringler and Bell Helicopter CEO John Garrison, who played linebacker at Army, both expressed satisfaction and a little pride Tuesday at Amon Carter Stadium about Navy becoming the third U.S. service academy to compete in the 11th annual BHAFB, which is set for Monday, Dec. 30, at 10:45 a.m. on ESPN at the gleaming facility.

The Armed Forces Bell Helicopter Bowl is the first postseason contest to host all three academies.

“Obviously, we are proud to complete the trifecta,” said Ringler. “We think the coaches, players and fans will savor the experience and the whole experience with patriotic themes when Navy and Middle Tennessee play.”

At the 13-day mark before kickoff and with anticipation building, the two executives and head coaches Ken Niumatalolo of the Naval Academy and Rick Stockstill voiced raves about the matchup, facilities and setup for the first meeting of these two 8-4 overall squads at the annual Team Announcement News Conference and Reception.

“First, I want to thank John Garrison and Bell Helicopter for eight years of

sponsorship for the bowl,” Ringler began. “We welcome these head coaches and their side-by-side rankings and records. These are two outstanding teams, and they run the ball very well.

“Middle Tennessee led Conference USA in rushing in its first year in the conference,” he continued, “and that tells you something. Navy has the all-time leading touchdown rusher (29 scores) by a quarterback in Division I (FBS), and Keenan Reynolds is one of the most exciting players in the country to watch. That Navy triple option is hard to stop.”

Garrison was equally pleased as the product of a service academy football background and also about the annual patriotic pageantry surrounding the contest at Amon Carter Stadium.

“On behalf of the 11,000 men and women of Bell Helicopter (25 percent of that workforce has previous military service) and our area, I salute our thousands more men and women protecting our country in the active service and these two fine football teams,” he stated.

“Welcome to the Midshipmen and Blue Raiders,” he added, “and you will be watched by thousands in the stadium, millions on national television and many others in the service around the globe. This game has such significance for so many groups.”

Garrison also noted the bowl and sponsor have overcome 2013 government sequestration by use of American ingenuity and imagination for pregame pageantry.

“We’re planning a vintage World War II aircraft pregame flyover with a team of veterans scheduled to parachute the game ball into the stadium,” he related. “There also will be a special halftime oath of enlistment administered by (2013 BHAFB Great American Patriot Award winner) Adm. William McRaven (a University of Texas Distinguished Alumni Award winner) and the presentation of a home to a special veteran and his family by the Military Warriors Support Foundation. It’s a very inspirational and emotional time for the many hundreds who are assisting this effort.”

Garrison also noted that 650 family members of American armed forces members will be attending the game as special guests and were exuberant about Fort Worth hospitality and the bowl ambience.

“We simply cannot lose sight of the men and women who protect our nation every day,” continued the Bell Helicopter CEO. “They are stationed worldwide, and 42,000 remain in Afghanistan in harm’s way. These are the people from the armed forces we salute with this game.”

The ninth rendition of the popular bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium (two were held at SMU’s Ford Stadium while ACS was being renovated) is anticipating a turnout of 40,000-plus (the 10-year average is 36,305 with the smaller venue in Dallas).

The annual Kickoff Luncheon for the Armed Forces Bell Helicopter Bowl will be Friday, Dec. 27, at the Downtown Omni Hotel with NFF College Hall of Fame and 1963 Heisman Trophy winner from Navy Roger Staubach (also famed Dallas Cowboys QB and area business legend) as featured speaker.

Tickets for the bowl remain on sale by accessing ArmedForcesBowl.com.

Share and Enjoy !

Shares