TCU Accepts Bid To Poinsettia Bowl
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The TCU Horned Frogs accepted an invitation to play the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in the seventh annual San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, 2011 President Chuck Wasker announced today. The football game will be played Wednesday, December 21st at 5 p.m. (PST) at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California.
“We are excited to pit two conference champions against one another in this year’s bowl game,” said Wasker. “We expect these two teams will put on quite a show!”
TCU finished the regular season 10-2 overall and 7-0 in the Mountain West.
“We are very excited to have the opportunity to play in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl,” said TCU head coach Gary Patterson. “Our players have had an unbelievable experience in our past trips to the game. The bowl committee and the redcoats are outstanding with their hospitality. Bowl games are a great reward for our players. We are looking forward to making the trip to San Diego.
“We have a lot of respect for Louisiana Tech and coach Sonny Dykes. They’re conference champions and have had an outstanding season with some very impressive wins. They’ve gone on the road and beat an SEC team. They are very skilled on both sides of the ball.”
This year’s game will mark the Horned Frogs third appearance in the San Diego County
Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. They defeated Northern Illinois 37-7 in 2006 and beat then undefeated Boise State 17-16 in 2008.
TCU ranks among the national leaders in total offense with its average of 443.9 yards per game. The Horned Frogs have scored at least 27 points in each game this season while reaching the 31-point mark in 11 of 12 contests. Sophomore quarterback Casey Pachall, who ranks in seventh nationally in passing efficiency, is on pace for several TCU single-season passing records. He has completed 67.8 percent of his attempts with 24 touchdowns and just six interceptions. Fellow sophomore Josh Boyce has 56 receptions for 932 yards, leaving him just 68 yards shy of becoming just the second 1,000-yard receiver in TCU history. Waymon James (824 yards), Matthew Tucker (684 yards) and Ed Wesley (649 yards) lead a potent TCU ground attack.
2011 Rose Bowl Defensive Most Valuable Player Tank Carder headlines TCU’s defense. Carder has 66 tackles, including 4 1/2 for loss. He has returned both his interceptions for touchdowns. Sophomore defensive end Stansly Maponga tops the Horned Frogs in tackles for loss (12), sacks (8 1/2), forced fumbles (5) and fumble recoveries (2). Linebacker Kenny Cain is TCU’s leading tackler with 67 stops. TCU has led the nation in total defense five times in the last 11 seasons.
This will be the first meeting between the two teams.
The 2010 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl featured a 35-14 San Diego State Aztecs victory over the Navy Midshipmen.
Tickets for the game can be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 1-800-745-3000, or by visiting www.poinsettiabowl.com.
