Coca-Cola Bowl Season

The men and women of the United States Armed Forces are unquestionably worthy of thanks and gratitude. The sacrifice they make to ensure our freedom is remarkable and this bowl game is just one way to recognize those that have made the ultimate sacrifice and those that continue to make sacrifices each day. The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces bowl recognizes all five branches of the service in many different ways. Each year wounded warriors are awarded a custom home and the “Great American Patriot Award” is presented by Armed Forces Insurance. The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl also recognizes your personal hero through the Wall of Heroes Project. This bowl game provides college football with an exciting post season match-up, but the meaning of this game is far more than that. The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl is BIGGER THAN THE GAME.

For more information, visit armedforcesbowl.com.

The Football Bowl Association would like to express its deepest appreciation to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and to the families who support them. Thank you!

NEWS FROM THE LOCKHEED MARTIN ARMED FORCES BOWL

HISTORY

YEAR	TEAM	SCORE	TEAM	SCORE
2016	Louisiana Tech	48	Navy	45
2015	California	55	Air Force	36
2014	Pitt	34	Houston	35
2013	MTSU	6	Navy	24
2012	Rice	33	Air Force	14
2011	BYU	24	Tulsa	21
2010	Army	16	SMU	14
2009	Houston	20	Air Force	47
2008	Houston	34	Air Force	28
2007	Cal	42	Air Force	36
2006	Tulsa	13	Utah	25
2005	Houston	13	Kansas	42
2004	Cincinnati	32	Marshall	14
2003	TCU	31	Boise State	34

 

MEMORABLE GAMES

2003:

The inaugural game, called the PlainsCapital Bank Fort Worth Bowl, featured two top-25 schools with double-digit regular-season win totals. Boise State outlasted TCU 34-31 to win a bowl game on the road for the first time in school history.

2009:

The game featured only the sixth major college game since 1996 with kickoff return touchdowns on consecutive plays (none had been in a bowl game). Air Force also intercepted Houston’s Case Keenum six times, tying a bowl record for pass interceptions. Air Force went on to win 47-20 over Houston.

2010:

Sparked by a 55-yard fumble return by defensive end Josh McNary during the opening minutes of play, Army completed its first winning season since 1996 by defeating SMU 16-14 in front of a sold-out stadium-record of 36,742 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.

2011:

Cody Hoffman’s third touchdown reception of the game, with 11 seconds left in the contest, lifted BYU to a 24-21 win over Tulsa. BYU drove 48 yards in 12 plays during a 4:08 scoring drive as Hoffman caught a 2-yard TD pass from quarterback Riley Nelson to secure the win.

STANDOUT PLAYERS

Ryan Dinwiddie, QB, Boise State, 2003

In the inaugural bowl, threw three touchdown passes, including an 18-yarder to Derek Schouman in the final minutes, to lead the Broncos to a 34-31 win over hometown favorite TCU.

Kyle Van Noy, LB, Brigham Young, 2011

Recorded 10 tackles including five for losses and two sacks, and also forced a fumble in BYU’s narrow 24-21 win over TCU. He led a Cougar defense that held the Golden Hurricane, which had been averaging over 200 rush yards per game, to only 37 yards on the ground.

Jason Swanson, QB, Kansas, 2005

Threw four touchdown passes, three of them of 30 yards or more, in leading the Jayhawks to a 42-13 win over Houston.

Cody Hoffman, WR, Brigham Young, 2011

Caught three touchdown passes from Riley Nelson, the last one coming with only 11 seconds left, as the Cougars rallied for a 24-21 win over Tulsa. Hoffman wound up with eight catches for 122 yards.

Jordan Taylor, WR, Rice, 2012

Had nine catches for 153 yards and three touchdowns, two of them coming in the second half in helping the Owls wrap up a 33-14 win over Air Force. Taylor’s scores covered 16, 22 and 34 yards.

MORE

• The bowl was inaugurated in 2003 as the Fort Worth Bowl, with corporate sponsor PlainsCapital Bank. After the 2005 game was played without a corporate sponsor, Fort Worth-based Bell Helicopter sponsored the game for eight years, 2006 through 2013.

• Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, with facilities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, became the title sponsor of the Armed Forces Bowl in early 2014.

• The Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl unveiled a new championship trophy in 2010, with actual battle- used metal forged into the trophy’s structure. All five branches of the military are represented with their seals engraved on the back side of the trophy.

• The 2009 game was only the sixth major college game and first bowl game since 1996 with kickoff return touchdowns on consecutive plays, and tied a bowl record for pass interceptions with Air Force’s six picks of Houston’s Case Keenum.

• Sixteen years before the Cotton Bowl, the “Fort Worth Classic” was played on New Year’s Day of 1921, featuring TCU and the Centre College Praying Colonels – a Kentucky team led by players from Fort Worth. Fort Wort also hosted a 1940’s small-college bowl game, the Cattle Bowl, on New Year’s Day at LaGrave Field.

• Since 2006, the Executive Committee of the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl has presented the Great American Patriot Award to an individual or group that is of high moral fiber and good character; has spent his or her career serving the common good of the United States; has gone beyond the call of duty to serve and protect his or her country; has proven dedication and loyalty in upholding the Constitution and the laws of the nation; and has worked tirelessly to make the U.S. a better and safer place for all its citizens. The inaugural recipient was Gordon England, Deputy Secretary of Defense, followed by Preston “Pete” Green, Secretary of the Army; General David Petraeus, United States Army; the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, accepted by Admiral Michael G.“Mike” Mullen, U.S. Navy, 17th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff ; Admiral Thad Allen, United States Coast Guard; 2011 recipient, Staff Sergeant Salvatore A. Giunta, United States Army, Medal of Honor recipient, General Norton A. Schwartz, former U.S. Chief of Staff of the Air Force and most recently Admiral William H. McRaven, United States Navy.

• The Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) and the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl initiated the Armed Forces Merit Award to honor an individual and/or group in 2012. It was presented for the first time in 2012, with Nate Boyer of the University of Texas receiving the first honor. In 2013, the award was presented to Brandon McCoy of the University of North Texas. Nominations are accepted over the summer, with the selection process beginning in October. The Armed Forces Merit Award is selected by a panel of individuals from the FWAA and the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.

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