31 December 2009

Men's Varsity Football - Texas Bowl

USNA Midshipmen vs. Big 12 opponent (to be announced)

ANNAPOLIS, Md.- Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk announced after Saturday's victory over Notre Dame that the Naval Academy has formally accepted an invitation to play in the Texas Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 31 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas against a projected opponent from the Big 12. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN and the game time is set for 3:30 ET, 2:30 in Houston.

The bowl bid is a landmark achievement for the football program as it marks the first time in school history that Navy has gone to seven-straight bowl games. Navy can achieve another first by winning the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy for a school-record seventh-consecutive year on Dec. 12 when the Mids play Army in Philadelphia (2:30 p.m., CBS).

Tickets for the Texas Bowl are on sale now at www.navysports.com. Tickets can also be purchased starting Monday morning at 9 a.m. by calling 1-800-US4-NAVY or at the Ricketts Hall Box Office. Tickets range from $25-$65. Fans are also asked to purchase tickets to sponsor midshipmen and enlisted personnel and their families. The Naval Academy Athletic Association will discount tickets to support this initiative from $40 to $25 in an effort to encourage support and attendance of the midshipmen and our enlisted at the game. Navy fans unable to make the trip to Houston are encouraged to sponsor four midshipmen for $100 or two enlisted for $50. The tax deductable donation will be administered through the Naval Academy Athletic Association ticket office.

"We strongly encourage Navy fans to buy their bowl tickets directly from the Naval Academy Athletic Association," said Gladchuk. "Our goal is to bring a large contingent of the Brigade of Midshipmen and we expect more than 20,000 Navy fans in the stands. It is very important for this game and for future Navy bowl considerations for our fans to purchase tickets through the NAAA. If you can't make it to the game we ask that Navy fans buy tickets for our midshipmen and enlisted personnel, which will allow us to create the usual pageantry of Navy football. Ticket donations through the NAAA ticket office are 100 percent tax deductible."

Anthony Travel is the official Naval Academy Texas Bowl travel agency. Travel packages include hotel accommodations at the JW Marriott (Navy team hotel). Visit AnthonyTravel.com and search Navy Bowl or call (800) 736-6377 to make your reservations.