Rockets accept invitation to play Appalachian State in Raycom Media Camellia Bowl

December 4, 2016 | Athletics, Events, News
By Paul Helgren



The University of Toledo has accepted an invitation to play Appalachian State of the Sun Belt Conference in the 2016 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Ala.

The game will be played at 4:30 p.m. Central time (5:30 p.m. Eastern time) Saturday, Dec. 17, and will be televised on ESPN.

web Raycom Camellia Bowl“We are very excited to be selected to play in the Raycom Camellia Bowl,” UT Vice President and Athletic Director Mike O’Brien said Sunday when announcing the news. “The Rocket Nation sends a thank-you to Executive Director Johnny Williams and the entire Raycom Media Camellia Bowl selection committee. We have heard nothing but great things about the hospitality of the bowl committee and the city of Montgomery.

“I also want to congratulate Head Coach Jason Candle, his staff, and obviously our Rocket football team on a very successful season,” he said. “I’m confident that our players, coaches and fans will all enjoy a terrific bowl experience in Montgomery.”

Candle, who led the Rockets to a 9-3 season in his first full season as head coach, was enthusiastic about his team’s bowl destination.

“The Raycom Media Camellia Bowl will provide our players with an outstanding bowl experience, as well as the opportunity to play against a very tough Appalachian State team,” Candle said. “Playing in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl is an excellent reward for our players, coaches and everyone involved in our team’s success.”

The Rockets (9-3, 6-2 MAC) finished in second place in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. UT will be playing in its 16th bowl and sixth in the last seven years. UT is 11-4 all-time in bowl games, including a 32-17 victory last year over No. 24 Temple in the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl in Candle’s first game as UT’s head coach.

Appalachian State is 9-3 and 7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Mountaineers finished as co-champions of the Sun Belt along with Arkansas State. Appalachian State is coached by Scott Satterfield, a former Toledo assistant who has been the Mountaineers’ head coach for four seasons. Satterfield was the passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach at UT in 2009 under then-head coach Tim Beckman.

Toledo and Appalachian State will meet on the football field for the first time in the 2016 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl.

This is the third year for the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. Bowling Green won the inaugural matchup over South Alabama, 33-28, in 2014. Appalachian State defeated Ohio last year, 31-29.

Information on ticket sales and travel packages will be announced Monday.

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