The University of Toledo has accepted an invitation to play Appalachian State of the Sun Belt Conference in the 2017 Dollar General Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., UT Vice President and Athletic Director Mike O’Brien announced Sunday.
The game will be played at 6 p.m. Central time (7 Eastern time) Saturday, Dec. 23, and will be televised on ESPN.
“We are very excited to return to Mobile to play in the Dollar General Bowl,” O’Brien said. “We would like to thank President Jerry Silverstein, Executive director Frank Modarelli and the entire Dollar General Bowl selection committee for choosing The University of Toledo to participate in their outstanding bowl. We are looking forward to another terrific bowl experience in the beautiful state of Alabama against a very fine Appalachian State team.
“I also want to congratulate Head Coach Jason Candle, his staff and our entire Rocket football team on a memorable MAC Championship season.”
Candle, who led the Rockets to an 11-2 record and a Mid-American Conference Championship title in his second season as head coach, was enthusiastic about his team’s bowl destination.
“The Dollar General Bowl will provide our team with an outstanding bowl experience, as well as the opportunity to play against a very tough Appalachian State team,” Candle said. “We are very familiar with Appalachian State, having played them in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl last year. Both teams are league champions, so that will make for a great matchup. Playing in the Dollar General Bowl is an excellent reward for our players, coaches, fans and everyone who has played a part in our MAC Championship.”
The Rockets (11-2, 7-1 MAC) finished in first place in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference and defeated East Division champion Akron, 45-28, in the MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit Dec. 2.
Toledo will be playing in its 17th bowl and seventh in the last eight years. UT is 11-5 all-time in bowl games, including 2-0 in bowl games in Mobile when the Dollar General Bowl was known by different names. The Rockets beat UTEP in the 2005 GMAC Bowl by a score of 45-13, and Arkansas State, 63-44, in 2015 (2014 season) in the GoDaddy Bowl.
Appalachian State is 8-4 and 7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Mountaineers finished as co-champions of the Sun Belt along with Troy. Appalachian State, which defeated Toledo in last year’s Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, 31-28, is coached by Scott Satterfield. Satterfield, who has been the Mountaineers’ head coach for five seasons, was the passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Toledo in 2009 under then-head coach Tim Beckman.
Information on ticket sales and travel packages will be announced Monday, Dec. 4. For the latest updates on the bowl and tickets, click here.
