Appalachian State University football has accepted an invitation to participate in the 2015 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 19 in Montgomery, Ala., where it will face Ohio from the Mid-American Conference. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. ET at Montgomery’s historic Cramton Bowl. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
TICKETS
Appalachian State’s allotment of Raycom Media Camellia Bowl tickets are on sale now at appstatesports.com/tickets. Online ticket sales are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Tickets can also be purchased by phone at (828) 262-2079 or in person at the Appalachian State athletics ticket office from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Fans that pre-ordered Raycom Media Camellia Bowl tickets through Appalachian State athletics do not need to place a separate order. Fans that pre-ordered tickets will be charged for their Raycom Media Camellia Bowl requests on Tuesday, Dec. 8. Fans that would like to add additional tickets to an existing order can do so by calling the Appalachian State athletics ticket office at (828) 262-2079.
Mountaineer fans are urged to purchase tickets from Appalachian State’s allotment for several very important reasons, including:
- tickets purchased through Appalachian State directly supports Mountaineer athletics and student-athletes;
- purchasing tickets through Appalachian State’s allotment guarantees that your group will be seated in the official App State seating block(s).
- purchasing tickets through the University’s allotment positions Appalachian State for future postseason opportunities by establishing a tradition of strong bowl participation by our fan base.
TRAVEL AND EVENTS
Appalachian State athletics is offering an official travel package to the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. The trip, which includes round-trip charter flight from Greensboro and land-only options, runs from Friday, Dec. 18-Sunday, Dec. 20. For details, visit appstatesports.com.
The Raycom Media Camellia Bowl and Appalachian State athletics also have a wide array of events planned for fans that make the trip to Montgomery. Visit appstatesports.com for details.
THE MATCHUP
Appalachian State (10-2, 7-1 Sun Belt) has already matched a Sun Belt Conference single-season record with 10 victories and finished in second place in league standings. The Mountaineers are making their first-ever NCAA bowl appearance in their first season of eligibility after transitioning to NCAA Division I FBS from Division I FCS.
App State ranks among the nation’s top 20 in 17 different statistical categories, including scoring offense (37.2 ppg — 19th) and defense (18.3 ppg — 13th). The Mountaineers only defeats came at the hands of No. 1 Clemson (41-10 on Sept. 12) and Sun Belt champion Arkansas State (40-27 on Nov. 5).
Appalachian appeared in 10 bowl games at the NAIA level from 1931-1955. The Mountaineers’ last bowl appearance was a 7-0 loss to East Tennessee State in the 1955 Burley Bowl in Johnson City, Tenn.
App State also made 20 appearances in the NCAA Division I-AA/FCS playoffs from 1986-2012. The Mountaineers were 24-17 all-time in I-AA/FCS playoff games and won three-straight national championships from 2005-07.
Ohio (8-4, 5-3 MAC) placed second in the Mid-American Conference’s East Division in 2015. The Bobcats’ eight wins include impressive victories over Marshall (21-10 on Sept. 12) and Northern Illinois (26-21 on Nov. 24).
Ohio is making its ninth all-time bowl appearance. After making only two postseason appearances from 1894-2006 (1962 Sun Bowl and 1968 Tangerine Bowl), the Bobcats are making playing in their seventh bowl game in the last nine seasons. In their most recent postseason contest, Ohio lost to East Carolina, 37-20, in the 2013 Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
“It’s with great pride that we accept the invitation to participate in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. With 10 wins in their first season of bowl eligibility, our coaches and student-athletes are very deserving of this honor and for the opportunity to be showcased on a national stage. I’m excited for our whole University community — students, alumni, faculty, staff and fans — to be able to share in this historic event. App Nation will be on full display in Montgomery and we can’t wait!”
— Appalachian State director of athletics Doug Gillin
“This is a great day in the history of our program, our athletics department and our University. I am so pleased that our student-athletes will be rewarded for everything they accomplished this season by getting to experience a bowl game. To be able to do it in our first season of eligibility just makes it that much sweeter. While this is a reward for everyone associated with our program, we are not just happy to be here. Our goal is to come home with a win. We have our work cut out for us facing a very good Ohio team. The Mid-American Conference was perhaps the deepest Group of Five conference in the nation this season and we have a lot of respect for what Ohio has been able to accomplish. It will be a great challenge for our team to see how we match up against the Bobcats.”
— Appalachian State head coach Scott Satterfield
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