MARSHALL UNIVERSITY TO FACE OHIO UNIVERSITY
IN 2009 LITTLE CAESARS PIZZA BOWL
Bowl Marks the First Meeting of Traditional Rivals Since 2004
DETROIT— Little Caesars Pizza Bowl officials announced today that the Marshall University Thundering Herd will play the MAC East Champion Ohio University Bobcats in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl on Saturday, December 26 (1:00 p.m., ESPN) in Detroit. Bowl officials extended the bid to both teams on Sunday.
The MAC East Champion Bobcats will be making their first appearance in the Detroit bowl, after having played at Ford Field in their conference championship game on Friday evening. The Thundering Herd will be making their fifth appearance in the Detroit bowl, the first four as members of the Mid-American Conference.
“We’re excited to host the first meeting in four years between these two traditional rivals,” said Little Caesars Pizza Bowl Chairman & Executive Director Ken Hoffman. “The schools’ campuses are less than 90 minutes apart, and from what we have already heard, the teams, fans and alumni are enthusiastic about renewing their rivalry in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.”
2009 marks the bowl’s thirteenth consecutive year as a Detroit holiday sporting tradition. Little Caesars Pizza®,the international pizza chain celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is in its first year as title sponsor for the bowl. For its first 12 years, the game was called the Motor City Bowl.
“We are eager to watch these talented players compete in the first Little Caesars Pizza Bowl,” said David Scrivano, president of Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. “Little Caesars looks forward to enhancing the bowl game experience for the players and the fans with special events and national promotions. Pizza and football make a great combination!”
The MAC East Champion Bobcats bring a 9 - 4 record, the Mid-American Conference’s number three pass defense, and the conference’s top positive turnover margin, into the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. The Thundering Herd brings a
6 - 6 record and Conference USA’s fourth-rated defense into the game.
The Herd played seven bowl-eligible football teams in 2009, including the nationally-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies, and West Virginia Mountaineers. The Bobcats played six bowl-bound football teams in 2009, including narrow fourth-quarter losses to traditional SEC power Tennessee and the University of Connecticut, from the Big East.
“We’re couldn’t be more ecstatic about coming back to Detroit, and getting to play a longtime rival – Marshall, in the bowl that we most wanted to play in. It’s very close to our base, with more than 120,000 Ohio alumni within a five-hour drive of Detroit,” said Ohio University Director of Athletics Jim Schaus. “Our fans have missed this rivalry, which is why we have a six-year run of games scheduled with them beginning next year. I can’t think of a better way to kick it off than in Ford Field at the Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl.”
The MAC East Champion Bobcats are led by wide receiver Taylor Price, the university’s all-time leader in career catches; LaVon Brazill, the MAC’s top punt returner; and running back Chris Garrett, who led the MAC in kickoff return yardage. Ohio is coached by former Nebraska Head Coach Frank Solich.
“We’re excited to play in a bowl that we participated in many times, during its years at the Pontiac Silverdome,” said Marshall Athletic Director Mike Hamrick. “Our team and our fans have had a great experience in the past. And this year, getting to compete against one of our traditional rivals in Ford Field, one of the premier sports facilities in the country on national TV . . . it is a great Christmas gift for our program.”
The Thundering Herd is led by tight end and Mackey Award finalist Cody Slate and running back Darius Marshall, Conference USA’s number two player in all-purpose yardage. Marshall will be coached by Interim Head Coach Rick Minter, who led Cincinnati against Marshall in the 2000 bowl.
The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl will be played before a national television audience on ESPN. The game will be in downtown Detroit’s Ford Field for the eighth consecutive season, after five years at the Pontiac Silverdome.
Last year, Florida Atlantic beat Central Michigan 24 – 21, before 41,399 fans.
The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl is the only major college football bowl game in the Midwest region of the United States. Gates will open at 11:30a.m. on game day. Pre-game festivities will begin at 12:30p.m.
Tickets are now on sale at TicketMaster outlets by calling 800-745-3000 and at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are also on sale at the Ford Field Box Office and at the Ohio and Marshall University athletic ticket offices.