Bowling Green and Tulsa set to square off in 2008 GMAC BOWL

(MOBILE, AL) – Bowl officials announced today that Bowling Green State University and the University of Tulsa have accepted invitations to play in the GMAC BOWL on Sunday, January 6, 2008, in Mobile, Alabama.

“The 2001 GMAC Bowl was ranked in Friday’s USA Today as the 10th most memorable moment in college football in the last 25 years. We feel that this year’s match- up between Tulsa and Bowling Green has the potential to be another high scoring, exciting game. We’re looking forward to our 8th straight sellout,” said GMAC Bowl President, Jerry Silverstein.

“Bowling Green State University is excited to have the opportunity to come to Mobile and participate in the GMAC Bowl,” said BGSU Athletic Director, Greg Christopher. “Our players and fans had a fantastic time the last time we attended the game and we are looking forward to competing against the University of Tulsa.”

“We’re very excited about going to the GMAC Bowl. We think it’s a great bowl and an opportunity on January 6th to be the last bowl before the BCS game. It’s great national exposure for our program and playing a great opponent in Bowling Green,” said Coach Todd Graham. “We’re looking forward to it. Our team has an opportunity to win 10 games, to tie the school record for most wins in school history. We’re looking forward to being in Mobile on January 6th and hoping to bring home a bowl championship.”

Bowling Green (8-4) finished the season on a high note winning their last four games and capturing a Co-Western Division Championship in the MAC going 6-2 in league play.

The Falcons will be making their second appearance in the GMAC Bowl. In December 2004 the Falcons defeated Memphis 52-35 in an offensive shootout.

Sophomore quarterback Tyler Sheehan highlights an impressive Falcon offense. Sheehan, completed 289-of-457 passes for 3,123 yards and 23 touchdowns, becoming only the fourth quarterback in school history to surpass the 3,000-yard plateau. He also caught two touchdowns on the year, the only quarterback in the country to do so.

Sheehan’s success can be attributed to a veteran offensive line anchored by 2007 Rimington finalist Kory Lichtensteiger, a four-time All-MAC performer, semi-finalist for the Draddy Award and a member of the Lombardi Watch List. He has started all 12 games this season, helping the Falcons rank third in the MAC in scoring (32.1) and first in passing yards (286.8) and total first downs (286).

Tulsa (9-4, 6-3 C-USA) the C-USA western division champions will be playing in their third consecutive bowl appearance and their first in the GMAC Bowl.

Tulsa will bring the nations top ranked offense averaging 548.6 total yards per game. They also rank third in passing with 369.3 yards per game, and rank fourth in pass efficiency (163.1). The Golden Hurricanes senior quarterback Paul Smith leads Tulsa’s high-powered offense. Smith has emerged among the nations top-5 quarterbacks statistically through the entire season and ranks second nationally in total passing yards (4,327). Smith’s favorite target is newcomer Brennan Marrion, who is averaging a whopping 35.9 yards per reception, with 11 scores and 1,148 total receiving yards.

The 9th Annual GMAC Bowl will kickoff at 7:00 P.M (CST) January 6th 2008 at Ladd Peebles Stadium. ESPN will nationally broadcast the game.