Georgia Southern and Bowling Green To Face Off in GoDaddy Bowl

Mobile, Ala. (Dec. 6, 2015) – The GoDaddy Bowl announced today that Georgia Southern University (8-4, 6-2) with the Sun Belt Conference will face Bowling Green State University (10-3, 8-1) with the Mid-American Conference in the 17th annual GoDaddy Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2015, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:00 pm CST and the game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

“We are excited to welcome these two great teams to Mobile and look forward to seeing a very powerful offensive match up,” said GoDaddy Bowl president Jerry Silverstein. “Georgia Southern is in for a spectacular first bowl experience and are we are thrilled to bring back Bowling Green for a third time.”

Georgia Southern leads the nation in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, averaging 355.6 yards per game and 47 rushing TDs on the season. The Eagles also hold three of the top single-game rushing totals in the FBS this season: 507 vs New Mexico State (3rd), 503 vs Texas State (4th) and 489 vs South Alabama (7th).
Defensively Georgia Southern places second in the Sun Belt Conference in categories such as total defense, rushing defense, scoring defense and interceptions.  They lead the conference in opponent first downs and rank 6th in the FBS with 16.5 per game.

In 2014, head coach Willie Fritz led the Eagles to a perfect 8-0 league record and a 9-3 overall record in not only his first season at Georgia Southern, but the school’s first season in the Sun Belt Conference. The Eagles claimed the Sun Belt title and Fritz named the 2014 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year.

“We’re extremely honored and excited to play in the GoDaddy Bowl and would like to thank bowl president Jerry Silverstein and executive director Frank Modarelli for inviting us to play in their bowl” said Tom Kleinlein, Georgia Southern Director of Athletics. “This bowl opportunity is the result of the hard work by our players, Coach Fritz, his staff, the University and the fans. Obviously, this bowl has special meaning to us as it’s our first bowl game ever, so I know all of Eagle Nation is excited to show up in Mobile and to be a part of Georgia Southern history.”

Bowling Green, the 2015 MAC Champions, have averaged 43.4 points per game, which is fifth best in the country and first in the MAC. The Falcon offense also leads the MAC in total offense, passing offense, first downs and third down conversions to name a few. Defensively, the Falcons have 20 interceptions on the season – the most in the MAC and fifth-best in the country.

Falcon quarterback Matt Johnson finished the season with 4,700 passing yards and 43 touchdowns, becoming the MAC single-season passing leader surpassing Ben Roethlisberger’s 4,486 yards in 2003. Johnson also surpassed Omar Jacobs for the school and MAC record for touchdown passes in a single season. Johnson also leads the nation with his 4,700 passing yards and 43 touchdowns.

“We are so excited about this post-season bowl game opportunity and want to thank the GoDaddy Bowl for selecting us,” Director of Athletics D. Christopher Kingston said. “This is a great opportunity for our Falcon Family to make holiday plans to join us for our third bowl appearance in Ladd-Peebles Stadium, in the great city of Mobile, Ala.”

Teams are slated to arrive in Mobile on Saturday, Dec. 19. As usual, the GoDaddy Bowl will feature a week of activities before the game itself. A Christmas Experience concert featuring 6-time Grammy winning artist TobyMac will kick off GoDaddy Bowl Week on Saturday, Dec. 19. The GoDaddy Bowl Mayor’s Luncheon will feature ABC and ESPN sportscaster Brent Musburger as the guest speaker on Tuesday, Dec. 22. The Greer’s/AL.com Mardi Gras Parade, AL.com Pep Rally, Spectronics Fireworks Show and the AL.com Street Party are scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 22 as well.

Purchase tickets now online at www.GoDaddyBowl.com or by calling the GoDaddy Bow office at 251-635-0011. Tickets are $45 for sideline seats and $15 for end zone seats.

For more information about the GoDaddy Bowl game, ticket information, or bowl week activities, please visit www.GoDaddyBowl.com or call the GoDaddy Bowl office.

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