Twelfth meeting all-time between schools
CINCINNATI - The University of Cincinnati football team will face Virginia Tech in the 2018 Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman, benefiting the USO on Monday, Dec. 31, 2018 inside Navy-Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.
The game kicks off at noon ET and will air on ESPN with radio coverage on 700 WLW AM.
Cincinnati (10-2, 6-2 American Athletic Conference) has been one of the great turnaround stories of college football in 2018, improving its win total by six games after a 4-8 campaign in 2017. UC returns to postseason play for the first time since the 2015 Hawai'i Bowl and will play in its 18th bowl game all time and 10th in the past 13 seasons. The Bearcats are going for just the third 11-win season in the program's 131-year history and have an 8-9 all-time postseason record.
The game is a rematch of the 2014 Military Bowl, which Virginia Tech won, 33-17, before a sellout crowd of 34,277. It will be the second appearance for each team in the Military Bowl.
This two teams have met 11 times on the gridiron with Virginia Tech holding a 6-5 edge in the all-time series. Three previous meetings have come in postseason play, the 2014 Military Bowl, 2008 Orange Bowl and 1946 Sun Bowl. The Hokies hold a 2-1 edge in postseason matchups against the Bearcats.
Bearcats Place 10 on All-League Teams, Snag Two Major Awards
CINCINNATI – QB Desmond Ridder (Louisville, Ky./St. Xavier) was named the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, Head Coach Luke Fickell earned American Coach of the Year honors and 10 Bearcats were tabbed for all-conference honors as the league announced its postseason awards.
OT Dino Boyd (Newark, N.J./West Side/Rhode Island), DL Cortez Broughton (Warner Robins, Ga./Veterans), P James Smith (Wangaratta, Australia/Galen College) and LB Perry Young (Birmingham, Ala./Spain Park) earned first team honors while C Garrett Campbell (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier), DL Marquise Copeland (Cleveland, Ohio/Bedford), TE Josiah Deguara (Folsom, Calif./Folsom), DL Kimoni Fitz (Ringgold, Va./Dan River), RB Michael Warren II (Toledo, Ohio/Central Catholic) and S James Wiggins (Miami, Florida/South Dade) took home second-team accolades.
It is UC's most all-conference awards since 2009 when the Bearcats had 11, the first time a UC player has won the league's rookie honor and the fifth time a UC coach has earned coach of the year honors, first in the American.
The Bearcats wrapped their regular season with 10 wins and a third-place finish in the American Athletic Conference East Division. Returning to postseason play for the first time since the 2015 Hawai'i Bowl, UC will be going for just the third 11-win season since 1885, trying to match the 2008 (11-3) and 2009 (12-1) squads. UC's bowl game and opponent will be announced on Sunday. Dec. 2, 2018.
Fickell Named Semifinalist For George Munger Award
CINCINNATI - University of Cincinnati football head coach Luke Fickell was named one of 18 semifinalists for the George Munger College Coach of the Year Award, Maxwell Football Club President, Mark Dianno, recently announced.
Joining Fickell on the list are Dino Babers (Syracuse), Bill Clark (UAB), Butch Davis (Florida International), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), Josh Heupel (UCF), Brian Kelly (Notre Dame), Mike Leach (Washington State), Lance Leipold (Buffalo), Jeff Monken (Army West Point), Ed Orgeron (LSU), Lincoln Riley (Oklahoma), Nick Saban (Alabama), Kirby Smart (Georgia), Mark Stoops (Kentucky), Dabo Swinney (Clemson), Matt Wells (Utah State) and Kyle Whittingham (Utah).
2018 Regular Season Recap
Cincinnati Team Statistics
Bearcats Projected Depth Chart
Head Coach Luke Fickell
Second Season • Record at Cincinnati: 14-10 • Overall Coaching Record: 20-17 (three seasons)
Veteran defensive coordinator and Ohio native Luke Fickell was named the University of Cincinnati’s 42nd football head coach in December 2016.
The 43-year old Fickell is an experienced 18-year coaching veteran at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. His impressive resume includes being on the staff of two national championship winning teams, seeing 12 of his players selected in the NFL Draft, and coordinating outstanding defenses over the last 12 seasons as a co-coordinator or defensive coordinator.
He is also an excellent recruiter with strong Midwest and Florida relationships, a national presence when needed and a discerning eye for talent. He was named the American Football Coaches Association assistant coach of the year in 2010 and he was named a “top recruiter” in 2012 by both Rivals and ESPN.
6-6 overall • 4-4 ACC • 3-4 home • 3-2 away
Virginia Tech (6-6) will be playing in a bowl game for the 26th consecutive season, the nation's longest active streak and the third-longest streak in NCAA history.
The Hokies won their last two games of the season, knocking off Virginia and Marshall to get to the six-win mark.
QB Ryan Willis has thrown for 2,497 yards and 22 TDs with WR Damon Hazelton serving as the preferred target (45 receptions, 745 yards, 8 TDs). LB Rayshard Ashby was an honorable-mention All-Atlantic Coast Conference choice after finishing the season with a team-high 100 tackles, including 9.5 for a loss with six PBUs.
Six Hokies earn All-ACC Accolades
Walker, Hazelton lead the way for Tech on the second team
GREENSBORO, N.C. – Six Virginia Tech football student-athletes were recognized Monday as the Atlantic Coast Conference announced its 2018 All-ACC Football Teams, which were comprised from a vote among a panel of the league's 14 head coaches and select media members.
The Hokies had two players tabbed to the second team, one to the third team and three to the honorable mention squad. Four of Tech's six selections are sophomores, which is tied for the second-most underclassmen the Hokies have had on the All-ACC teams since joining the conference in 2004.
SECOND-TEAM ALL-ACC
DL Ricky Walker: After earning All-ACC Honorable Mention accolades last season, Walker landed on the ACC's second team in 2018. Eight of Walker's 9.5 tackles for loss on the season came in conference play and tied for 10th in the league. His 43 tackles lead all Tech defensive linemen. A team captain and the Bell Cow of the Lunch Pail Defense, Walker was also named ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week to Monday after registering seven tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble in a 34-31 OT win against Virginia.
WR Damon Hazelton: The Hokies' top vote-getter in this year's All-ACC voting, Hazelton is tied for the ACC lead with eight touchdown catches. He also ranks sixth with 67.7 receiving yards per game, seventh with 745 receiving yards and eighth with 4.1 receptions per game. Hazelton, a transfer from Ball State, has posted three 100-yard receiving games this season and leads the Hokies in all major receiving categories.
THIRD-TEAM ALL-ACC
P Oscar Bradburn: Bradburn is the first Tech punter to earn All-ACC honors since A.J. Hughes was named to both the media and coaches' teams in 2013. He ranks fourth in the ACC in gross punting average (42.5) and fifth in punts inside the 20-yard line (19). The Sydney, Australia native has helped the Hokies allow only 313 opponent return yards, a total that ranks fifth in the FBS. Bradburn's 72-yard punt vs. Boston College ranks as the second-longest in the ACC this season.
ALL-ACC HONORABLE MENTION
G Kyle Chung: In his sixth year eligibility, Chung earned a postseason conference honor, landing on the All-ACC honorable mention squad. Chung has made 24 consecutive starts on the offensive line over the past two seasons. Against William & Mary this season, Chung saw action at center, right tackle and left guard. He has played a key role in helping the Hokies convert 31 of 34 (91.2 percent) scoring opportunities in the Red Zone, a total that ranks second in the ACC.
TE Dalton Keene: Keene has had a breakout season offensively for the Hokies, registered 19 catches for 302 receiving yards (15.9 avg.) to go along with three touchdowns. All of those totals are career highs. Keene has also played a critical role blocking in the run game and has started 23 consecutive games at tight end for the Hokies dating back to last season. He caught a 1-yard, game-winning touchdown at North Carolina and also posted 82 receiving yards on two catches and a touchdown in a victory over Duke.
LB Rayshard Ashby: Ashby earned All-ACC honorable mention honors in his first season as the Hokies' starting middle linebacker. Ashby is tied for second among ACC underclassmen with 85 total tackles and ranks fourth in the conference with 8.5 tackles per game. Against conference opponents, Ashby's 9.6 tackles per game rank as the fourth-best in the ACC. The Chesterfield, Virginia native was named ACC Linebacker of the Week after tallying seven tackles, two tackles for loss and a forced fumble in Tech's season opener at Florida State. He leads the Hokies in tackles and ranks third on the squad with 8.5 tackles for loss.
Hokies Projected Depth Chart
Virginia Tech Team Statistics
Virginia Tech Head Coach Justin Fuente
• Named Virginia Tech’s head coach on Nov. 29, 2015 after orchestrating one of the more dramatic program resurrections in recent college football history at Memphis.
• The Hokies are in their third season under Fuente in 2018, who has compiled a 25-14 record in Blacksburg, the most wins by any Tech coach in his first three campaigns.
• Georgia Tech’s Paul Johnson is the only other active ACC head coach who can boast as many victories in his first two seasons at a conference school than Fuente (19).
• With 19 wins in his first two seasons at Tech, Fuente owns more victories than every Tech coach has accumulated in his first three seasons with the exception of B.C. Cubbage, who guided the program to 21 victories from 1921-23.
Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman
The Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman kicks off for the 11th time in December. at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, featuring a matchup between representatives from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the American Athletic Conference.
Organized by the DC Bowl Committee, the Military Bowl serves as a premier regional event benefiting the USO and other organizations supporting members of the Armed Forces and their families.
Since its inception in 2008, the Bowl has donated more than $800,000 to the USO and provided more than 25,000 complimentary tickets for troops and their families.
The Military Bowl Foundation
The Military Bowl Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. In addition to organizing the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman, the Foundation also operates Patriot Point and the DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank N.A. A board of directors consisting of many prominent members of both the military and local community oversees the Foundation’s operations.
Patriot Point, purchased in spring 2016, is a 290-acre retreat for recovering service members, their families and caregivers on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
The DC Touchdown Club presented by Capital Bank N.A. honors the best in Washington-area football, with year-round events highlighted by an annual Awards Dinner. The Club promotes the benefits of the game of football, and generates a significant philanthropic impact. An Executive Committee helps guide the Club’s strategy and vision, while the Coaches Committee helps select the High School Player of the Week.
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Annapolis' Largest Venue
The Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is home to the Navy football and lacrosse teams as well as the area’s famed Major League Lacrosse team, the Chesapeake Bayhawks.
The stadium also hosts a multitude of local, regional, national, and international events. Within the past few years, the stadium has been completely renovated into a state-of-the-art complex that provides an amazing sporting event experience for both players and spectators.
Aside from a great sports complex designed with spectators in mind, the facility also includes a 12,000 square foot banquet hall which can be rented by outside entities for special events.
Parking is available at the stadium, or you can leave your car in one of Annapolis’ five parking garages and take a shuttle to the stadium.
Some of Annapolis' biggest summer events are held at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Annapolis Arts, Crafts, and Wine Festival in June showcases the work of local artisans and some of the more than 60 wineries in Maryland.
The Annapolis Crab Feast, held in August, brings in thousands each year to finish off more than 300 bushels of the world-famous Maryland Blue Crab. There’s also the Annapolis Craft Beer and Music Festival, satisfying beer lovers with over 50 breweries and live music throughout the event.
Enjoy sports and local events year-round at the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium.
Welcome to "Naptown"
Home to the US Naval Academy, “Naptown” is influenced by the military and collegiate traditions that come naval-academy with having a major military and world class academic institution within the city boundaries. From Commissioning Week, to home sporting events including Navy Football, to class reunions that sprinkle the weekends throughout the calendar, Annapolis is never too far from Navy’s influence.
Annapolis is also known as America’s Sailing Capital, but don’t forget the significant maritime history Annapolis has with power boats and fishing vessels. Annapolis provides access not only to the Chesapeake, but also to a wealth of rivers, creeks and inland bays ripe for exploring by kayak, canoe or stand up paddle board.
Downtown Annapolis is famous for its historic inns and scenic streets, but along those streets are some of the finest restaurants the region has to offer. Maryland Avenue is long-treasured as one of downtown Annapolis’ best spots for shopping, dining and experiencing the culture.
Eastport in Annapolis is a place unto itself, with yachts, art galleries, residents, spas, and restaurants. The bridge into Eastport takes travelers from downtown Annapolis into the neighborhood. Watch for the tug of war between downtown Annapolis and Eastport to see who wins!
The Annapolis Towne Centre, located in Parole, features an assortment of restaurants, shops and more all in one convenient location. Whether you need a few things at Target, are looking to tighten your tummy at the gym, or just want to sample a premium olive oil from Whole Foods, the Towne Centre makes all of this possible and more.
