The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Saturday, December 21
New Orleans, La.
8 p.m. CST
UAB
vs
Appalachian State
UAB and No. 20 Appalachian State Set for R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
12/19/2019 1:57:00 PM | Football
NEW ORLEANS – The UAB football team concludes its 2019 season on Saturday, Dec. 21, against No. 20 Appalachian State in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl. Kickoff inside Mercedes-Benz Superdome is set for 8 p.m. CST on ESPN.
The Blazers (9-4) are playing in their third-consecutive bowl game since returning to action in 2017. UAB looks for back-to-back bowl victories for the first time ever after winning the program's first bowl game last year with a 37-13 victory over NIU in the Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl.
The Mountaineers (12-1) won the Sun Belt Conference for a second straight year and are the defending New Orleans Bowl Champions. Appalachian State defeated Middle Tennessee 45-13 in last year's bowl game.
Who: UAB (9-4) vs. No. 20 Appalachian State (12-1)
Where: New Orleans, La. – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
When: Saturday, Dec. 21 – 8 p.m. CST
Watch: ESPN
On the Call: Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Anthony Becht (color), Rocky Boiman (sideline)
Listen: WJOX2 100.5 FM
On the Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Steve Irvine (color), Trey Ragland (sideline)
Listen: ESPN Radio
On the Call: Sean Kelley (play-by-play), Barrett Jones (color), Ian Fitzsimmons (sideline)
Series: First Meeting
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
Tickets to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl can be purchased by clicking here. Seats in the UAB section are available for $60 in the lower level and $40 in the upper level.
The Blazers (9-4) are playing in their third-consecutive bowl game since returning to action in 2017. UAB looks for back-to-back bowl victories for the first time ever after winning the program's first bowl game last year with a 37-13 victory over NIU in the Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl.
The Mountaineers (12-1) won the Sun Belt Conference for a second straight year and are the defending New Orleans Bowl Champions. Appalachian State defeated Middle Tennessee 45-13 in last year's bowl game.
Who: UAB (9-4) vs. No. 20 Appalachian State (12-1)
Where: New Orleans, La. – Mercedes-Benz Superdome
When: Saturday, Dec. 21 – 8 p.m. CST
Watch: ESPN
On the Call: Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Anthony Becht (color), Rocky Boiman (sideline)
Listen: WJOX2 100.5 FM
On the Call: David Crane (play-by-play), Steve Irvine (color), Trey Ragland (sideline)
Listen: ESPN Radio
On the Call: Sean Kelley (play-by-play), Barrett Jones (color), Ian Fitzsimmons (sideline)
Series: First Meeting
WHAT TO WATCH FOR:
- UAB will be playing its first ranked opponent since The Return, and if the Blazers come out victorious it would mark UAB's first win over a nationally ranked opponent since 2011.
- Led by First Team All-Conference USA selections Kristopher Moll and Garrett Marino, the UAB defense has been the catalyst for the Blazers' success this season. UAB finished the regular season ranked fifth nationally in total defense, and enters the bowl game at No. 9 overall following the C-USA championship game.
- Moll is four tackles away from 100 on the season. Despite missing the first game of the year, the Miami native has had a monster year, compiling 96 tackles, 16.0 TFL, 9.0 sacks, four forced fumbles, six quarterback hurries, one interception, one fumble recovery and one pass breakup.
- The defense will be facing one of its toughest tests of the year in Appalachian State, who ranks ninth nationally in scoring offense (39.4/game) and averages 435.5 yards per game.
- UAB wide receiver Austin Watkins Jr. enters the contest with 47 catches for 933 yards and five touchdowns. He needs 67 yards to eclipse 1,000 for the season, and if he can do so he would be just the third player in program history to accomplish that feat along with Derrick Ingram (twice) and Roddy White.
- A win would also give UAB back-to-back 10 win seasons. The Blazers set a school record with 11 victories last season and won their first Conference USA Championship.
- The Blazers have won the C-USA West Division in consecutive seasons and are the winningest team in Conference USA since the start of 2017. In three seasons, the Blazers have compiled an overall record of 28-12, a C-USA mark of 20-6 (including two C-USA championship games) and a West Division record of 16-2.
- Appalachian State has been one of the best teams in the nation since moving from FCS to FBS. Since 2015, the Mountaineers are No. 5 nationally in winning percentage (81.5). They are also 18-1 in their last 19 games, joining only Clemson and Ohio State who have won at least 18 of their last 19 games. They are the first Sun Belt team ever to win 12 games.
- This will be the first game for new Appalachian State head coach Shawn Clark. Clark was named head coach just six days ago on Dec. 13.
Tickets to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl can be purchased by clicking here. Seats in the UAB section are available for $60 in the lower level and $40 in the upper level.
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