TicketsDec. 3, 2006
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CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The University of Cincinnati has accepted an invitation to play in the first-ever International Bowl in Toronto, Ont. The Bearcats will face Western Michigan University of the Mid-American Conference on Jan. 6 at 12 noon in the Rogers Centre (SkyDome).
Don Loding, Chief Operating Officer of the International Bowl, will issue the formal invitation at the UC Football Banquet Sunday afternoon at the Kingsgate Marriott.
The International Bowl will receive national television exposure in the United States and Canada, with ESPN2 televising to the U.S. and on TSN to Canada. Nearly 100 million households will be able to tune in the International Bowl, making it one of the most wide-reaching games in UC's 106 year football history. The game will be the 10th time that the Bearcats have played on television this season and the seventh game broadcast on ESPN/ESPN2.
"This is a great opportunity for our student-athletes, alumni and fans to be a part of spectacular first-time event," stated UC Director of Athletics Mike Thomas. "This has been a memorable season for Cincinnati Football and our team deserves the reward of playing in front of a big crowd on national television once more. We look forward to traveling to Toronto, enjoying the culture, and seeing the Bearcats hit the field." Tickets are $40 and $30 and are available on-line at GoBEARCATS.com and at the UC Athletics Ticket Office in the Richard E. Lindner Center (877-CATS-TIX).
Cincinnati has had success playing in inaugural bowl games. The Bearcats played in the first-ever Humanitarian Bowl (now the MPC Computers Bowl) in Boise, Idaho in 1997 and defeated Utah State, 35-19. This will be UC's fifth bowl appearance in the last seven seasons.
In 2006 the Bearcats ended the regular season 7-5 record and finished fourth in the BIG EAST Conference with a 4-3 slate. Cincinnati won four of its last five contests, including a 30-11 upset of No. 7 Rutgers, while playing a schedule that included five Top 10-ranked opponents and was rated the second most-difficult slate by the NCAA.
WMU finished the 2006 regular season with an 8-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in the Mid-American Conference. The eight wins are the most since the Broncos posted nine during the 2000 campaign. Western Michigan finished second in the MAC West Division. The Broncos tied for the division championship in 1999 and 2000 but have not finished second since 1997.
The Broncos boast the MAC's best total defense and the nation's sixth-ranked rushing defense, holding opponents to just 71.92 yards per game on the ground. WMU has held the opposition to less than 10 net yards rushing on four occasions and leads the nation in interceptions (22). Cincinnati has won both previous meetings with Western Michigan but the two teams have not played since the 1950 season.
The International Bowl could come down to a defensive showdown of the two teams. Western Michigan has the nation's fifth-ranked rushing defense and is No. 11 in total defense. UC is rated No. 31 in total defense, 27th against the rush and 23rd in passing efficiency defense.