Falcons to face Ga. Tech in Independence Bowl

  • Published
  • By Troy Garnhart
  • Athletic Communications
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. --  Air Force will play the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the 2010 AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl on Monday, Dec. 27 at 4 p.m. on ESPN2 at Independence Stadium, bowl officials announced Dec. 5.

Air Force and Georgia Tech will meet for the fourth time in the schools' history, with the last meeting in 1979.

The Yellow Jackets have won all three previous matchups. This will be the third Independence Bowl appearance for Air Force, who won back-to-back appearances in 1983 and 1984, and the first for Georgia Tech. The last service academy to play in an Independence Bowl was Army in 1996.

"We at AdvoCare are honored and excited to have both Air Force and Georgia Tech in this year's Independence Bowl," said AdvoCare president and CEO Richard Wright. "These two teams bring a long tradition of excellence, and we believe these two teams will fill Independence Bowl stadium and also draw a large national following."

The Falcons finished their season with an 8-4 overall record and a 5-3 mark in Mountain West Conference play, good for a third-place tie in the conference with BYU and San Diego State.

The Falcons have posted at least eight wins and qualified for a bowl game the last four seasons. Air Force enters the 2010 AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl riding a three-game winning streak. Air Force claimed the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy for the first time since 2002 with wins over Navy and Army this season, capturing the trophy for the 17th time.

Georgia Tech (6-6) tied for third place in the Atlantic Coastal Conference with N.C. State, finishing with a conference record of 4-4. Head coach Paul Johnson is in his third season at the helm and led his team to an ACC championship, berth in the Orange Bowl, and an 11-3 record last season. Johnson is 26-13 overall and 8-10 in ACC play at Georgia Tech. He was 45-29 in six seasons at Navy before taking over at Georgia Tech.

The Yellow Jackets are making their 14th-straight bowl appearance, which ties for the fourth-longest active streak in the FBS. They own a 22-15 all-time bowl record. Air Force is making its 21st appearance in a bowl game.

"Our football team should be excited about this opportunity to play against a very talented, well-coached team like the Air Force Academy," Johnson said. "It will certainly be a challenge for our football team, but it's also a chance to end the season on a positive note as we head into 2011. I know that our senior class would like to conclude their careers with a win in a bowl game."