Cure Bowl Added to Sun Belt Bowl Lineup
4/16/2014 10:01:00 AM | Football
Sun Belt postseason bowl tie-ins increase to four
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Comments from Eagle Football Coach Willie Fritz on addition of Cure Bowl to Sun Belt postseason lineup (All-Access Subscription required)
ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Orlando Sports Foundation and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer announced Wednesday the creation of the Cure Bowl, a postseason college football game matching-up the Sun Belt Conference against the American Athletic Conference beginning in December 2015. The game will be played yearly at the newly renovated Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla., the weekend before the Christmas holiday.
"The Sun Belt Conference and its member universities are very enthusiastic to be partnering with the Cure Bowl, the American Athletic Conference and the Orlando Sports Foundation," said Sun Belt Conference Commissioner Karl Benson. "The growth and strength of the Sun Belt Conference continues as evidenced by this announcement. In addition to being an attractive bowl game and a positive step forward for the Sun Belt, the mission of the Cure Bowl is something that everyone should be able to get behind and support. We are honored to participate in an arrangement where a goal of the organization is to put an end to breast cancer."
"Orlando and Central Florida is everyone's favorite vacation destination and Florida is Where the World Comes to Play!," said Mayor Dyer. "The completed Citrus Bowl will be a spectacular facility for the Cure Bowl and people around the world already know of our fabulous attractions, outdoor activities and welcoming weather. Orlando also boasts a rich college bowl game history. I want to welcome the Cure Bowl, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the game's conference partners, the American Athletic Conference and the Sun Belt Conference to the City of Orlando."
"We are thrilled to partner with the Orlando Sports Foundation. The Cure Bowl is the first of its kind to combine the passions of college football with the importance of supporting breast cancer research," said Myra J. Biblowit, President and CEO of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. "The funds raised through this exciting initiative will enable critical research investigations that are bringing us one step closer to the cure."
Alan Gooch, the Executive Director of the Orlando Sports Foundation and former player, coach and Hall of Fame Inductee at UCF will be the bowl's Executive Director. "The Orlando Sports Foundation is excited about the opportunity to provide the student-athletes of the American Athletic Conference and the Sun Belt Conference an opportunity to play in an NCAA postseason bowl here in Orlando and to give the Breast Cancer Research Foundation a national platform to fund cancer research at the highest level. Gooch and the Orlando Sports Foundation will provide management of the event and day-to-day operations of the bowl.
The Citrus Bowl is a 70,000 seat stadium that is undergoing major renovations and updates, including upgraded luxury suites, press box facility and locker rooms and other VIP hospitality accommodations.
The Cure Bowl will be the Sun Belt Conference's fourth primary postseason bowl game. The Cure Bowl is the second bowl game to join the Sun Belt's lineup in the past year (the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl was announced in August 2013) and the Sun Belt has grown from having just one primary bowl game from 2001 through 2010 to now having four primary postseason bowl game tie-ins.
In addition to the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, the GoDaddy Bowl, the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl and the Cure Bowl, the Sun Belt Conference is also part of a coalition that will send teams to the Miami Beach Bowl and the Bahamas Bowl on a rotating basis.
ABOUT ORLANDO SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Orlando Sports Foundation, Inc. was founded in May 2008 and exists as the official fundraising organization for bringing a new college football bowl game to Orlando. It is operating as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and will secure philanthropic resources. The organization will support and produce events which will benefit charities and enhance the image, economy and culture of Florida. For more information, go to www.orlandosportsfoundation.com
ABOUT THE SUN BELT CONFERENCE
The Sun Belt Conference is a member of the 10-league of the College Football Playoff and the conference lineup for the 2014 football season will see Appalachian State and Georgia Southern make their debuts as Football Bowl Subdivision and Sun Belt members, while Idaho and New Mexico State return as football only conference members after competing in the league from 2001 through 2004. Arkansas State (winners of two consecutive GoDaddy Bowls), Georgia State, UL Lafayette (winners of three consecutive R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowls), UL Monroe, South Alabama, Texas State, and Troy complete the Sun Belt's football membership. UALR and UT Arlington compete in the Sun Belt as non-football members.
The conference also recently unveiled its new logo and brand after a nearly yearlong examination of the impact, sustainability and core values associated with the Sun Belt Conference. "Together We Rise" is the new mantra for the conference and it is the foundation and essence of the contemporary logo that the league will now be identified with.
For more information, go to www.sunbeltsports.org.
ABOUT BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION
The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) advances the world's most promising research to eradicate breast cancer in our lifetime. Founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, BCRF has raised more than $475 million to fuel discoveries in tumor biology, genetics, prevention, treatment, survivorship and metastasis. This year, the BCRF invested $45 million in the work of more than 200 researchers at leading medical institutions across six continents. By spending 91 cents of every dollar on research and public awareness, BCRF remains one of the nation's most fiscally responsible charities. The BCRF is the only breast cancer organization with an "A+" from CharityWatch, and have been awarded a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator 12 times since 2002.
ABOUT FLORIDA SPORTS FOUNDATION
The Florida Sports Foundation, Inc. is a 501(C)3 non-profit corporation, serving as the Sports Industry Development Division of Enterprise Florida, Inc. www.flasports.com
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