Dec. 1, 2010
SAN DIEGO - The San Diego State football team has accepted an invitation bid to play Navy in the 2010 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl on Thursday, Dec. 23, at 5 p.m. PT at Qualcomm Stadium. The Aztecs announced the acceptance of the bid Tuesday night at Viejas Arena prior to the No. 17/19 SDSU men's basketball game against Saint Mary's.
It will be San Diego State's (8-4) first bowl game since 1998, while the Midshipmen (8-3) will be playing in their fifth consecutive bowl, including their third Poinsettia Bowl. The Aztecs are 2-0 all-time against Navy. The teams last met on Sept. 5, 1997, when SDSU downed the Midshipmen, 45-31, in San Diego in the season opener for both teams.
"We are excited to be playing a bowl game here in San Diego in front of our great students, fans and community," SDSU head coach Brady Hoke said. "We enjoy playing in Aztec Warrior Stadium and playing in the Poinsettia Bowl will give us another opportunity to do that. It is great to play a 13th game and our senior class, with their leadership, has put us in this position.
"We are playing a great opponent in Navy. They are a well-coached, disciplined team and play a very physical style of football."
Fans are encouraged to order their tickets through the Aztec Ticket Office at Qualcomm Stadium, Window E or by phone at (619) 283-7378.
Donors to the Aztec Club and full 2010 football season ticket holders still have until noon PT on Friday (Dec. 3) to place their online advance ticket order using a priority number. Information on online ordering has previously been distributed to all eligible accounts.
The general public may advance order $55 tickets in the SDSU sections starting Thursday (Dec. 2) at 9 a.m. PT. Seat locations will not be available until after all priority group orders have been seated.
San Diego State finished the regular season with an 8-4 record. The eight victories are the most in 14 years (since it had eight in 1996) and matched its most in 33 years (since it had 10 in 1977).
On Tuesday, running back Ronnie Hillman was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year, while Hoke earned MWC Coach-of-the-Year honors.
Hillman, who broke the MWC freshman single-season rushing record with 1,304 yards, was joined on the MWC first team by wide receivers Vincent Brown (61 receptions, 1,187 yards, nine touchdowns) and DeMarco Sampson (65 receptions, 1,175 yards, eight touchdowns), linebacker Miles Burris (74 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 19.0 tackles for a loss), cornerback Leon McFadden (12 pass breakups, two interceptions) and punter Brian Stahovich (45.7 average).
Aztec quarterback Ryan Lindley (3,554 yards, 26 touchdowns), center Trask Iosefa, tight end Gavin Escobar (26 receptions, 299 yards, four touchdowns) and kicker Abel Perez (17-of-22 field goals, 28 touchbacks) each earned second-team accolades, while defensive end Ernie Lawson, cornerback Jose Perez and defensive back Andrew Preston were honorable mention picks.