
East Carolina To Play In 2021 Military Bowl
November 27, 2021 | Football
Bowl Announcement Comments
WASHINGTON – East Carolina University will represent the American Athletic Conference in the 2021 Military Bowl presented by Peraton, benefiting the USO. The Pirates will make their first bowl appearance since the 2014 season against an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference on Monday, December 27 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ESPN.
"We are ecstatic to invite East Carolina and expect to welcome a large contingent of Pirates fans to the National Capital Region," Military Bowl President & Executive Director Steve Beck said. "East Carolina is in the midst of a terrific season and we can sense the excitement surrounding the team. We look forward to a great Bowl Week and game."
East Carolina (7-5) enjoyed its most successful regular season in seven years, highlighted by a recent four-game winning streak that included a thrilling 38-35 win at Navy. East Carolina features a high-powered offense led by quarterback Holton Ahlers, who has passed for 3,126 yards and 18 touchdowns, while running back Keaton Mitchell has rushed for 1,131 yards and nine touchdowns. Defensively, the Pirates have surrendered just 26.3 points per game in 2021, their fewest since 2015.
"We are thrilled to accept an invitation to the Military Bowl and represent East Carolina University, our community and all of eastern North Carolina," East Carolina Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert said. "Steve Beck and his Military Bowl staff are well-known for producing a first-class bowl experience and we appreciate the opportunity for postseason play against an ACC opponent.
"The Pirate football program is ascending under Mike Houston's leadership. We have all witnessed the growth and improvement over the past three years and today's announcement is a culmination of the hard work, sacrifice and dedication of the young men in our football program. We are looking forward to Pirate Nation joining us on this Military Bowl experience."
This will be the Pirates' second appearance in the Military Bowl. East Carolina fell to Maryland, 51-20, in the 2010 game, which set a Bowl attendance record with 38,062 fans.
The Pirates have several ties to the Washington area, including six players from the region. Coach Mike Houston was honored as the DC Touchdown Club College Coach of the Year after leading James Madison to the Football Championship Subdivision National Championship in 2016.
"I'm excited for the young men in our program along with our coaches, staff and administration who have worked tirelessly over the last three years for this opportunity," Houston said. "Everybody involved with our program put in the time and commitment to make this a season to remember. This is a chance for our football program to face an ACC opponent within driving distance for many in Pirate Nation. There's no doubt Purple and Gold will represent in Annapolis."
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WASHINGTON – East Carolina University will represent the American Athletic Conference in the 2021 Military Bowl presented by Peraton, benefiting the USO. The Pirates will make their first bowl appearance since the 2014 season against an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference on Monday, December 27 at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis. Kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. ET and the game will be televised on ESPN.
"We are ecstatic to invite East Carolina and expect to welcome a large contingent of Pirates fans to the National Capital Region," Military Bowl President & Executive Director Steve Beck said. "East Carolina is in the midst of a terrific season and we can sense the excitement surrounding the team. We look forward to a great Bowl Week and game."
East Carolina (7-5) enjoyed its most successful regular season in seven years, highlighted by a recent four-game winning streak that included a thrilling 38-35 win at Navy. East Carolina features a high-powered offense led by quarterback Holton Ahlers, who has passed for 3,126 yards and 18 touchdowns, while running back Keaton Mitchell has rushed for 1,131 yards and nine touchdowns. Defensively, the Pirates have surrendered just 26.3 points per game in 2021, their fewest since 2015.
"We are thrilled to accept an invitation to the Military Bowl and represent East Carolina University, our community and all of eastern North Carolina," East Carolina Director of Athletics Jon Gilbert said. "Steve Beck and his Military Bowl staff are well-known for producing a first-class bowl experience and we appreciate the opportunity for postseason play against an ACC opponent.
"The Pirate football program is ascending under Mike Houston's leadership. We have all witnessed the growth and improvement over the past three years and today's announcement is a culmination of the hard work, sacrifice and dedication of the young men in our football program. We are looking forward to Pirate Nation joining us on this Military Bowl experience."
This will be the Pirates' second appearance in the Military Bowl. East Carolina fell to Maryland, 51-20, in the 2010 game, which set a Bowl attendance record with 38,062 fans.
The Pirates have several ties to the Washington area, including six players from the region. Coach Mike Houston was honored as the DC Touchdown Club College Coach of the Year after leading James Madison to the Football Championship Subdivision National Championship in 2016.
"I'm excited for the young men in our program along with our coaches, staff and administration who have worked tirelessly over the last three years for this opportunity," Houston said. "Everybody involved with our program put in the time and commitment to make this a season to remember. This is a chance for our football program to face an ACC opponent within driving distance for many in Pirate Nation. There's no doubt Purple and Gold will represent in Annapolis."
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Tickets are on sale now. Proceeds from the Bowl benefit the USO and Patriot Point, the Military Bowl Foundation's retreat for wounded, ill and injured service members, their families and caregivers.
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2021 Military Bowl Ticket Guidelines
All ECU fans should order their 2021 Military Bowl tickets through the ECU Athletic Ticket Office beginning today at ECUPirates.com.
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ECU fans are encouraged to order their Bowl tickets by phone or via ECUPirates.com. The ECU Athletics Ticket Office can be reached at (252) 328-4500. Fans can also reach out to the Pirate Club for more information at (252) 737-4540.
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Pirate Club members receive priority on seating assignments, based upon the priority point system, by having their orders into the ECU Athletics Ticket Office by Monday, December 13. All other orders seating assignments will be in first-come, first-served basis. Bowl Tickets range from $60 to $100 plus a $10 processing charge per order. Ticket limit guidelines will be based on availability to as broad a distribution of possible to all fans.
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ECU Athletics and the Pirate Club will also be selling 180 game tickets on a first-come, first-served basis for $150 in the Minter Pavilion, a state-of-the-art hospitality suite located in the southeast corner of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, with the entrance next to Section E. The area includes an all you can eat buffet, and a cash bar (beer, wine & liquor) in a large climate-controlled room with ample seating space. This hospitality space has large screens showing the game and a view of the on-field action from the terrace overlooking the field. These tickets will go on sale on Monday, November 29 at 10 a.m. Individuals must call the Pirate Club at (252) 737-4540 to place their order. These tickets will go quickly so please call the Pirate Club on Monday.
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A block of Bowl tickets are being held for ECU Students. These tickets will be made available to purchase for $60 by ECU Students with a December 8 deadline. ECU Students can purchase tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students must present their valid ECU ID to be eligible to purchase these designated tickets. Any unsold student tickets not purchased by December 8 will be available to all fans.
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ECU's allotment of Bowl tickets are all sideline tickets with many of the tickets between the 20-yard lines. $100 tickets are located in Section 29 of the Lower Level. $80 tickets are located in Section 30 and 31 in the Lower Level. $70 tickets are located in Sections 126 and 131 of the Upper Level. $60 tickets are in in Sections 125 and 132 in the Upper Level.
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About the Military Bowl presented by Peraton
The Military Bowl presented by Peraton, benefiting the USO is the National Capital Region's college football postseason bowl game broadcast on ESPN and featuring a matchup between teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the American Athletic Conference at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. Organized by the Military Bowl Foundation, the Bowl's mission is to benefit our nation's service members including a partnership with USO-Metro and the operation of Patriot Point, a retreat for recovering service members, their families and caregivers on Maryland's Eastern Shore. For the latest updates, visit militarybowl.org, follow @MilitaryBowl on Twitter and Instagram and like Military Bowl on Facebook! The 2021 Military Bowl kicks off on December 27 at 2:30 ET. Tickets are on sale now.
About the Military Bowl Foundation
The Military Bowl Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates premier events in the National Capital Region to benefit our nation's service members. Originally formed to create the region's first-ever college football postseason bowl game, the Foundation now not only runs the Military Bowl presented by Peraton but additionally operates the DC Touchdown Club and Patriot Point, a retreat for recovering service members, their families and caregivers on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The Foundation hosts engaging events throughout the year to raise money and awareness for military service members, directly impacting those who give so much of themselves for the country.
All ECU fans should order their 2021 Military Bowl tickets through the ECU Athletic Ticket Office beginning today at ECUPirates.com.
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ECU fans are encouraged to order their Bowl tickets by phone or via ECUPirates.com. The ECU Athletics Ticket Office can be reached at (252) 328-4500. Fans can also reach out to the Pirate Club for more information at (252) 737-4540.
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Pirate Club members receive priority on seating assignments, based upon the priority point system, by having their orders into the ECU Athletics Ticket Office by Monday, December 13. All other orders seating assignments will be in first-come, first-served basis. Bowl Tickets range from $60 to $100 plus a $10 processing charge per order. Ticket limit guidelines will be based on availability to as broad a distribution of possible to all fans.
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ECU Athletics and the Pirate Club will also be selling 180 game tickets on a first-come, first-served basis for $150 in the Minter Pavilion, a state-of-the-art hospitality suite located in the southeast corner of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, with the entrance next to Section E. The area includes an all you can eat buffet, and a cash bar (beer, wine & liquor) in a large climate-controlled room with ample seating space. This hospitality space has large screens showing the game and a view of the on-field action from the terrace overlooking the field. These tickets will go on sale on Monday, November 29 at 10 a.m. Individuals must call the Pirate Club at (252) 737-4540 to place their order. These tickets will go quickly so please call the Pirate Club on Monday.
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A block of Bowl tickets are being held for ECU Students. These tickets will be made available to purchase for $60 by ECU Students with a December 8 deadline. ECU Students can purchase tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students must present their valid ECU ID to be eligible to purchase these designated tickets. Any unsold student tickets not purchased by December 8 will be available to all fans.
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ECU's allotment of Bowl tickets are all sideline tickets with many of the tickets between the 20-yard lines. $100 tickets are located in Section 29 of the Lower Level. $80 tickets are located in Section 30 and 31 in the Lower Level. $70 tickets are located in Sections 126 and 131 of the Upper Level. $60 tickets are in in Sections 125 and 132 in the Upper Level.
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About the Military Bowl presented by Peraton
The Military Bowl presented by Peraton, benefiting the USO is the National Capital Region's college football postseason bowl game broadcast on ESPN and featuring a matchup between teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the American Athletic Conference at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Md. Organized by the Military Bowl Foundation, the Bowl's mission is to benefit our nation's service members including a partnership with USO-Metro and the operation of Patriot Point, a retreat for recovering service members, their families and caregivers on Maryland's Eastern Shore. For the latest updates, visit militarybowl.org, follow @MilitaryBowl on Twitter and Instagram and like Military Bowl on Facebook! The 2021 Military Bowl kicks off on December 27 at 2:30 ET. Tickets are on sale now.
About the Military Bowl Foundation
The Military Bowl Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates premier events in the National Capital Region to benefit our nation's service members. Originally formed to create the region's first-ever college football postseason bowl game, the Foundation now not only runs the Military Bowl presented by Peraton but additionally operates the DC Touchdown Club and Patriot Point, a retreat for recovering service members, their families and caregivers on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The Foundation hosts engaging events throughout the year to raise money and awareness for military service members, directly impacting those who give so much of themselves for the country.
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