TOLEDO, OH - The University of Toledo has accepted an invitation to play Appalachian State of the Sun Belt Conference in the 2016 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl at Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, AL, UT Vice-President and Athletic Director Mike O'Brien announced on Sunday. The game will be played at 4:30 p.m. CT (5:30 ET) on Saturday, Dec. 17 and will be televised on ESPN.
 
            "We are very excited to be selected to play in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl," said O'Brien. "The Rocket Nation sends a thank you to Executive Director Johnny Williams and the entire Raycom Media Camellia Bowl selection committee. We have heard nothing but great things about the hospitality of the bowl committee and the city of Montgomery. I also want to congratulate head coach Jason Candle, his staff and obviously our Rocket football team on a very successful season. I'm confident that our players, coaches and fans will all enjoy a terrific bowl experience in Montgomery."
 
            Candle, who led the Rockets to a 9-3 season in his first full season as head coach, was enthusiastic about his team's bowl destination.
 
            "The Raycom Media Camellia Bowl will provide our players with an outstanding bowl experience, as well as the opportunity to play against a very tough Appalachian State team," said Candle. "Playing in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl is an excellent reward for our players, coaches and everyone involved in our team's success."
 
            The Rockets (9-3, 6-2 MAC) finished in second place in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference. UT will be playing in its 16^th bowl and sixth in the last seven years. UT is 11-4 all-time in bowl games, including a 32-17 victory last year over No. 24 Temple at the Marmot Boca Raton Bowl in Candle's first game as UT's head coach.
 
            Appalachian State is 9-3 and 7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Mountaineers finished as co-champions of the Sun Belt along with Arkansas State. Appalachian State is coached by Scott Satterfield, a former Toledo assistant who has been the Mountaineers' head coach for four seasons. Satterfield was the passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach at UT in 2009 under then-head coach Tim Beckman.
 
            Toledo and Appalachian State will be meeting on the football field for the first time at the 2016 Raycom Camellia Bowl.
 
            This is the third year for the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. Bowling Green won the inaugural matchup over South Alabama, 33-28, in 2014. Appalachian State defeated Ohio last year, 31-29.
 
            Information on ticket sales and travel packages will be announced on Monday.
 
Raycom Media Camellia Bowl History
2014 – Bowling Green 33, South Alabama 28
2015 – Appalachian State 31, Ohio 29
 
TOLEDO's BOWL HISTORY
Bowl Record: 11-4
1969 Tangerine Bowl
Toledo 56, Davidson 33
1970 Tangerine Bowl
Toledo 40, William & Mary 12
1971 Tangerine Bowl
Toledo 28, Richmond 3
1981 California Bowl
Toledo 27, San Jose State 25
1984 California Bowl
UNLV 30, Toledo 13*
1995 Las Vegas Bowl
Toledo 40, Nevada 37 (OT)
2001 Motor City Bowl
Toledo 23, Cincinnati 16
2002 Motor City Bowl
Boston College 51, Toledo 25
2004 Motor City Bowl
Connecticut 39, Toledo 10
2005 GMAC Bowl
Toledo 45, UTEP 13
2010 Little Caesars Bowl
FIU 34, Toledo 32
2011 Military Bowl
Toledo 42, Air Force 41
2012 Famous Idaho Bowl
Utah State 41, Toledo 15
2015 GoDaddy Bowl (2014 season)
Toledo 63, Arkansas State 44
2015 Marmot Boca Raton Bowl
Toledo 32, Temple 17
2016 Raycom Media Camellia Bowl
Toledo vs. Appalachian State
 
* Toledo claims victory by forfeit


Toledo Football news conference - reaction on Raycom Media Camellia Bowl invitation