TOLEDO, OH - The University of Toledo has accepted an invitation to play Appalachian State of the Sun Belt Conference in the 2017 Dollar General Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala., UT Vice-President and Athletic Director Mike O'Brien announced on Sunday. The game will be played at 6:00 p.m. CT (7:00 ET) on Saturday, Dec. 23 and will be televised on ESPN.
 
            "We are very excited to return to Mobile to play in the Dollar General Bowl," said O'Brien. "We would like to thank President Jerry Silverstein, Executive director Frank Modarelli and the entire Dollar General Bowl selection committee for choosing the University of Toledo to participate in their outstanding bowl. We are looking forward to another terrific bowl experience in the beautiful state of Alabama against a very fine Appalachian State team. I also want to congratulate head coach Jason Candle, his staff and our entire Rocket football team on a memorable MAC Championship season."
 
            Candle, who led the Rockets to an 11-2 record and a MAC Championship title in his second season as head coach, was enthusiastic about his team's bowl destination.
 
            "The Dollar General Bowl will provide our team with an outstanding bowl experience, as well as the opportunity to play against a very tough Appalachian State team," said Candle. "We are very familiar with Appalachian State, having played them in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl last year. Both teams are league champions, so that will make for a great matchup. Playing in the Dollar General Bowl is an excellent reward for our players, coaches, fans and everyone who has played a part in our MAC Championship."
 
            The Rockets (11-2, 7-1 MAC) finished in first place in the West Division of the Mid-American Conference and went on to defeat East Division champion Akron, 45-28, in the MAC Championship Game at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Dec. 2.
 
Toledo will be playing in its 17^th bowl and seventh in the last eight years. UT is 11-5 all-time in bowl games, including 2-0 in bowl games in Mobile when the Dollar General Bowl was known by different names. The Rockets beat UTEP in 2005 GMAC Bowl by a score of 45-13, and Arkansas State, 63-44, in January of 2015 (2014 season) in the GoDaddy Bowl.
 
            Appalachian State is 8-4 and 7-1 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Mountaineers finished as co-champions of the Sun Belt along with Troy. Appalachian State, which defeated Toledo in last year's Raycom Media Camellia Bowl, 31-28, is coached by Scott Satterfield. Satterfield, who has been the Mountaineers' head coach for five seasons, was the passing game coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Toledo in 2009 under then-head coach Tim Beckman.
 
            Information on ticket sales and travel packages will be announced on Monday.
 
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
Appalachian State 31, Toledo 28
2017 Dollar General Bowl
Toledo vs. Appalachian State
* Toledo claims victory by forfeit
 
Dollar General Bowl History
1999- TCU 28 East Carolina 14
2000- Southern Miss 28 TCU 21
2001- Marshall 64 E. Carolina 61 (2 OT)
2002- Marshall 38 Louisville 15
2003- Miami (OH) 49 Louisville 28
2004- Bowling Green 52 Memphis 35
2005- Toledo 45 UTEP 13
2007- Southern Miss 28 Ohio 7
2008- Tulsa 63 Bowling Green 7
2009- Tulsa 45 Ball State 13
2010- C. Michigan 44 Troy 41 (2 OT)
2011- Miami (Ohio) 35 Middle Tennessee 21
2012- N. Illinois 38 Arkansas St. 20
2013-Arkansas State 17 Kent State 13
2014- Arkansas State 23 Ball State 20
2015 -Toledo 63, Arkansas State 44
2015 – Georgia Southern 58, Bowling Green 27
2016 – Troy 28, Ohio 23
2017 – Toledo vs. Appalachian State
 
Previous Names of the Dollar General Bowl
1999: Mobile Alabama Bowl
2000: GMAC Mobile Alabama Bowl
2001-10: GMAC Bowl
2011-13: GoDaddy.com Bowl
2014-15: GoDaddy Bowl
2016-current: Dollar General Bowl
NOTE: In 2007-15 the bowl was played in January


Head Coach Jason Candle previews the Dollar General Bowl against Appalachian State.


Senior Logan Woodside previews the Dollar General Bowl against Appalachian State.


Senior Terry Swanson previews the Dollar General Bowl against Appalachian State.