Muleriders invited to play in Heart of Texas Bowl
By:
Updated: November 13, 2012
MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Southern Arkansas' recently completed
8-2 regular season may not have been enough to earn it a spot in the NCAA
Division II football playoffs, but it has earned them an invitation to play in
the first-ever Division II C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl scheduled for
December 1 at 7 p.m. in Copperas Cove, Texas, at Copperas Cove High School's
Bulldawg Stadium.
The Muleriders opponent will be McMurry (Texas)
University, currently 7-3 on the season after defeating Bacone (Okla.) 47-14
this past weekend. The War Hawks close out their regular season Saturday at
home against the University of Mexico.
The Heart of Texas Bowl has existed for a number of
years as the National Junior College game and is adding the Division II game
this year, which will be played in conjunction with the 12th annual junior
college bowl that features a member of the Southwest Junior College Conference
versus an at-large junior college team. That game will take place earlier in
the day, but the time and teams have not yet been announced.
Copperas Cove is located due west of Temple, about
halfway between Waco and Austin.
The bowl is sponsored by C.H.A.M.P.S., Communities
Helping Americans Mature Progress and Succeed, a school-based program aimed at
educating students about the dangers of the abuse of illicit drugs and alcohol,
and was founded by Copperas Cove Head Coach and Athletic Director Jack
Welch.
Located in Abilene, Texas, McMurry is in its first year
competing on the NCAA Division II level during its transition as a member of the
Heartland Conference and isn't eligible for the playoffs for another two years.
The War Hawks are coached by former Valdosta State and University of Kentucky
head coach Hal Mumme, who was instrumental in helping bring this year's Division
II game to the Heart of Texas Bowl.
The game will be the first bowl appearance for SAU since
the 1990 Aztec Bowl in Mexico City when they defeated the Mexican All-Stars
41-31. They played then John McNeese (La.) Junior College (McNeese State) to a
0-0 standstill in the 1947 Cajun Bowl in Lake Charles, La., and defeated then
Eastern Oklahoma A&M (Eastern Oklahoma State) 41-12 in the 1948 Papoose Bowl
in Oklahoma City, Okla.
Ticket information for the Heart of Texas Bowl will be
forthcoming, with a number of tickets to be made available and sold through
Southern Arkansas.
From: Houston Taylor, Asst. AD/Sports Information
From: Houston Taylor, Asst. AD/Sports Information
