GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY TIGERS WIN THE 2016 AIR FORCE RESERVE CELEBRATION BOWL
ATLANTA, December 17, 2016– The 2nd Annual Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl, played today at Atlanta’s Georgia Dome, brought forth the first bowl game winner of the season. The Grambling State Tigers beat the North Carolina Central Eagles 10-9 after blocking an extra point attempt in the final three minutes. Tigers running back Martez Carter took home Offensive MVP honors and LB Jameel Jackson was the Defensive MVP.
“Congratulations to Grambling State on winning this historic match-up,” said John Grant, Executive Director of The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl. “This rematch of the 1972 Pelican Bowl featured two of the Top 20 teams in the FCS, and we are happy for the Tigers.”
Grambling State Coach Broderick Fobbs who has led the Tigers for three seasons shared, “The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl exceeded my expectations. Truly, truly a first class bowl game! The Celebration Bowl is here to stay. I wouldn’t have it anywhere other than Atlanta, GA. It’s just a great, great bowl to be a part of and it lives up to its name!” North Carolina Eagles Coach Jerry Mack added, “With the way our team has been treated this entire week by The Celebration Bowl committee, not just the game, but the entire week of events, to get all the media support, and to have the opportunity to showcase your brand on national TV is huge for the kids in itself. It is a life-long memory; one that will stay with us. I want to get back to The Celebration Bowl next year.”
Establishing itself as the first bowl game of the season, The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl is a postseason football game owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN. It is a championship-style game between the MEAC and SWAC champions and is televised on ABC. ESPN Events collaborates with 100 Black Men of Atlanta to organize the game’s ancillary events which include a youth symposium, robotics showcase, gospel night, fan experience and more. North Carolina A&T defeated Alcorn State 41-34 in the inaugural game last year in front of over 35,000 fans and over 14.8 million viewers who watched on ABC.
A full photo recap of the game can be found here along with additional photos captured of the 100 Black Men Of Atlanta ancillary events.
Photo credit: Phil Ellsworth, ESPN Images
Social Media: Twitter.com/celebrationbowl facebook.com/thecelebrationbowl
Official Hashtag: #afrcelebrationbowl
ESPN Events division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend college football games; FCS opening-weekend game; 13 college bowl games, 11 college basketball events and two college award shows, which accounts for approximately 250-plus hours of programming, reaches almost 64 million viewers and attracts over 700,000 attendees each year. With satellite offices in Albuquerque, Birmingham, Boca Raton, Boise, Dallas-Fort Worth, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Montgomery and St. Petersburg, ESPN Events builds relationships with conferences, schools and local communities, as well as providing unique experiences for teams and fans.
Coach Broderick Fobbs, Head Coach Grambling State Tigers.
Grambling QB, Charles Wright celebrates after The Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl
Grambling's Martez Carter (#4), North Carolina Central's Jaquell Tayor (#27). Martez took home Offensive MVP honors after an impressive all around game.
Grambling's Martez Carter (#4), North Carolina Central's Jaquell Tayor (#27). Martez took home Offensive MVP honors after an impressive all around game.
Grambling's Tigers Celebrate their win with the coveted Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl Trophy!
Jameel Jackson (right) earned his Defensive MVP trophy by coming up with a huge 4th quarter interception.