Eagle Bank Bowl Gets Renamed

Will Now Be Called 'Military Bowl'.

The Bowl, will now be called “The Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman,” and will benefit the USO, the private, nonprofit organization that provides morale and recreational services to members of the U.S. military.

On hand for the announcement that took place today at the Washington Convention Center were The NFL Today's James Brown, D.C. council member Kwame Brown, and Mayor Adrian Fenty who said his "own two young sons can't wait for this year's version", having met Maurice Jones Drew last year.


Washington Convention Sports Authority announces renaming of Eagle Bank Bowl to Military Bowl. (Pictured l to r: James Brown, Kwame Brown, Jeffrey S. Fried, Mayor Fenty, Wes Bush (Northern Grumman CEO). Photo/CD Brown.)

"Since its inception, the mission of our Bowl Committee team is to support the efforts of our servicemen and servicewomen defending our country both at home and abroad, and to enhance our wonderful Washington, D.C. communities," said bowl chairman Jeffrey S. Fried. "It is an absolute honor to welcome Northrop Grumman as our lead partner working alongside the internationally recognized USO. We believe we are creating a brand that will elevate our mission on a national level through our collective efforts of assisting the USO in its extraordinary initiatives, while creating a material economic impact for Washington, D.C.

“Washington has a proud football heritage and this partnership with Northrop Grumman and the USO represents another fantastic chapter in that history,” said Fenty. “I am also grateful that District sports fans will have the opportunity to celebrate the lives of the men and women who sacrifice so much for us.”

Northrop Grumman, is a global security company specializing in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services. The company plans to relocate its corporate offices from L.A. to Falls Church, Va. this year.

The announcement was presented as the Association of the United States Army convened on the Convention Center this week for its annual meeting, and on the cusp of this weekend's Marine Corps Marathon Health and Fitness Expo where Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden will kick off the Arlington, VA race.

"It's a great day. It's a great day for our company", said Grumman CEO Wes Bush. "We are a company that exists to support the military." Bush said the partnership with the USO and his company is a "positive and lasting impact on U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, and those who protect U.S. homeland."

"For them to bring a Bowl game here in Washington, D.C. where you have such a huge population of military, I think it's indicative of how much they care about the military and they want to give back to the community here in Washington, D.C.", said Third Battalion officer Keith Hobson, who is involved with the Navy's football team.

CBS sports caster James Brown agrees.

"I'm excited for what it would do for the citizens of Washington, D.C., said Brown, the son of a military parent.

"I am still a native Washingtonian in every way possible", Brown told us during our interview. "To have a corporate sponsor and partner like that (Northrup Grumman) - awesome."

Brown went on to talk about Grumman relocating to our area. "For them to move their corporate headquarters here, I'm thinking about the vibrancy of the city. That's what I'm talkin' about. Jobs."

This year's Military Bowl game (hosted through 2013) is scheduled to feature an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) team vs. a Conference USA opponent on December 29th at RFK Stadium and will air at 2:30 EST on ESPN.

Last year's Eagle Bank Bowl featured UCLA vs Temple in a 30-21 UCLA win.

See MilitaryBowl.org for more.

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