HISTORY

The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl ispreparing to celebrate the eighth edition of its post-season college football bowl game. The bowl currently holds contracts with Conference USA and the Mountain West Conference, both of which run through 2013. The bowl also has special contracts with the United States Military Academy (2010) and with the United States Naval Academy(2013).Owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television (ERT), the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl will be televised live on ESPN December 30 at 11 a.m. CST. The Fort Worth-based bowl game has featured a military theme since 2006. Patriotic overtones recognizing all five branches of the military are prevalent throughout the game. Past Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowls have included fan-fest areas showcasing military hardware; flyovers; demonstrations by several of the military’s top skydiving teams; on-field induction ceremonies; military bands and honor guards; and the awarding of the annual "Great American Patriot Award" (GAPA) presented by Armed Forces Insurance. In 2009, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, accepted the GAPA at half-time on behalf of the men and women of the armed forces. Previous recipients include General David H. Petraeus, Preston "Pete" Geren and Gordon England. Bell Helicopter, a Textron Inc. company, joined the bowl on August 23, 2006 as the title sponsor of the post-season college football game formerly known as the Plains Capital Fort Worth Bowl (2003, 2004) and the Fort Worth Bowl (2005). 2006 marked the first year for the adoption of the "Armed Forces Bowl" name, making the official title the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. Bell Helicopter has exercised its option for title sponsorship of the game twice. The current agreement was signed September 2009 to continue the sponsorship for the 2010 and 1011 games with a two-year option for 2012 and 2013. 2003: TCU 31 v. Boise St. 34 2004: Cincinnati 32 v. Marshall 14 2005: Houston 13 v Kansas 42 2006: Tulsa 13 v Utah 25 2007: Cal 42 v Air Force 36 2008: Houston 34 v Air Force 28 (click to view recap) 2009: Houston 20 v Air Force 47 (click to view recap)

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowlaims to be asinvolved as possible in the Dallas/Fort Worth community. Staff members visit civic groups to speak and raise awarenessabout the game and surrounding events. During bowl week players, cheerleaders, and mascots from each team participate in the "Welcome Home A Hero" program at DFW Airport. They alsotake time to visit Cook Children’s Hospital where theygive gifts, sign autographs and put smiles on the faces of the children and their families staying there. In 2010, thanks to our corporate partners,more than6,500 tickets were distributed to active duty military and their families to attend the game for free.

VOLUNTEERS

There are currently over 200 volunteers who help each year with the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl. Each volunteer isplacedon one of15committees that concentrate on hospitality and/or event management.If you are interested in volunteering, please e-mail Hope.Lockett@espn.com, or call the bowl office at 817-810-0016.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL