HISTORY

The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl celebrated the ninth edition of its postseason college football bowl game on December 30, 2011 with the BYU Cougars defeating the Tulsa Golden Hurricane 24-21. The bowl currently holds contracts Conference USA through 2013; with the United States Naval Academy in 2013 and 2016; and with the United States Military Academy in 2014 and 2017. The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television.

The Dallas-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. Previous GAPA recipients include Salvatore Giunta, Admiral Thad Allen, Admiral Mike Mullen, 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 postseason college football game formerly known as the Plains Capital Fort Worth Bowl (2003, 2004) and the Fort Worth Bowl (2005). The 2006 season 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 2011 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)
2010: Army 16 v SMU 14 (click to view recap)
2011: BYU 24 v Tulsa 21 (click to view recap)