HISTORY
| The Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl celebrated the 10th anniversary of its postseason college football bowl game on December 29, 2012. This year's edition will be played on December 30, 2013 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. The 2013 matchup will feature the U.S. Naval Academy (pending bowl eligibility) versus a team from the Mountain West Conference. Going forward, the bowl holds contracts with the United States Naval Academy (2016) and with the United States Military Academy (2014, 2017). |
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| Owned and operated by ESPN Regional Television (ERT), the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl has featured the “armed forces” theme since 2006. Patriotic overtones recognizing all five branches of the service are prevalent throughout the game. Past Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowls have included fan-fest areas showcasing armed forces hardware; flyovers; demonstrations by several of the military's top skydiving teams; the awarding of custom homes to wounded warriors; on-field induction ceremonies; armed forces bands and honor guards; and the awarding of the annual "Great American Patriot Award" (GAPA) presented by Armed Forces Insurance. |
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| 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 PlainsCapital 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. The current agreement was signed September 2009 to continue the sponsorship for the 2010 and 2011; on May 10, 2012, Bell Helicopter announced it would exercise its renewal option to extend the partnership through the 2013 bowl game. |
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)
2012: Rice 33 v Air Force 14 (click to view recap)
