FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Boca Raton Bowl December 4, 2016

MEMPHIS TO TAKE ON WESTERN KENTUCKY IN THE 2016 BOCA RATON BOWL

BOCA RATON, Fla. (December 4, 2016) – This year’s Boca Raton Bowl will feature two high-powered offenses as the University of Memphis from the American Athletic Conference will face Western Kentucky University from Conference USA, as announced by the conferences and the bowl today.

The 2016 Boca Raton Bowl will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 20, 7 p.m. ET, at FAU Stadium. The game will be aired on ESPN.

“We're thrilled to welcome Memphis and Western Kentucky to the third Boca Raton Bowl,” said Boca Raton Bowl Executive Director Doug Mosley. “This matchup will make for a terrific game. We have a great slate of activities planned for these teams and can't wait for them to arrive!”

Memphis finished the season 8-4 overall and 5-3 in the AAC under Tigers first-year head coach Mike Norvell. Memphis brings a strong offense that ranks second in pass efficiency with quarterback Riley Ferguson’s 152.9 passer rating. The Tigers will bring a high-ranked special teams force to battle against Western Kentucky. Memphis kick returner Tony Pollard was named the conference’s special teams player of the year while landing in first in the AAC with a kick return average of 28.4 yards. The Tigers rank first in kickoff returns (943 for 1,159 yards), punting (43.8 yard avg.), kickoff coverage (42.0 net avg.) and tied for first in PAT kicking (54-54, 1.000).

Western Kentucky, the back-to-back Conference USA champion, is making its fourth bowl game appearance. In head coach Jeff Brohm’s third year, he led the Hilltoppers to their second-consecutive 10-win season with the 2016 season sitting at 10-3 overall and 7-1 in the conference. The Hilltoppers are ranked in the top five of 13 conference statistical categories. They bring a well-rounded defense to counter the Tigers’ top-ranked offense with their No.1 ranked rushing defense (99.1) and 29 sacks on the season that rank second. Western Kentucky ranks first in scoring offense (586) and scoring defense (313). The Hilltoppers special teams bring a top-ranked return team that ranks first in kickoff returns (26.8) and punt returns (17.9).

Two nationally ranked offenses will collide in the 2016 Boca Raton Bowl. Western Kentucky ranks in the top 10 nationally in points per game, yards per game and passing yards per game. Memphis also ranks within the top 35 in all three categories, including ranked 17th in points per game (39.5).

Both teams’ rosters are composed of high-talent athletes, many of whom received end-of-season awards and honors. For Memphis, six athletes earned all-conference honors: first-team honors went to tight end Daniel Montiel, linebacker Genard Avery, kicker Jake Elliott, punter Spencer Smith and Pollard, while wide receiver Anthony Miller received second-team honors. For Western Kentucky, two

--more-- players earned offensive player of the week throughout the season quarterback Mike White and wide receiver Taywan Taylor, while kick returner/punt returner Nacarius Fant earned special teams player of the week twice and kicker Skyler Simcox earned the honor once.

Media members wishing to participate in the 2016 Boca Raton Bowl coaches teleconference with Western Kentucky beginning at 5 p.m. this evening should dial toll-free 877-358-3976. Once connected, provide the operator with the Conference ID 28882960. It is suggested that media members call in at 4:50 p.m. EST.

Media members wishing to participate in the 2016 Boca Raton Bowl coaches teleconference with Memphis beginning at 5:30 p.m. this evening should dial toll-free 877-358-3976. Once connected, provide the operator with the Conference ID 28882960. It is suggested that media members call in at 5:20 p.m. EST.

The Boca Raton Bowl is also currently accepting credential applications. Credential applications will be accepted until Monday, Dec. 11. Media can access the application by clicking here.

For additional information about the Boca Raton Bowl, please visit www.TheBocaRatonBowl.com or e- mail [email protected].

ESPN Events ESPN Events, a division of ESPN, owns and operates a large portfolio of collegiate sporting events worldwide. The roster includes three Labor Day weekend 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.

ESPN Events also manages the Big 12 Corporate Partner Program.

Collegiate Football AdvoCare Texas Kickoff (Houston); AdvoCare V100 Texas Bowl (Houston); Air Force Reserve Celebration Bowl (Atlanta); Birmingham Bowl (Alabama); Boca Raton Bowl (Florida); (Orlando, Fla.); Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise); Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Albuquerque); Hawai’i Bowl (Honolulu); Las Vegas Bowl (Nevada); Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth); MEAC/SWAC Challenge (Baton Rouge, La.); Montgomery (Montgomery, Ala.); Popeyes Bahamas Bowl (Nassau); Raycom Media Camellia Bowl (Montgomery, Ala.); St. Petersburg Bowl (Florida); The Home Depot College Football Awards (Atlanta) and Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl (Dallas-Fort Worth)

Collegiate Basketball AdvoCare Invitational (Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, Fla.); College Basketball Awards Presented by Wendy’s (Los Angeles); Gildan Charleston Classic (South Carolina); Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic (Honolulu); Jimmy V Men’s Classic presented by Corona (New York City); Jimmy V Women’s Classic presented by Corona (Uncasville, Conn.); NIT Season Tip-Off (Brooklyn, N.Y.); PK80 (Portland, Ore.); State Farm Armed Forces Classic (Honolulu); State Farm Champions Classic (New York City); Tire Pros Invitational (Orlando, Fla.) and Wooden Legacy (Orange County, Calif.) --more--

For more information, visit the official website, Facebook, Twitter or YouTube pages.

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ESPN Media Contact: Rachel Margolis Siegal at 860-766-2798 or [email protected] Boca Raton Bowl Media Contact: Sara Perez at 313-207-2595 or [email protected]

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