Chippewas Headed to Miami Beach
12/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
CMU Athletic Communications
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- The Central Michigan football team will face Tulsa on Dec. 19 in the 2016 Miami Beach Bowl, the third consecutive season that the Chippewas have earned a bowl invitation.
"The first Florida bowl game in CMU history puts us against a stout opponent," CMU Director of Athletics Dave Heeke said. "A great location and a terrific matchup. We are in position to finish the season on a high note.
"Miami is a renowned travel destination, and there is so much for CMU fans to do, including a great beach barbeque put on by Miami Beach Bowl organizers."
CMU finished the regular season 6-6 (3-5 Mid-American Conference) and made national news on Sept. 10 with a 30-27 victory against No. 22-ranked Oklahoma State that ended with a memorable, no-time-on-the-clock, hook-and-ladder touchdown. The Chippewas also beat Northern Illinois in triple overtime in October and stopped final drives with end-zone interceptions to preserve victories over both Ball State and Ohio.
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane enters bowl season with a 9-3 record and finished second in the American Athletic Conference West at 6-2. Tulsa scored 40 or more points in nine games this season, and its losses came to Ohio State, Memphis and Navy, all teams headed to bowl games.
The Miami Beach Bowl will be CMU's eighth bowl appearance in the last 11 seasons. Last year, the Chippewas reached the Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit, where they lost to Minnesota, 21-14.
"We're not ready to be done competing, and our players are excited about the opportunity to send our seniors off with a victory," CMU coach John Bonamego said. "I don't know much about Tulsa yet, but I know we'll face a high-powered offense."
The Miami Beach Bowl has featured two high-scoring games since it was established in 2014. Memphis beat Brigham Young, 55-48, in double overtime in 2014, and Western Kentucky topped USF, 45-35, last year.
ESPN will televise the Miami Beach Bowl, which carries a 2:30 p.m. kickoff.
Ticket information and more about events at the Miami Beach Bowl will be announced soon.
CMU postseason history
1974 Pioneer Bowl: CMU 35, Louisiana Tech 14
1974 Camellia Bowl: CMU 54, Delaware 14
1990 California Raisin Bowl: San Jose State 48, CMU 24
1994 Las Vegas Bowl: UNLV 52, CMU 24
2006 MAC Championship: CMU 31, Ohio 10
2006 Motor City Bowl: CMU 31, Middle Tennessee State 14
2007 MAC Championship: CMU 35, Miami (Ohio) 10
2007 Motor City Bowl: Purdue 51, CMU 48
2008 Motor City Bowl: Florida Atlantic 24, CMU 21
2009 MAC Championship: CMU 20, Ohio 10
2010 GMAC Bowl: CMU 44, Troy 41 (2OT)
2012 Little Caesars Pizza Bowl: CMU 24, Western Kentucky 21
2014 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl: Western Kentucky 49, CMU 48
2015 Quick Lane Bowl: Minnesota 21, CMU 14