MOBILE, AL. (Dec. 2, 2012) - The GoDaddy.com Bowl announced today that No. 25 Kent State University (11-2, 8-0) with the Mid-American Conference will face Arkansas State University (9-3, 7-1) with the Sun Belt Conference in the 14th annual GoDaddy.com Bowl game on Sun., Jan. 6, 2013, at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
“We’re happy to have No.25 Kent State University in this bowl game for the first time and to welcome Arkansas State back for their second year. Both teams have a history of keeping their win-streaks going and this should prove to be an exciting game again this year,” said GoDaddy.com Bowl President, Jerry Silverstein.
Kent State's offense leans more toward its rushing attack and it has a pair of players who headline that aspect of its offensive attack. Junior running back Dri Archer is No. 27 in the nation in rushing, averaging 104 yards per game, and sophomore teammate Trayion Durham is ranked No. 37 in rushing, providing an average of 96 yards per game.
“We’re obviously excited (about coming to Mobile),'' said Kent State University Athletics Director Joel Nielsen. "With it being 40 years since our last bowl experience, it’s going to be a wonderful trip for our student-athletes who are very deserving (of the GoDaddy.com Bowl berth) after the year they’ve had. Our coaching staff, our support staff and especially our fans are excited to come to Mobile. It’s also the climate that would attract northeast Ohioans in early January.”
Arkansas State senior quarterback Ryan Aplin leads the Red Wolves' offense, which ranks No. 17 in the country in total offense, according to NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision statistics. Aplin is the trigger for the ASU offensive attack, ranking No. 31 in the country in passing and No. 32 in passing yards (260.75) per game.
“Our fans are familiar with the GoDaddy.com Bowl and the fantastic hospitality not only shown by (bowl president) Jerry Silverstein and his staff, but by the city of Mobile,” said ASU Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir. “The game will also present our team with a fantastic opportunity to play a quality opponent ranked in the top 25 and to potentially end the season as a top-25 team for the first time as an FBS member. It is also my goal to bring the most fans ever to a GoDaddy.com Bowl, so we need the A-State Nation to buy all their tickets through the ASU Ticket Office. We want to paint the town scarlet and black.”
"We couldn't have scripted a better story for the last two GoDaddy.com Bowls," said Go Daddy Chief Marketing Officer Barb Rechterman, whose company helps small business grow online. "The game is all about good old-fashioned competition and camaraderie ... 2013's match-up is no exception."
The NCAA's highest-scoring bowl game was played in the then-GMAC Bowl in 2001, with Marshall overcoming a 30-point halftime deficit to beat East Carolina 64-61 in double overtime. Offense has always been a key factor in previous GoDaddy.com Bowl games.
