SAN DIEGO, CA – The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl today announced it has extended its agreement with the Mountain West Conference for the next four-year bowl term, 2010-2013. The nine-member conference will continue to provide the San Diego bowl game with the second pick, as it has since the game’s inception in 2005. The MAACO Bowl Las Vegas has and will continue to receive the first selection.

This announcement does not impact the game’s 2009 match-up between the MWC and Pacific-10.

“The Mountain West Conference has proven to be a terrific match for the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl,” said 2009 Bowl President Barbara Warden. “They’ve truly put us on the map as one of the exciting, must-see games during bowl season. We’re delighted we were able to extend this partnership.”

“San Diego is a great destination city for Mountain West fans,” said MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson. “Thanks to the leadership, staff and volunteers of the event, Mountain West teams have had a tremendous experience at the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. We look forward to continuing the partnership in the future.”

Agreements have also been established for the MWC opponents during the four-year cycle.

In 2010 a bowl eligible Navy Midshipmen squad will travel to San Diego and play in the SDCCU Poinsettia Bowl for the third time. In 2005 they topped Colorado State 51-30; in 2007 they were narrowly defeated at the hands of the Utah Utes 35-32. The two highest attended Poinsettia Bowls were games in which the Naval Academy participated; 36,842 in 2005, 39,129 in 2007.

“The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl is a post-season destination for our team and fans that is especially embraced by our enlisted military all along the West Coast,” said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. “We know from experience, this is a first-class bowl, a wonderful San Diego experience, and an opportunity to promote a widespread sense of unity within the Navy football family. The entire Fleet rallies around the week-long festivities and the match-up versus a Mountain West Conference team is a challenge our student-athletes will enthusiastically embrace.”

The 2011 and 2012 games will feature MWC teams going up against top schools from the Western Athletic Conference. A WAC school has played in the bowl game once. The Boise State Broncos came in to the 2008 game unbeaten and ranked 9th in the country. They were upset by the 11th-ranked TCU Horned Frogs 17-16 in front of 34,628 fans. That game garnered a 3.74 national television rating on ESPN, the bowl’s most watched game ever and the highest rated pre-Christmas game ever on the all-sports network.

“We are extremely pleased to be associated with the San Diego Country Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl in 2011 and 2012”, said WAC Commissioner Karl Benson. “Last year’s bowl game was a big success with Boise State providing a tremendous matchup. Our teams are excited to have the opportunity to play in the game in the upcoming years and to travel to San Diego. The agreement also solidifies our bowl agreements for the next four years giving the WAC four guaranteed slots through the 2013 season.”

In 2013 a bowl-eligible Army team will make their first appearance in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. The last time the Black Knights played in a post-season game was in 1996 in the Independence Bowl. They lost to the Auburn Tigers 32-29.

"We are thrilled to announce this partnership with the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl," said Army Director of Athletics Kevin Anderson. "Bruce Binkowski and his staff have done a tremendous job with this bowl game and we are excited to have the opportunity to showcase our program on the West Coast. I feel our players and fans will relish the opportunity to visit San Diego around the holidays."

Should Navy or Army not be bowl eligible in their respective years, the bowl game will receive a team from the WAC. To become bowl eligible a team must earn six wins.

“We believe these agreements will provide our fans with what they’ve come to expect – competitive, exciting football games,” Warden said.

The 2009 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl kicks off at 5 p.m. PST on Wednesday, December 23rd. For tickets call 619/285-5039 or visit www.PoinsettiaBowl.com.