Welcome to the Battle in the Bayou! The 2019 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl match-up has been set! Representing the Sun Belt Conference, Appalachian State will take on the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) out of Conference USA, in the 19th edition of this bowl game. App State returns as the 2018 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Champions in the 14th year R+L Carriers serves as the official sponsor.
Here’s what you need to know about both teams.
Appalachian State – Sun Belt Conference
App State has found great success under head coach Eli Drinkwitz who took over the program a year ago. The Mountaineers are ranked No. 20 in the final College Football Playoff rankings and are coming off their fourth straight Sun Belt Conference Championship. Drinkwitz has reportedly accepted a new head coaching job at the University of Missouri, courtesy of this success. It’s unknown if Drinkwitz will be at the helm of this game and guide the 12-1 Mountaineers to their second straight R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl Championship. Darrynton Evans leads as the team’s star running back, fresh off his three touchdown performance against Louisiana in the Sun Belt Conference Championship.
Update 12/13/19: Eliah Drinkwitz has accepted the head coaching position at the University of Missouri and Appalachian State has named Offsensive Line Coach Shawn Clark as the schools 22nd head football coach in school history. Coach Clark will lead the Mountaineers in the 2019 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
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University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) – Conference USA
UAB is representing the Conference USA with a 9-4 overall record. Coach Bill Clark has led the Blazers since 2014, however, budget cuts in the athletic department forced a 2-year shutdown on the program. The school reinstated its football program in 2017 and has made it to bowl games every year since, finishing 10-3 last season and defeating Northern Illinois in the Boca Raton Bowl. This year, UAB lost to Florida Atlantic 49-6 in the Conference USA Championship–but don’t let the score fool you, three of the team’s running backs put points on the board. Spencer Brown, Jermaine Brown Jr., and Lucious Stanley have 5, 2, and 7 touchdowns this year, respectively.
This game is shaping up to be a long haul on the ground!
2019 R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Join us here in the R+L Carriers Fan Zone to follow Appalachian State and UAB on and off the field leading up to the bowl game. You can watch the game December 21 at 9 PM EST on ESPN or listen in on ESPN Radio. Want to join in on the fun? Bowl Week is full of activities building the ultimate R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl experience. Tickets start at $30 and activities include the Friday Night Concert featuring the B-52’s and the Bowl Luncheon featuring Super Bowl XLIII Champion and ESPN Analyst Ryan Clark.
It’s time to let the good times bowl!
