Video: Nationally ranked App State big for New Orleans Bowl, Sun Belt

NEW ORLEANS – The R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and the Sun Belt Conference’s sponsorship of football both started in 2001.

As the 19th New Orleans Bowl prepares to kick off Saturday night in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, it’s good times for both the bowl game and the New Orleans-based conference that has placed a team in the bowl each year since its launch.

Sun Belt champion Appalachian State is 12-1 and ranked 20th in the final regular-season polls – the highest ranked team ever to play in the New Orleans Bowl.

New Orleans Bowl executive director Billy Ferrante said App State, “at least coming into the game,” could be the best team in the bowl’s history.

“We knew they were a good team last year,” said Ferrante, who welcomes the Mountaineers to the Crescent City for the second consecutive New Orleans Bowl. “We’re looking forward to see how they play Saturday night; they’ve got a good opponent.”

App State will face Conference USA West Division champ UAB (9-4) in Saturday night’s game, which kicks off just after 8 p.m. and will be televised nationally by ESPN.

First-year Sun Belt commissioner Keith Gill has a vastly improving football product, led by the Mountaineers.

“They had an unbelievable year, just a great season,” said Gill. “I think it’s a great reward for our champion to come to the New Orleans Bowl.

“We’ve got two teams (App State and West Division champion Louisiana) with 10 or more wins. The quality of football (in the conference) continues to improve.”

Ferrante said it’s more than just the on-field improvement in the Sun Belt and C-USA that has helped improve the status of the game.

“We, as a bowl, have really tried to provide the best experience for the student-athletes,” he said. “We’ve developed a reputation as a destination they want to come to.

“As the conferences have become more competitive on the field, that helps grow the visibility of the bowl game.”

For tickets to Saturday’s game, visit NewOrleansBowl.com.