The Poinsettia Bowl returns for its fifth year on Dec. 23 at 5 pm (ESPN)and is sponsored by the San Diego County Credit Union. The moniker is named for those lovely red holiday flowers, the poinsettia, that are largely grown here in San Diego County.
Head Coach Kyle Whittingham leads his Utes into San Diego with a 9-3 overall record, 6-2 in the Mountain West Conference. This year’s bowl game will be Utah’s seventh straight bowl appearance, including a 35-32 victory over the Navy Midshipmen in the 2007 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.
Utah is led on offense by two-time first-team all-conference tackle Zane Beadles and the first 1,000 rushing-receiving tandem at Utah in 18 years. Running back Eddie Wide (1,032 yards) and receiver David Reed (1,085 yards) joined Beadles on the 2009 all-MWC first team. Utah’s defense ranks in the top 25 nationally in pass efficiency defense (No. 9), pass defense (No. 13), total defense (No. 19) and scoring defense (No. 22).
Head Coach Jeff Tedford brings his Golden Bears to San Diego after finishing the regular season with an 8-4 overall record, 5-4 in the Pac-10.
Cal will run its school-record string of consecutive bowl appearances to seven by participating in the 2009 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. The Golden Bears also have a current school-record string of four straight bowl victories and have won five of six bowls under head coach Jeff Tedford.
Tickets for the 2008 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl can be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 619-220-TIXS (8497), or by visiting www.PoinsettiaBowl.com.
