It's official: Eastern Michigan University's football team is heading to the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.
.@EMUFB is headed to the @PopeyesChicken Bahamas Bowl!! #LetsRoll #EMUFB pic.twitter.com/InJO1dRUWC
— Eastern Michigan Athletics (@EMUAthletics) November 29, 2016
🎳 🎳 🎳#LetsRollLetsBowl #EMUEagles pic.twitter.com/Dwm6VMT0ME
— Eastern Michigan Football (@EMUFB) November 29, 2016
The game will be played at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. Kickoff will be 1 p.m. EST on Friday, December 23rd, and EMU will face Old Dominion, according to the bowl's website.
More from EMU's press release:
"We are grateful for the opportunity to be selected to compete in the 2016 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl," remarked Vice President and Director of Athletics Heather Lyke. "We are proud to represent the MAC and expect to finish our season strong. Our coaching staff and student-athletes have worked incredibly hard to be in a position to compete in the postseason and continue to build pride in the Block E.
This will mark the third annual Bahamas Bowl game, according to the bowl's website.
School officials say this is the first time EMU has attended a bowl game since 1987. It's also the second Division 1 bowl appearance in the program's history.
More from EMU head coach Chris Creighton in the press release:
"Nearly a year ago our seniors set our season goal, to go to a bowl game for the first time in 29 years. We could not be more excited to accept this invitation. What an awesome experience this is going to be for everyone associated with our program."
Following the announcement, many posted about the news on Twitter.
Anybody who was a dedicated EMU football fan over the years certainly deserves a trip to the Bahamas! Good for the Eagles program! https://t.co/jPHRcalQcs
— Trevor Upchurch (@SidewaysMosque) November 29, 2016
#EMUFB is bowl eligible!!
— 𝘿𝙏 (@KIPxKANG) November 29, 2016
Us: "Let's go to the bowl game, road trip time! "
EMU is going to the Bahamas bowl !!!
Us: pic.twitter.com/BDm9iFvj2b
EMU is going to the Bahamas Bowl!!! Congrats guys, this is so cool!
— Jen (@xjennykatx) November 29, 2016
EMU is going bowling!! And to the Bahamas!! #SwoopSwoop
— Matt Mundy (@ProfMund) November 29, 2016
So how many Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen's are there in the Bahamas?
Glad you asked. There's one in Nassau, according to the bowl's website. Don't fret: a second one is also under construction.
