TOWSON, Md. – Tiger Bowl II, which features an intrasquad
football game among members of the Towson University team, will be held on
Saturday, April 21 as a highlight of a full day of activities for Tiger fans.
The Tiger Bowl, which attracted more than 1,000 fans last
season, will be played at 1 p.m. in Johnny Unitas® Stadium. Admission to the
Tiger Bowl is free and open to the public.
Tiger Bowl Saturday starts at 9 a.m. with a Youth Football
Clinic that will be held at the Towson University Soccer Complex. The clinic is
open to all eighth graders or younger and it will be conducted by the Tiger
coaching staff.
At 11:30 a.m., the Tiger Football Alumni Game will be played
in Unitas Stadium. Former football players will return to the gridiron in a
game of flag football on Minnegan Field.
The inaugural Tiger Bowl will conclude the Tiger football
team's Spring season. Coach Rob Ambrose and his staff have 42 letter winners
and a very talented group of newcomers who will be hoping to impress the
coaching staff during the Tiger Bowl. The Tigers return nine starters on
offense and nine starters on defense from last year's team.
The 2011 Tigers were known as the “Turnaround Tigers” as
they were the most improved team NCAA FCS. One year after posting a 1-10
record, the 2011 Tigers went 9-3 and won their first Colonial Athletic
Association championship. The Tigers, who were ranked ninth at the end of the
season, reached the second round of the NCAA FCS playoffs.
Junior tackle Eric Pike is one of
the top returnees for an offense that rushed for 229.9 yards per game and
ranked among the national leaders with a 34.8 scoring average. A third-year
starter at tackle, Pike was named third team All-CAA. Junior quarterback Grant Enders, a two-time selection as CAA Offensive
Player of the Week, returns to direct the Tiger offense. Last season, he led
the CAA in passing efficiency while throwing for 2,081 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Sophomore Terrance West is back to lead the
Tigers' rushing attack. The winner of the Jerry Rice Award as the top freshman
in FCS football, West ran for 1,294 yards last season and scored an NCAA
FCS-leading 29 touchdowns.
A pair of All-America selections, senior safety Jordan Dangerfield and senior defensive
end Frank Beltre, return to lead the Tigers' defense.
A first team All-America selection by The College Sports Journal, Dangerfield
led the Tigers with 93 tackles despite missing two games with an injury. He was
a virtual turnover machine as he intercepted two passes, forced two fumbles and
recovered a pair of fumbles. An honorable mention All-American, Beltre was tied
for fourth on the team with 68 tackles. He also led the Tigers with 12 tackles
for lost yardage.
While Tiger Bowl II is being played in Unitas Stadium, the
Tiger baseball team will host Georgia State in the second game of their
three-game weekend series at John B. Schuerholz Park at 2 p.m.
After Tiger Bowl II is played, the Tiger men's lacrosse team
will honor their seniors when the Tigers host Drexel University in a vital CAA
matchup in Unitas Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, April 20
1:30 p.m. Towson Baseball Doubleheader vs. Georgia State at Schuerholz Park; Admission is free (click here for details)
6 p.m. Gridiron Gala at Valley Mansion in Hunt Valley (click here for details)
7 p.m. Towson Women's Lacrosse vs. George Mason at Johnny Unitas® Stadium; Pink Game (buy tickets now)
Saturday, April 21
7 a.m. Towson Football Captain's Breakfast (click here for details)
9 a.m. Youth Football Clinic (click here for details)
11:30 a.m. Towson Football Alumni Game (click here for details)
1 p.m. Tiger Bowl II
2 p.m. Towson Baseball vs. Georgia State at Schuerholz Park; Admission is free (click here for details)
4:30 p.m. Towson Swimming & Diving Annual End of Year Picnic (click here for details)
7:30 p.m. Towson Men's Lacrosse vs. Drexel at Johnny Unitas® Stadium; Senior Night (buy tickets now)
Sunday, April 22
1 p.m. Towson Women's Lacrosse vs. James Madison at Johnny Unitas® Stadium; Senior Day (buy tickets now)
2 p.m. Towson Men's Soccer Alumni Game (click here for details)
