The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

THE Popeyes Bahamas Bowl made history for the Old Dominion University Monarchs when the team won its first bowl game and it also became the most watched game in programme history.

The event has been the subject of much scrutiny and sparked dialogue in regard to fan attendance at the Thomas A Robinson Stadium. However, the television ratings continue to bolster its status among the ESPN lineup.

The Monarchs’ 24-20 win over the Eastern Michigan Eagles on December 23 drew an estimated 1.37 million viewers to ESPN, the lowest in the three-year total of the game.

Ray Lawry rushed for 133 yards on 23 carries, including the game- clinching first down. He was named the offensive MVP.Monarchs quarterback David Washington finished 11-20 for 188 yards and three scores and linebacker TJ Ricks was named the defensive MVP.

The announced crowd at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium was 13,422. The numbers represent a decline from the 2015 game which saw the Western Michigan Broncos top the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders and drew in 2.1 million viewers on ESPN. Those viewing numbers from 2015 represented a 43 per cent increase from the 2014 game, its inaugural edition.

The high scoring matchup between the Central Michigan Chippewas and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers drew in an estimated 1.5 million viewers.

The 2016 game finished fifth among cable television broadcasts on December 23. The Dollar General Bowl, which saw Troy defeat Ohio, topped the chart of programmes on the day at over 2.5 million viewers, followed by the Armed Forces Bowl with over 2.3 million viewers.

Said Monarchs head coach Bobby Wilder, following completion of the historic season: “I just want to say how excited we are to win the game, but number two how grateful we are for how we were treated this week by everybody associated with the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl – all the wonderful people we met. This was a life-changing experience. We talked about this all week. We made memories to last a lifetime, and to win the game makes it that much more special. But you can get caught up so many times in college athletics with wins and losses that you forget the experiences you have. I met so many people that had nothing to do with this bowl game – whether it was at the hotel, or when we left the Atlantis, it just reminds me how special everybody is here.”

Despite the loss, Eagles head coach Chris Creighton said it was a rewarding experience for his programme.

“Our guys had so many different experiences. We had some time the other night where some of the guys were sharing their time with the kids. The community service trip was a big deal to some guys. And some guys, being in the ocean for the first time was a big deal. Some of our captains were swimming with dolphins for the first time,” he said. “But I think we would all, in the end, just say it was a special team we had, and just being together on a trip like this, preparing to try to achieve our goal – our full goal – being here and having that opportunity I think was our best experience.”