Kraft Bowl

GAMES TO WATCH - WEEK 1

2013-05-24T20:47:12Z

With the countdown less than 100 days to College Football '13, the opening weekend of Pac-12 action has a little something for everyone.

]]> A number of key intersectional matchups dot the Week 1 schedule, and it all begins Thursday, August 29 Utah State visits cross-state rival Utah. USC, meanwhile, travels to Hawaii for a clash with the Rainbow Warriors, coached by former Trojan assistant Norm Chow.

On Friday, August 30, Northern Arizona visits Arizona. Under state law, NAU plays either Arizona or Arizona State in alternating seasons.

Come Saturday, August 31, Pac-12 foes include SEC & Big Ten competition. Washington State travels to Auburn while Sonny Dykes debuts as Cal's new head coach when his Golden Bears entertain Northwestern in Berkeley.

Of particular importance to Pac-12 fans in the Pacific Northwest, Washington moves back into newly-renovated Husky Stadium for a long-awaited matchup with Boise State.

UCLA, beginning its second season under head coach Jim Mora, hosts Nevada at the Rose Bowl. The Wolf Pack's new coach, Brian Polian, steps into the gigantic shoes left by his predecessor, Chris Ault, who retired from coaching following the 2012 season. Ault has since taken a consulting role with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he will tutor Chiefs coaches and QBs on the finer points of his 'Pistol' offense.

The Oregon schools take on FCS competition in Week One. Oregon State hosts FCS playoff squad Eastern Washington, while Oregon faces Nicholls State.

One game is set for Sunday, September 1 of the Labor Day holiday weekend, which traditionally brings summer to a close and ushers fall and the college season into full bloom. Colorado meets its in-state rival Colorado State.

The USC-Hawaii game on Friday has an 8 p.m. [PDT] start and will be carried by CBS Sports Network. The Colorado-Colorado State game on Sunday will also be on CBS Sports Network with a 3:00 p.m. [PDT] kickoff. Remaining kickoff times and television carriers will be announced at a later date.

HALL OF FAME NOMINEE

2013-03-13T20:09:51Z

Board Director Emeritus Nominated For College Hall

]]> Today's update is a little different from any I've sent over the past 12 years. It concerns Darrin Nelson, a former member of the Bowl's Board of Directors, but more importantly, the greatest running back ever to play football at Stanford University. Some of you may be more familiar with Toby Gerhart, Stepfan Taylor or (for old-timers) Ernie Nevers. But there wasn't another player who impacted Stanford football, or the game of football, the way Darrin did. I'm writing about this today because, at long last, Darrin has been nominated for the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame. I was the Sports Information Director at Stanford when Darrin was recruited in 1977. Our coach back then was the great Bill Walsh, who was in his first year on the Farm. Darrin was originally recruited as a defensive back, but Bill had promised Darrin's high school coach that he'd give him a few opportunities at running back. I remember the day Bill came down to my office after Darrin's first practice with the offense. "I found my running back," Bill told me, a huge smile on his face. "It's Darrin Nelson. He ran some plays on offense today for the first time, and nobody on our defense has touched him yet." That season, as a freshman, Darrin did what no player in college football had ever done before. He rushed for 1,000 yards and caught 50 passes. In his first game, he took a screen pass about 60 yards for a touchdown, leaving a half-dozen Colorado tacklers grasping at air. He continued to make people miss all year, leading Stanford to a 9-3 record and a victory over LSU in the Sun Bowl. At the end of the season, when I called the NCAA office to ask if Darrin's accomplishments were unprecedented, they said, "We'll have to get back to you." A few weeks later, they confirmed that no one had ever come close to his production as a runner and receiver in one season. He would end up doing it (1,000 yards/50 catches) three times. During his career, Darrin rushed for over 4,000 yards, scored 40 touchdowns, gained an NCAA record 6,885 all-purpose yards and was named first-team All Pac-10 four times. More importantly, he and Bill Walsh changed the game of football. They introduced the West Coast offense, and Darrin created a new prototype for his position...a running back who was equally dangerous as a runner and receiver. Walsh later utilized Roger Craig the same way on his Super Bowl teams. I hope those of you who have a Hall of Fame vote will join me in casting one for Darrin Nelson. No one is more deserving of this honor.

KFHB GRAD COLIN KAEPERNICK TO LEAD 49ers IN SUPER BOWL XLVII

2013-01-30T00:05:06Z

NEW ORLEANS -- When Colin Kaepernick took over the QB reins for the San Francisco 49ers in mid-November, it wasn't the first time he'd played that position in The City By The Bay.

]]> Less than two years before, Kaepernick directed his Nevada Wolf Pack squad to a 20-13 victory over Boston College in the inaugural Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park. Kaepernick completed 20-of-33 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown as Nevada compiled a program-best 13-1 record.

He didn't know it at the time, but several 49ers personnel executives, including General Manager Trent Baalke, were on hand that night to view "Kaep" in person. Three months later, the 49ers traded up nine spots in the second round of the 2011 NFL draft to select the rifle-armed Wisconsin native who moved at the age of five with his family to Turlock, CA.

Kaepernick, whose stated goal going into this, his second NFL season, was "to just get on the field somehow, some way" instead has become the most riveting NFL story this season.

After incumbent starter Alex Smith suffered a concussion, Kaepernick made his first 49ers start Nov 19 in a Monday Night game at Candlestick against the Chicago Bears. He and the 49ers whipped the Bears 32-7. With Smith still healing, head coach Jim Harbaugh ultimately named Kaepernick the team's starter for the remainder of the season. He finished the regular season with 136 completions in 218 attempts for 1,814 yards and 10 TDs. He also rushed for 415 yards and five more scores.

Kaepernick directed the 49ers to the NFC West title, a first-round bye, a record-setting rushing effort in a win over Green Bay, then a come-from-behind [17-0 deficit] victory at Atlanta to set up Sunday's Super Bowl showdown against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl has a second alumnus on the 49ers roster. He is WR A.J. Jenkins, who last year scored a 60-yard touchdown for Illinois in his team's 20-14 win over UCLA. Jenkins was the Niners' first round draft choice last spring; due to the team's deep receiving corps that includes future Hall-of-Famer Randy Moss and another former first-rounder Michael Crabtree, Jenkins has yet to see significant action.

Kaepernick & Jenkins continue a lengthy list of Super Bowl performers who have played in San Francisco's bowl game. That list includes WR Hank Baskett [New Mexico 2004/Indianapolis Colts 2009], C/G Kyle DeVan [Oregon State 2007/Indianapolis Colts 2009], LB Mark Herzlich [Boston College 2010/New York Giants 2011], DE Mathias Kiwanuka [Boston College 2003/New York Giants 2007, '11], S Chris Reis [Georgia Tech 2005/New Orleans Saints 2009], WR Matthew Slater [UCLA 2006/New England Patriots 2007, '11], G Chris Snee [Boston College 2003/New York Giants 2007, '11], LB Lawrence Timmons [Florida State 2006/Pittsburgh Steelers 2008, '10] and RB Shane Vereen [California 2008/New England Patriots 2011].

TEAMS RAISING AWARENESS

2012-12-26T17:46:37Z

The Navy Midshipmen and the Arizona State Sun Devils experienced a unique Christmas morning this year.]]>

The two teams embraced the spirit of the bowl game by visiting food banks in San Francisco to help serve Christmas meals. The Navy Midshipmen visited St. Anthony Foundation while the Arizona State Sun Devils were at Glide Memorial Church.

The Midshipmen were kept busy by the amazing folks at St. Anthony's. They served hot chocolate to guests as they waited in line, passed out boxed up meals, prepared food on the line, wiped down tables, passed out meals in the dining hall, and even handed out Christmas gifts to guests as they were leaving. It was clear that the players and coaches were truly enjoying the experience as they were striking up conversations with guests and continually interacting with smiles on their faces! The cold, rainy weather did not stop the Midshipmen from serving more than 4,000 meals on Christmas.

(The Midshipmen pouring hot chocolate for guests in line)

Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo was thrilled with the experience. He said, "This was without a doubt the best bowl event we have ever been a part of." He went on to say, "It was very humbling to have the opportunity to be here and I know it's something I want our team to do every year from here on out. It was an eye-opening experience for a lot of our players and having the opportunity to take part in what St. Anthony's does on a daily basis is really what Christmas is all about."

(Navy players on the line preparing food for the guests at St. Anthony's)

The Sun Devils had an equally exciting morning over at Glide Memorial. Head Coach Todd Graham and his players helped prepare food, pass out meals, bus tables, and engage in active conversation with so many guests. Over 5,000 meals were passed out and the players were truly touched by the experience. Right Tackle Billy McGehee said, "It just helps me realize how blessed I am and just how thankful I am that I'm able to come out here and help serve others and help those who are less fortunate."

(Arizona State players preparing meals for the guests at Glide Memorial)

The team even had the opportunity to meet Glide's founders, Reverend Cecil Williams and Janice Mirikitani. Revered Williams gave the the Sun Devils a very warm welcome and preached that no matter what uniform you where, it's teamwork that brings volunteers together to do such amazing work.

(The Sun Devils bussing tables at Glide Memorial)

Visiting St. Anthony Foundation and Glide Memorial Church is a unique aspect of the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. By volunteering, both teams not only helped raise hunger awareness, but gained a newfound knowledge, appreciation, and a new perspective. Although it was a nontraditional way to spend Christmas morning, it was a fun, eye-opening experience that most of these players will never forget!

For every bowl game ticket purchased, the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl donates one meal to the San Francisco Food Bank, St. Anthony Foundation, and Glide Memorial Church.

MEDIA TOUR

2012-12-17T11:00:00Z

Last week Coach Ken Niumataolo of Navy and Coach Todd Graham of Arizona State spent a day at various Bay Area Media outlets. ]]>

(Coach Graham and Coach Niumataolo with Tom Tolbert on KNBR)

Arizona State and Navy will square off in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl on December 29, 2012. These two coaches were busy last Wednesday as they made a total of six stops to offer their opinions on the bowl game. They were very excited to be bringing their teams to San Francisco and we can't wait to welcome them in just over a week!

(Coach Graham and Coach Niumataolo with Ron Barr on Sports Byline USA)

Their stops included the San Francisco Chronicle, Bay Area News Group, San Francisco Examiner, KGO-TV, Sports Byline USA, Pac-12 Network, KNBR, and Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

(Coach Graham and Coach Niumataolo making their stop at the Pac-12 Network)

We are extremely privileged to have two outstanding coaches and two quality programs participating in our game. It is sure to not only be an exciting matchup, but a fun-filled week!

GAMES TO WATCH -- 12.29.12

2012-12-03T21:10:08Z

NAVY [7-4, Independent] vs ARIZONA STATE [7-5, 5-4 Pac-12]
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It is set for Saturday, December 29th, at AT&T Park, home of the World Series champion San Francisco Giants. Kickoff is 1:00 p.m. [PST]/4:00 p.m. [EST].

The game will feature a contrast in styles, as Navy unleashes its powerful ground game [6th nationally] against the rugged Sun Devils aggressive, punishing defense.

Navy returns to postseason play for the 18th time in its history, returning after a 1-year absence. The Mids have gone to bowl games nine times in the last 10 years. Arizona State is playing in its 26th bowl game, its first under new head coach Todd Graham.

Navy began its season 1-3, but reached bowl eligibility on the strength of a 5-game, midseason winning streak. Arizona State survived a late-season skid to earn wins in its final two games, first over Washington State and then a come-from-behind 24-point 4th quarter that enabled ASU to defeat cross-state archrival Arizona.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE #18

2012-12-03T02:28:30Z

Dear Friends of the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: I'm pleased to announce that we have selected the Arizona State Sun Devils to play the U.S. Naval Academy in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl on Dec. 29 at AT&T Park. We're very excited about what promises to be an intriguing matchup between two high-scoring, high-profile programs meeting for the first time.

ASU comes to San Francisco with a 7-5 record, 5-4 in Pac-12 play, under first-year coach Todd Graham. The Sun Devils ended the season with a come-from-behind 41-34 triumph over arch-rival Arizona. Navy has won six of its last seven games and is 7-4 with one game to play, the Dec. 8 Army-Navy clash in Philadelphia. This will be ASU's 26th bowl appearance and Navy's 18th. Navy played in our game in 2004, when it was known as the Emerald Bowl, beating New Mexico 34-19. This will be ASU's first appearance here.

The game will match two exciting quarterbacks--ASU's Taylor Kelly and Navy's Keenan Reynolds. Kelly has passed for over 2700 yards and 25 TDs this year. Reynolds, a true freshman, has accounted for almost 1400 yards in total offense and 17 TDs since taking over as the starter six games ago. Both teams have stout defenses. ASU's is spearheaded by defensive tackle Will Sutton, the Pac-12's Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year. Sutton's award is especially meaningful in that it is named after the late Sun Devil linebacker killed in action in Afghanistan while serving for the U.S. Army. Navy's defense, which came on strong in the second half of the season, is led by linebacker Keegan Wetzel.

I should note that when it came time to make our Pac-12 selection, we had two very attractive options--Arizona State and Arizona. The choice was extremely difficult, as we have great respect for both programs. As we researched and evaluated our potential teams, I was very impressed with Athletic Directors Steve Patterson (ASU) and Greg Byrne (Arizona), head coaches (Todd Graham and Rich Rodriguez), and passionate fans and alumni from both schools. We received a torrent of thoughtful emails and calls (including some from celebrity athletes) on behalf of each team. While it was gratifying and showed how far our game has come, it made the choice even more difficult. In the final analysis, ASU won it on the field, and we felt that in a very close call, that should be the deciding factor. And we felt that ASU's victory in the Territorial Cup would translate into more fans eager to support their team in San Francisco on Dec. 29.

Thanks to all of you for your encouragement as we went through the selection process. I am particularly grateful for the support and advice of Board chairman Jack Boland and Vice-chairman Tom Hansen. We ended up in a very good place. Game day is only 27 days away, and we anticipate a terrific bowl week and an exciting game with two quality participants.

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THE U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY SITE VISIT

2012-11-30T03:01:17Z

On Monday, November 26th, the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl welcomed members from the United States Naval Academy Athletic Department to San Francisco for their site visit. There was so much to do in so little time! ]]>
Our first stop was AT&T Park, home of the 2012 World Series Champion San Francisco Giants and the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. The Giants staff was extremely hospitable and gave our guests a very detailed tour of the locker room, playing field, and Club and Suite levels as well as various other sites throughout the stadium.

(We had the opportunity to see the Giants staff begin to convert the field from the baseball diamond to the football field!)

Our next stop was The Westin St. Francis in downtown San Francisco. They will be hosting the Navy football team during bowl week. Our guests had the opportunity to tour the guest rooms, suites, and conference rooms. They also made sure to hammer down many logistical details. The Westin St. Francis will provide Navy with beautiful rooms, great amenities, and a perfect location for the players to explore downtown!

(The Westin St. Francis is currently showcasing a beautiful castle and Christmas tree in their lobby!)

The last stop was Laney College in Oakland, CA. Navy had the opportunity to tour the brand new facilities at Laney, which the team will be using as their practice facilities during bowl week. The new facilities are top of the line, and everything the Mids will need to get ready for the TBA Pac-12 opponent! The only problem....only one washing machine =) Luckily there is a brand new laundromat just down the road. It comes complete with granite counters, flat screen TVS, and stainless steel machines. I think I know where I'll be going next time I need to do some laundry...

(A picture of the awesome laundry facilities Navy will be using!)

Bowl week will be here before we know it, and we couldn't be more excited. We are so lucky to not only have a great participant in Navy, but to have wonderful partners who have been so accommodating to our guests! Be sure to check in with us next week as we are preparing for the arrival of our Pac-12 participant for their site visit!

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE #17

2012-11-29T00:00:28Z

Dear Friends of the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl,

Selection Sunday is only four days away, which means that people in the bowl business are busy burning up the phone lines and exchanging texts and emails with conference officials, athletic directors, and TV executives throughout the country. For bowls that have a number of teams to consider, some gentle (and not so gentle) lobbying is taking place. Bowl directors are receiving phone calls from head coaches, promotional packages and videos from athletic directors, and a barrage of emails from fans and alumni urging that their school be selected. As Sunday draws closer, the pressure intensifies and the lines of communication heat up even more.

Last weekend's results clarified a few things in the Pac-12 picture. Stanford defeated UCLA to claim the Northern Division title and now will host those same Bruins Friday night in the Pac-12 Championship game in Palo Alto. At stake is a berth in the Rose Bowl against the Big Ten champion (Nebraska or Wisconsin). Oregon beat Oregon State to improve to 11-1 and may have earned a spot in the Fiesta Bowl. Most pundits expect the loser of the conference championship game and OSU (8-3) to be invited to the Alamo and Holiday Bowls, leaving four teams with 7-5 records (USC, Washington, Arizona State and Arizona) to fill the Sun, Las Vegas, Kraft Fight Hunger and New Mexico Bowls.

I attended last Friday's Territorial Cup matchup in Tucson. The game had the usual ebbs and flows of a rivalry game, with both teams looking to be in control at various times. With Arizona ahead 27-20 midway through the fourth quarter and driving for what appeared to be the game-clinching touchdown, a fumble recovery and blocked punt turned the game in Arizona State's favor. The Sun Devils prevailed, 41-34.

So, what does all this mean for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl? Or, as everyone has been asking me for the last couple of weeks, "who's going to be in your game?" On one side we are proud to have the U.S. Naval Academy, a team that has won six of its last seven games and will take a 7-4 record into the Army-Navy game on Dec. 8. On the other side, we have the Pac-12's No. 6 selection. If, as expected, two Pac-12 teams "move up" to BCS bowls, two teams will be available to us.

At this point, although things could change, it appears those two teams are most likely to be Arizona and Arizona State. If that is the case, we'd be honored to be able to select either team, and the choice will be difficult. Both have 7-5 records, some quality wins, and a number of high-profile players. Arizona has an explosive offense, the nation's leading rusher in Ka'Deem Carey and the All Pac-12 second team quarterback in Matt Scott. ASU has the Pac-12 defensive player of the year in Will Sutton, an under-rated quarterback in Taylor Kelly, and a trio of good running backs.

Some of our selection criteria will include: "Are they interesting or fun to watch? Do they travel well? Will they bring a lot of fans from their home market? Do they have a big alumni base in the Bay Area? Will they attract a large TV audience? Are there any media tie-ins or sponsor tie-ins that may help the bowl? Will they bring their marching band and perform at halftime?" A lot of research--already underway--will be done in a very short time.

Stay tuned. We will announce Navy's opponent on Sunday afternoon.

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GAMES TO WATCH -- WEEK 14

2012-11-25T01:17:35Z

Watch this space. We'll have a complete look at the upcoming Pac-12 title game next Friday at Stanford Stadium. With Oregon and Stanford both winning last Saturday, the Cardinal hosts the Bruins on Friday, November 30 with a 5 p.m. kickoff. The game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports beginning at 5 p.m. [Pacific]/8 p.m. [Eastern]. UCLA & Stanford will meet for the second time in six days; Stanford defeated UCLA 35-17 this past weekend.

The known Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl representative, Navy, meets Army on December 9 at Century Link Field in Philadelphia, PA. The Midshipmen are currently 7-4 in the regular season. A win over Army gives Navy the Commander-in-Chief's trophy.

Navy's Pac-12 opponent will be known this coming Sunday.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE #16

2012-11-21T02:16:19Z

Dear Friends of the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: Today is an exciting, historic day for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. ]]> This afternoon we announced that, commencing in 2014, our game will be played in the new San Francisco 49ers stadium in Santa Clara. The state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to be completed in August of '14, four months before the Bowl. It will seat 68,500 and offer unprecedented technology and fan amenities.

We believe this move will give us the ability to take the game to the next level. The college football landscape has changed dramatically in recent months, with the advent of playoffs and seemingly non-stop conference realignment. This beautiful venue--and the increased seating capacity and revenue potential it provides--will help us attract better teams, secure additional sponsorship, and grow the game. Our teams will have the chance to play in a world-class NFL stadium that in all likelihood will host the Super Bowl, and our fans will have the chance to enjoy all the whistles and bells of a true, premier football facility. That combination will make our Bowl a more desirable destination for college football teams throughout the country and fans throughout the Bay Area. It is, as they say, a real game-changer.

We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the San Francisco Giants, who've been great hosts to us at AT&T Park since the game's inception. The Giants, led by Bowl co-founder and current Board member Pat Gallagher, helped launch the game. With their support, it has grown and prospered. We wouldn't be in a position to make this move without their help. I want to thank Larry Baer and Stephen Revetria for their understanding and support as we went through the process of evaluating and determining our future plans. The Giants will always be a part of this Bowl, and we will honor their contribution in an appropriate manner going forward.

I also want to recognize our Board of Directors chairman Jack Boland and strategic planning committee members Tom Hansen (chair), Jim Woolwine, Tyrone Willingham, Craig Morton and Bob Moore for their wisdom and counsel.

Finally, I want to thank 49ers Chief Operating Officer Paraag Marathe and Director of Football Administration Brian Hampton for working with me to craft an agreement that represents a true partnership between the Santa Clara Stadium Authority and the Bowl.

Last week: Stanford and Baylor, the teams that boasted the top two players in college football last year (Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III), created havoc by knocking off the top two teams in the BCS standings on Saturday. The three-touchdown underdog Cardinal beat Oregon, 17-14, in overtime, while Baylor smashed Kansas State, 52-24. As a result, unbeaten Notre Dame ascended to No. 1 in both the human and computer polls.

Here at the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, the news continued to be very promising. Navy defeated Texas State, 21-10, to claim its seventh win of the year. The victory was particularly impressive from a defensive standpoint, as this was the same Texas State team that had scored 55 points against then No. 20 ranked Louisiana Tech a week earlier. The Midshipmen, now 7-4, hope to claim their eighth victory and the Commander in Chief's Trophy by winning the Army-Navy game on Dec. 8.

The news was also positive in the Pac-12, where Arizona State beat Washington State to become the league's eighth bowl-eligible team, and both Arizona and Washington won their seventh game of the year. The Wildcats beat Utah 34-24 and the Huskies thumped Colorado 38-3. The conference now has seven teams with seven or more wins--Oregon (10-1), Stanford and UCLA (both 9-2), Oregon State (8-2), and Arizona, Washington and USC (all 7-4). This means that we will be able to select a Pac-12 team with at least seven wins, creating a very attractive matchup with Navy.

This week: Lots of important games in the Pac-12. Stanford meets UCLA in the Rose Bowl, needing a win to clinch the Northern Division title. Since the Bruins already have won the Southern Division, the two teams could meet again in the Pac-12 Championship game on Nov. 30. Oregon State hosts Oregon in Corvallis in another game that could impact the league championship. If Stanford loses to UCLA and Oregon beats OSU, the Ducks win the division. If Stanford and Oregon both win or lose, creating a tie in the standings, the Cardinal would be the division champ in either scenario based on head-to-head wins over the Ducks and Beavers.

At this point, depending on whether two Pac-12 teams move up to BCS bowls, we will have a choice between two or three teams. The teams most likely to be in our selection pool are Arizona, Washington, and Arizona State, although there is a chance that USC or Oregon State might be available. I will attend the Arizona State-Arizona game in Tucson Friday night. We'll also be following the Washington-Washington State game in Pullman very closely, as well as Oregon at Oregon State and Notre Dame at USC.

Selections will be made on the afternoon of Sunday, Dec. 2, after the conference championship games are played on Friday night and Saturday afternoon, and the BCS bowls make their picks Sunday morning. As we're reminded seemingly every weekend, a lot could change between now and then.

Happy Thanksgiving!

ST. ANTHONY FREE CLOTHING PROGRAM DONATION

2012-11-19T05:01:19Z

Although the college football season has brought us much excitement thus far, we have been extremely active off the field as well!
]]> Our merchandiser, IMS, recently donated un-used merchandise from last year's game to St. Anthony's, one of the Bowl's local partners. St. Anthony's Free Clothing Program is San Francisco's largest free clothing program, and provides like-new clothing to 29,000 men, women, and children each year. Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl hoodies, long sleeve shirts, t-shirts and more were given out on St. Anthony's Veterans Day and World Diabetes Day last week.

Last Tuesday, Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl staff and committee members volunteered in the St. Anthony's Dining Room and we met Duke, a vet from Illinois. He was proudly wearing his Fighting Illini shirt from the 2011 game that he received from the Free Clothing Program over the weekend!

For information on how you can get involved in St. Anthony's Free Clothing program, please click here.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE # 15

2012-11-16T02:24:07Z

Dear Friends of the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl,

It's mid-November. Crunch time in the bowl business. ]]>

Along those lines, Assistant Executive Director Ryan Oppelt and Director of Communications Doug Kelly spent yesterday in Los Angeles attending the Pac-12 Conference's annual bowl operations meeting. Ryan and Doug met with football ops personnel from all the potential bowl-eligible teams in the league, reviewing our team manual and going over the game week schedule for the 2012 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. With seven Pac-12 teams already eligible for post-season play, and another two hoping to qualify, there was a lot of table hopping going on.

Team Selection: We are now assured of a quality team on both sides of our matchup. As you know, Navy became bowl eligible with its sixth win on Nov. 3 and we immediately issued an invitation for them to play in our game. The Midshipmen are now 6-4 with remaining games against Texas State at home this Saturday and Army in Philadelphia on Dec. 8. On the other side of the equation, we have the No. 6 pick in the Pac-12. With Arizona (6-4) and Washington (6-4) both becoming bowl eligible last weekend, the conference has seven eligible teams, so we are assured of a Pac-12 representative even if two are selected for BCS bowls. Most prognosticators believe Washington or Arizona will be coming to San Francisco, and we'd be very happy with either of those teams. But there is still a lot of football to be played, and a few of the pundits have pegged Stanford or Oregon State for our bowl.

This Week: There are two matchups of national significance in the Pac-12 this week. No. 16 UCLA hosts No. 21 USC in a game that will decide the Pac-12 Southern Division championship, while unbeaten Oregon, ranked No. 1 by AP and No. 2 in the BCS, entertains No. 13 Stanford. If the Ducks win, they'll clinch the Northern Division title and perhaps impress the computers enough to jump to No. 1 in the BCS standings. In other games with post-season implications, Arizona (at Utah) and Washington (at Colorado) hope to move up in the pecking order, while Arizona State (5-5) tries to become bowl eligible at Washington State. The Utes (4-6) also still harbor bowl aspirations.

Off the field: As the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl has grown and expanded, so has our roster of game sponsors. We've previously noted our great title sponsor, Kraft Foods, and our restaurant, hotel, and ground transportation partners. We've been fortunate enough to have a number of key corporate sponsors who've been instrumental in the game's development. These include: Northern California Honda Dealers, Wells Fargo Bank, Macy's, Allstate Insurance, AT&T Yellow Pages, KGO-TV, San Francisco Travel, Applied Materials, AAA Flag & Banner and BART. Our sincere thanks to Bill Brenner of Honda and Jack Boland of Baker Street Advertising (Honda's agency), Mike Belleci, Alec Hughes and Herb Myers of Wells Fargo, Louis Meunier and Joy Deinla at Macy's, Bill Barbera at Van Wagner/Dorna (Allstate), Shiva Pakdel at Yellow Pages, Lynn Bruni and Matt Stiker at SF Travel, Todd Farber and William Patterson at KGO, Craig Furst and Ron Grant at AAA and Doug Bartlett and Rebecca Wright of BART. I'd also like to welcome the newest member of the Bowl sponsorship family, RBC Wealth Management, and thank Chuck Evans for his support.

GAMES TO WATCH -- WEEK 12

2012-11-12T21:19:47Z

ARIZONA [6-4, 3-4 Pac-12] @ UTAH [4-6, 2-5 Pac-12] -- Wildcats achieved Bowl eligibility last Saturday, now look to rise in pecking order over next two weeks.
]]> RB KA'DEEM CAREY [224-1,381-18 TD] leads Pac-12 in rushing following record-setting 366-yard day last week @ Colorado. Senior QB MATT SCOTT [242-386-2,848-20 TD-9 INT] is top Pac-12 passer, but missed last week's contest due to injury suffered week before in loss to UCLA. His Utah counterpart is freshman TRAVIS WILSON [87-139-872-4 TD-6 INT]; senior RB JOHN WHITE [171-761-7 TD] leads Utah in rushing and ranks 6th overall in Pac-12. Scott's top target is soph WR AUSTIN HILL [62-1,023-7 TD]; Hill is 2nd among Pac-12 pass-catchers, trailing only USC's Marqise Lee [98]. The Series: 37th meeting in series that began in 1924. Utah has won 19 times to 15 for Arizona with 2 ties. Last Meeting: 2011, Utah 34, Arizona 21 @ Tucson, AZ. Remaining: Arizona -- vs Arizona State [Nov 23]; Utah -- @ Colorado [Nov 23]. Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. PST/10:00 p.m. EST. TV: Pac-12 Networks [regional cable].

WASHINGTON [6-4, 4-3 Pac-12] @ COLORADO [1-9, 1-6 Pac-12] -- Huskies achieved Bowl eligibility with resounding win over Utah; now seek to avoid 'trap game' letdown against Buffaloes prior to Apple Cup assignment, also on road, @ Washington State. Huskies own Pac-12's 2nd-best pass defense [186.6 yards/game] and have allowed just 14 passing TDs in 10 games. Freshman RB CHRISTIAN POWELL [141-625-7 TD] has been Colorado bright spot in otherwise difficult campaign, and will be on of several Buffs building blocks for future. Washington relies on soph RB BISHOP SANKEY [212-1,017-13 TD] for most of its rush load. Junior JORDAN WEBB [138-249-1,401-8 TD-8 INT] directs CU offense. The Series: 13th meeting in series that began in 1915. Washington has won 6 times to 5 for Colorado with 1 tie. Last Meeting: 2011, Washington 52, Colorado 24 @ Seattle, WA. Remaining: Washington -- @ Washington State [Nov 23]; Colorado -- Utah [Nov 23]. Kickoff: 10:30 a.m. PST/1:30 p.m. EST. TV: FX [national cable].

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR UPDATE #14

2012-11-07T23:01:31Z

Dear Friends of the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl: November is normally a time of high anxiety in the bowl business. ]]>

It's a time when staff members and volunteers travel throughout the country to "scout" potential teams. A time when bowl directors plot possible matchups and various "what if" scenarios. A time when conference officials and athletic directors begin to lobby for their teams and make plans for prospective post-season trips.

It's also a time when important games are being played that affect national rankings and bowl matchups...games played by 20-year olds that can be decided by a pass interference call, blown extra point, or inopportune holding penalty. It's really a great time of year if you love college football. For those of us in the business, it's a time that gets your blood pumping, your adrenaline flowing, and your hairline receding.

Fortunately for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, our level of anxiety is quite a bit lower this year, thanks to the resurgence of Navy football and the qualify of teams in the Pac-12 Conference. As noted in my previous update, Navy won its bowl-eligibility-clinching sixth game last Saturday and we immediately invited the Midshipmen to play in this year's game. So with four weeks left in the season, one half of our matchup is already set. After five consecutive victories, Navy is now 6-3 with games remaining at Troy this Saturday, against Texas State at home on Nov. 17, and against Army in Philadelphia on Dec. 8.

Pac-12: Things are shaping up nicely for us in the Pac-12 as well. Last weekend's action was highlighted by Oregon's 62-51 win over USC, in which the Ducks racked up 730 yards of total offense, and UCLA's stunning 66-10 rout of Arizona. In other important games, Washington edged Cal 20-13 and Oregon State outlasted Arizona State, 36-26. I scouted the UCLA-Arizona game and asst. executive director Ryan Oppelt attended both Cal-Washington and OSU-ASU.

As you know, we have the sixth pick in the conference this year. Five teams are currently bowl eligible and ranked in the AP Top 25--No. 2 Oregon (9-0), No. 13 Oregon State (7-1), No. 16 Stanford (7-2), No. 17 UCLA (7-2) and No. 21 USC (6-3). Three teams are one win away, as Arizona, Arizona State and Washington all have 5-4 records. Since Arizona and ASU play each other, at least one is guaranteed to get eligible, and both have a remaining home game in which they will be favored (Arizona against Colorado this Saturday and ASU against Washington State next week). Utah has won two straight and, at 4-5, also has a legitimate shot at post-season play. So it appears likely that the conference will have seven or eight (or perhaps even nine) teams in the bowl mix.

This week: Navy hopes to extend its winning streak to six straight on the road at Troy, a team that scored 48 points last week at Tennessee. In the Pac-12, the marquee game features two Rose Bowl hopefuls--Oregon State at Stanford. Other games with bowl implications include the aforementioned Arizona-Colorado contest, plus Utah at Washington and Arizona State at USC.

Crystal Ball: Here are the latest prognostications regarding our bowl.

ESPN (Schlabach): Navy vs. Arizona

ESPN (Edwards): Navy vs. Arizona

Huffington Post: Navy vs. Washington

SI (Mandel): Navy vs. Arizona

National Football Post: Navy vs. Washington

CBS Sports: Navy vs. Arizona

Phil Steele: Navy vs. Arizona State

College Football News: Navy vs. Arizona State

USA Today (Myerberg): Navy vs. Arizona

USA Today (Smith): Navy vs. Washington

Off the Field: The entire Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl family was greatly saddened last week with the passing of our colleague and good friend, Gary Fazzino. Gary had been a member of our Board of Directors for the past six years. He was a terrific Board member and a tremendous supporter of the game. More importantly, he was a great man, community leader, husband and father. A former mayor of Palo Alto, he had served for many years as Vice-President for Government Affairs at Hewlett-Packard and for the past few years held the same position at Applied Materials. He will be sorely missed by his wife, Annette, twins Matthew and Julia, and all who were fortunate enough to know him.