Proposed Congressional Bowl in DC signs Navy, ACC

Bill Wagner

The proposed Congressional Bowl took a major step toward becoming a reality on Monday when it signed an agreement with the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Sean Metcalf, co-founder of the District of Columbia Bowl Commission, confirmed today that he has nailed down a deal to have the ACC fill a slot for the annual bowl. Plans call for a service academy to fill the other slot with the Naval Academy having already signed a contract to appear in the inaugural Congressional Bowl in 2008. Metcalf is close to signing an agreement with Army and also would like to get Air Force involved.
“I am extremely pleased the ACC has agreed to become involved with the Congressional Bowl. It was really the last piece of the puzzle,” Metcalf said.
News of the ACC’s commitment enabled ESPN to sign an agreement to televise the fledgling bowl, which is slated to be held on Dec. 20 at either RFK Stadium or the new Nationals Park. Metcalf said the D.C. Bowl Commission can now move forward with filing an application with the NCAA for certification as a postseason contest.
The NCAA requires prospective bowls to have guaranteed opponents, a TV contract, venue and a letter of credit. Metcalf said all those elements are in place, including documents proving the proposed Congressional Bowl can meet its mandate of paying $1 million to each participating school.

The Maryland Stadium Authority had been discussing having a bowl game at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore but since nothing has been heard on that lately, I’d assume this DC deal would effectively kill any chance of Baltimore getting a bowl game for the immediate future, especially with Navy in the picture for the Congressional Bowl.

I really don’t see the bowl game being that successful in DC in RFK or the Nationals’ stadium. All it will be for an ACC team is a shorter trip than going all the way to Boise for a crappy bowl, but still a crappy bowl nevertheless. RFK was a total dump the last time I was there and I really don’t like the way San Francisco and Phoenix have tried to shoehorn bowl games into baseball facilities. Perhaps if RFK is ever demolished and replaced by a new retractable-roof stadium for the Redskins (and the Super Bowl) then a bowl might work there. Otherwise, who would want to go play a bowl game in Baltimore or Washington on December 20?

The MSA needs to keep working to bring games like Army-Navy, Navy-Notre Dame and other games to Baltimore. Maybe even a “classic” game for two HBCUs would be a good shot in the arm for the economy and a full M&T Stadium. The AST Dew Tour is returning to the stadium complex this year and a Kenny Chesney concert will also be there. I seem to remember Maryland-Navy and another Maryland game taking place there as well, and some Maryland games there would be good as well. I remember a lot of big Clemson-Maryland games that were played at Memorial Stadium back in the 80s.

Regardless, this new Congressional Bowl isn’t exactly one that thrills me about its prospects. Fedex Field or M&T Stadium would both be better venues than RFK or the new Nats stadium.

Previous coverage:
Washington Post (11/07)
Navy Times 12/07