KRAFT FIGHT HUNGER BOWL
ACC, Pac-10 Clash Again In Prime Time Matchup

Newly christened the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, San Francisco's college football postseason game finds itself in its most enviable position ever.

Title-sponsored by Kraft Foods Inc., the world's second-leading food producer, this year's contest will feature teams from the Pacific-10 Conference and Western Athletic Conference.

In addition, the upcoming matchup, to be played Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, at AT&T Park, will serve as the centerpiece of Kraft's nationwide "Huddle to Fight Hunger" campaign, in which Kraft teams up with Feeding America and football to fight hunger across America.

For the fourth straight year, ESPN will carry the game nationally in prime time with a 6 p.m. (PST) kickoff.

Last year's game, featuring USC and Boston College, is the third-most-watched college football bowl game ever on ESPN. The Trojans defeated the Eagles 24-13 in front of the third sellout in the last four years.

Gary Cavalli is the game's co-founder and the only executive director in its eight-year history.

"We are proud and excited to partner with Kraft Foods as our title sponsor, one of the most well-known and highly respected companies in the world," Cavalli said.

"Our new agreement ensures that we have a bright future," Cavalli added. "With the distinction of being the only bowl focused on a meaningful social cause, we will continue to build the game and take it to the next level."

The game's ascending track of both attendance and television records started with the breakthrough 2006 game, when UCLA and Florida State met on the gridiron for the first time. The sellout game attracted 40,331 spectators and earned a 4.5 TV rating.

The 2008 game featured hometown California and nationally recognized Miami. A standing-room-only crowd of 42,268 filled AT&T Park, producing the game's second sellout in three years. With over 4.5 million households tuned in, the Cal-Miami game was the eighth-most-watched bowl game in ESPN history.

Following a four-year run with teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference against Pac-10 opposition, the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl will maintain the coveted Pac-10 affiliation over the next four seasons.

"Having the Pac-10 as our anchor conference has helped establish the game in prior years and will now serve to heighten the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl's stature and visibility on a national scale," Cavalli said. "This combination of opponents provides a perfect blend of local and national appeal, top-notch football and pageantry."

Known as the Diamond Walnut San Francisco Bowl its first two years, the inaugural game was played Dec. 31, 2002, and featured Virginia Tech, then of the Big East and now of the ACC, and the Air Force Academy from the Mountain West. The Hokies rallied for a 20-13 victory.

Boston College and Colorado State met in the second contest, with BC taking a 35-21 decision. In the 2004 game, renamed the Emerald Bowl, the U.S. Naval Academy marched into the City by the Bay and ground out a 34-19 victory over New Mexico.

In 2005, Utah became the fourth Mountain West team to compete and the first to emerge victorious, with a 38-10 romp over Georgia Tech. Florida State, coached by the legendary Bobby Bowden, defeated UCLA 44-27 in the 2006 contest, and Oregon State edged Maryland 21-14 in '07.

The events that will lead up to the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl are as anticipated as the game itself. Visiting Alcatraz and boating underneath the Golden Gate Bridge; a first-class Kickoff Luncheon at the historic Westin St. Francis Hotel; a rally in scenic Union Square, all provide for an incredible week of lifetime memories for players, coaches, fans and bowl officials.