 The 2007 edition of the Motor City Bowl has been set and will feature a rematch between the Purdue Boilermakers (7-5) of the Big Ten and the two-time defending champions of the Mid-American Conference, the Central Michigan Chippewas (8-5), on December 26 at Ford Field in Detroit.
The two teams met previously this season on September 15 in West Lafayette in a 45-22 victory for the Boilermakers that featured 1,048 yards of combined offense as both quarterback Dan LeFevour of Central Michigan and Curtis Painter of Purdue each tossed three touchdown passes in the contest. Purdue rolled to a 31-0 halftime lead in the previous meeting before Central Michigan stormed back with 22 straight second-half points.
The Chippewas are making their second straight appearance in the Motor City Bowl after defeating Middle Tennessee State 31-14 last year before a Motor City Bowl record crowd of 54,113.
Purdue will be making its first appearance in the Motor City Bowl and becomes only the second Big Ten team to participate in the annual bowl game at Detroit's Ford Field. Northwestern represented the Big Ten in the 2002 contest, dropping a 28-24 decision to Bowling Green.
"We're very happy to welcome the Purdue Boilermakers to the Motor City Bowl," said Motor City Bowl Executive Director Ken Hoffman. "Purdue has a rich football tradition and is one of the Big Ten's perennial powers. This year, with the MAC Champion and a Big Ten opponent, we have the makings of one of the best matchups in our 11-year history."
The Boilermakers will be looking to snap a three-game bowl losing streak, including last year's 24-7 loss to Maryland in the Champs Sports Bowl. Purdue's last win in a bowl game was in the 2002 Sun Bowl when the Boilermakers downed Washington 34-24.
Central Michigan will seek to become the first repeat Motor City Bowl champion since Marshall won in back-to-back fashion in 1999 and 2000.
|
