The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-American game. Due to its distinction as "Military City USA" the bowl is held annually in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings together 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the bowl game, there is the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, which comprises 125 of the nation’s top high school marching musicians who perform during halftime of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. The game enjoys a worldwide audience thanks to broadcast partner NBC, and more than 40,000 in attendance every year.
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl was first played on December 30, 1985, in Highlander Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Since 2002, however, the game has been played in San Antonio. Notable alumni include: Andrew Luck, Jamaal Charles, Patrick Peterson, Adrian Peterson, Odell Beckham Jr., Eric Berry, Tim Tebow, Joe Thomas, Tyron Smith, Robert Quinn, C.J. Mosley and DeMarco Murray. Thirty-six U.S. Army All-Americans were selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, and as of the 2015 NFL Draft there have been 299 alumni drafted.
Since the game's inception, attendance has risen from 6,300 for the inaugural game in 1985 to 40,133 in 2013.
Awards
During U.S. Army All-American Bowl Week, a number of national awards are given out at a formal awards dinner, which include:
- Ken Hall Trophy: Presented to the U.S. Army Player of the Year: High school football's highest honor, awarded to the nation's best high school football player. This award is named after Ken "Sugarland Express" Hall, once the all-time leading rusher in high-school football history for more than five decades. The trophy is cast in the likeness of Ken Hall in his 1950s football uniform.
- Bill Yoast Trophy: Presented to the National H.S. Coach of the Year: Awarded to the nation's top high school coach.
- Glenn Davis Army Award (West) and Doc Blanchard (East) Awards: Recognizes an East and West player who best epitomizes the Army's high standard of excellence in community service, education, and athletic distinction.
- Anthony Muñoz Lineman of the Year Award: Awarded to the nation's best high school offensive lineman or defensive lineman.
Following the conclusion of the game on Saturday afternoon, the following awards are given out:
- Herman Boone Trophy: Awarded annually to the winning team.
- Pete Dawkins MVP Trophy Awarded annually to the game's most valuable player.
- National Coach of the Year: Award honors the nation’s top high school football coach for exceptional coaching abilities and leadership skills, as well as acknowledging his role as a positive influence to young Americans on and off the field.
Selection process
U.S. Army All-American Bowl football players are chosen by a selection committee made up of game-producer All American Games and 247Sports.com.
Game records
Facts
- There are currently more than 200 former U.S. Army All-Americans in the NFL today, including 73 total first-round picks, one first overall pick (Andrew Luck) and four second overall picks.
- At all times, more than 400 active NCAA Division-I football student-athletes were U.S. Army All-Americans.
- Seven U.S. Army All-Americans were selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, including 36 selected overall.
- A record 37 alumni were selected in 2010 NFL Draft.
- To-date, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl has produced 131 Division-I First-Team All-Americans.
- To date, Andrew Luck, Ndamukong Suh, Chris Long, Reggie Bush, and Greg Robinson have been the highest drafted alumni in the NFL Draft. Luck was the first overall selection in 2012. Bush, Long, Suh, and Robinson were second overall selections.
- Minnesota Vikings running back and 2004 U.S. Army All-American Adrian Peterson is the first alumnus of the high school All-American games to win the NFL's MVP award.
- To-date, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl has produced 31 Super Bowl Champions, including: Percy Harvin, Jermaine Kearse, Haloti Ngata, Michael Oher, Justin Tucker, Michael Clayton, Kenny Phillips, Reggie Bush, DeMario Pressley, Steve Smith, and Marlin Jackson.
- To-date, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl has produced 95 Pro Bowl selections, and 19 BCS Bowl MVPs.
- The all-time leading scorers in Bowl history are fullback Brian Toal, running back Chris Wells, quarterback Tajh Boyd, and running back Royce Freeman, who each scored three touchdowns in the 2004, 2006, 2009, and 2014 game, respectively. Toal, Wells, and Freeman scored each of their three on the ground, while Boyd threw his.
- On September 13, 2009, the Jets' Nick Mangold and Mark Sanchez became the first center-quarterback tandem to have played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and then start in the NFL for the same team.
- The first underclassman to ever win the Heisman trophy was U.S. Army All-American Tim Tebow in 2007.
- Nine U.S. Army All-American Bowl alumni have won NFL Rookie of the Year Awards: Vince Young won the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2006 and Adrian Peterson won the offensive honor in 2007. In 2009, Bowl alumni Percy Harvin (offensive) and Brian Cushing (defensive) won both NFL Rookie of the Year Awards. In 2010, Bowl alumni Ndamukong Suh won the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. In 2013, defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and wide receiver Keenan Allen won a Rookie of the Year award. Following their
- Five U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Tour teams travel the country from late September to early December to announce the 90 players and 125 marching musicians to the Bowl, logging more than a combined 30,000 miles.
- To date, five U.S. Army All-American Marching Band alumni have joined Army Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) programs.
Game results
East victories are shaded ██ red. West victories shaded ██ gold.
Producers
All American Games (formerly SportsLink) is a sport management and marketing company based in Rockaway, New Jersey, that produces and manages many of the nation’s premier high school and youth sporting events. All American Games’ properties include: the U.S. Army All-American Bowl; U.S. Army Coaches Academy; U.S. Army National Combine; U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, Football University; FBU TOP GUN Showcase Camp; the Eastbay Youth All-American Bowl; and the FBU National Championship. In 2009, All American Games ventured into sports-television production with a new sports-reality television show “The Ride,†which garnered coverage in almost 80 million homes and aired on MTV2.
Notes
External links
- Official website