Spirited Contests Usher In Gasparilla Bowl In Tampa

TREASURE ISLAND, FL — In preparation for the Gasparilla Bowl, which begins Monday, Treasure Island hosted the 2019 Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl Beach Invasion with the University of Central Florida going up against Marshall University.

Festivities took place Saturday with team bands from UCF and Marshall marching through Treasure Island then onto the beach where they competed in the Dueling of the Bands, cheer-offs, a belly flop competition, a talent contest and tug o' war.

UCF from the American Athletic Conference and Marshall from Conference USA will play in the 12th edition Mowers Gasparilla Bowl Monday at 2:30 p.m. at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.

UCF (9-3, 6-2) and Marshall (8-4, 6-2) have each appeared in the bowl a record three times prior to this year, but this will be their first-ever meeting in the bowl game. UCF owns an 8-3 all-time mark against Marshall.

“Our bowl game has experienced terrific support from both UCF and Marshall fans in the past and we look forward to welcoming them back again this year,” said Scott Glaser, executive director of the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl.

UCF enters the game as one of the most notable offensive teams in the country. The Knights are fourth overall in yards per game (536.6) and are tied for sixth in scoring, averaging 43.0 points per game. UCF scored 50 or more points in three games this season, including a season-best 63 points on the road at Temple.

Marshall is the reigning Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl champions after defeating USF last year 38-20. The Thundering Herd, which become the first team to appear in back-to-back years in this bowl game, finished this season winning six of their last seven games. Head Coach Doc Holliday is undefeated in this bowl game, staking wins over USF (2018), the University of Connecticut (2015) and Florida International University (2011).

Earlier this week, the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl teamed up with former NFL star Vincent Jackson’s Jackson in Action 83 Foundation to develop a Heroes Program. The program is designed to thank the Tampa Bay area active and retired military along with first responders, including the opportunity for these groups to claim complimentary tickets to this year’s bowl game.

“I’m excited to team up with the Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl to show appreciation for the first responders and military men and women who serve our community and our country so well,” said Jackson. “My Jackson in Action 83 Foundation is committed to serving military children and families throughout Tampa Bay, so supporting the bowl and their commitment to heroes in our community will be a great partnership.”

In addition to having Source 1 Solutions as the presenting sponsor for the Heroes Hangout Tailgate, the Heroes Program added Amazon, Mission BBQ, Horse Soldier Bourbon and JJ Taylor as sponsors. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and the Tampa Police Department are also involved in this year’s program.

The teams also partcipated in a charity bike-building contest.

The Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl is owned and operated by ESPN Events, a division of ESPN.

More photos can be viewed on Joe Mestas' website.