BRIDGEWATER, Mass. -- Bridgewater State University senior safety Eddie Jewel and senior defensive tackle Rob Ruggiero will be competing in a pair of postseason bowl games this month, the American Bowl in Mexico City, Mexico and the All American Bowl in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Senior quarterback Mike McCarthy will join his two teammates at the All American Bowl.
Jewel and Melicharek are among 40 top USA football players from 32 colleges who will showcase their talents in the 41st Annual American Bowl (formerly the Aztec Bowl) on Saturday, December 14th in Mexico City. Team USA All American Eagles will play a combined game against players from the Mexican National Team (Federación Mexican de Futbol Americano) and the ONEFA (Organización Nacional Estudiantil de Futbol Americano) All-Stars from the Mexico University system.
The American Bowl is a college Division II/III (since 1973) post-season bowl game that has been played intermittently since at least 1950. With but one exception, all of the games have been played at locations in Mexico. The exception was the 1957 game played in San Antonio, Texas. In 2012, the All American Eagles defeated the ONEFA All Stars, 49-20.
The 18th Annual All American Bowl has been set for December 28th at the Metrodome in Minneapolis. There will be three games with players from Division 1AA, Division II, Division III and NAIA participating. The games will showcase a number of the nation's top football players on each team, being led by the countries best coaches. The College All American Bowl will get underway at 11:05 AM followed by the CanAm Bowl at 2:05 PM. The nation's top semi-pro free agents will play at 5:05 PM.
The All American Bowl was founded in 1996 to give athletes the opportunity to compete against the best at their level in an all star game setting. In April of 1996, the first All American Bowl was played in Minnesota and has since been played at various cities across the country including. The All American Bowl also gives athletes the potential to be scouted by colleges and professional football teams. The participants in the game have been nominated for their outstanding performances throughout their senior season as well as their accomplished career.
Jewel and Ruggiero are two of four players in Bridgewater State football history to compete in the Aztec Bowl joining Paul Melicharek (2012) and BSU Hall of Famer Brendan Kavey (2005). Last year, Melicharek was the first Bear to compete in the All American Bowl.