By earning their sixth win of the season, the United States Naval Academy Midshipmen football team became eligible to play in the 6th annual San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, 2010 President Eric Graves announced. Navy defeated the East Carolina Pirates 76-35 and improved their record to 6-3.

A contract between Poinsettia Bowl organizers and Naval Academy officials stipulates that if the Midshipmen were to post at least six wins and become bowl eligible this season, they would play in San Diego’s pre-Christmas bowl game.

“The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl can’t wait to welcome the Midshipmen and their legions of fans back to San Diego for our bowl game,” Graves said. “The traditions of Navy football are unparalleled in college football, and I’m sure I speak for the entire San Diego community when I say we are excited to get to roll out the red carpet for them again this December.”

Three games remain on Navy’s regular season schedule, including the annual showdown with Army on December 11th. This year’s post-season appearance will be the first time in school history that Navy has gone to eight straight bowl games.

“Returning to San Diego is exciting for the entire Navy football family,” said Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. “We have had nothing but great experiences participating in this wonderful event. This Navy city and the bowl committee roll out the blue and gold carpet for the Midshipmen and every aspect of the bowl is first class.”

This year’s Poinsettia Bowl will mark the fourth time Navy has played in a San Diego bowl game. They are 2-1 in the previous three. They notched wins against BYU in the first Holiday Bowl in 1978, and Colorado State in the inaugural Poinsettia Bowl in 2005. The loss came in the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl, when they fell to Utah 35-32.

Navy’s opponent will be a team from the Mountain West Conference. The Poinsettia Bowl gets the second selection of bowl eligible teams from the conference. The MAACO Bowl Las Vegas gets the first pick.

Tickets for the 2010 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl can be purchased by calling TicketMaster at 800-745-3000, or visiting www.poinsettiabowl.com.