“This is a terrific opportunity for the youth of Washington, D.C., to benefit from NCAA Football’s programming and work with collegiate football coaches and professional players,” said Steve Beck, president & executive director of the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman. “We are proud to once again partner with Events DC and Positive Choices to host this clinic.”

“During the clinic, kids will not only learn football fundamentals, but also invaluablecharacter-building and sportsmanship lessons for success off the field,” added Erik A. Moses, managing director of Events DC’s Sports and Entertainment Division. “We are pleased to support this initiative, and look forward to great participation on June 15.”

Participants will run offensive, defensive and agility drills; learn proper techniques to promote on-field safety; and learn about the importance of their off-the-field behavior as well. Lunch will be provided as part of the full day of instruction.

“Those of us organizing the clinic were fortunate to grow up in environments that encouraged and rewarded positive conduct,” said Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, founder of Positive Choices and head football coach at D.C. State Athletic Associationchampion Friendship College Academy. “They also instilled giving back to the community, which is why it is so important that we hold events like these.”

For more information, please visit www.militarybowl.org/community/clinic. While a limited number of walk-up spaces will be available the day of the clinic, participants are encouraged to pre-register at www.ncaafootballclinics.com.

This year’s game will match a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference against an opponent from Conference USA. It will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.

“This move puts our game into a facility that honors the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces,” DC Bowl Committee President & Executive Director Steve Beck said. “Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium is truly a venue that is in line with our mission of supporting our nation’s military and raising awareness for organizations supporting the Armed Forces. We expect a great matchup.”

It will be the first bowl game ever played at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, which opened in 1959.

“The Naval Academy Athletic Association is very pleased to host the Military Bowl,” U.S. Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk said. “Those who attend will find Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to be historic, fan friendly, and designed to promote a wonderful family environment. This partnership is appreciated and we will extend ourselves on every front to ensure this is a great experience for our guests and the visiting teams. We look forward to this special event in December.”

Since its inception in 2008, the Washington-area’s college football bowl game (called the EagleBank Bowl in its first two years) had been played at RFK Stadium. For the first time in its history, in 2012 the Military Bowl hosted a ranked team as San Jose State beat Bowling Green, 29-20, en route to finishing the season ranked No. 21 nationally. A bowl-record crowd of 38,794 saw Maryland beat East Carolina, 51-20, in 2010.

“This journey began in 2008 with the goals of bringing big-time football back to RFK Stadium and the nation’s capital while honoring and supporting our nation’s military, and we’ve accomplished those goals,” said Erik A. Moses, managing director of Events DC’s Sports and Entertainment Division. “We’ve had exciting games featuring teams from around the country, given thousands of military families the chance to enjoy the bowl game experience together during the holiday season, brought football fans from across the country to their nation’s capital and benefited the local economy and charitable causes. Our support of the bowl effort remains strong, and we are confident that the excitement surrounding the bowl game experience will continue to flourish in the Washington region.”

For each of the past three years the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman has donated $100,000 to the USO and distributed 5,000 complimentary tickets to military personnel and their families.

While this year’s gameday operations will move to Annapolis, all other bowl events will remain headquartered in Washington, D.C., including the annual NCAA Football Youth Clinic. This year’s clinic, hosted in partnership with Events DC and Positive Choices at Anacostia High School on June 15, is free and open to children ages 7 to 14. Registration is available at www.ncaafootballclinics.com.

From 2009 to 2011, the bowl generated nearly $36 million in economic impact. Bowl organizers hope to continue using the event to bring revenue into Washington, D.C., during the holiday season.

About the Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman

The Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman has been held in the National Capital Region since 2008. The 2013 Military Bowl marks the sixth year that the Washington, D.C., area will host a post-season NCAA football game. Organized by the DC Bowl Committee & Events DC, the Military Bowl serves as a premier regional event benefiting the USO and other organizations supporting members of the Armed Forces and their families. For more information, please visit www.militarybowl.org.

About Events DC

Events DC, the official convention and sports authority for the District of Columbia, delivers premier event services and flexible venues across the nation’s capital. Leveraging the power of a world-class destination and creating amazing attendee experiences, Events DC generates economic and community benefits through the attraction and promotion of business, athletic, entertainment and cultural activities. Events DC oversees the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, an anchor of the District’s hospitality and tourism economy that generates over $400 million annually in total economic impact, and the historic Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square. Events DC manages the Stadium-Armory campus, which includes the historic Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium and surrounding Festival Grounds, and the non-military functions of the DC Armory. Events DC also built and now serves as landlord for Nationals Park, the first LEED-certified major professional sports stadium in the United States. For more information, please visit www.eventsdc.com.

About the USO

The USO lifts the spirits of America’s troops and their families millions of times each year at hundreds of places worldwide. We provide a touch of home through centers at airports and military bases in the U.S. and abroad, top quality entertainment and innovative programs and services. We also provide critical support to those who need us most, including forward-deployed troops, military families, wounded warriors and families of the fallen. The USO is a private, non-profit organization, not a government agency. Our programs and services are made possible by the American people, support of our corporate partners and the dedication of our volunteers and staff.

The 35 postseason bowl games will play host to a total of 7,000 student-athletes, nearly 14,000 band members, almost 1,300 cheerleaders, 100,000-plus additional performers and close to two million fans. Thirty-three of the 35 postseason games will be televised on an ESPN platform (ESPN, ABC, ESPN2 and ESPNU), while CBS and FOX will each televise one game.

Bowl games bring a measure of importance to the college football regular season unmatched by any other sport. The bowl season begins with four games scheduled on Saturday, December 21 and will conclude with the VIZIO BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena, Calif., on Monday, January 6. December 21 is just one of five days that will feature at least four bowl games. While there will be six games played on January 1, 2014, there will also be four games played on Dec. 28, Dec. 30 and Dec. 31.

The complete 2013-14 bowl schedule follows.

For more information on the Football Bowl Association, visit footballbowlassociation.org.

Sat., Dec. 21 / 2 p.m
Gildan New Mexico Bowl
University Stadium, Albuquerque, N.M
Pac-12 vs. MWC
ESPN

Sat., Dec. 21 / 3:30 p.m
Las Vegas Bowl
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas, Nev
MWC vs. Pac-12
ABC

Sat., Dec. 21 / 5:30 p.m
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Bronco Stadium, Boise, Idaho
MAC vs. MWC
ESPN

Sat., Dec. 21 / 9 p.m
R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La
C-USA vs. Sun Belt
ESPN

Mon., Dec. 23 / 2 p.m
Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl St. Petersburg
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Fla
C-USA vs. American
ESPN

Tue., Dec. 24 / 8 p.m
Sheraton Hawai`i Bowl
Aloha Stadium, Honolulu, Hawai`i
C-USA vs. MWC
ESPN

Thu., Dec. 26 / 6 p.m
Little Caesars Pizza Bowl
Ford Field, Detroit, Mich
MAC vs. Big Ten
ESPN

Thu., Dec. 26 / 9:30 p.m
San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif
Army vs. MWC
ESPN

Fri., Dec. 27 / 2:30 p.m
Military Bowl presented by Northrop Grumman
Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Md
C-USA vs. ACC
ESPN

Fri., Dec. 27 / 6 p.m
Texas Bowl
Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas
Big Ten vs. Big 12
ESPN

Fri., Dec. 27 / 9:30 p.m
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
AT&T Park, San Francisco, Calif
BYU vs. Pac-12
ESPN

Sat., Dec. 28 / 12 p.m
New Era Pinstripe Bowl
Yankee Stadium, Bronx, N.Y.
American vs. Big 12
ESPN

Sat., Dec. 28 / 3:20 p.m
Belk Bowl
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, N.C.
American vs. ACC
ESPN

Sat., Dec. 28 / 6:45 p.m.
Russell Athletic Bowl
Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla
ACC vs. American
ESPN

Sat., Dec. 28 / 10:15 p.m.
Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl
Sun Devil Stadium, Tempe, Ariz
Big Ten vs. Big 12
ESPN

Mon., Dec. 30 / 11:45 a.m.
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
Amon G. Carter Stadium, Ft. Worth, Texas
MWC vs. Navy
ESPN

Mon., Dec. 30 / 3:15 p.m.
Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl
LP Field, Nashville, Tenn
SEC vs. ACC
ESPN

Mon., Dec. 30 / 6:45 p.m.
Valero Alamo Bowl
Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas
Pac-12 vs. Big 12
ESPN

Mon., Dec. 30 / 10:15 p.m.
Holiday Bowl
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, Calif
Big 12 vs. Pac-12
ESPN

Tue., Dec. 31 / 12:30 p.m.
AdvoCare V100 Bowl
Independence Stadium, Shreveport, La
ACC vs. SEC
ESPN

Tue., Dec. 31 / 2 p.m.
Hyundai Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl, El Paso, Texas
ACC vs. Pac-12
CBS

Tue., Dec. 31 / 4 p.m.
AutoZone Liberty Bowl
Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tenn
C-USA/American vs. SEC
ESPN

Tue., Dec. 31 / 8 p.m.
Chick-fil-A Bowl
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga
ACC vs. SEC
ESPN

Wed., Jan. 1 / 12 p.m.
TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl
EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Fla
Big Ten vs. SEC…………….ESPN2

Wed., Jan. 1 / 12 p.m.
Heart of Dallas Bowl
Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
Big Ten vs. C-USA
ESPNU

Wed., Jan. 1 / 1 p.m.
Capital One Bowl
Florida Citrus Bowl, Orlando, Fla
Big Ten vs. SEC
ABC

Wed., Jan. 1 / 1 p.m.
Outback Bowl
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Fla
Big Ten vs. SEC
ESPN

Wed., Jan. 1 / 5 p.m.
Rose Bowl Game Presented By VIZIO
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif
BCS vs. BCS
ESPN

Wed., Jan. 1 / 8:30 p.m.
Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz
BCS vs. BCS
ESPN

Thu., Jan. 2 / 8:30 p.m.
Allstate Sugar Bowl
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, La
BCS vs. BCS
ESPN

Fri., Jan. 3 / TBD
Discover Orange Bowl
Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla
BCS vs. BCS
ESPN

Fri., Jan. 3 / 7:30 p.m.
AT&T Cotton Bowl
Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Big 12 vs. SEC
FOX

Sat., Jan. 4 / 1 p.m.
BBVA Compass Bowl
Legion Field, Birmingham, Ala.
SEC vs. American
ESPN

Sun., Jan. 5 / 9 p.m.
GoDaddy Bowl
Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Ala.
Sun Belt vs. MAC
ESPN

Mon., Jan. 6 / 8:30 p.m.
VIZIO BCS National Championship
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif
BCS No. 1 vs. BCS No. 2
ESPN

“I know how fortunate I’ve been getting to stay in one place for 26 years,” Beamer told the crowd that included former Washington Redskins players, former Timmie Award winners, the former Secretary of the Navy John Dalton, the former Under Secretary of the Army Joe Reeder and DC Bowl Committee Chairman Bill Hall. “I don’t know if that will ever happen again.”

NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith was the night’s featured speaker and told the high school and college award winners that they “are truly the future of football.”

Among other awards, three Parade All-Americans received Local High School Player of the Year awards: Friendship Collegiate linebacker Yannick Ngakoue, who has signed to play at Maryland, was the Washington D.C. player of the year; Our Lady of Good Counsel defensive back Kendall Fuller, who has signed to play at Virginia Tech, was the Maryland player of the year; and Stone Bridge defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, who has signed to play at Alabama, was the Virginia player of the year.

Also, Our Lady of Good Counsel Coach Bob Milloy, who has led his team to four consecutive No. 1 finishes in The Washington Post, was presented the Local High School Coach of the Year award.

Howard University’s Gary Harrell was named the Local College Coach of the Year. University of Maryland defensive lineman Joe Vellano, who like his father, Paul, was an All-American for the Terrapins, was named the Local College Player of the Year.

Also, Reeder presented a check for $5,000 from the Bill Phillips Memorial Fund and a signed helmet from Minnesota Vikings star Jared Allen to SPC(R) Robert Murafsky. Murafsky lost his right eye when he was shot while on duty in Iraq in 2006; today he works as a security specialist at the Pentagon and is very involved in helping other wounded warriors.

To conclude the night, Beamer called longtime assistant coach Billy Hite up to the podium. Hite, a DeMatha High School graduate who won a Timmie Award as a high school player of the year in 1968, was surprised with the Local Personality Makes Good award.

“What an event,” DC Touchdown Club Executive Director Steve Beck said. “This is what it is all about, bringing together people from throughout Washington’s football community for a night of camraderie and story-telling.”

The DC Touchdown Club’s next event is its Golf Outing on June 7 at Raspberry Falls Golf and Hunt Club in Leesburg, Va. For more information or to reserve a place in the outing, please contact Maureen Licursi at 202-776-2509 or mlicursi@militarybowl.org.

Thirty-six years ago this month, a Sports Illustrated profile of awards dinners paid particular attention to the Touchdown Club of Washington, calling it “the granddaddy of all sports banquets.” That year’s black-tie affair attracted 2,000 all-male attendees who ate filet mignon, Italian green beans and water chestnuts at the then-Sheraton Park Hotel; the guest list included Supreme Court Justice Byron White, brother of the president Billy Carter, Tony Dorsett, Ken Stabler, John Madden, Roger Staubach, Carl Yastrzemski, Adrian Dantley, Bruce Jenner and John Havlicek.

The year before, the same event attracted Henry Kissinger, Bob Hope, Muhammad Ali, Wilt Chamberlain, Jack Kramer, Joe DiMaggio, Meadowlark Lemon, Fran Tarkenton, Abe Pollin and Johnny Bench, among others.

“I don’t know how in the world you ever talked me into this,” Hope told dinner chairman Charlie Brotman, according to the next day’s Post.

For decades, Brotman and pals attracted dozens of A-listers to this banquet, from Ronald Reagan to Mickey Mantle, from Richard Nixon to Sugar Ray Leonard.

“Every major coach, every major player —  and I mean EVERY one that we went after — came here. No exceptions,” Brotman told me this week. “We have never really been known as a sports town, because most of our teams have not actually been very successful. But with the advent of the Touchdown Club, every January we would have the greatest athletes in the United States here in town. For about a week, we were like the sports capital of America. “

The awards banquet circuit isn’t what it used to be, and the Touchdown Club dinner faded away sometime in the ‘90s. Now, there’s an effort to bring it back. The DC Touchdown Club– note the slightly different name – will hold its first dinner March 8 at Carmine’s in Chinatown, headlined by Frank Beamer, who will be given a lifetime achievement award.

Organizers are hoping to start anew by tapping into the previous Touchdown Club’s original roots in local prep and college football. The event will raise money for a local youth football cause, and will honor high school players of the year in the District (Yannick Ngakoue), Maryland (Kendall Fuller) and Virginia (Jonathan Allen), as well as Good Counsel Coach Bob Milloy, Maryland defensive lineman Joe Vellano and Howard Coach Gary Harrell. Previous Touchdown Club high school players of the year will also be invited.

“It was a vibrant piece of the local football community for years,” said Steve Beck, the executive director of the Military Bowl, who is leading the resuscitation efforts. “This is something that the community really liked in the past, and I think it’s something that they’ll wrap their arms around again.”

Of course, it’s hard to replicate the celebrity power of the past, like the 1988 appearance by Sylvester Stallone, accepting the President’s Council on Physical Fitness award. Or the 1966 event, which featured then-Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey, Willie Mays and Red Auerbach.  Or the 1973 dinner, emceed by Howard Cosell and featuring Johnny Unitas, Bart Star, Sonny Jurgensen, Don Strock, John McKay, Steve Carlton and Gaylord Perry.

The club was founded by Arthur “Dutch” Bergman in 1934; its symbol was the “Timmie” award, a trophy featuring a boy in uniform and sneakers. The new club hasn’t settled on a name for its trophy.

“What I would like for it to be, on a personal level, is something people could get together with their dad about: father and son, father and daughter, going and enjoying themselves together,” Beck said.

Organizers are hoping for more than 300 attendees at their initial effort, including several pros and retired players. They have consulted with Brotman, who supports their mission but cautioned that the world has changed since the banquet’s heyday. Athletes, he said, are less likely to show up at a banquet without an appearance fee. Friends can’t lean on friends to participate in quite the same way.

“I don’t think you can ever have the same success as something that was so historic, but they’re on the right direction, they’ve got the right idea,” Brotman said. “They’re trying to start the way the Touchdown Club actually started a century ago — go for the high school player, the prep school player, all local stuff. That’s the first domino to fall.”