A year ago, SMU practically packed up the entire school when it ended a quarter-century bowl drought in style in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. The Mustangs are bowling again this season, playing in consecutive bowls for the first time since 1983 and 1984, but no plane charter is needed this year.

SMU will face Army in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, which is being held in SMU's Ford Stadium, as TCU's Amon Carter Stadium is being renovated.

The bowl is headquartered in Fort Worth, 30 miles west of Dallas, and all bowl events will still take place in Fort Worth except for the game itself.

SMU coach June Jones said the Mustangs, who lost to Central Florida in the Conference USA championship game, have a lot to play for at home.

"I kind of always use the same formula when we go to bowls," he said. "The kids will really enjoy the opportunity to play, especially after coming after a loss. The result of the bowl really takes you through the whole next season. ... I think that our kids got a taste of that last year, and they certainly want to finish that way again. It's going to be a challenge."

The challenge is provided by Army's option offense. The resurgent program is in its first bowl since 1996 under second-year coach Rich Ellerson. The Black Knights are 6-5 heading into their showdown against Navy on Dec. 11 in Philadelphia.

"We're excited to be successful, we're excited to be competitive," Ellerson said of his Army program. "We have integrated ourselves with the larger institutional core cadets and institutional values. ... There is a buzz about this football team, the football program."

Ellerson and Jones have played together and coached against each other throughout their careers, from stints at Hawaii to the Canadian Football League.

The bowl will feature contrasting styles, with SMU's Run and Shoot led by quarterback Kyle Padron and enhanced by running back Zach Line against Army's ground-based option. SMU is used to playing against the service academy brand of football, as it has lost to Navy each of the past three seasons.

Organizers expect that SMU's home-field advantage won't be overwhelming because of Army's national draw and a good military presence in Texas.

Copyright (C) 2010 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.