Naval Academy tops San Diego State University at the 2014 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl

National TV audience views America’s only college football bowl game with a credit union as the title sponsor

SDCCU applauded another successful San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl -- the only college football bowl game among America’s 39 college football bowl games to have a credit union as a title sponsor. SDCCU has served as the title sponsor of the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl since the bowl game’s inception in 2005.
 
At the 10th annual San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, played Dec. 23 at Qualcomm^® Stadium in San Diego, the U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen (8-5) overcame four fumbles and held on to beat the San Diego State University Aztecs (7-6). SDSU missed a potential game-winning, 34-yard field goal with 20 seconds remaining and Navy escaped with a 17-16 victory. The game aired live before a nationwide audience on ESPN-TV and ESPN-Radio.
 
In the game, running back D.J. Pumphrey became SDSU’s all-time single-season rushing leader with 1,867 yards. Navy quarterback Keenan Reynolds, who scored his 63rd and 64th career rushing touchdowns, was named the game’s offensive MVP.
 
The Aztecs were intercepted twice and lost a fumble that set up the winning field goal. The loss ended San Diego State’s eight-game winning streak and was its first loss to Navy after victories in each of their three previous meetings, including the 2010 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.
 
 “SDCCU is proud to support the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. It not only elevates awareness nationally of the contributions credit unions make to our communities, but locally, it has contributed a great deal to our San Diego economy,” said SDCCU President and CEO Teresa Halleck.
 
According to the San Diego Bowl Game Association, the non-profit entity that produces the game, the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl generates millions of dollars into the San Diego economy during a week when the region’s tourism industry is at one of its slowest times of the year. The mission of the Association is to generate tourism, exposure, economic benefit and civic pride for San Diego and its citizens by producing the nation’s most exciting bowl games and festival of activities. Officials report that the previous nine San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl games added a combined $82.6 million of revenue into the local economy.
 
The game also marked the 10th anniversary of Make-A-Wish^® Foundation of San Diego as the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl’s charity beneficiary. One dollar from every admission ticket sold will help the charity grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. Over the past decade, more than $410,000 has been generated to help grant wishes Make-A-Wish kids from the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl ticket sales. The grand total presented at this year’s bowl game was $33,500.
 
SDCCU’s title sponsorship of the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl is one of many ways that SDCCU gives back to the community. As a not-for-profit organization rooted in helping others, SDCCU is a long-time supporter of many local non-profit organizations, including Rady Children’s Hospital, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, San Diego Blood Bank and Scripps Health Foundation, to name a few. At the local level, branches are actively involved in Chambers of Commerce and support charitable organizations and events through sponsorships and active volunteerism.
 
San Diego County Credit Union is San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution serving San Diego, Riverside and Orange counties. SDCCU has assets of $6.7 billion, over 277,000 customers, more than 35 convenient branch locations and 30,000 surcharge-FREE ATMs nationwide. SDCCU provides breakthrough banking products that meet the demands of today’s lifestyle and delivers banking services that save customers money. SDCCU is leading the way, offering FREE Checking with eStatements, SDCCU Mobile Deposit, mortgage loans, auto loans, Visa^® credit cards and business banking services. Federally insured by NCUA. Equal Housing Opportunity. Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, visit www.sdccu.com.