Memphis, TN – The 2012 AutoZone Liberty Bowl will be played Monday, December 31 at 2:30 p.m. CST and will be televised on ESPN. Over the Bowl’s 54-year history, more games have been played on New Year’s Eve afternoon than any other date. 2012 marks the 13th AutoZone Liberty Bowl played on December 31st and the 11th in the last 16 years.

“The AutoZone Liberty Bowl has become a huge part of the New Year’s Eve celebration in Memphis,” said Steve Ehrhart, Executive Director of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. “With the long four-day holiday weekend, we expect a tremendous number of out of town visitors will enjoy ringing in the New Year with the Bowl, some great Memphis barbecue and a massive party on Beale Street!”

The AutoZone Liberty Bowl is one of ESPN/ABC’s longest running bowl partners. ABC televised the Bowl beginning in 1964 and continued from 1966 to 1980. The Bowl has been televised every year by ESPN/ABC since 1990. Over its long history, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl has a consistent record of delivering outstanding and compelling games.

The AutoZone Liberty Bowl is proud to be included in ESPN’s New Year’s Eve Day lineup of games. The December 31st date provides the AutoZone Liberty Bowl a terrific opportunity to showcase two excellent universities, the Memphis community and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to a national audience watching on ESPN.

– The AutoZone Liberty Bowl was founded in 1959, making it the seventh oldest bowl game in America

– 58 different universities have participated in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl

– The Bowl’s 54-year history has featured many of college football’s greatest coaches and players: Bear Bryant, Tom Osborne, Steve Spurrier, Urban Meyer, and Heisman Trophy winners Ernie Davis, Terry Baker, Doug Flutie and Bo Jackson

– The AutoZone Liberty Bowl has a history of thrilling, competitive games. The last eight games have been decided in the final minutes with a 5-point average margin of victory Just three years after the AutoZone Liberty Bowl began, entertainer Danny Thomas arrived in Memphis and opened the doors of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This year, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl is helping St. Jude celebrate its 50th Anniversary. Over the past five decades, the hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20 percent to 80 percent.

Original post: