California Bowl

Last updated
California Bowl (defunct)
California Raisin Bowl
Stadium Bulldog Stadium
Location Fresno, California
Operated1981–1991
Conference tie-ins PCAA/Big West, MAC
Sponsors

The California Bowl (later the California Raisin Bowl) was a post-season college football bowl game played annually at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, California, from 1981 to 1991. [1] The game featured the champions of the Big West Conference (known prior to 1988 as the Pacific Coast Athletic Association) and the Mid-American Conference.

Contents

In 1988, the California Raisin Advisory Board purchased the naming rights to the bowl.

The game was dealt a severe blow in 1992 when Fresno State moved to the Western Athletic Conference. The MAC and Big West then moved their tie-ins to Las Vegas, Nevada and created the Las Vegas Bowl. The California Bowl made plans to hold the 1992 game without tie-ins, but was unable to find a new sponsor. When organizers came up short of a $1.75 million fundraising goal, the NCAA pulled the bowl's certification. It has never returned. [2] [3]

Game results

Date playedWinning teamLosing teamNotes
December 19, 1981 Toledo 27No. 20 San Jose State 25 notes
December 18, 1982 Fresno State 29 Bowling Green 28 notes
December 17, 1983 Northern Illinois 20 Cal State Fullerton 13 notes
December 15, 1984 Toledo *13 UNLV 30 notes
December 14, 1985No. 18 Fresno State 51No. 20 Bowling Green 7 notes
December 13, 1986No. 19 San Jose State 37 Miami (OH) 7 notes
December 12, 1987 Eastern Michigan 30 San Jose State 27 notes
December 10, 1988 Fresno State 35 Western Michigan 30 notes
December 9, 1989 Fresno State 27 Ball State 6 notes
December 8, 1990No. 25 San Jose State 48 Central Michigan 24 notes
December 14, 1991 Bowling Green 28 Fresno State 21 notes

*UNLV won this game, but subsequently forfeited its entire schedule due to the use of ineligible players earlier in the season.

MVPs

SeasonMVPTeamPosition
1981
1982 Jeff Tedford QB
1983Lou WicksFB
1984
1985Mike ManciniP
1986 Mike Perez QB
Andy Marlatt
1987Gary PattonRB
1988Darrell RosetteRB
1989 Ron Cox LB
1990
1991

Appearances by team

RankTeamAppearancesRecordWin %
1[[Fresno State Bulldogs football|Fresno State]]54–1.800
2[[San Jose State Spartans football|San Jose State]]42–2.500
3[[Bowling Green Falcons football|Bowling Green]]31–2.333
4[[Toledo Rockets football|Toledo]]22–01.000
T5[[Eastern Michigan Eagles football|Eastern Michigan]]11–01.000
T5[[Northern Illinois Huskies football|Northern Illinois]]11–01.000
T5[[Ball State Cardinals football|Ball State]]10–1.000
T5[[Cal State Fullerton Titans football|Cal State Fullerton]]10–1.000
T5[[Central Michigan Chippewas football|Central Michigan]]10–1.000
T5[[Miami RedHawks football|Miami (OH)]]10–1.000
T5[[UNLV Rebels football|UNLV]]10–1.000
T5[[Western Michigan Broncos football|Western Michigan]]10–1.000

Appearances by conference

RankConferenceAppearancesRecordWin %# of TeamsTeams
T1Big West116–5.5454Fresno State (4–1)

San Jose State (2–2)
Cal State Fullerton (0–1)
UNLV (0–1)

T1MAC115–6.4558Bowling Green (1–2)

Toledo (2–0)
Eastern Michigan (1–0)
Northern Illinois (1–0)
Ball State (0–1)
Central Michigan (0–1)
Miami (OH) (0–1)
Western Michigan (0–1)

See also

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References

  1. Foldesy, Jody. "Bowls burgeon as big business", The Washington Times. December 21, 1997. Page A1.
  2. "Archives". Los Angeles Times .
  3. http://espn.go.com/ncf/topics/_/page/las-vegas-bowl "history"