California Bowl

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.

California Bowl (defunct)
California Raisin Bowl
StadiumBulldog Stadium
LocationFresno, California
Operated1981–1991
Conference tie-insPCAA/Big West, MAC
Sponsors

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 played Winning team Losing team Notes
December 19, 1981Toledo27San Jose State25notes
December 18, 1982Fresno State29Bowling Green28notes
December 17, 1983Northern Illinois20Cal State Fullerton13notes
December 15, 1984Toledo *13UNLV30notes
December 14, 1985Fresno State51Bowling Green7notes
December 13, 1986San Jose State37Miami (OH)7notes
December 12, 1987Eastern Michigan30San Jose State27notes
December 10, 1988Fresno State35Western Michigan30notes
December 9, 1989Fresno State27Ball State6notes
December 8, 1990San Jose State48Central Michigan24notes
December 14, 1991Bowling Green28Fresno State21notes

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

MVPs

Season MVP Team Position
1981
1982 Jeff Tedford QB
1983 Lou Wicks FB
1984
1985 Mike Mancini P
1986 Mike Perez QB
Andy Marlatt
1987 Gary Patton RB
1988 Darrell Rosette RB
1989 Ron Cox LB
1990
1991

Appearances by team

Rank Team Appearances Record Win %
1 [[Fresno State Bulldogs football|Fresno State]] 5 4–1 .800
2 [[San Jose State Spartans football|San Jose State]] 4 2–2 .500
3 [[Bowling Green Falcons football|Bowling Green]] 3 1–2 .333
4 [[Toledo Rockets football|Toledo]] 2 2–0 1.000
T5 [[Eastern Michigan Eagles football|Eastern Michigan]] 1 1–0 1.000
T5 [[Northern Illinois Huskies football|Northern Illinois]] 1 1–0 1.000
T5 [[Ball State Cardinals football|Ball State]] 1 0–1 .000
T5 [[Cal State Fullerton Titans football|Cal State Fullerton]] 1 0–1 .000
T5 [[Central Michigan Chippewas football|Central Michigan]] 1 0–1 .000
T5 [[Miami RedHawks football|Miami (OH)]] 1 0–1 .000
T5 [[UNLV Rebels football|UNLV]] 1 0–1 .000
T5 [[Western Michigan Broncos football|Western Michigan]] 1 0–1 .000

Appearances by conference

Rank Conference Appearances Record Win % # of Teams Teams
T1 Big West 11 6–5 .545 4 Fresno State (4–1)

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

T1 MAC 11 5–6 .455 8 Bowling 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

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"
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