Cactus Bowl (defunct)
Logo for the 2011 game
StadiumJavelina Stadium (2001–2011)
Fargodome (1994–2000)
LocationKingsville, Texas (2001–2011)
Fargo, North Dakota (1994–2000)
Operated1994–2011
Sponsors
Valero (2008–2010)
Whataburger (2002–2006)
Former names
Snow Bowl (1994–2000)

The Cactus Bowl (formerly the Snow Bowl) was a postseason college football all-star game played each January in Kingsville, Texas, which showcased the best NFL draft prospects of those collegiate players who had completed their eligibility in NCAA Division II. First played in 1994 at the Fargodome in Fargo, North Dakota, as the Snow Bowl, the game moved to Javelina Stadium on the campus of Texas A&M University–Kingsville in 2001 as the Cactus Bowl.[1] Proceeds went to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.[1]

The game typically consisted of 88 total players;[2] in all but the final year, teams were designated East and West, composed of players from those regions of the United States. The game gave NFL scouts a chance to view the relatively low profile Division II talent, prompting its slogan of "the best players you've never seen."[1] The bowl's website (now defunct) said that more than 100 players of the game later signed with the NFL.[1] The bowl lasted through 2011, after which it was merged with the USA College Football Bowl of NCAA Division III.[3]

Winner

DateWinning teamLosing teamVenueAtt.Ref.
January 6, 1994West23East14Fargodome5,962[4]
January 7, 1995West16East10[5]
January 13, 1996East10West7
January 11, 1997West43East3[6]
January 10, 1998West15East12 (OT)[7]
January 9, 1999West30East28[8]
January 15, 2000West24East226,248[9]
January 12, 2001West33East33Javelina Stadium[10]
January 11, 2002East42West12[11]
January 10, 2003East19West7[12]
January 9, 2004West30East27 (OT)[13]
January 7, 2005East18West15[14]
January 6, 2006West49East28[15]
2007
Game not played
January 11, 2008East42West13[16]
January 9, 2009West28East27[17]
January 8, 2010West16East0[18]
January 7, 2011Red Storm28Blue Devils64,200[19][2]

Overall records: West over East (10–5–1) and Red Storm over Blue Devils (1–0)[20]

Most Valuable Players

YearOffensive MVPDefensive MVPJim Langer Offensive Lineman
PlayerSchoolPlayerSchoolPlayerSchool
1994Elvin AshleySouthwest MinnesotaAnthony AbramsClarkKevin RobsonNorth Dakota
1995Keith RylanceAugustanaCedric FlorenceMissouri SouthernAdam TimmermanSouth Dakota State
1996Chris RyanClarkRonald McKinnonNorth AlabamaChris VillarrialIndiana (Pa.)
1997Jason DavisWestern StateRichard JordanMissouri SouthernAndy MazurekMinnesota State
1998Billy HolmesNorthern ColoradoPaul SpicerSaginaw ValleySean McNamaraPittsburg State
1999MarTay JenkinsNebraska-OmahaFranco GlazeWest Texas A&MGreg LotyseNorth Dakota
2000Corte McGuffeyNorthern ColoradoJosh GentryIndianapolisNick O'BrienTexas A&M–Kingsville
2001Gerald PayneHardingJ.R. TurnerTexas A&M–KingsvilleBrian CrawfordWestern Oregon
2002Clarence ColemanFerris StateKeyon NashAlbany StatePeter CampionNorth Dakota State
2003Michael OlivaCal-DavisSteve JosueCarson–NewmanPhil BogleNew Haven
2004Tyler PaulEmporia StateEric McDowellMissouri WesternAlan DunnTusculum
2005Justin SamplesCatawbaKeyonta MarshallGrand Valley StateJoe BergerMichigan Tech
2006Wes BeschornerSouth DakotaClayton FerrellAbilene ChristianNick HagemanSouth Dakota
2008Mark NicoletHillsdaleMichael EubanksDelta StateBrandon BarnesGrand Valley State
2009Keith NullWest Texas A&MJeff SouderNebraska-OmahaJeremy AshcraftArkansas Tech
2010Billy GarzaTexas A&M–KingsvilleSam ScottWest ChesterJ'Marcus WebbWest Texas A&M
2011Eric CzerniewskiCentral MissouriMarc SchiechlColorado School of MinesTrevis TurnerAbilene Christian University

Players in the NFL

Cactus Bowl players (2001–2010) who later appeared in the NFL.

YearNameSchoolInitial NFL TeamRound-Overall
or Free Agent
2001Marc CerquaCarson–NewmanTampa Bay BuccaneersFA
2001Dondre GilliamMillersvilleSan Diego ChargersFA
2001Kendrick OfficeWest AlabamaBuffalo BillsFA
2001Dominic RhodesMidwestern StateIndianapolis ColtsFA
2001Ronald SmithLaneCincinnati BengalsFA
2001Josh StamerSouth DakotaBuffalo BillsFA
2001Ben SteeleMesa StateGreen Bay PackersFA
2001Colston WeatheringtonCentral MissouriDallas Cowboys7-207
2002James AtkinsVirginia UnionTennessee TitansFA
2002Keyon NashAlbany StateOakland Raiders6-189
2002Jared PeckNorth Dakota StateAtlanta FalconsFA
2002Erik TottenWestern WashingtonPittsburgh SteelersFA
2003Khalid AbdullahMars HillCincinnati Bengals5-136
2003Phillip BogleNew HavenSan Diego ChargersFA
2003Jacques CesaireSouthern ConnecticutSan Diego ChargersFA
2003Clarence ColemanFerris StateBuffalo BillsFA
2003Todd DevoeCentral MissouriDenver BroncosFA
2003Anthony DunnNorthern ColoradoTennessee TitansFA
2003Steve JosueCarson–NewmanGreen Bay Packers7-257
2003Ben NelsonSt. Cloud StateMinnesota VikingsFA
2003Ian SmartC. W. PostTampa Bay BuccaneersFA
2003Chaun ThompsonWest Texas A&MCleveland Browns2-052
2003Reggie WellsClarionArizona Cardinals6-177
2004Jordan BabineauxSouthern ArkansasSeattle SeahawksFA
2004Clarence GlymphCarson–NewmanAtlanta FalconsFA
2004Ryan KrauseNebraska-OmahaSan Diego Chargers6-169
2004Ruvell MartinSaginaw Valley StateGreen Bay PackersFA
2004Glenn MartinezSaginaw Valley StateDetroit LionsFA
2005Joe BergerMichigan TechCarolina Panthers6-207
2005Kris GriffinIndiana (Pa.)Kansas City ChiefsFA
2005Todd HerremansSaginaw Valley StatePhiladelphia Eagles4-126
2005Michael KoenenWestern WashingtonAtlanta FalconsFA
2005John KuhnShippensburgPittsburgh SteelersFA
2005Keyonta MarshallGrand Valley StatePhiladelphia Eagles7-247
2005LeRon McCoyIndiana (Pa.)Arizona Cardinals7-226
2005Evan OglesbyNorth AlabamaBaltimore RavensFA
2005Leonard WeaverCarson–NewmanSeattle SeahawksFA
2005Chris WilsonNorthwoodWashington RedskinsFA
2005Derrick WimbushFort Valley StateJacksonville JaguarsFA
2006Richard CollierValdosta StateJacksonville JaguarsFA
2006John DiGiorgioSaginaw Valley StateBuffalo BillsFA
2006Jahri EvansBloomsburgNew Orleans Saints4-108
2006Brent GrimesShippensburgAtlanta FalconsFA
2006Kenny OnatoluNebraska-OmahaMinnesota VikingsFA
2006Jamaica RectorNorthwest Missouri StateDallas CowboysFA
2006A. J. SchableSouth DakotaArizona CardinalsFA
2006Lee VickersNorth AlabamaBaltimore RavensFA
2006Delanie WalkerCentral MissouriSan Francisco 49ers6-175
2008Brandon CarrGrand Valley StateKansas City Chiefs5-140
2008Alex HallSt. Augustine'sCleveland Browns7-231
2008Maurice LeggettValdosta StateKansas City ChiefsFA
2009K. C. AsioduCentral OklahomaSt. Louis RamsFA
2009Charly MartinWest Texas A&MCarolina PanthersFA
2009Zach MillerNebraska-OmahaJacksonville Jaguars6-180
2009Keith NullWest Texas A&MSt. Louis Rams6-196
2009Dan SkutaGrand Valley StateCincinnati BengalsFA
2009Gregory TolerSt. Paul'sArizona Cardinals4-131
2010Jermelle CudjoCentral OklahomaSt. Louis RamsFA
2010Dominique CurryCalifornia (Pa.)St. Louis RamsFA
2010Jimmy Saddler-McQueenTexas A&M–KingsvilleDallas CowboysFA
2010Eugene SimsWest Texas A&MSt. Louis Rams6-189
2010J'Marcus WebbWest Texas A&MChicago Bears7-218

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "About the Cactus Bowl". cactusbowl.org. Archived from the original on 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2010-11-28 – via Wayback Machine.
  2. 1 2 "Cactus Bowl- Red Storm topple Blue Devils". tamuk.edu. January 8, 2011. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  3. ↑ "USA College Football Bowl". Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  4. ↑ "Snowbowl Division II football all-star game will return in '95". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. January 20, 1994. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Holmes scores in Snow Bowl". Statesman Journal. Salem, Oregon. January 8, 1995. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Hebegen helps West win Snow Bowl". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. January 12, 1997. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "West needs overtime in Division II Snow Bowl". Odessa American. Odessa, Texas. January 11, 1998. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ "Football". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. January 10, 1999. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "USD's White tests well for NFL; Poppinga hurt". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. January 16, 2000. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "East, West battle to tie in Cactus Bowl". The Index-Journal. Greenwood, South Carolina. January 14, 2001. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ "Cactus Bowl". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. January 13, 2002. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "East wins Cactus Bowl 19-7". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. January 11, 2003. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  13. ↑ "Mars Hill player performs in Cactus Bowl". Asheville Citizen-Times. Asheville, North Carolina. January 11, 2004. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  14. ↑ Stone, Michael (January 9, 2005). "Tim Pope has MVP performance at bowl game". The Index-Journal. Greenwood, South Carolina. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  15. ↑ "Beschorner shines at all-star game". Argus Leader. Sioux Falls, South Dakota. January 9, 2006. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ "Edinboro". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. January 13, 2008. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  17. ↑ "ESU duo at Division II all-star game". The Morning Call. Allentown, Pennsylvania. January 11, 2009. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Middletown's Scott stars in Cactus Bowl". The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware. January 10, 2010. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  19. ↑ "Cactus Bowl". St. Cloud Times. St. Cloud, Minnesota. January 8, 2011. Retrieved June 27, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  20. ↑ "Cactus Bowl Games". College Football Data Warehouse. Archived from the original on September 5, 2014 – via Wayback Machine.
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