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

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Date played Winning team Losing team Notes
December 19, 1981 Toledo 27 No. 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, 1985 No. 18 Fresno State 51 No. 20 Bowling Green 7 notes
December 13, 1986 No. 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, 1990 No. 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

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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

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Rank Team Appearances Record Win %
1 Fresno State 5 4–1 .800
2 San Jose State 4 2–2 .500
3 Bowling Green 3 1–2 .333
4 Toledo 2 2–0 1.000
T5 Eastern Michigan 1 1–0 1.000
T5 Northern Illinois 1 1–0 1.000
T5 Ball State 1 0–1 .000
T5 Cal State Fullerton 1 0–1 .000
T5 Central Michigan 1 0–1 .000
T5 Miami (OH) 1 0–1 .000
T5 UNLV 1 0–1 .000
T5 Western Michigan 1 0–1 .000

Appearances by conference

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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

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References

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  1. ^ Foldesy, Jody. "Bowls burgeon as big business", The Washington Times. December 21, 1997. Page A1.
  2. ^ "Archives". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ [1] "history"