Cactus Bowl (Division II)

This article is about the former college football all-star game held in Kingsville, Texas. For the bowl game once known as the Cactus Bowl, see Rate Bowl.
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

Date Winning team Losing team Venue Att. Ref.
January 6, 1994 West 23 East 14 Fargodome 5,962 [4]
January 7, 1995 West 16 East 10 [5]
January 13, 1996 East 10 West 7
January 11, 1997 West 43 East 3 [6]
January 10, 1998 West 15 East 12 (OT) [7]
January 9, 1999 West 30 East 28 [8]
January 15, 2000 West 24 East 22 6,248 [9]
January 12, 2001 West 33 East 33 Javelina Stadium [10]
January 11, 2002 East 42 West 12 [11]
January 10, 2003 East 19 West 7 [12]
January 9, 2004 West 30 East 27 (OT) [13]
January 7, 2005 East 18 West 15 [14]
January 6, 2006 West 49 East 28 [15]
2007
 Game not played
January 11, 2008 East 42 West 13 [16]
January 9, 2009 West 28 East 27 [17]
January 8, 2010 West 16 East 0 [18]
January 7, 2011 Red Storm 28 Blue Devils 6 4,200 [19][2]

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

Most Valuable Players

Year Offensive MVP Defensive MVP Jim Langer Offensive Lineman
Player School Player School Player School
1994 Elvin Ashley Southwest Minnesota Anthony Abrams Clark Kevin Robson North Dakota
1995 Keith Rylance Augustana Cedric Florence Missouri Southern Adam Timmerman South Dakota State
1996 Chris Ryan Clark Ronald McKinnon North Alabama Chris Villarrial Indiana (Pa.)
1997 Jason Davis Western State Richard Jordan Missouri Southern Andy Mazurek Minnesota State
1998 Billy Holmes Northern Colorado Paul Spicer Saginaw Valley Sean McNamara Pittsburg State
1999 MarTay Jenkins Nebraska-Omaha Franco Glaze West Texas A&M Greg Lotyse North Dakota
2000 Corte McGuffey Northern Colorado Josh Gentry Indianapolis Nick O'Brien Texas A&M–Kingsville
2001 Gerald Payne Harding J.R. Turner Texas A&M–Kingsville Brian Crawford Western Oregon
2002 Clarence Coleman Ferris State Keyon Nash Albany State Peter Campion North Dakota State
2003 Michael Oliva Cal-Davis Steve Josue Carson–Newman Phil Bogle New Haven
2004 Tyler Paul Emporia State Eric McDowell Missouri Western Alan Dunn Tusculum
2005 Justin Samples Catawba Keyonta Marshall Grand Valley State Joe Berger Michigan Tech
2006 Wes Beschorner South Dakota Clayton Ferrell Abilene Christian Nick Hageman South Dakota
2008 Mark Nicolet Hillsdale Michael Eubanks Delta State Brandon Barnes Grand Valley State
2009 Keith Null West Texas A&M Jeff Souder Nebraska-Omaha Jeremy Ashcraft Arkansas Tech
2010 Billy Garza Texas A&M–Kingsville Sam Scott West Chester J'Marcus Webb West Texas A&M
2011 Eric Czerniewski Central Missouri Marc Schiechl Colorado School of Mines Trevis Turner Abilene Christian University

Players in the NFL

Cactus Bowl players (2001–2010) who later appeared in the NFL.[citation needed]

Year Name School Initial NFL Team Round-Overall
or Free Agent
2001 Marc Cerqua Carson–Newman Tampa Bay Buccaneers FA
2001 Dondre Gilliam Millersville San Diego Chargers FA
2001 Kendrick Office West Alabama Buffalo Bills FA
2001 Dominic Rhodes Midwestern State Indianapolis Colts FA
2001 Ronald Smith Lane Cincinnati Bengals FA
2001 Josh Stamer South Dakota Buffalo Bills FA
2001 Ben Steele Mesa State Green Bay Packers FA
2001 Colston Weatherington Central Missouri Dallas Cowboys 7-207
2002 James Atkins Virginia Union Tennessee Titans FA
2002 Keyon Nash Albany State Oakland Raiders 6-189
2002 Jared Peck North Dakota State Atlanta Falcons FA
2002 Erik Totten Western Washington Pittsburgh Steelers FA
2003 Khalid Abdullah Mars Hill Cincinnati Bengals 5-136
2003 Phillip Bogle New Haven San Diego Chargers FA
2003 Jacques Cesaire Southern Connecticut San Diego Chargers FA
2003 Clarence Coleman Ferris State Buffalo Bills FA
2003 Todd Devoe Central Missouri Denver Broncos FA
2003 Anthony Dunn Northern Colorado Tennessee Titans FA
2003 Steve Josue Carson–Newman Green Bay Packers 7-257
2003 Ben Nelson St. Cloud State Minnesota Vikings FA
2003 Ian Smart C. W. Post Tampa Bay Buccaneers FA
2003 Chaun Thompson West Texas A&M Cleveland Browns 2-052
2003 Reggie Wells Clarion Arizona Cardinals 6-177
2004 Jordan Babineaux Southern Arkansas Seattle Seahawks FA
2004 Clarence Glymph Carson–Newman Atlanta Falcons FA
2004 Ryan Krause Nebraska-Omaha San Diego Chargers 6-169
2004 Ruvell Martin Saginaw Valley State Green Bay Packers FA
2004 Glenn Martinez Saginaw Valley State Detroit Lions FA
2005 Joe Berger Michigan Tech Carolina Panthers 6-207
2005 Kris Griffin Indiana (Pa.) Kansas City Chiefs FA
2005 Todd Herremans Saginaw Valley State Philadelphia Eagles 4-126
2005 Michael Koenen Western Washington Atlanta Falcons FA
2005 John Kuhn Shippensburg Pittsburgh Steelers FA
2005 Keyonta Marshall Grand Valley State Philadelphia Eagles 7-247
2005 LeRon McCoy Indiana (Pa.) Arizona Cardinals 7-226
2005 Evan Oglesby North Alabama Baltimore Ravens FA
2005 Leonard Weaver Carson–Newman Seattle Seahawks FA
2005 Chris Wilson Northwood Washington Redskins FA
2005 Derrick Wimbush Fort Valley State Jacksonville Jaguars FA
2006 Richard Collier Valdosta State Jacksonville Jaguars FA
2006 John DiGiorgio Saginaw Valley State Buffalo Bills FA
2006 Jahri Evans Bloomsburg New Orleans Saints 4-108
2006 Brent Grimes Shippensburg Atlanta Falcons FA
2006 Kenny Onatolu Nebraska-Omaha Minnesota Vikings FA
2006 Jamaica Rector Northwest Missouri State Dallas Cowboys FA
2006 A. J. Schable South Dakota Arizona Cardinals FA
2006 Lee Vickers North Alabama Baltimore Ravens FA
2006 Delanie Walker Central Missouri San Francisco 49ers 6-175
2008 Brandon Carr Grand Valley State Kansas City Chiefs 5-140
2008 Alex Hall St. Augustine's Cleveland Browns 7-231
2008 Maurice Leggett Valdosta State Kansas City Chiefs FA
2009 K. C. Asiodu Central Oklahoma St. Louis Rams FA
2009 Charly Martin West Texas A&M Carolina Panthers FA
2009 Zach Miller Nebraska-Omaha Jacksonville Jaguars 6-180
2009 Keith Null West Texas A&M St. Louis Rams 6-196
2009 Dan Skuta Grand Valley State Cincinnati Bengals FA
2009 Gregory Toler St. Paul's Arizona Cardinals 4-131
2010 Jermelle Cudjo Central Oklahoma St. Louis Rams FA
2010 Dominique Curry California (Pa.) St. Louis Rams FA
2010 Jimmy Saddler-McQueen Texas A&M–Kingsville Dallas Cowboys FA
2010 Eugene Sims West Texas A&M St. Louis Rams 6-189
2010 J'Marcus Webb West Texas A&M Chicago Bears 7-218

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "About the Cactus Bowl". cactusbowl.org. Archived from the original on 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2010-11-28 – via Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ a b "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.