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Pioneer Bowl

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Pioneer Bowl (defunct)
Logo for the 2012 game
StadiumA. J. McClung Memorial Stadium (2010–2012)
Charlie W. Johnson Stadium (2007–2009)
Memorial Stadium (2005–2006)
Ladd–Peebles Stadium (2004)
Georgia Dome (1999–2003)
Herndon Stadium (1997–1998)
Memorial Stadium (1971–1978, 1981–1982)
LocationColumbus, Georgia (2010–2012)
Columbia, South Carolina(2007–2009)
Charlotte, North Carolina (2005–2006)
Mobile, Alabama (2004)
Atlanta, Georgia (1997–2003)
Wichita Falls, Texas (1971–1978, 1981–1982)
Operated1997–2012 (no game '02 & '08)
1981–1982
1971–1978
Conference tie-insCIAA & SIAC (1997–2012)
Program cover for the 1971 game

The Pioneer Bowl was the name of some December college football bowl games played in two different eras. Between 1971 and 1982, the game was contested 10 times in Texas as an NCAA College Division regional final, or as a playoff game for Division II or Division I-AA. Between 1997 and 2012, the game was played 14 times in the South between historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

History

Earlier Pioneer Bowls

The Pioneer Bowl was originally one of the four regional finals in the College Division (which became Division II and Division III in 1973). It was played for this purpose in 1971 and 1972 in Wichita Falls, Texas; there were no playoffs as the national champion was determined by poll at the end of the regular season. The game succeeded the Pecan Bowl, which was played in Abilene (1964–67) and Arlington (1968–70). The other three regional finals were the Boardwalk, Grantland Rice, and Camellia bowls.

With the launch of Division II in 1973 and its full playoff system, the Pioneer Bowl was one of the two Division II semifinals (with the Grantland Rice Bowl) for the first three years, and then became the championship game for two years. For the inaugural season of Division I-AA in 1978, the Pioneer Bowl became the new division's title game. The I-AA title game was played in Florida in 1979 and California in 1980, then returned to Wichita Falls as the Pioneer Bowl in 1981 and 1982.

HBCUs

Starting in 1997, the game was contested between teams from the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) and the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC), two athletic conferences composed mainly of HBCUs. It was one of only three NCAA Division II sanctioned bowl games. No game was played in 2002 or 2008, and the final playing of the game took place in 2012. The 2013 edition was canceled, and the event was indefinitely suspended in 2014.

Tuskegee University had the most appearances and wins at the Pioneer Bowl, winning 7 times in 10 appearances. Until 2012, Tuskegee's regular season extended longer than most other Division II teams (its last regular season game was the Turkey Day Classic on Thanksgiving Day), which prevented the team from playing in the NCAA's Division II playoff tournament; the Pioneer Bowl was thus the only way Tuskegee could play in the postseason.

"Pioneer Bowl" was used in 1993 as the name of a fictional bowl game played at the Alamodome in the television series Coach.[1]

Game results

Earlier Pioneer Bowls

Date played Winning team Losing team Venue Location NCAA Playoff
December 11, 1971 Louisiana Tech 14 Eastern Michigan 3 Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, Texas College Division
Regional Final
December 9, 1972 Tennessee State 29 Drake 7 Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, Texas
December 8, 1973 Louisiana Tech 38 Boise State 34 Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, Texas Div. II semifinal
December 7, 1974 Central Michigan 35 Louisiana Tech 14 Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, Texas
December 6, 1975 Northern Michigan 28 West Alabama 26 Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, Texas
December 11, 1976 Montana State 24 Akron 13 Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, Texas Div. II championship
December 10, 1977 Lehigh 33 Jacksonville State 0 Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, Texas
December 16, 1978 Florida A&M 35 Massachusetts 28 Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, Texas Div. I-AA championship
December 15, 1979 no Bowl name [2] played in Orlando, Florida
December 20, 1980 see Camellia Bowl played in Sacramento, California
December 19, 1981 Idaho State 34 Eastern Kentucky 23 Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, Texas
December 18, 1982 Eastern Kentucky 17 Delaware 14 Memorial Stadium Wichita Falls, Texas

HBCUs

Winning teams and their scores appear in bold font.

Date played SIAC team CIAA team Venue Location
December 20, 1997 Kentucky State 30 Livingstone 26 Herndon Stadium Atlanta, Georgia
December 19, 1998 Tuskegee 23 Livingstone 9 Herndon Stadium Atlanta, Georgia
December 18, 1999 Tuskegee 7 Winston-Salem State 23 Georgia Dome Atlanta, Georgia
December 16, 2000 Tuskegee 12 Winston-Salem State 9 Georgia Dome Atlanta, Georgia
December 22, 2001 Tuskegee 28 Virginia Union 0 Georgia Dome Atlanta, Georgia
2002
Cancelled
December 20, 2003 Albany State 52 Fayetteville State 30 Georgia Dome Atlanta, Georgia
December 4, 2004 Tuskegee 28 Shaw 30 Ladd–Peebles Stadium Mobile, Alabama
December 3, 2005 Tuskegee 28 Bowie State 26 Memorial Stadium Charlotte, North Carolina
December 2, 2006 Tuskegee 17 Johnson C. Smith 7 Memorial Stadium Charlotte, North Carolina
December 1, 2007 Tuskegee 58 Virginia Union 51 Charlie W. Johnson Stadium Columbia, South Carolina
2008
Cancelled
December 5, 2009 Tuskegee 21 Elizabeth City State 7 Charlie W. Johnson Stadium Columbia, South Carolina
December 4, 2010 Fort Valley State 9 St. Augustine's 20 A. J. McClung Stadium Columbus, Georgia
December 3, 2011 Miles 33 Johnson C. Smith 35 A. J. McClung Stadium Columbus, Georgia
December 4, 2012 Tuskegee 13 Elizabeth City State 28 A. J. McClung Stadium Columbus, Georgia

Of the 14 games played between HBCUs, SIAC teams won 9 and CIAA teams won 5.

Cancelled games

Date scheduled SIAC team CIAA team Venue Location Ref.
December 15, 2002 Tuskegee Bowie State Raymond James Stadium Tampa, Florida [3]
December 6, 2008 Tuskegee Charlie W. Johnson Stadium Columbia, South Carolina [4]
December 7, 2013 Albany State [5][6]
2014 [7][8]

See also

References

  1. ^ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0543633/
  2. ^ Coffin, Phil (December 12, 1979). "The name of the game". The Courier-Journal. Louisville, Kentucky. p. B 11. Retrieved May 10, 2019 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Officials call off Pioneer Bowl". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. AP. December 7, 2002. Retrieved April 13, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "SIAC, CIAA suspend bowl". Montgomery Advertiser. Montgomery, Alabama. November 2, 2008. Retrieved April 13, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Pioneer Bowl Cancelled". thesiac.com (Press release). November 20, 2013. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  6. ^ Millikan, John (November 19, 2013). "Pioneer Bowl cancelled, ending Albany State's football season". The Albany Herald. Albany, Georgia. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  7. ^ "Pioneer Bowl Cancelled". thesiac.com (Press release). November 22, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  8. ^ "CIAA® AND SIAC CANCEL 2014 PIONEER BOWL". theciaa.com (Press release). November 23, 2014. Retrieved April 13, 2017.