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. Proceeds went to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
The game typically consisted of 88 total players; 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." The bowl's website (now defunct) said that more than 100 players of the game later signed with the NFL. The bowl lasted through 2011, after which it was merged with the USA College Football Bowl of NCAA Division III.
Winner Date Winning team Losing team Venue Att. Ref. January 6, 1994West23East14 Fargodome 5,962 January 7, 1995West16East10 January 13, 1996East10West7 January 11, 1997West43East3 January 10, 1998West15East12 (OT) January 9, 1999West30East28 January 15, 2000West24East22 6,248 January 12, 2001West33East33 Javelina Stadium January 11, 2002East42West12 January 10, 2003East19West7 January 9, 2004West30East27 (OT) January 7, 2005East18West15 January 6, 2006West49East28 Game not played January 11, 2008East42West13 January 9, 2009West28East27 January 8, 2010West16East0 January 7, 2011Red Storm28Blue Devils6 4,200 Overall records: West over East (10–5–1) and Red Storm over Blue Devils (1–0)
Most Valuable Players Year Offensive MVP Defensive MVP Jim Langer Offensive Lineman Player School Player School Player School 1994Elvin Ashley Southwest MinnesotaAnthony Abrams ClarkKevin Robson North Dakota 1995Keith Rylance AugustanaCedric Florence Missouri SouthernAdam Timmerman South Dakota State 1996Chris Ryan ClarkRonald McKinnon North AlabamaChris Villarrial Indiana (Pa.) 1997Jason Davis Western StateRichard Jordan Missouri SouthernAndy Mazurek Minnesota State 1998Billy Holmes Northern ColoradoPaul Spicer Saginaw ValleySean McNamara Pittsburg State 1999MarTay Jenkins Nebraska-OmahaFranco Glaze West Texas A&MGreg Lotyse North Dakota 2000Corte McGuffey Northern ColoradoJosh Gentry IndianapolisNick O'Brien Texas A&M–Kingsville 2001Gerald Payne HardingJ.R. Turner Texas A&M–KingsvilleBrian Crawford Western Oregon 2002Clarence Coleman Ferris StateKeyon Nash Albany StatePeter Campion North Dakota State 2003Michael Oliva Cal-DavisSteve Josue Carson–NewmanPhil Bogle New Haven 2004Tyler Paul Emporia StateEric McDowell Missouri WesternAlan Dunn Tusculum 2005Justin Samples CatawbaKeyonta Marshall Grand Valley StateJoe Berger Michigan Tech 2006Wes Beschorner South DakotaClayton Ferrell Abilene ChristianNick Hageman South Dakota 2008Mark Nicolet HillsdaleMichael Eubanks Delta StateBrandon Barnes Grand Valley State 2009Keith Null West Texas A&MJeff Souder Nebraska-OmahaJeremy Ashcraft Arkansas Tech 2010Billy Garza Texas A&M–KingsvilleSam Scott West ChesterJ'Marcus Webb West Texas A&M 2011Eric Czerniewski Central MissouriMarc Schiechl Colorado School of MinesTrevis Turner Abilene Christian University
Players in the NFL Cactus Bowl players (2001–2010) who later appeared in the NFL. Year Name School Initial NFL Team Round-Overallor 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 List of college bowl games
References
External links cactusbowl.org from February 2010 – via Wayback Machine