The Bluebonnet Bowl was an annual college football bowl game played in Houston, Texas.Foldesy, Jody. "Bowls burgeon as big business", The Washington Times. December 21, 1997. Page A1. A civic group was appointed by the Houston Chamber of Commerce Athletics Committee in 1959 to organize the bowl game. It was held at Rice Stadium from 1959 through 1967, and again in 1985 and 1986. The game was played in the Astrodome from 1968 through 1984, as well in 1987. When held in the Astrodome, it was called the Astro-Bluebonnet Bowl. The proceeds from the bowl games were distributed to various Harris County charitable organizations. The game was discontinued following the 1987 season due to poor ticket sales and lack of a title sponsor.
The Bluebonnet Bowl generally featured a team from Texas against an out-of-state opponent; 19 out of the 29 games involved a team from Texas. From 1980 to 1987, with the exception of 1981, a runner-up from the Southwest Conference played against an at-large opponent. The hometown Houston Cougars played in four games, all before joining the SWC. Runners-up from the Big 8 or Southeastern Conferences were also perennial participants.
The bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas.
Bowl games returned to Houston in 2000 with the Houston Bowl, and then the Texas Bowl since 2006.
Game results Season Date Winner Loser VenueAttendance1959 December 19 #11 Clemson 23 #7 TCU 7 RiceStadium55,0001960 December 17 #9 Alabama (tie) 3 #17 Texas 368,0001961 December 17 #15 Kansas 33 Rice 7 52,0001962 December 22 #11 Missouri 14 #12 Georgia Tech 10 55,0001963 December 21 #20 Baylor 14 LSU 7 50,0001964 December 19 #18 Tulsa 14 Ole Miss 750,0001965 December 18 #7 Tennessee 27 #16 Tulsa 6 40,0001966 December 17 Texas 19 Ole Miss 067,0001967 December 23 #13 Colorado 31 Miami 21 30,1561968 December 31 #16 SMU 28 #15 Oklahoma 27 Astrodome53,5431969 December 31 #16 Houston 36 #12 Auburn 7 55,2031970 December 31 Alabama (tie) 24 #20 Oklahoma 2453,8291971 December 31 #7 Colorado 29 #14 Houston 1754,7201972 December 30 #11 Tennessee 24 #10 LSU 17 52,9611973 December 29 #13 Houston 47 #15 Tulane 744,3581974 December 23 Houston (tie) 31 #9 NC State 3135,1221975 December 27 #9 Texas 38 #10 Colorado 21 52,7481976 December 31 #13 Nebraska 27 #8 Texas Tech 2448,6181977 December 31 #20 USC 47 #17 Texas A&M 2852,8421978 December 31 #20 Stanford 25 #7 Georgia 2234,0841979 December 31 #12 Purdue 27 Tennessee 2240,5421980 December 31 #11 North Carolina 16 Texas 7 36,6671981 December 31 #13 Michigan 33 #16 UCLA 1440,3091982 December 31 #12 Arkansas 28 #19 Florida 2431,5571983 December 31 Oklahoma State 24 #17 Baylor 1450,0901984 December 31 West Virginia 31 TCU 1443,2601985 December 31 #7 Air Force 24 Texas 16 RiceStadium42,0001986 December 31 #14 Baylor 21 Colorado 940,4761987 December 31 Texas 32 #18 Pittsburgh 27 Astrodome23,282
Record by conference Conference Games Wins Losses Ties SWC 16 7 8 1 SEC 13 2 9 2 Big 8 10 6 3 1 Independent 8 3 4 1 ACC 3 2 0 1 Pac-10 3 2 1 0 Big Ten 2 2 0 0 MVC 2 1 1 0 WAC 1 1 0 0
Teams with multiple appearances
Team Conference Games Wins Losses Ties Texas SWC 6 3 2 1 Houston Independent 4 2 1 1 Colorado Big 8 4 2 2 0 Baylor SWC 3 2 1 0 Tennessee SEC 3 2 1 0 Tulsa Missouri Valley 2 1 1 0 Alabama SEC 2 0 0 2 LSU SEC 2 0 2 0 Ole Miss SEC 2 0 2 0 TCU SWC 2 0 2 0
Media The Bluebonnet Bowl was broadcast by: CBS (1959–1963) ABC (1964–1967) Syndication (1968–1972) ABC (1973–1975) TVS Television Network (1976) Mizlou Television Network (1977–1981) ESPN (1982) Mizlou (1983) ESPN (1984) USA Network/Lorimar Sports Network (1985) Raycom Sports (1986) Mizlou (1987)
See also List of college bowl games
References