Sun Bowl

Sun Bowl
Brut Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl logo
Stadium	Sun Bowl Stadium
Location	El Paso, Texas
Previous Stadiums	El Paso High School Stadium (1935-1937) Kidd Field (1938-1962)
Operated	1935-present
Conference Tie-ins	Pac-10, Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame
Previous Conference Tie-ins	Big Ten (1995-2005)
Payout	US$1,900,000 (As of 2008[update])[1]
Sponsors
John Hancock (1986-1993) Norwest (1996-1998) Wells Fargo (1999-2003) Vitalis (2004-2005) Brut (2006-present)
Former names
Sun Bowl (1935-1985) John Hancock Sun Bowl (1986-1988) John Hancock Bowl (1989-1993) Sun Bowl (1994-1995) Norwest Sun Bowl (1996-1998) Wells Fargo Sun Bowl (1999-2003) Vitalis Sun Bowl (2004-2005)
2008 Matchup
Oregon State vs. Pittsburgh (OSU 3-0)
2009 Matchup
Pac-10 vs. Big 12 or Big East/Notre Dame (December 31)

The Sun Bowl is an annual college football bowl game that is played usually at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The game was chartered on October 18, 1934, less than 2 months before the Sugar Bowl, and has been played 75 times, making it the second oldest college bowl game. In most of its early history, the game pitted the champion of the Border Conference against an at-large opponent. Games are now played at Sun Bowl Stadium on the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso. The first three were played at El Paso High School Stadium (1935–1937), then switched to Kidd Field until the present stadium was ready in 1963. For its first 24 playings the game was played on New Year's Day; since then, with the exception of the 1977 game, the game has been played in December with the last 15 games played on or near December 31.

The game's current full title is the Brut Sun Bowl after its sponsor Brut, which is owned by Helen of Troy Limited, who also owned the previous game sponsor, Vitalis. The name change occurred August 8, 2006, after Helen of Troy extended its partnership through 2009 with the Sun Bowl Association. This marks the eighth change in the game's name. It was previously called the Sun Bowl (1935–1985 and 1994–95), John Hancock Sun Bowl (1986–1988), John Hancock Bowl (1989–1993), Norwest Sun Bowl (1996–1998), Wells Fargo Sun Bowl (1999–2003, after Norwest merged with Wells Fargo), and Vitalis Sun Bowl (2004–05).

The Brut Sun Bowl matches the Pac-10 Conference against either the Big 12 Conference, Big East Conference or the University of Notre Dame from 2006–09. The rotating deal will feature a Big 12 school twice over the next four years and a Big East school (#2 in the conference unless that school has qualified for the BCS) or Notre Dame twice from 2006–09. The Sun Bowl's selection is done in conjunction with the Gator Bowl during this contract, with the latter bowl having first choice of team to take. Since the Sun Bowl has taken Big East teams in both 2007 and 2008 (South Florida and Pittsburgh) it will take a Big 12 team in 2009. Starting in 2010, the Sun Bowl will match the Pac-10 against a team from the ACC. The ACC Championship Game loser is guaranteed to be selected no lower than this bowl with regards to the ACC's bowl partners.

Its contract with CBS Sports is the longest continuous relationship with one network, spanning since 1968. The game traditionally kicks off at "High Noon" MST, or 2 p.m. EST. Helen of Troy also sponsors the halftime show, which has recently featured such artists as Los Lonely Boys, The Village People, Rihanna, and Diamond Rio.

Game results

Sun Bowl logo used prior to corporate sponsorship, until 1986.

C.M. Hendricks Most Valuable Player

Jimmy Rogers, Jr. Most Valuable Lineman

John Folmer Most Valuable Special Teams Player

See also

• List of college bowl games
• Sun Bowl broadcasters

References

External links

• Official Website of the Sun Bowl