1979 Garden State Bowl

1979 Garden State Bowl
Temple Owls California Golden Bears
(9–2) (7–4[1])
28 17
Head coach: 
Wayne Hardin		 Head coach: 
Roger Theder
APCoaches
2018
1234 Total
Temple 21007 28
California 01403 17
DateDecember 15, 1979
Season1979
StadiumGiants Stadium
LocationEast Rutherford, New Jersey
MVPMark Bright
Attendance40,207
PayoutUS$225,000 (each)
Garden State Bowl
 < 1978  1980 > 

The 1979 Garden State Bowl, played on December 15, 1979, was the second edition of the Garden State Bowl. The game featured the California Golden Bears, who played in their first bowl since the 1959 Rose Bowl, and the Temple Owls, who made their first bowl appearance since the 1935 Sugar Bowl. 55,493 tickets were sold but only 40,207 fans showed on a cold 29°-day[2] in the Meadowlands to see the Owls beat the Golden Bears, 28–17. The game was nationally televised on the Mizlou Television Network.[3]

  1. ^ The Bears won 6 games in 1979 and were awarded a forfeit by Oregon due to an ineligible player.
  2. ^ "This Week In Cal History: Golden Bears Head To New Jersey For Bowl Game (1979)". CBS Sacramento. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  3. ^ "Temple Wins Garden State Bowl by 28‐17". The New York Times. December 16, 1979.