Cactus Bowl (Division II)

This article is about the former college football all-star game held in Kingsville, Texas. For the bowl game once known as the Cactus Bowl, see Rate Bowl.
Cactus Bowl (defunct)
Logo for the 2011 game
StadiumJavelina Stadium (2001–2011)
Fargodome (1994–2000)
LocationKingsville, Texas (2001–2011)
Fargo, North Dakota (1994–2000)
Operated1994–2011
Sponsors
Valero (2008–2010)
Whataburger (2002–2006)
Former names
Snow Bowl (1994–2000)

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.[1] Proceeds went to the Shriners Hospitals for Children.[1]

The game typically consisted of 88 total players;[2] 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."[1] The bowl's website (now defunct) said that more than 100 players of the game later signed with the NFL.[1] The bowl lasted through 2011, after which it was merged with the USA College Football Bowl of NCAA Division III.[3]

  1. ^ a b c d "About the Cactus Bowl". cactusbowl.org. Archived from the original on 2010-02-05. Retrieved 2010-11-28 – via Wayback Machine.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference tamuk was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "USA College Football Bowl". Retrieved June 28, 2017.