Aztec Bowl (game)

The Aztec Bowl (Spanish: Tazón Azteca) is an NCAA-sanctioned college division/minor (prior to 1997); AFCA Division III (since 1997) Division II/III (since 2011) post-season bowl game that has been played intermittently since 1947, traditionally in mid-December. From 1947 to 1949 the event was called the Silver Bowl, and in 1950 the name was changed to the Aztec Bowl.

History

The inaugural Silver Bowl was played in Mexico City on December 19, 1947. A Mexican college all-star team defeated Randolph Field Air Base by a score of 24–19. Randolph Field featured Doc Blanchard and Arnold Tucker, with the former accusing the Mexican team of fielding American ringers. However, according to Wilbur "Bud" Fellows of Mexico City College: "There were only two Americans on the Mexican squad–myself and Morris Williams, a tackle from Washington, D. C. It just happens that football has developed in Mexico and there are now some pretty fair native players."

With but one exception, all editions of the bowl game have been played in Mexico; the exception was the 1957 game played in San Antonio, Texas. From 1997 to 2008, under sponsorship of the American Football Coaches Association, the bowl featured a team of Division III All-Stars against a team of Mexican All-Stars. 360 Sports Events Division II/III All-American Eagles took over sponsoring players, along with ONEFA in 2010.

The 1970 and 1980 editions are considered junior college bowl games, and games played in 1947, 1948, 1952, and 1996 are considered military bowl games. No games were played in 1954–1956, 1958–1963, 1967–1969, 1972–1978, 1981–1983, 1985, and 1995.

Under the new format there were no games in 2008 and 2010 because of lack of sponsors. The Aztec Bowl returned in 2011 in Chihuahua. There was no game in 2013 because of venue issues in Mexico.

The Aztec Bowl has always been an International Bowl Game, however in 1997 the Aztec Bowl was re-formed into a Bowl Game between Small College All-Stars from the United States and Mexico, billed as Team USA vs. Team Mexico.[citation needed]

Game results

See also

• List of college bowl games
• IFAF U-19 World Cup
• World University American Football Championship