Cherry Bowl
| Cherry Bowl (defunct) | |
|---|---|
|
poster from the 1985 Cherry Bowl | |
| Stadium | Pontiac Silverdome |
| Operated | 1984-1985 |
| Succeeded by | Motor City Bowl |
| 1985 matchup | |
| Maryland over Syracuse (35-18) | |
The Cherry Bowl was an annual post-season college football bowl game played in the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, in 1984 and 1985.[1] The Cherry Bowl is noteworthy as an early attempt to bring a game to chilly Michigan, years before the successful Motor City Bowl (later known as the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl). The Cherry Bowl and Motor City Bowl were played at the Pontiac Silverdome (the Motor City Bowl eventually moved the Ford Field). However, the bowl was not financially viable, and folded after its second year.
The Cherry Bowl inaugural 1984 game drew more than 70,000 to an Army-Michigan State matchup. This game is noteworthy as Army's first-ever bowl appearance. For 1985, the bowl ambitiously promised $1.2 million to each team, the fifth-highest payout among all bowls.
The National Anthem, Half-time, and post-game shows were performed by area high school marching bands. For the 1984 game, the National Anthem and the post-game show were performed by the Marching Railroaders from Durand, Michigan.
The mid-1980s were a time of upheaval in college football. The end of NCAA control over television rights resulted in a major increase in televised games, and TV rights fees dropped sharply amid the resulting glut, something not anticipated by the Cherry Bowl organizers.[2] Adding to their problems, without the local Michigan State team attendance for the 1985 game between Maryland and Syracuse fell by nearly 20,000.
Negotiations with General Motors to become the game's title sponsor failed. Unable to meet its payout obligation and more than $1 million in debt, the Cherry Bowl folded.[2]
Game results
| Date played | Winning team | Losing team | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 22, 1984 | Army | 10 | Michigan State | 6 | notes |
| December 21, 1985 | Maryland | 35 | Syracuse | 18 | notes |
Game summaries
1984 Cherry Bowl
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Knights | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Spartans | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
1984 saw the first edition of the Cherry Bowl, between Army and Michigan State The first quarter of the game ended without score, and a second quarter 4-yard td run by Army put them up 7-0 at halftime. A scoreless 3rd kept the score 7-0. Army made a 35-yard FG in the 4th to make it 10-0. The Spartans attempted a comeback in the 4th, as a 36 yard touchdown was completed, but the two-point conversion failed, and the scoring ended there. Army won the game, 10-6.
1985 Cherry Bowl
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #20 Terrapins | 6 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 35 |
| Orange | 3 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 18 |
What was eventually the last Cherry Bowl, the 1985 Cherry Bowl was the second to be played, this one contested by #20 Maryland and Syracuse. The scoring opened in the 1st with a 26-yard 'Cuse FG. Maryland countered with a 4-yard TD run (2-pt. conv. failed), making it 6-3. A 10-yard run in the 2nd made it 10-6 Syracuse, giving them the lead back. The Terrapins would overpower Syracuse in the 2nd and 3rd, though, scoring 29 unanswered points. Syracuse broke the streak with a 3rd quarter 17-yard touchdown + 2-point conversion. That would prove to be the last score of the game, and the 1985 Cherry Bowl ended 35-18 Maryland.