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Aloha Bowl
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| Aloha Bowl (defunct) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Stadium | Aloha Stadium |
| Location | Honolulu, Hawaii |
| Operated | 1982–2000 |
| Preceded by | Pineapple Bowl |
| Succeeded by | Hawaii Bowl |
| Sponsors | |
| Former names | |
Jeep-Eagle Aloha Bowl Jeep Aloha Bowl | |
The Aloha Bowl was a college football bowl game played in Honolulu, Hawaii, at Aloha Stadium. Certified by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), the game featured teams from Division I-A (later known as the Football Bowl Subdivision).
History
[edit]The Aloha Bowl was established in 1982 by Mackay Yanagisawa, a sportsman from Oahu.[1] With the exception of the 1983–1986 playings, the Aloha Bowl was traditionally played on Christmas morning in Honolulu.[2] For most of its playings, the game was sponsored by Jeep Corporation.[3] The bowl originally applied for certification by the NCAA Division I Championship Committee in 1981, but certification was delayed until 1982. The inaugural game was played in 1982 and the last game was played in 2000, after it lost its sponsorship as a result of a corporate merger between Jeep and DaimlerChrysler. In 1998 and 1999, the Aloha Bowl was part of a doubleheader followed by the Oahu Bowl; the 1998 event was the first televised doubleheader in American college football history.[1]
After Jeep dropped its sponsorship, the bowl committees of the Hawaiian bowl games elected to move the games to the U.S. mainland. The Oahu Bowl moved to Seattle and was played as the Seattle Bowl for two years.[4][5] The Aloha Bowl was to move to San Francisco, but before the move could be completed the game lost its bowl certification. San Francisco later received a bowl game, first played in December 2002 as the San Francisco Bowl, which later operated under several other names. Hawaii did not remain without a bowl for long, however, as a new bowl committee received certification in 2002 for a Christmastime game, the Hawaii Bowl, at Aloha Stadium.
The Aloha Bowl was preceded years earlier by the Poi Bowl (late 1930s) and Pineapple Bowl (1940s and early 1950s).
Game results
[edit]| Date | Winner | Loser | Attendance | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 25, 1982 | #9 Washington | 21 | #16 Maryland | 20 | 30,055 | notes |
| December 26, 1983 | Penn State | 13 | Washington | 10 | 37,212 | notes |
| December 29, 1984 | #10 SMU | 27 | #17 Notre Dame | 20 | 41,777 | notes |
| December 28, 1985 | #13 Alabama | 24 | USC | 3 | 35,183 | notes |
| December 27, 1986 | #13 Arizona | 30 | North Carolina | 21 | 26,743 | notes |
| December 25, 1987 | #10 UCLA | 20 | Florida | 16 | 24,839 | notes |
| December 25, 1988 | #18 Washington State | 24 | #14 Houston | 22 | 35,132 | notes |
| December 25, 1989 | #22 Michigan State | 33 | #19 Hawaii | 13 | 50,000 | notes |
| December 25, 1990 | Syracuse | 28 | Arizona | 0 | 14,185 | notes |
| December 25, 1991 | Georgia Tech | 18 | #17 Stanford | 17 | 34,433 | notes |
| December 25, 1992 | Kansas | 23 | #23 BYU | 20 | 42,933 | notes |
| December 25, 1993 | #17 Colorado | 41 | #24 Fresno State | 30 | 44,009 | notes |
| December 25, 1994 | #25 Boston College | 12 | #8 Kansas State | 7 | 44,862 | notes |
| December 25, 1995 | #11 Kansas | 51 | #24 UCLA | 30 | 41,111 | notes |
| December 25, 1996 | Navy | 42 | Cal | 38 | 43,380 | notes |
| December 25, 1997 | #21 Washington | 51 | #25 Michigan State | 23 | 44,598 | notes |
| December 25, 1998 | Colorado | 51 | #21 Oregon | 43 | 46,451 | notes |
| December 25, 1999 | Wake Forest | 23 | Arizona State | 3 | 40,974 | notes |
| December 25, 2000 | Boston College | 31 | Arizona State | 17 | 24,397 | notes |
Appearances by team
[edit]| Rank | Team | Appearances | Wins | Losses | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington | 3 | 2 | 1 | .667 |
| T2 | Boston College | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| T2 | Colorado | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| T2 | Arizona State | 2 | 0 | 2 | .000 |
| T2 | Kansas | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1.000 |
| T2 | Arizona | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| T2 | Michigan State | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| T2 | UCLA | 2 | 1 | 1 | .500 |
| T3 | Alabama | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| T3 | Georgia Tech | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| T3 | Navy | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| T3 | Penn State | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| T3 | SMU | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| T3 | Syracuse | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| T3 | Wake Forest | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| T3 | Washington State | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 |
| T3 | BYU | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| T3 | Cal | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| T3 | Florida | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| T3 | Fresno State | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| T3 | Hawaii | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| T3 | Houston | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| T3 | Kansas State | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| T3 | Maryland | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| T3 | North Carolina | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| T3 | Notre Dame | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| T3 | Oregon | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| T3 | Stanford | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
| T3 | USC | 1 | 0 | 1 | .000 |
Appearances by conference
[edit]| Rank | Conference | Appearances | Record | Win % | # of Teams | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pac-10 | 14 | 5–9 | .357 | 9 | Washington (2–1)
Arizona (1–1) UCLA (1–1) Arizona State (0–2) Washington State (1–0) Cal (0–1) Oregon (0–1) Stanford (0–1) USC (0–1) |
| T2 | ACC | 4 | 2–2 | .500 | 4 | Georgia Tech (1–0)
Maryland (0–1) North Carolina (0–1) Wake Forest (1–0) |
| T2 | Big Eight | 4 | 3–1 | .750 | 3 | Kansas (2–0)
Colorado (1–0) Kansas State (0–1) |
| T2 | Independent | 4 | 3–1 | .750 | 3 | Navy (1–0)
Notre Dame (0–1) Penn State (1–0) Syracuse (1–0) |
| 5 | WAC | 3 | 0–3 | .000 | 3 | BYU (0–1)
Fresno State (0–1) Hawaii (0–1) |
| T6 | Big East | 2 | 2–0 | 1.000 | 1 | Boston College (2–0) |
| T6 | Big Ten | 2 | 1–1 | .500 | 1 | Michigan State (1–1) |
| T6 | SEC | 2 | 1–1 | .500 | 2 | Alabama (1–0)
Florida (0–1) |
| T6 | SWC | 2 | 1–1 | .500 | 2 | SMU (1–0)
Houston (0–1) |
| 10 | Big 12 | 1 | 1–0 | 1.000 | 1 | Colorado (1–0) |
*Note: Table based on conference affiliation at the time the game was played and may not represent current conference alignment.
Television
[edit]Most editions of the Aloha Bowl were televised by ABC (1986–2000).
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Cisco, Dan (1999). Hawaiʻi Sports: History, Facts, and Statistics. University of Hawaii Press. p. 152. ISBN 978-0-8248-2121-0. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ Worldmark Encyclopedia of the States. Thomson Gale. 1 January 2007. p. 221. ISBN 978-1-4144-1121-7. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ Gietschier, Steve (1 November 1999). Chase's sports calendar of events. Contemporary Books. ISBN 978-0-8092-2600-9. Retrieved 29 April 2012.
- ^ "Aloha Sports suing NCAA". Star Bulletin. 31 March 2004. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
- ^ "Bowl bids aloha to Hawaii". Bcheights.com. 1 May 2001. Archived from the original on 2007-12-28. Retrieved 26 August 2008.
Aloha Bowl
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Background and Organization
Establishment and Founding
The Aloha Bowl was founded in 1982 by Mackay Yanagisawa, a Honolulu businessman, sports promoter, and manager of Aloha Stadium, who sought to establish a prominent postseason college football event in Hawaii.[5][6] Known as the "Shogun" of Hawaii sports for his earlier creation of the Hula Bowl in 1947, Yanagisawa aimed to revive major bowl game traditions in the state, marking the first such event since the minor Poi Bowl of the late 1930s and the Pineapple Bowl, which last occurred in 1952.[1][7] The bowl's creation was driven by the goal of enhancing Hawaii's visibility as a holiday destination, stimulating tourism through team visits and fan travel during the off-peak Christmas season, and highlighting Hawaiian culture via pre-game festivities and the event's thematic embrace of the aloha spirit.[8][9] It also provided a neutral-site opportunity for mid-tier NCAA Division I-A programs, allowing competitive teams without major bowl berths to extend their seasons in a unique Pacific setting.[10] Team selection in the early years focused on at-large invitations to non-conference independents or representatives from smaller conferences, eschewing formal tie-ins with major leagues until subsequent expansions.[7] The inaugural game on December 25, 1982, pitted the Washington Huskies (9-2 entering) against the Maryland Terrapins (8-3) at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, drawing national attention with Washington's narrow 21-20 victory and setting the stage for the bowl's growth as a holiday tradition.[10][11]Sponsorship and Administration
The Aloha Bowl was administered by the Aloha Bowl Committee, a nonprofit organization founded in 1982 by Mackay Yanagisawa, a prominent Hawaii sports promoter who served as its executive director and chairman. Under Yanagisawa's leadership, the committee managed all aspects of the bowl's operations, including event logistics, adherence to NCAA regulations for bowl certification, and building partnerships with local communities and stakeholders to ensure the game's viability as a postseason event. Yanagisawa, often called the "shogun of Hawaii sports" for his role in establishing multiple major events like the Hula Bowl and Pro Bowl, emphasized community engagement and compliance to position the Aloha Bowl as a respected NCAA-sanctioned game.[12][13] Following Yanagisawa's health challenges in the mid-1980s, leadership transitioned to a professional team, including executive director Marcia Klompus and CEO Lenny Klompus, who handled day-to-day administration from their base in Honolulu after relocating from Maryland in 1984. The committee operated as the central governing body, coordinating with the NCAA, selecting participating teams through a dedicated subcommittee, and overseeing financial and promotional activities to maintain the bowl's status. This structure allowed the organization to navigate operational complexities, such as venue arrangements at Aloha Stadium and compliance with postseason eligibility rules.[13][14][15] The bowl's financial backbone was anchored by title sponsorship from the Jeep division of Chrysler Corporation, which began in 1987 and renamed the event the Jeep-Eagle Aloha Bowl, providing essential funding for player prizes, pre-game festivities, and nationwide marketing campaigns. This partnership, which lasted through 2000, represented the longest-running corporate title sponsorship in the bowl's history and helped offset high operational expenses by injecting corporate resources into production and promotion.[9][16] The economic model relied heavily on a mix of ticket revenues, additional corporate alliances, and collaboration with the Hawaii Tourism Authority for promotional support, creating a symbiotic relationship between the event and Hawaii's visitor industry. These elements funded the committee's activities and generated indirect economic benefits through visitor expenditures on travel, lodging, and local services during the holiday season. However, the model faced mounting pressures from escalating costs associated with long-distance team travel to Hawaii and intensifying competition from the proliferation of other NCAA bowl games in the 1990s, which diluted team participation and revenue streams, culminating in financial strains that challenged the committee's sustainability. The Jeep-DaimlerChrysler merger in 1998 further exacerbated these issues by ending the title sponsorship after the 2000 game.[17][18]Venue and Game Format
The Aloha Bowl was held annually at Aloha Stadium in Aiea, Hawaii, located in Central Oahu near Honolulu.[19] This 50,000-seat multi-purpose venue, which opened on September 12, 1975, was selected for its modern design featuring four movable seating sections and its position in Hawaii's tropical paradise, providing an accessible and scenic location for mainland visitors.[19][20] The stadium debuted as host for the inaugural Aloha Bowl on December 25, 1982, when Washington defeated Maryland 21–20.[20] As a neutral-site postseason college football bowl game certified by the NCAA, the Aloha Bowl typically featured matchups between two teams outside the top 25 rankings, often pitting a squad from the Western United States (such as from the Pac-10 or Western Athletic Conference) against an opponent from the Eastern or Midwestern regions (including teams from the Big East, ACC, or Big Ten).[9][21] The game was primarily scheduled on Christmas Day, with adjustments to late December dates in the early years such as December 26 in 1983 and December 25 in 1989; in its final years (1998–2000), it was part of a Christmas Day doubleheader with the Oahu Bowl.[10] Pre-game festivities at the Aloha Bowl incorporated elements of Hawaiian culture, including luau-style events with traditional feasts, hula dance performances, and interactive fan zones that celebrated island heritage, all officiated by neutral NCAA referees to maintain impartiality.[22] Attendance at the Aloha Bowl averaged between 20,000 and 30,000 fans in the mid-1990s, with figures including 20,092 in 1994–1995, 20,780 in 1995–1996, and 19,467 in 1996–1997; it peaked above 30,000 in the late 1990s, reaching 34,419 in 1997–1998 and over 40,000 in 1999–2000, boosted by popular matchups and the doubleheader format in the final seasons.[23]Historical Development
Inception and Early Years (1982–1989)
The Aloha Bowl debuted on December 25, 1982, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii, marking the first NCAA-certified postseason college football game held in the state since the Pineapple Bowl in the early 1950s. The inaugural matchup pitted the ninth-ranked Washington Huskies against the 16th-ranked Maryland Terrapins, with Washington securing a narrow 21–20 victory in a tightly contested defensive battle. This game established the bowl's format as an at-large postseason event inviting teams from various conferences, emphasizing Hawaii's appeal as a tropical destination for holiday festivities.[24] The early years from 1983 to 1986 featured competitive but often low-scoring games, such as the 1983 edition where Penn State defeated Washington 13–10 in a grueling defensive struggle totaling just 23 points, highlighting the physical toll of trans-Pacific travel on teams and players. Attendance fluctuated modestly during this period, peaking at 41,777 for the 1984 SMU–Notre Dame clash before declining to 35,185 in 1985 (Alabama over USC, 24–3) and further to 23,743 in 1986 (Arizona over North Carolina, 30–21), reflecting challenges in drawing large crowds amid competition from local events like the Hula Bowl and Pro Bowl. Logistical hurdles, including exorbitant travel expenses—such as the $500,000 guarantee paid to UCLA for the 1987 game—deterred some programs and contributed to perceptions of fatigue impacting performance.[3][9] A pivotal shift occurred in 1987 with the securing of a two-year television contract with ABC (with an option for a third year), which aired the UCLA–Florida game (UCLA 20–16) and boosted national viewership by moving away from purely local appeal. Around this time, the bowl gained the Jeep Eagle sponsorship from Chrysler's Eagle Division, providing financial stability starting in 1986. By 1989, the event reached a milestone with the University of Hawaii's first participation as the host team against Michigan State, though the Rainbow Warriors fell 33–13 in a game marred by eight turnovers; this appearance underscored growing local ties and the bowl's evolution into a more established postseason fixture.[9][25][26]Expansion and Peak Era (1990–1997)
The Aloha Bowl entered a phase of expansion in the early 1990s by forging connections with major conferences, beginning with the Big East in 1990, which brought Syracuse to Honolulu for a dominant 28–0 shutout of Arizona in rainy conditions at Aloha Stadium.[27][28] This matchup marked one of the bowl's first high-profile Eastern-Western confrontations, elevating its prestige beyond regional WAC ties. By 1992, the event attracted stronger national competition, including Pac-10 representatives like Stanford in prior years and Washington State from 1988, alongside WAC powerhouse BYU, which faced Kansas in a close 23–20 loss, signaling the bowl's growing appeal to top-tier programs. The 1991 game exemplified the era's competitive intensity, as Georgia Tech rallied for an 18–17 victory over Stanford on a late punt return and two-point conversion, bolstering the Yellow Jackets' profile as defending national champions from 1990 while finishing their season at 8–5.[29][30] These early highlights drew broader media attention and set the stage for the bowl's maturation, with teams from diverse conferences contributing to memorable upsets and rivalries. From 1995 to 1997, the Aloha Bowl achieved its zenith in popularity, averaging approximately 35,000 attendees per game amid rising revenue from sponsorships and tourism tie-ins, as underdog narratives captivated audiences. The 1996 thriller saw Navy overcome California 42–38 in a high-scoring affair totaling 1,080 yards, drawing 30,411 fans and showcasing the Midshipmen's resilient option attack led by quarterback Ben Fay's late touchdowns.[31] Similarly, the 1997 Washington-Michigan State matchup attracted 34,419 spectators for a 51–23 Huskies rout, underscoring the bowl's role in highlighting Pacific Northwest talent against Big Ten foes.[32] Throughout this period, the Aloha Bowl deepened its cultural ties to Hawaii by incorporating Polynesian-themed halftime performances featuring local artists and traditional dances, alongside player excursions to luaus and island landmarks that enriched the event's exotic allure and differentiated it from mainland bowls.[33] These elements, including 1990's halftime show with Hawaiian group The Lovenotes and performer Bruno, fostered a sense of integration between collegiate football and indigenous hospitality, boosting the bowl's unique identity.[34]Final Years and Discontinuation (1998–2000)
In an effort to sustain interest and boost visibility during its later years, the Aloha Bowl adopted a doubleheader format in 1998 and 1999, pairing it with the newly established Oahu Bowl on Christmas Day at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.[17] This arrangement featured the Aloha Bowl as the opener, followed immediately by the Oahu Bowl, creating a rare same-day postseason event in college football.[17] The 1998 edition saw Colorado defeat Oregon 51–43 in a high-scoring affair attended by 46,451 spectators, while the 1999 game pitted Wake Forest against Arizona State, with the Demon Deacons securing a 23–3 victory before 40,974 fans.[10] These doubleheaders, sponsored by Jeep, marked an innovative response to competitive pressures but highlighted emerging challenges in maintaining robust participation and revenue for mid-tier bowls.[10] The 2000 Aloha Bowl served as the event's finale, with Boston College rallying to beat Arizona State 31–17 in front of a noticeably diminished crowd of 24,397 at Aloha Stadium.[10] This low attendance, down significantly from prior years, underscored growing financial strains, including rising operational costs and difficulties in attracting teams amid an expanding postseason landscape.[10] By the late 1990s, the number of NCAA-certified bowl games had surged from 15 in 1980 to 25, diluting the appeal and viability of non-BCS events like the Aloha Bowl by spreading limited team pools thinner and intensifying competition for sponsorships and television slots.[35] Jeep's title sponsorship, concluded after the 2000 season, exacerbated by the 1998 merger of parent company Chrysler with Daimler-Benz to form DaimlerChrysler, which shifted corporate priorities and ended support for the bowls.[36] In response, organizers sought to relocate the Aloha Bowl to San Francisco's Pac Bell Park for 2001, with NCAA approval granted in April of that year to facilitate the move alongside the Oahu Bowl's shift to Seattle.[36] However, the relocation failed due to unresolved issues with television partners like ESPN and ABC, as well as the lack of finalized agreements with Jeep, leading to the loss of NCAA certification.[36] The discontinuation was further compounded by post-9/11 economic shifts in 2001, which severely impacted Hawaii's tourism-dependent economy and increased travel costs and hesitancy for mainland teams and fans to journey to the islands.[37] These factors, combined with the broader oversaturation of bowls, rendered mid-tier events like the 19-game Aloha Bowl series (1982–2000) unsustainable, paving the way for a new iteration, the Hawaii Bowl, to emerge in 2002.[10][38]Games and Results
List of Games
The Aloha Bowl featured 19 games played exclusively at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii, as a neutral-site postseason matchup with no home-field advantages enforced for either participating team.[10] The following table provides a complete chronological record of all games, including dates, teams, final scores, attendance figures, and most valuable players (MVPs) where documented. The event was officially titled the Aloha Bowl from 1982 to 1997 and renamed the Aloha Classic from 1998 to 2000.[10]| Year | Date | Winning Team | Score | Losing Team | Score | Attendance | MVP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Dec 25 | Washington | 21 | Maryland | 20 | 30,055 | N/A |
| 1983 | Dec 26 | Penn State | 13 | Washington | 10 | 37,212 | N/A |
| 1984 | Dec 29 | Southern Methodist | 27 | Notre Dame | 20 | 41,777 | N/A |
| 1985 | Dec 28 | Alabama | 24 | USC | 3 | 35,183 | N/A |
| 1986 | Dec 27 | Arizona | 30 | North Carolina | 21 | 26,743 | N/A |
| 1987 | Dec 25 | UCLA | 20 | Florida | 16 | 24,839 | N/A |
| 1988 | Dec 25 | Washington State | 24 | Houston | 22 | 35,132 | N/A |
| 1989 | Dec 25 | Michigan State | 33 | Hawaii | 13 | 50,000 | RB Blake Ezor (Michigan State) |
| 1990 | Dec 25 | Syracuse | 28 | Arizona | 0 | 14,185 | N/A |
| 1991 | Dec 25 | Georgia Tech | 18 | Stanford | 17 | 34,433 | N/A |
| 1992 | Dec 25 | Kansas | 23 | BYU | 20 | 42,933 | N/A |
| 1993 | Dec 25 | Colorado | 41 | Fresno State | 30 | 44,009 | N/A |
| 1994 | Dec 25 | Boston College | 12 | Kansas State | 7 | 44,862 | LB Mike Mamula (Boston College) |
| 1995 | Dec 25 | Kansas | 51 | UCLA | 30 | 41,111 | N/A |
| 1996 | Dec 25 | Navy | 42 | California | 38 | 43,380 | QB Chris McCoy (Navy) |
| 1997 | Dec 25 | Washington | 51 | Michigan State | 23 | 44,598 | RB Rashaan Shehee (Washington) |
| 1998 | Dec 25 | Colorado | 51 | Oregon | 43 | 46,451 | N/A |
| 1999 | Dec 25 | Wake Forest | 23 | Arizona State | 3 | 40,974 | QB Ben Sankey (Wake Forest) |
| 2000 | Dec 25 | Boston College | 31 | Arizona State | 17 | 24,397 | N/A |
Notable Games and Moments
One of the most memorable upsets in Aloha Bowl history occurred in the 1990 edition, where Syracuse defeated Arizona 28–0 in a dominant shutout performance. This victory snapped Arizona's 214-game scoring streak, the second-longest in NCAA history at the time, as the Wildcats failed to advance beyond Syracuse's 28-yard line. With quarterback Marvin Graves leading the offense and earning MVP honors, Syracuse's defense held Arizona scoreless for the first time in 19 years, marking a significant defensive milestone for the Orangemen in their 7-4-2 season finale.[39][40] Another notable upset came in 1992 when unranked Kansas edged out the 21st-ranked BYU Cougars 23–20 on a dramatic 48-yard field goal by kicker Dan Eichloff with under three minutes remaining. Despite BYU entering with a 10-2 record and strong offensive threats like running back Hema Heimuli, Kansas mounted a 15-play drive to secure the win, highlighting the Jayhawks' resilience in their 8-4 campaign. This close contest exemplified the Aloha Bowl's capacity for unexpected outcomes against higher-ranked opponents.[41][42] The 1996 Aloha Bowl between Navy and California stands out for its record-breaking offensive output, with the Midshipmen prevailing 42–38 in a high-scoring thriller that totaled 80 points. Navy's backup quarterback Ben Fay rushed for two crucial fourth-quarter touchdowns, contributing to a combined 1,080 yards of total offense—the most in Aloha Bowl history—and finishing the game with 646 yards for the Mids alone. This matchup, coached by Steve Mariucci in his final game at Cal, showcased explosive plays including a 100-yard kickoff return by Cal's Deltha O'Neal, underscoring the bowl's reputation for entertaining, wide-open football.[43][31] The 1988 Aloha Bowl featured a tense defensive battle as Washington State held off Houston 24–22, with all Cougar points scored in the second quarter and a critical late fumble by the Cougars sealing the victory. This game highlighted turnover-forced drama, as Houston mounted a comeback but lost possession at the 5-yard line with under three minutes left, preventing a potential tying score. Washington State's win marked their first bowl victory in 72 years, propelled by quarterback Chris Rosenbach's performance amid a flurry of interceptions and fumbles that extended the contest's intensity.[44][45] Culturally, the 1989 Aloha Bowl drew exceptional local support when host Hawaii faced Michigan State before an announced crowd of 50,000 at Aloha Stadium, one of the largest attendances in the bowl's history and reflecting the island's passion for the Rainbow Warriors. Michigan State capitalized on eight Hawaii turnovers to win 33–13, with running back Blake Ezor setting an Aloha Bowl rushing record of 179 yards and three touchdowns, but the event fostered a vibrant community atmosphere unique to the home-team matchup.[46][26]Participation Statistics
Appearances by Team
The Aloha Bowl featured 29 unique teams across its 19 games from 1982 to 2000, resulting in 38 total team appearances when accounting for repeat participants.[10] Eight teams made multiple appearances, with the University of Washington being the only program to play three times, finishing with a 2–1 record. Boston College, Colorado, and Kansas each appeared twice and went undefeated at 2–0, representing the strongest individual records in the bowl's history. No team achieved three or more appearances beyond Washington's trio.[10] The table below summarizes all participating teams, sorted by number of appearances (descending), then by winning percentage, then alphabetically. Records reflect outcomes in Aloha Bowl/Aloha Classic games only, with years and results noted for context.| Team | Appearances | Record (W–L) | Years and Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 3 | 2–1 | 1982 (W vs. Maryland), 1983 (L to Penn State), 1997 (W vs. Michigan State) |
| Boston College | 2 | 2–0 | 1994 (W vs. Kansas State), 2000 (W vs. Arizona State) |
| Colorado | 2 | 2–0 | 1993 (W vs. Fresno State), 1998 (W vs. Oregon) |
| Kansas | 2 | 2–0 | 1992 (W vs. BYU), 1995 (W vs. UCLA) |
| Arizona | 2 | 1–1 | 1986 (W vs. North Carolina), 1990 (L to Syracuse) |
| Michigan State | 2 | 1–1 | 1989 (W vs. Hawaii), 1997 (L to Washington) |
| UCLA | 2 | 1–1 | 1987 (W vs. Florida), 1995 (L to Kansas) |
| Arizona State | 2 | 0–2 | 1999 (L to Wake Forest), 2000 (L to Boston College) |
| Alabama | 1 | 1–0 | 1985 (W vs. USC) |
| Georgia Tech | 1 | 1–0 | 1991 (W vs. Stanford) |
| Navy | 1 | 1–0 | 1996 (W vs. California) |
| Penn State | 1 | 1–0 | 1983 (W vs. Washington) |
| SMU | 1 | 1–0 | 1984 (W vs. Notre Dame) |
| Syracuse | 1 | 1–0 | 1990 (W vs. Arizona) |
| Wake Forest | 1 | 1–0 | 1999 (W vs. Arizona State) |
| Washington State | 1 | 1–0 | 1988 (W vs. Houston) |
| BYU | 1 | 0–1 | 1992 (L to Kansas) |
| California | 1 | 0–1 | 1996 (L to Navy) |
| Florida | 1 | 0–1 | 1987 (L to UCLA) |
| Fresno State | 1 | 0–1 | 1993 (L to Colorado) |
| Hawaii | 1 | 0–1 | 1989 (L to Michigan State) |
| Houston | 1 | 0–1 | 1988 (L to Washington State) |
| Kansas State | 1 | 0–1 | 1994 (L to Boston College) |
| Maryland | 1 | 0–1 | 1982 (L to Washington) |
| North Carolina | 1 | 0–1 | 1986 (L to Arizona) |
| Notre Dame | 1 | 0–1 | 1984 (L to SMU) |
| Oregon | 1 | 0–1 | 1998 (L to Colorado) |
| Stanford | 1 | 0–1 | 1991 (L to Georgia Tech) |
| USC | 1 | 0–1 | 1985 (L to Alabama) |
Appearances by Conference
The Aloha Bowl's participation reflected evolving conference affiliations, beginning with at-large selections in its inaugural years before adopting formal tie-ins. There were no official conference partnerships until 1987, when the bowl established a tie-in with the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) to secure a western representative. From 1990 to 1997, the Big East Conference became the designated eastern partner, fostering consistent matchups between regional powers and enhancing the bowl's appeal as a coast-to-coast showdown. Independents like Penn State and Syracuse contributed notably to eastern appearances, particularly in the 1980s and early 1990s, bridging the gap before the Big East's formal involvement and adding high-profile matchups against western opponents.[47] Conference records in the Aloha Bowl underscore the competitive nature among major participants, with eastern and midwestern teams holding an edge in the grouped categories. The WAC and Pac-10 (grouped as western conferences) compiled a 5–12 record across their appearances, achieving a win percentage of .294. Eastern conferences and independents (Big East and unaffiliated programs) recorded 5–1, while the Big Ten and Big Eight/Big 12 combined for 5–2. These outcomes reflect varied regional performance, with upsets common throughout the bowl's run.[10]| Conference Group | Record | Win % |
|---|---|---|
| WAC/Pac-10 (Western) | 5–12 | .294 |
| Big East/Independents (Eastern) | 5–1 | .833 |
| Big Ten/Big Eight/Big 12 | 5–2 | .714 |