[NU Sports] Is the Sun Bowl really the 2nd oldest bowl game?

[Jim Bendat]

Ever since we got the invitation to El Paso, we've been hearing that the Sun Bowl is the second oldest bowl game, trailing only the Rose Bowl in terms of longevity.

The first Sun Bowl game was held on January 1, 1935.  But the first Orange Bowl was also on January 1, 1935, and the first Sugar Bowl was held on the same exact day.  The Orange Bowl and the Sugar Bowl also claim to be the second oldest bowl.  So, what's the story?  Is it a 3-way tie for second place, or is there more to the story?  Inquiring minds wish to know.

Orange Bowl:

The first official Orange Bowl game was indeed played on January 1, 1935.  But for the two years prior to that date, another college bowl game was played in Miami, known as the Palm Festival.  It appears that the Orange Bowl evolved from the Palm Festival, but Orange Bowl promoters accept the 1935 date as the first Orange Bowl.

Sugar Bowl:

No question here.  The first game was on January 1, 1935, and it didn't evolve from any other game.

Sun Bowl:

The first Sun Bowl on January 1, 1935 was a high school game.  The first Sun Bowl game involving college teams was on January 1, 1936.

So, it would seem that the Orange Bowl may have the best claim to being the second oldest bowl game, with the Sugar Bowl right behind, and the Sun Bowl really being the 4th oldest college bowl game.

On the other hand, if each of these three games is willing to accept the January 1, 1935 date (as it seems that they are content to do), then it will be up to some other historian to find out the starting time of each of those games on that date.

Jim B.