Bean Bowl

{{Infobox college football bowl game | name = Bean Bowl | defunct = yes | logo = | image_size = | caption = | stadium = Bearcat Stadium | location = Scottsbluff, Nebraska | years = 1949–1950 | prev_matchup_year = 1950 | prev_matchup_season= 1950 | prev_matchup_teams = Doane College vs. Colorado State | prev_matchup_score = 14-6 }} thumb|Scottsbluff Nebraska is the former home of the Bean Bowl. The '''Bean Bowl''' was a non-NCAA-sanctioned North American College Football bowl game played in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, in 1949 and 1950.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Doane University {{!}} 150th Year Anniversary Timeline |url=https://web.doane.edu/timeline/index.html |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=web.doane.edu}}</ref>

The series was short-lived. It was developed with the goal of promoting the dry bean industry from the North Platte Valley. That area of Nebraska was a major regional hub for the cultivation for dry edible beans and more specifically, Great Northern and pinto beans. This is where the bowl got its name.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dry Bean Production in Nebraska - The Early Years {{!}} CropWatch {{!}} Nebraska |url=https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2016/dry-bean-production-nebraska-early-years/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260214105419/https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2016/dry-bean-production-nebraska-early-years/ |archive-date=2026-02-14 |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=cropwatch.unl.edu |language=en}}</ref>

Local civic leaders and businessmen established the Bean Bowl not only to highlight collegiate athletics, but as a promotional vehicle to draw attention to the area's vital cash crop and drive holiday tourism. Hosted at Bearcat Stadium, a venue primarily used for local high school sports, the bowl was intentionally scheduled to become an annual Thanksgiving tradition for the community.

The game was held on Thanksgiving both years and was meant to remain on that holiday for the duration of the series.

== History == The Bean Bowl was part of a post-World War II trend of "small-college" bowl games intended to showcase regional athletes, similar to the High School Shrine Bowl. Like contemporary regional games such as the Glass Bowl or Refrigerator Bowl, it struggled with financial sustainability and logistical constraints caused by the monetary demands of the Korean War. The game was discontinued in 1950, following its second iteration.

Because the event operated outside the official sanctioning of the NCAA, it relied entirely on local ticket sales, community funding, and municipal sponsorships for its survival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dry Bean Production in Nebraska - The Early Years {{!}} CropWatch {{!}} Nebraska |url=https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2016/dry-bean-production-nebraska-early-years/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260214105419/https://cropwatch.unl.edu/2016/dry-bean-production-nebraska-early-years/ |archive-date=2026-02-14 |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=cropwatch.unl.edu |language=en}}</ref>

Today, the Bean Bowl remains a brief but unique chapter in the history of small-college football.

==Results== {| class="wikitable" ! Game ! Date ! colspan="2" | Winner ! colspan="2" | Loser ! References |- | 1949 || November 24 || '''{{cfb link|year=1949|team=Idaho State Bengals|title=Idaho State}}''' || '''20''' || {{cfb link|year=1949|team=Chadron State Eagles|title=Chadron State}} || 2 || <ref>{{cite news | title = Idaho State Bowl Victor, 20-2 | work = The New York Times | pages = 35 | date = 1949-11-25 | id = {{ProQuest|256484883}} }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://chadroneagles.com/honors/chadron-state-college-athletic-hall-of-fame/1948-football-team/146|publisher=Chadron State|title=Chadron State College Athletic Hall of Fame (1948 Football Team)|access-date=June 28, 2020}}</ref> |- | 1950 || November 23 || '''{{cfb link|year=1950|team=Doane Tigers|title=Doane}}''' || '''14''' || {{cfb link|year=1950|team=Colorado State–Greeley Bears|title=Colorado State–Greeley}} || 6 ||<ref>{{cite web | title = Doane vs. Non-Conference Opponents | publisher = Doane College | date = 2005-05-17 | url = http://www.doane.edu/Athletics/Men/Football/Stats/15882.pdf | access-date = 2007-09-30 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110716111925/http://www.doane.edu/Athletics/Men/Football/Stats/15882.pdf | archive-date = 2011-07-16 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/naia/gpac/doane/bowl_history.php College Football Data Warehouse] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728002654/http://cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/naia/gpac/doane/bowl_history.php |date=2014-07-28 }} Doane Bowl History</ref> |}

== 1949 Game == The inaugural game of this holiday event featured Idaho State College, which is now Idaho State University, against Chadron State College. This matchup was the first ever postseason appearance for Chadron State. Idaho State were the victors, defeating the Eagles 2-2 in a game that was won on defense at Bearcat Stadium. <ref>{{Cite web |title=mcubed.net : NCAA Football : Bowl Games : Bean Bowl history |url=http://mcubed.net/ncaaf/bowls/zzobeanbowl.shtml |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=mcubed.net}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chadron State Football - All-time Game Results |url=https://static.chadroneagles.com/custompages/stats/football/Career/histresu.htm |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=static.chadroneagles.com}}</ref>

That season's Chadron State team was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2011.<ref name=":1" />

== 1950 Game == The final Bean Bowl took place on November 23, 1950. The game featured Doane University, which is now Doane College, against Colorado State College. Colorado State is now known as the University of Northern Colorado. Doane is a college based in Crete, Nebraska and they won the matchup 14-6. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Enroll at the Premier Nebraska University {{!}} Doane University |url=https://www.doane.edu/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid+search&utm_campaign=branding&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22507590626&gbraid=0AAAAA9r_hPguAONBj8LNQKm7XcJIWP3uh&gclid=CjwKCAjwhLPOBhBiEiwA8_wJHEQYT3MTYspz2WnqeSODQDenUBOhJnxU5QHklmtjWxF1F-6qldQChxoC-dgQAvD_BwE |access-date=2026-04-01 |website=www.doane.edu}}</ref> The Tigers consider this bowl win to be the first won by any team from Nebraska.<ref name=":0" />

== References == <references /> *{{cite book | last = Belsky | first = Gary |author2=Neil Fine | title = 23 Ways to Get to First Base: The ESPN Encyclopedia | publisher = ESPN Books | year = 2007 | location = New York | pages = 241 | isbn = 978-1-933060-10-1 }}

Category:Defunct college football bowls