The Wheat Bowl is the only National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics endorsed Pre-Season bowl game. The Wheat Bowl Football Classic is headquartered in the Central Kansas town of Ellinwood and is played in nearby Great Bend annually as the kickoff for the NAIA season.[3]
In 1995 and 1996, the game was played as a "post-season" game. Beginning in 1997, the Wheat Bowl Football Classic was successfully switched to a pre-season contest to eliminate several potential obstacles: the possibility of inclement weather, conflicts with Kansas State University and University of Kansas home games as well as conflicts with high school playoffs.
Due to facilities not being available, no game was played in 2007. The next game was scheduled for August 23, 2008 at the newly-renovated Great Bend Memorial Stadium.[4] According to the bowl website, it appears that the game was not played as originally scheduled.
Community College
There was a game called the "Wheat Bowl" played between Kansas Community Colleges from 1948 to 1950. Although the name is the same, the organization was completely different. This particular bowl is now defunct.[5]
Official Website
http://www.wheatbowl.net/
References
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