College football’s bowl season isn’t what it used to be — with players leaving to prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft or because they’ve entered the transfer portal — but bowl games are still important to many programs across the country.
They’re a big part of what makes sports special, and the postgame tradition of dropping a cooler on the head of their coach or star player after a meaningful win is a staple, but many bowl games have put on their own unique twist. traditional bath Gatorade. Some ways can be very fun, some not so much.
Let’s get to it!
Very tasty
Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl
Iced coffee? Yes, please. Coffee is the second most popular beverage in the US, with an estimated 400 million cups consumed each day. Considering it’s a fan favorite, we’ve deemed it one of the best post-game showers ever, and Memphis coach Ryan Silverfield earned that honor this year when he was doused with cold water after his team beat West Virginia in the Frisco Bowl. , 42-37, to finish the season at 11-2 and 25th in the AP Top 25 poll.
“It was actually refreshing,” Silverfield told reporters. “I’ll take it. … It smells good, thank you. We’ll know when I shower or not on the plane. It’s amazing. What a unique thing. … What a beautiful thing.”
The famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock was on the receiving end of a salty French fry following the Huskies’ thrilling 28-20 overtime victory over Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
The game marked just the second time in Northern Illinois history that they won back-to-back bowl games. After Fresno State missed the game-winning field goal, the Huskies pulled off a series of trick plays to seal the win.
A bowl of Cheez-It Citrus
The impromptu third-quarter brawl between Illinois’ Bret Bielema and South Carolina’s Shane Beamer drew a lot of attention this year at the Citrus Bowl — even after hosting an on-field wedding and allowing the Ched-Z mascot to kick a field goal. That said, Bielema enjoyed the coveted Cheez-It dump after the 21-17 win.
A bowl of Pop-Tarts
The Pop-Tarts Bowl is only two years old in its current iteration, but it has already established itself as college football bowl gamecomplete with an edible mascot that is sent to “Mouth Heaven” and later resurrected, a toaster cup and a shower of Pop-Tarts.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell enjoyed the sweet rain this year after his team pulled off a last-minute victory over Miami (Fla.), 42-41.
A little sweet
Go Bowling Military Bowl
East Carolina’s final 26-21 comeback win over in-state rival North Carolina was marred by a brawl that left eight players ejected and one official injured. Still, ECU coach Blake Harrell got a moment to end the victory, even though his postgame shower contained two buckets of small plastic nails.
ECU coach Blake Harrell smiles after his bowling pin wash at the Go Bowling Military Bowl. (Photo by Timothy Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Duke’s Mayo Bowl
Mayonnaise is a polarizing condiment. Some people like it, while others would rather eat, well – small plastic bowling pins. But for the sake of this list, we’ve deemed it one of the worst post-game showers, even though it’s become a huge bowl season tradition.
Former West Virginia head coach Neal Brown, a known mayo hater, was the target of a layoff last season after the Mountaineers won. This year, it will be the turn of Minnesota’s PJ Fleck or Virginia Tech’s Brent Pry, as the two teams square off in Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Friday night.
“That’s the great thing about college football,” Fleck said last week. “I think it’s one of those weird, really cool traditions. … I think everybody’s done it differently, but I think both head coaches are open to that because that’s what makes college football really special.
“Whether it’s, you know, Pop-Tarts or mayo or … Cheez-Is out of a Gatorade or a tub of Powerade. I mean, that’s just what makes it a little bit different and a little bit more fun.”
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