50th Annual edition of Potato Bowl USA

September 24, 1966 was the date of the first ever Potato Bowl USA football game, billed as a battle between two of the largest potato growing regions in the United States, Idaho and the Red River Valley.

That game was played at Memorial Stadium in Grand Forks and saw the victory of the University of North Dakota, who managed to triumph over Idaho State with a categorical 41-0 score. UND posted an 8-2 record that year.

The idea of creating a week of festivities to celebrate and connect the mighty potato and (American) football goes back 50 years now and was put together by University of North Dakota Athletic Director Len Marti, Head Football Coach Marv “Whitey” Helling, Assistant Football Coach Jerry Olson and Sports Information Director Lee Bohnet.

Other festivities of the week dedicated to the celebration of potatoes include a Potato Bowl Golf Scramble happening on Tuesday, September 8, a Baked Potato Bar and a French Fry Feed and Fireworks on Thursday, September 10, as well as the KEM Shrine Potato Bowl Parade that will take place just before the football match on Saturday, Septmeber 12.

For more information about the schedule and details, as well as in to register for the event, please visit potatobowl.org.

So far, University of North Dakota is 37-12 in its first 49 Potato Bowl games.