Burley Bowl

The Burley Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game played from 1945 through 1956.{{cite web |url=http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2016/bowls.pdf |title=BOWL/ALL STAR GAME RECORDS |year=2016 |publisher=NCAA |accessdate=January 7, 2017}} It was held each year on Thanksgiving Day in Johnson City, Tennessee, at the city's Memorial Stadium, which was demolished in July 2010.{{cite web |url=https://caddopubusa.wordpress.com/2010/12/31/lost-landmark-memorial-stadium-johnson-city-tn/ |title=Lost Landmark-Memorial Stadium, Johnson City (TN) |website=Historic Highway Guides |date=December 31, 2010 |accessdate=March 27, 2017}} The game was part of an annual two-day tobacco festival,{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9859716/johnson_city_plans_burley_bowl_game/ |title=Johnson City Plans Burley Bowl Game |url-access=limited |newspaper=Kingsport Times |location=Kingsport, Tennessee |via=newspapers.com |date=November 4, 1945 |accessdate=March 27, 2017}} with the name of the bowl coming from Burley tobacco. Like some other postseason match-ups of the era, such as the Grape Bowl, Glass Bowl, and Optimist Bowl, results are listed in NCAA records, but the games were not considered NCAA-sanctioned bowls.

The inaugural game was held on November 29, 1945.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9860265/burley_bowl_1945_summary/ |title=Buffaloes, High Point Struggle To 7-7 Tie In Burley Bowl Tilt |url-access=limited |newspaper=Kingsport Times |location=Kingsport, Tennessee |via=newspapers.com |date=November 30, 1945 |accessdate=March 27, 2017}} That day was the last (and fifth) Thursday of November, which was observed as Thanksgiving in Tennessee that year, despite President Truman proclaiming the holiday to be the fourth Thursday of the month.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9859914/thanksgiving_1945_tennessee/ |title=Truman Sets Nov. 22 As Thanksgiving |agency=AP |url-access=limited |newspaper=Kingsport Times |location=Kingsport, Tennessee |via=newspapers.com |date=November 13, 1945 |accessdate=March 27, 2017}}

Game results

File:BurleyBowl-Program1947.jpg

class="wikitable" ! Season	Date !! colspan="2" \| Winner !! colspan="2" \| Loser	Attendance	References
1945	November 29, 1945	align=center colspan="4" \| {{cfb link\|year=1945\|team=High Point Panthers\|title=High Point}} 7, {{cfb link\|year=1945\|team=Milligan Buffaloes\|title=Milligan}} 7	3,500
1946	November 28, 1946	Southeastern Louisiana	21	{{cfb link\|year=1946\|team=Milligan Buffaloes\|title=Milligan}}	13	7,500
1947	November 27, 1947	West Chester	20	{{cfb link\|year=1947\|team=Carson–Newman Eagles\|title=Carson–Newman}}	6	10,000	{{cite news \|last=Smith \|first=Wray \|title=Carson-Newman, West Chester State Vie in Burley Bowl Tilt \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sentinel/124296707/ \|newspaper=The Knoxville New-Sentinel \|location=Knoxville, Tennessee \|date=November 27, 1947 \|page=25 \|access-date=May 9, 2023 \|via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news \|last=Smyth \|first=Jimmy \|title=West Chester Turns Back Plucky Carson-Newman Eleven 20-6 \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/johnson-city-press/124296738/ \|newspaper=Johnson City Press-Chronicle \|location=Johnson City, Tennessee \|date=November 28, 1947 \|page=11 \|access-date=May 9, 2023 \|via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
1948	November 25, 1948	{{cfb link\|year=1948\|team=West Chester Golden Rams\|title=West Chester}}	7	Appalachian State	2	12,000	{{cite news\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90308898/west-chester-stc-gridders-whip-appalachi/\|work=Intelligencer Journal\|title=West Chester STC gridders whip Appalachian State, 7–2, in Burley Bowl\|date=November 26, 1948\|accessdate=December 9, 2021\|via=Newspapers.com}}
1949	November 24, 1949	Emory and Henry	32	Hanover	0	12,000	{{cite news\|title=Emory Downs Hanover 32-0 In Burley Bowl\|newspaper=Johnson City Press-Chronicle\|author=Jimmy Smyth\|date=November 25, 1949\|page=1B\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/johnson-city-press-emory-downs-hanover-3/167799598/\|via=Newspapers.com}}
1950	November 23, 1950	Emory and Henry	26	Appalachian State	6	12,000	{{cite news \|last=Thompson \|first=Gene \|title=Emory And Appalachian Collide In Burley Bowl \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bristol-herald-courier/142260177/ \|newspaper=Bristol Herald Courier \|location=Bristol, Virginia \|date=November 23, 1950 \|page=12 \|access-date=February 27, 2024 \|via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/90329213/emory-and-henry-stops-appalachian-state/\|work=Johnson City Press-Chronicle\|title=Emory and Henry stops Appalachian State 26 to 6 in defense of Burley Bowl crown\|date=November 24, 1950\|accessdate=December 9, 2021\|via=Newspapers.com}}
1951	November 22, 1951	Morris Harvey	27	{{cfb link\|year=1951\|team=Lebanon Valley Flying Dutchmen\|title=Lebanon Valley}}	20	9,000	{{cite news \|author= \|title=Burley Bowl Kickoff Set For 2:15 P.M. Today At Stadium \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/johnson-city-press/142772354/ \|newspaper=Johnson City Press–Chronicle \|location=Johnson City, Tennessee \|date=November 22, 1951 \|page=9A \|access-date=March 5, 2024 \|via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news \|last=Smyth \|first=Jimmy \|title=Morris Harvey Top Lebanon Valley 27-20 In Burley Bowl \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/johnson-city-press/142772458/ \|newspaper=Johnson City Press–Chronicle \|location=Johnson City, Tennessee \|date=November 23, 1951 \|page=6 \|access-date=March 5, 2024 \|via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
1952	November 27, 1952	East Tennessee State	34	{{cfb link\|year=1952\|team=Emory and Henry Wasps\|title=Emory and Henry}}	16	10,000	{{cite news \|author= \|title=Wasps Favored In Eighth Burley Bowl \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/kingsport-news/142388081/ \|newspaper=Kingsport \|location=Kingsport, Tennessee \|agency=Associated Press \|date=November 27, 1952 \|page=7 \|access-date=February 29, 2024 \|via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news \|last=Thompson \|first=Gene \|title=State Trounces Emory 34 To 16 In Burley Bowl \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bristol-herald-courier/142387848/ \|newspaper=Bristol Herald Courier \|location=Bristol, Virginia \|date=November 28, 1952 \|page=1A \|access-date=February 29, 2024 \|via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}{{cite news \|last=Thompson \|first=Gene \|title=State Trounces Emory (continued) \|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/bristol-herald-courier/142387951/ \|newspaper=Bristol Herald Courier \|location=Bristol, Virginia \|date=November 28, 1952 \|page=1C \|access-date=February 29, 2024 \|via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}
1953	November 26, 1953	{{cfb link\|year=1953\|team=East Tennessee State Buccaneers\|title=East Tennessee State}}	48	{{cfb link\|year=1953\|team=Emory and Henry Wasps\|title=Emory and Henry}}	12
1954	November 25, 1954	Appalachian State	28	{{cfb link\|year=1954\|team=East Tennessee State Buccaneers\|title=East Tennessee State}}	13
1955	November 24, 1955	{{cfb link\|year=1955\|team=East Tennessee State Buccaneers\|title=East Tennessee State}}	7	Appalachian State	0
1956	November 22, 1956	Memphis State	32	{{cfb link\|year=1956\|team=East Tennessee State Buccaneers\|title=East Tennessee State}}	12	1,200	{{cite news\|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65913728/\|work=Johnson City Press\|title=Memphis State wins Burley Bowl game, 32 to 12\|date=November 23, 1956\|accessdate=September 21, 2021\|via=Newspapers.com}}

=Game records=

class="wikitable"
Team scoring records ! Performance ! Year
Most points scored (one team) \|48, East Tennessee State \|1953
Most points scored (both teams) \|60, East Tennessee State vs. Emory and Henry \|1953
Most points scored (losing team) \|20, Lebanon Valley \|1951
Fewest points scored (winning team) \|7, West Chester 7, East Tennessee State \|1948 1955
Fewest points scored (both teams) \|7, East Tennessee State vs. Appalachian State \|1955
Fewest points allowed \|0, Emory and Henry 0, East Tennessee State \|1949 1955
Largest margin of victory \|36, East Tennessee State \|1953

class="wikitable"

Team scoring records

! Performance

! Year

Most points scored (one team)

|48, East Tennessee State

|1953

Most points scored (both teams)

|60, East Tennessee State vs. Emory and Henry

|1953

Most points scored (losing team)

|20, Lebanon Valley

|1951

Fewest points scored (winning team)

|7, West Chester
7, East Tennessee State

|1948
1955

Fewest points scored (both teams)

|7, East Tennessee State vs. Appalachian State

|1955

Fewest points allowed

|0, Emory and Henry
0, East Tennessee State

|1949
1955

Largest margin of victory

|36, East Tennessee State

|1953

Most appearances

Only teams with more than one appearance are listed.

class="wikitable" ! Rank	Team	Appearances	Record
1	East Tennessee State	5	3–2
T2	Emory & Henry	4	2–2
T2	Appalachian State	4	1–3
T4	West Chester	2	2–0
T4	Milligan	2	0–1–1

Notes

NCAA records list the date of the first Burley Bowl as "1-1-1946", which is inconsistent with contemporary newspaper reports.

Burley Bowl

Game results

=Game records=

Most appearances

Notes

See also

References

Further reading