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EL PASO, Texas – There was plenty of scoring to go around during the 84th playing of the Hyundai Sun Bowl as 24th-ranked North Carolina State racked up 52 points to defeat a game Arizona State team, 52-31, in front of 39,897 fans on Friday afternoon.
The Wolfpack’s 52 points is the second-most scored by a team in the Sun Bowl’s prestigious history, trailing only the 56 scored by Oregon in 2007. The 83 combined points is also second-most in Sun Bowl history. UCLA and Northwestern combined to score 88 points in 2006.
“I just want to say how thankful I am to the players and the coaches for a top-25 finish and a nine-win season and to our seniors for our third bowl win in four attempts. So that’s a great finish and that’s what we talked about this whole bowl prep and I’m just so proud of those guys,” said NC State head coach Dave Doeren. “A lot of seniors don’t focus the way these guys do. You know, their minds are in other places and that just says a lot about the character of these young men and I’m very proud of them and thankful to them.”
The two teams also combined for 42 fourth-quarter points, the most points scored in any Sun Bowl quarter. The 42 points were also part of 45 scored in the second-half, tying another record.
NC State (9-4) amassed a Sun Bowl record six rushing touchdowns, the first three by Nyheim Hines, all in the first half. It was his first-ever game with three rushing touchdowns. For his efforts the junior running back was named the C.M. Hendricks Most Valuable Player.
Quarterback Ryan Finley led the Wolfpack through the air after throwing for 318 yards and a touchdown on 24-of-29 passing with no interceptions. Wideout Stephen Louis had three catches for 115 yards and a Sun Bowl record 38.3 yards per catch.
“I’m just going to enjoy this win, what a way to go out for our seniors,” Finley said. “I’m just really going to enjoy it.”
ASU (7-6) was led by quarterback Manny Wilkins, Jr. who passed for 352 yards and three touchdowns on 25-of-40 passing. N’Keal Harry had nine catches for 142 receiving yards and former Sun Bowl MVP Demario Richard ran for a total of 50 yards.
Unfortunately for the Sun Devils, Wilkins also threw three interceptions. ASU had a total of four turnovers that contributed to its loss, the first coming early in the game.
On the second play of the game ASU sophomore Kyle Williams received a pass but then proceeded to fumble the ball while trying to gain extra yards. The ball was recovered by Wolfpack safety Jarius Morehead right at midfield.
Three plays later Finley hit receiver Louis for a 50-yard strike that placed the ball at the Sun Devil 2-yard line. But NC State was not able to punch it in and ended up with zero points after a fake field-goal attempt was unsuccessful.
It would be the only possession of the first half, however, that the Wolfpack would not end up with a touchdown as they scored four consecutive touchdowns the rest of the first half. The first three scores would come on 5-yard runs by Hines.
Hines’ first touchdown run came after the longest drive of the first half, a 15-play, 87-yard drive, punctuated by Hines with under three minutes left in the first quarter.
After a quick three-and-out by ASU, Hines ran for his second touchdown of the day less than a minute into the second quarter, a quarter that marked a total of 31 points, a Sun Bowl record for combined points scored in the second quarter.
The Sun Devils caught a break during their next possession as a roughing the kicker penalty turned a punt into a first down for ASU inside NC State territory. The Sun Devils took advantage of the Wolfpack mistake by marking their first points of the contest, a 24-yard field goal by Brandon Ruiz midway through the second quarter to cut the lead to 14-3.
The NC State offense kept rolling, however, as Hines scored for the third-straight time to tie a Wolfpack record for rushing touchdowns in a bowl game. NC State ballooned its lead to 21-3 with under five minutes left in the first half.
ASU finally reached the end zone on its next possession after Wilkins hit Harry in the corner of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown pass. Wilkins and Harry also connected on the biggest play of the 7-play, 72-yard drive, a 37-yard pitch and catch that set up the Sun Devils inside the red zone.
With just over two minutes to play in the half, ASU tried to keep the momentum with an onside kick, but the Wolfpack fell on the ball in Sun Devil territory. It took NC State just over a minute to score its fourth touchdown of the half as Finley hit redshirt sophomore Jakobi Meyers on a 25-yard touchdown pass with exactly one minute remaining in the half.
ASU had a chance to add another field goal to its first-half total, but Ruiz missed a 43-yard field goal as time expired. The Wolfpack led 28-10 after one half of play.
The second half started much like the first, NC State came out empty on its first possession, but got the ball back after the Sun Devils once again turned the ball over on their first possession of the half. This time it was off of a deflected-ball interception by Wolfpack cornerback Nick McCloud, who returned the pick 52 yards to the ASU 13-yard line.
This time NC State converted the turnover into points after a Kyle Bambard 26-yard field goal upped the Wolfpack lead to 31-10. Bambard would be named the John Folmer Most Valuable Special Teams Player after the game.
The Sun Devils would once again be aided by a NC State mistake during a punt on their next possession. With Hines back deep to return, the punt bounced off the helmet of Nicolas Lacy. ASU recovered the ball at the Wolfpack 27-yard line, but on the next play gave the ball right back after Wilkins threw a pick in the end zone to Morehead, who added an interception to his fumble recovery.
NC State proceeded to go on a 12-play, 80-yard drive that ended on the first play of the fourth quarter with a 23-yard touchdown run by running back Reggie Gallaspy II. Gallaspy’s run gave the Wolfpack its biggest lead of the contest at 38-10 and would be the first of two fourth-quarter touchdown runs for the junior.
The Sun Devils tried to get back into the game by scoring a couple of touchdowns within less than a minute’s time of each other. Wilkins scored on a 1-yard quarterback keeper and then, after a successful onside kick, hit Kyle Williams with a 19-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead in half and make it a two-possession game at 38-24 with just under nine minutes left in the game.
But that’s as close as ASU would get as two more onside kick attempts would fail and NC State would score 14 of the final 21 points of the game.
The Wolfpack comes out with a win during their first visit to El Paso and wins consecutive bowl games for the first time since 2010-11. The Sun Devils, meanwhile, lose at the Sun Bowl for the first time since 1941. ASU had won its last three Sun Bowl appearances (1997, 2004, 2014).
84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl – FINAL STATS
Sun Bowl
EL PASO, Texas – The North Dakota State Bison defeated the UTEP Miners 63-51 in the championship game of the WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational to take home the hardware on Friday, Dec. 22 in the Don Haskins Center.
NDSU (7-6) used a 19-2 scoring run during the final seven and a half minutes of the game to secure the victory. Guard Paul Smith, who was awarded the Barry Kobren Most Valuable Player Trophy, led all players with 19 points. Sophomore guard Tyson Ward, who was named to the all-tournament team, tallied 10 points and 11 rebounds.
All-Tournament Team
Paul Miller – NDSU – MVP
Tyson Ward – NDSU
RJ Cole – Howard
Devante Cacok – UNCW
Keith Frazier – UTEP
Tirus Smith – UTEP – Don Haskins Award
Consolation Game Recap – Howard vs. UNC Wilmington
Howard University leaned on the backs of freshman RJ Cole and sophomore Charles Williams as they combined for 72 points to boost the Bison to an 80-75 win over UNC Wilmington on Friday night.
Cole produced with a new career-high 42 points, including 32 after intermission. His 42 points set a new freshman record in program history. The New Jersey native shot 59-percent (13-of-22) from the floor, including 5-of-8 from long range. He also added six boards, four dimes, and four steals in the win. Williams tied a season-high 30 points after shooting 11-of-19 from the field, including a perfect 4-of-4 from downtown, in the victory.
Overall, the Bison shot a season-best 50-percent (26-of-52) against the defending Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) Champions, including 56-percent (9-of-16) from beyond the arc.
Cole was just four points short of the tournament record for points in a game. Trey Johnson of Jackson State holds the record for points in a game during the Sun Bowl Tournament with 46 versus UTEP in 2006. Cole scored 61 points in the tournament, also just four points shy of the tournament record. Johnson holds that record as well, posting a combined total of 65 points again UTEP and Drake in 2006.
Championship Game Recap – North Dakota State vs. UTEP
NDSU (7-6) trailed UTEP 49-44 with just under eight minutes remaining, but the Bison rattled off a 14-0 run to take a commanding 58-49 advantage with two minutes left. Following buckets by Paul Miller and Spencer Eliason to pull within one, NDSU sophomore Jared Samuelson drained a three to give the Bison a 51-49 lead. A.J. Jacobson capped the 14-0 run with a trey to go ahead nine with 2:02 remaining.
UTEP’s Keith Frazier posted his second double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 rebounds to earn a spot on the All-Tournament Team. He averaged 20.5 points and 9.0 rebounds in the two Sun Bowl Tourney games. Smith received the tournament’s Don Haskins Award.
UTEP center Paul Thomas added 12 points and seven rebounds for the Miners on Friday.
Up until the stretch run it was an entertaining basketball game. The Miners jumped out to a 19-8 lead. The Bison came roaring back to pull within four (25-21) at halftime. An 8-0 run by North Dakota State in the second half turned a 36-32 deficit into a 40-36 lead. UTEP scored six unanswered to erase a 44-43 deficit and surge into the 49-44 lead, but may have run out of gas at the end while playing its third game in four nights.
The Miners shot 33.3 percent from the field, including 30 percent in the second half, and tallied only five assists.
About the Tournament
In 2009, the tournament was renamed to honor former UTEP head coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Don Haskins. “The Bear” coached at UTEP from 1961 to 1999, winning 719 games and making 14 postseason appearances. Haskins famously led the Miners to victory in the 1966 National Championship game over Adolph Rupp and the heavily favored Kentucky Wildcats.
The WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational is the oldest holiday basketball tournament in the nation.
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – Looking for some fun in the sun while visiting El Paso for the 84 Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl? You’re invited to play with other college football fans and El Paso natives in the 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl Fan Golf Challenge on Wednesday, Dec. 27 at Vista Hills Country Club.
Vista Hills Country Club has once again been chosen to host the Hyundai Sun Bowl Fan Golf Challenge. Representatives (Fans) from NC State and Arizona State University will be pitted against each other in an 18 Hole Two-Person-Scramble Match Play Format.
“It’s always great to see the fans and the locals having a great time out on the course,” said Executive Director of the Hyundai Sun Bowl Bernie Olivas. “The volunteers and organizers of this event do a great job and the turnout last year was tremendous.”
The winning university will be determined by the number of matches a university wins. Two-person teams will be formed from each university, and they will go head-to-head against a two-person team from the other university.
You can sign-up as a two-person team or you can sign-up as an individual, and we will place you on a team. You also have the option of playing with an El Pasoan who knows the golf course.
This event is open to all fans.
Teams must be entered and paid in full not later than noon on Monday, Dec.25, 2017.
CHECK-IN – 9:00 to 10:30 AM
BURRITO BAR – 9:00 to 10:30 AM
WARM-UP / FREE RANGE BALLS – 9:00 to 10:30 AM
WELCOME / RULES BRIEF – 10:45 AM
SHOTGUN START – 11:00 AM
AWARDS DINNER & HAPPY HOUR – APPROXIMATELY 3:30 PM
AWARDS – APPROXIMATELY 4:00 PM
Previous Results: 2013 (VT 9 – UCLA 9); 2014 (ASU 10 – Duke 8); 2015 (WSU 12.5 – Miami 8.5); 2016 (UNC 12.5 – Stanford 7.5)
Entry Fee: Seventy-five dollars ($75) per person includes Green Fee, Cart, Range Balls, Prizes, Goodie Bag, Burrito Bar and Awards Dinner. VHCC Golf Members ($55). Golf Club Set Rental is an additional $10 (Be sure to indicate a need at Sign-Up).
Entry Form: 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl Fan Golf Challenge _ UPDATED 12 22
You can sponsor a Wounded Warrior or Soldier for $100.
Questions: Terry Jennings or Danny Lopez at 915-592-6565. Course Information: 915-592-6565 or www.vistahillscc.com. Special Hyundai Sun Bowl Golf Rates with cart Dec. 18-30 ($20 plus tax). Show your Hyundai Sun Bowl Ticket at the Pro Shop during Check-In. Schedule your Tee Times (915-592-6565).
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP Miners (5-6) face North Dakota State (6-6) in the championship game of the WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational after both teams were victorious on Thursday at the Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas.
UTEP picked up its fourth consecutive victory on Thursday, Dec. 21, with a 69-56 victory over Howard University (2-12). Keith Frazier, Omega Harris and Tirus Smith led the way for the Miners, combing for 57 of their 69 points. The Miners took advantage of an early 24-7 run and never lost the lead to head into Friday’s title game. UTEP has not won the WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational since 2014.
North Dakota State vs. UNC Wilmington – Recap
North Dakota State’s Tyson Ward scored 17 points while his teammates Deng Geu and Paul Miller added 16 points each as NDSU opened the WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational with a 100-63 win over UNC Wilmington on Thursday evening.
The Bison seemed to shoot the lights out shooting 61.1 percent from the field for the game and knocking down 14-of-25 from behind the three-point arc. Nine of their three-point field goals came in the first half, giving them a 52-28 lead heading into halftime.
It was almost the opposite for UNC Wilmington as it hit just 21-of-62 shots from the floor, which includes a 6-of-23 night from the three point line. Jaylen Fornes led the Seahawks with 15 points.
UTEP vs. Howard – Recap
The Miners took an early lead and never trailed with Keith Frazier leading the way with a game-high 23 points. Frazier drained four treys and pulled down eight rebounds while Omega Harris tallied 17 points and four assists. It was a nice night for Tirus Smith as he posted a career-high 17 points.
It seemed the Miners would take the game with ease as they took a 22-4 lead in the first 10 minutes of the game. UTEP jumped to a 30-15 lead before Howard went on a run of its own to make it a 33-28 ballgame but the Miners were able to defend its lead and head into the half with a 37-30 lead.
UTEP had a 9-2 run to start the second half and held the lead by as many as 20 points before rolling past the Bison for its fourth straight win. Defense was a key factor for the Miners as they held Howard to 31 percent shooting.
UTEP opened the second half with a 9-2 run to go ahead by 14 points (46-32) and maintained a double-digit cushion the rest of the night. The Miners led by as many as 20 points in the final minutes.
Box scores
NDSU vs UNC Wilmington Basketball 12 21 17
UTEP vs Howard Basketball 12 21 17
Friday, Dec. 22
5 p.m. (MT) – Howard vs. UNC Wilmington
7 p.m. (MT) – North Dakota State vs. UTEP
In 2009, the tournament was renamed to honor former UTEP head coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Don Haskins. “The Bear” coached at UTEP from 1961 to 1999, winning 719 games and making 14 postseason appearances. Haskins famously led the Miners to victory in the 1966 National Championship game over Adolph Rupp and the heavily favored Kentucky Wildcats.
The WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational is the oldest holiday basketball tournament in the nation. Tickets to the tournament can be purchased by calling 915-533-4416 or at the Don Haskins Center on game day.
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association and Hyundai are announcing the dates, times and location of arrival for the Arizona State and NC State football teams.
Both teams will be arriving on Christmas Day with ASU scheduled to land at 10 a.m. and NC State scheduled to land at 2 p.m. (MT)
Unlike previous years, the teams will be arriving at Atlantic Aviation FBO located at 1751 Shuttle Colombia Dr., El Paso, Texas 79925.
“It would be great to see the people of El Paso join us at the Atlantic FBO to greet the teams and wish them a Merry Christmas as they get here,” said Hyundai Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas
The 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl kicks off at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 29 at Sun Bowl Stadium. This year’s game features Arizona State and No. 24 NC State.
TEAM ARRIVAL SCHEDULE
Arizona State – Christmas Day at 10 a.m.
NC State – Christmas Day at 2 p.m.
Tickets for the game are available at the Sun Bowl Association office at 4150 Pinnacle St., Suite100, by phone at 915-533-4416 or on our website at sunbowl.org
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association is set to host the 56th Annual WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 21-22 at the Don Haskins Center.
The tournament opens with UNC Wilmington (2-7) facing North Dakota State (5-5) at 5 p.m. (MT) followed by a matchup between Howard (2-10) and UTEP (3-6).
“We are excited to continue all the Sun Bowl festivities with our annual basketball tournament,” said Bernie Olivas, Executive Director of the Sun Bowl Association. “It’s always great to host teams from around the country and we hope the community continues to treat the visiting teams with the great hospitality El Paso is known for.”
UNC Wilmington heads to El Paso from the Colonial Athletic Conference and recently fell to Furman 90-84. North Dakota State took on No. 18 Arizona in Tucson and fell 83-53 on Monday night. Senior guard Paul Miller was the leading scorer for the Bison with 12 points.
Howard fell short against Jacksonville State on Monday, Dec. 18, losing 62-60. Freshman RJ Cole led all scorers with 27 points on 6-of-11 shooting from beyond the arc. The New Jersey product also racked up seven dimes and three steals in 40 minutes of action.
UTEP faces Incarnate Word on Tuesday, Dec. 19 before heading into the WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational. The Miners (3-6) are coming off back-to-back quality wins over New Mexico and Washington State, but will be at less than full strength when they come off a 10-day break between games.
The WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational is the oldest holiday basketball tournament in the nation. Tickets to the tournament can be purchased by calling 915-533-4416 or at the Don Haskins Center on game day.
Thursday, Dec. 21
5 p.m. (MT) – UNC Wilmington vs. North Dakota State
7 p.m. (MT) – Howard University vs. UTEP
Friday, Dec. 22
5 p.m. (MT) – Consolation Game
7 p.m. (MT) – Championship Game
Link for Live Stats: http://www.sidearmstats.com/utep/mbball/
In 2009, the tournament was renamed to honor former UTEP head coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Don Haskins. “The Bear” coached at UTEP from 1961 to 1999, winning 719 games and making 14 postseason appearances. Haskins famously led the Miners to victory in the 1966 National Championship game over Adolph Rupp and the heavily favored Kentucky Wildcats.
+ Sun Bowl +
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EL PASO, Texas – For the second-consecutive year, the Hyundai Sun Bowl will feature one of the nation’s premier defensive lineman.
No. 24 NC State’s Bradley Chubb will look to help the Wolfpack conclude their successful 2017 campaign against Arizona State in the 84th Hyundai Sun Bowl, which is scheduled for a 1 p.m. (MT) kickoff Dec., 29 at Sun Bowl Stadium.
“We learned last year how much momentum you bring into the next season when you have a great bowl win,” Chubb said. “It’s important for the seniors to have that final victory and for the younger players to have that momentum heading into winter conditioning.”
The Marietta, Georgia native goes into the Hyundai Sun Bowl with an impressive 10 sacks, 73 total tackles and 26 tackles for loss. Chubb’s performance this season led NC State to the seventh-best defense in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the nation’s 28th-best rushing defense.
“I think the energy I bring really helps our defense, in practice and on game day,” Chubb said. “Obviously when I can make a stop in the backfield, it helps our defense, but it’s not an individual thing. The guys inside are giving me the ability to make those plays.”
It’s been an adventurous postseason for Chubb, who’s already attended three award ceremonies, on top of concluding his studies for the Fall semester. Chubb was named the Bronco Nagurski Award winner as the nation’s top defensive player and earned the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s top defensive end. He was also named the ACC’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Despite all the postseason accolades, the senior defensive end said he’s only focused on helping the Wolfpack to a Hyundai Sun Bowl victory.
“I’ve definitely had a lot going on in the last several weeks: going to three different awards ceremonies, studying and taking final exams and just spending time with my brothers for our final game together,” Chubb said. “But now that we only have the bowl game to think about, we will be able to give all of our attention to our preparation.”
One of the main areas of focus for Chubb and the rest of the NC State defense will be trying to contain the Arizona State rushing attack. The Sun Devils are ranked 50th in the country in rushing offense, which includes Demario Richard, the C.M. Hendricks MVP winner of the 81st Hyundai Sun Bowl.
“It all starts there,” Chubb said. “In our last two games, we held the opponent to less than 100 yards, so hopefully we can carry that over against a great Arizona State run game.”
Last year’s Hyundai Sun Bowl, included Stanford’s Solomon Thomas, who was named the C.M. Hendricks Most Valuable Player of the 83rd Hyundai Sun Bowl, after tallying seven tackles, two tackles for loss and a crucial sack. Thomas went on to be named a third-team All-American and was the third overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Chubb appears to be on the same track, being placed as a first round pick in many mock drafts, including ESPN’s Todd McShay, who has Chubb listed as the No. 3 overall pick for the 2018 NFL Draft.
Tickets for the 84th Hyundai Sun Bowl can be purchased by calling 915-533-4416.
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – The Spazmatics, a fun and entertaining cover band out of Austin, is set to headline the 2017 Fan Fiesta presented by El Paso Live, Thursday, Dec. 28 at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center from 4-9 p.m. (MT), with a fireworks show concluding the event.
An El Paso holiday staple since 1998, the Fan Fiesta has gained a new sponsor in El Paso Live, and the sponsor helped bring The Spazmatics on board to entertain the crowd on the eve of the 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl. The group is described as “a nerdy new wave dance party” that provides outstanding musicianship combined with creative flair and style making for an evening of pure energy and entertainment.
Admission to the event is free with a wide variety of activities planned for the party including: matachines dancers, mariachis, ballet folklorico and the annual ‘Battle of the Bands’ that will feature the Arizona State marching band and the NC State marching band.
“The Fan Fiesta has really become a tradition here in El Paso and we encourage everyone to head downtown to enjoy everything the downtown area has to offer,” said Executive Director of the Sun Bowl Association Bernie Olivas.
Restaurants including Forti’s Mexican Elder, Carnitas Queretaro and Delicious Burrito will be serving up signature dishes. Academy Sports’ interactive tent, along with Sports World and Hyundai Sun Bowl Apparel, are providing team gear to Arizona State and NC State fans, as well as with El Paso-themed items.
“If there is one thing El Paso is known for, it’s the amazing and delicious food,” Olivas said. “Join us down at the Judson F. Williams Convention Center for food, fun, and my favorite, fireworks!”
A kids’ area will also be set up with 18 interactive and inflatable activities. A $5 wristband is required. Military guests with a valid ID can enjoy the interactive attractions for free.
The Fan Fiesta is a way to showcase the spirit, flavor and hospitality of El Paso. Along with the various performing groups representing different artistic styles, multiple food and merchandise vendors will be on hand.
Sun Bowl Association Special Events Director Joe Daubach mentioned that the event continues to grow in popularity, and he fully expects great attendance.
2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl Fan Fiesta -Presented by El Paso Live
MAIN HALL PERFORMANCES
4:00 p.m. – 4:05 p.m. – National Anthem
4:05 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Performance by the City of Juarez
4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Introduction of the Sun Court
5:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m. – Performance by the City of Juarez
5:45 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – House Music
6:00 p.m. – 6:45 p.m. - Battle of the Bands
6:45 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. – Performance by the Spazmatics
LOBBY PERFORMANCES
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Performance by Paso Del Norte Mariachi
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Performance by Paso Del Norte Mariachi
PATIO PERFORMANCES
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Performance by Matachines San Patricios
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. – Performance by Matachines San Patricios
FIREWORKS
9:00 pm – 9:15 pm – Christmas Fireworks Spectacular
PARADE OF UNIVERSITY BANDS
5:00 p.m. -5:45 p.m. – Both University Bands will march from the El Paso Convention Center around San Jacinto Plaza and Winter Fest back to the El Paso Convention Center.
Other Sun Bowl Fan Fiesta Entertainment
*FREE admission from 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
*FREE – Face painting for kids and adults
*FREE – Entertainment including Bands, Dance Groups, Mariachi Players and much more
*FREE – Ability to take picture with a Wild Western Group and Hyundai Sun Bowl Selfie Booth
Restaurants – There will be various restaurants represented with El Paso’s signature foods in the food court area to include Delicious Burrito, Destination El Paso and several others
Various Booths –Sun Bowl apparel, El Paso souvenirs, Academy Sports + Outdoors, El Paso Times, Simon Properties, Sport World Sporting Goods, Sun Metro and several interactive displays and many other vendors
The Sun Bowl Fan Fiesta will COMP all military children under 12 a $5 wristband. This will allow unlimited entries to all the inflatable/interactive games. You must present your Military ID at the inflatable games ticket tent to receive the wristband.
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – Time is a flat circle. In 2014, when No. 15 Arizona State came to the Hyundai Sun Bowl, the Sun Devils were riding high and capped off their 9-3 season with an exhilarating 36-31 win over Duke. In a game filled with offense, one Arizona State player shone brighter than any other.
Demario Richard, senior running back for Arizona State, was on that 2014 team as a freshman looking to make his mark. Richard earned the C. M. Hendricks MVP Award, annually given to the Sun Bowl’s most valuable player after scoring four touchdowns in the contest.
“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to start here my freshman season and then cap it off with the final game of my career,” Richard said. “It’s cool to have a chance to start and finish in the same place and I’m excited to play on national television.”
Richard and the Arizona State Sun Devils make their return to the Sun City to play in the 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl. The 2017 season for the Sun Devils (7-5, 6-3) saw several different offensive players find success as they had three different players with at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage.
A 2017 Pac-12 Honorable Mention from Palmdale, California, Richard led the Sun Devils in rushing yards in 2017 with 977 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 185 attempts, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Not only did the senior establish himself as the workhorse in the backfield, but he was a valuable asset as a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Richard averaged 9.3 yards per catch, totaling 65 yards on 7 catches. Combined, Richard amassed 1,042 all-purpose yards.
His freshman year, Richard had an impressive 478 rushing yards from scrimmage on a total of 84 attempts, good for an average of 5.7 rushing yards per attempt for the 2014 season. He had a total of four touchdowns on the entire year in that 2014 campaign, yet he matched that same total of four touchdowns during the Hyundai Sun Bowl, making that Sun Bowl performance all the more impressive.
“I’m going to try and go out and do it again and blow the game open,” Richard stated determinedly. “It’s about winning the game. I’m going to do whatever it takes to win this game.”
Four touchdowns by the same players had only happened three times in Sun Bowl history prior to Richard doing it in 2014. You’ll find that the company that Richard keeps is pretty impressive.
Sun Bowl Legend Thurman Thomas was the first to accomplish the feat during the 1987 Sun Bowl when Thomas and his Oklahoma State Cowboys defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers. Thomas was the lead running back on the legendary Buffalo Bills team that went to four straight Super Bowls during the early 1990s. Thomas was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2007.
The next to achieve the lofty goal of four touchdowns in a single game was none other than Sun Bowl Legend Priest Holmes. Holmes led the University of Texas to a 35-31 victory over the University of North Carolina in the 1994 Sun Bowl. Holmes had one of the most impressive 10-year careers of any running back in the NFL.
The last player to score four touchdowns in a game is a much more recent name. UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley threw and ran for two touchdowns apiece as he led the Bruins to a 42-12 romp over the Virginia Tech Hokies. Hundley started three games for the Green Bay Packers in 2017 in relief of the injured Aaron Rogers
“It’s an honor to be part of that list of names,” Richard stated.
Richard hopes to etch his name in the record books forever as one of the all-time Sun Bowl greats.
“It’s one last game with my brothers. We’re going to go all out,” Richard said. “I’m excited to play with these guys one last time. It’s my last day as a Sun Devil and I want to go out with a bang. It’s exciting to have a chance to play in just one more game.”
Richard is bookending his illustrious Sun Devil career by coming back to the Hyundai Sun Bowl as he hopes to lead his team to another Hyundai Sun Bowl victory. Arizona State kicks off against No. 24 NC State in the 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl on Dec. 29, 2017 at 1 p.m. (MT) at Sun Bowl Stadium.
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association and Hyundai of El Paso have announced that Las Cruces police officer turned country singer, Frank Ray, is scheduled to perform during halftime of the 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl on Friday, Dec. 29 in El Paso, Texas.
Frank Ray, from Las Cruces, N.M. will perform at halftime of the match-up between Arizona State and NC State. He was recently featured in Rolling Stone magazine in an article titled “10 New Country Artists You Need to Know: December 2017.”
“It’s great to have another regional up-and-coming star from the Borderland region,” said Executive Director of the Hyundai Sun Bowl Bernie Olivas. “Mr. Ray also has a great story as he was a police officer in Las Cruces, N.M.”
The Hyundai Sun Bowl is featuring a Borderland-halftime performer for the second year in a row after Elia Esparza and Khaliya Kimberlie performed in 2016. In 2014 Lone Star performed in front of more than 47,000 fans. The Andress High School Band, out of El Paso, teamed-up with the UCLA and Virginia Tech bands, to put on a show in 2013, as Three Dog Night performed at the 2013 Fan Fiesta.
Lee Bryce worked the crowd of about 48,000 fans in 2012 and the Sun Bowl Association is expecting at least that many fans to support Frank Ray this year. Other notable halftime performances include the Village People in 2008 and Rhianna in 2006.
Ray released his first solo EP Different Kind of Country earlier this year. A Hispanic-American, Ray sings about the Hispanic experience in the United States. The lead single from his EP “Every Time You Run” is currently 20th on the Texas Regional Radio Report.
“It’s an absolute honor to get to end the year in front of such a massive crowd. It gives me an opportunity to represent my community but also serves as a symbol of continued success for my team and my family," said Frank Ray. “I’m humbled to have been given the opportunity by the great representatives of the Sun Bowl.”
Ray plays shows from Albuquerque, N.M. to Austin, Texas. He has appeared in both El Paso and Las Cruces as well.
The 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl game will be played Friday, Dec. 29, at 1 p.m. MT (3 p.m. ET) at Sun Bowl Stadium.
The 2017 game will mark the 84th anniversary of the Sun Bowl game and the 50th consecutive broadcast on CBS. This year’s game features No. 24 NC State out of the ACC and Arizona State from the Pac-12. Tickets are available by calling the Sun Bowl Association office at 915-533-4416.
Find out more about Ray through his social media outlets (below).
Website: http://frankraymusic.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frankraymusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/frankraymusic
Instagram: @frankraymusic
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/frankraymusic
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – A winner has been chosen for the “A’DOOR’N The Schools” Door Decorating Contest and a Kindergarten Class from Western Hills Elementary School has been chosen as the winner on Friday, Dec. 8, 2017.
Due to an error in getting accurate votes tallied, the Sun Bowl Association had to vote on the doors to choose the winner. Members of the Sun Bowl Association staff, the Sun Bowl Association Board members and members of various Sun Bowl committees voted to choose the inaugural winner.
Students of the kindergarten class, which is taught by Ms. Delgado and Ms. Garcia, won tickets to the 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl and will also be provided a hot dog and beverage during the game.
“This is the first year we had the opportunity to do this and we are excited for the students from Western Hills Elementary to hang out and enjoy the game on Friday, Dec. 29,” said Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “We hit a little bump in the road when we began to verify votes so we decided to take another route.”
Mr. Olivas will be presenting the tickets to the class at Western Hills Elementary, Monday, Dec. 11 at 10 a.m.
This year’s Hyundai Sun Bowl is set for a 1 p.m. (MT) kick-off at Sun Bowl Stadium on Friday, Dec. 29.
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EL PASO, Texas – Its productivity on both sides of the ball allowed NC State to become one of the most daunting opponents in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Now, the 24th-ranked Wolfpack will look to conclude their successful 2017 campaign by controlling the tempo on defense and offense in the 84th Hyundai Sun Bowl, which is scheduled for a 1 p.m. (MT) kick-off on Dec. 29 at Sun Bowl Stadium.
“When we lost the season opener, our season could have gone two ways. Our team chose to use it as motivation to work harder and get better,” said NC State Head Coach Dave Doeren.
NC State finished the regular season 8-4 overall and 6-2 in ACC play. The Wolfpack will be making their fourth consecutive bowl appearance and their 31st in program history. It will also be NC State’s first appearance in the Hyundai Sun Bowl.
The Wolfpack defense is led by senior defensive end Bradley Chubb, who was named ACC defensive player of the year after tallying 73 total tackles, 26 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in 2017. Chubb also earned the Bronco Nagurski Trophy as the nation’s top defensive player and the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s top defensive end.
“Bradley has worked tirelessly to become the best defensive player in college football,” Doeren said. “His development from a 235 LB to a 275 DE has been incredible and is a tribute to his work ethic and our developmental program at NC State.”
The linebacker corps is led by senior Jerod Fernandez, who finished the regular season with a team-high 93 total tackles.
Chubb, Fernandez and a prolific secondary combined to help the NC State defense allow just 24.8 points per game and 377.2 yards per game.
The NC State offense is propelled by of one the nation’s most productive offensive lines, which helped first team All-ACC running back Nyheim Hines rush for a team-high 1,040 yards and nine touchdowns. The Wolfpack offensive line, nicknamed the “Band of Brothers”, is led by Will Richardson, Tony Adams and Garrett Bradbury, who all earned All-ACC honors.
The “Band of Brothers” allowed an ACC-low 12 sacks and helped redshirt junior quarterback Ryan Finley pass for 3,200 yards and 16 touchdowns. Finley’s favorite target is 6-foot-3 sophomore wide receiver Kelvin Harmon, who amassed 993 receiving yards, 65 receptions and four touchdowns. Harmon earned second team All-ACC honors. Another target Finley prefers is first-team All-ACC selection, Jaylen Samuels who had 69 receptions and totaled 551 yards receiving while adding 384 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.
On the offensive side, the Wolfpack finished the regular season as the fourth best in the ACC, scoring 30.6 points per game and tallying 449.3 yards per game.
Apart from the difficult task of an ACC schedule, the Wolfpack went 2-2 in non-conference play, including a tightly contested loss to Notre Dame, which was ranked ninth in the College Football Playoff rankings at the time. During conference play, NC State hosted Clemson, which is currently No. 1 in the CFP rankings, and the Wolfpack were a possession away from upending the defending national champions.
NC State will go into the Hyundai Sun Bowl with momentum after a dominant 33-21 performance against rival North Carolina in the final week of the regular season.
Last week, NC State agreed to a contract extension with current head coach Dave Doeren. The seventh-year head coach has been to six bowl games.
Tickets for the 84th Hyundai Sun Bowl can be purchased by calling 915-533-4416.
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EL PASO, Texas – The road to the 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl meandered throughout different periods of the season for the Sun Devils, but in the end, Arizona State (7-5, 6-3 in Pac-12) found success and has made a bowl game for the sixth time in the last seven years and the 30th time in school history.
No stranger to the Sun City, the Arizona State Sun Devils return for the sixth time taking on the No. 24 NC State Wolfpack in the 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl.
The last time Arizona State played in El Paso was in 2014, where it held off a comeback by the Duke Blue Devils, winning 36-31. In 2014, they were ranked No. 17 and finished the season with a record of 10-3 in Todd Graham’s third season at the helm of Arizona State football.
Toward the end of their 2017 season, the Sun Devils were able to rip off two wins in a row, including a victory over rival Arizona. The Sun Devils look to ride the momentum of their two game winning streak as they head into the Hyundai Sun Bowl.
“Being a proud native of the great state of Texas, the Sun Bowl and the people of El Paso are very important to me,” head football coach Todd Graham said. “We enjoyed the fine hospitality of the Sun Bowl three years ago and we look forward to making the trip once again.”
The pitchfork of the Sun Devil offense is spear-headed by redshirt junior quarterback Manny Wilkins, senior running back Demario Richard, and sophomore wide receiver N’Keal Harry. Combined, the three players alone have accounted for just over 5,000 yards of offense.
Quarterback Manny Wilkins comes into the contest ranked 28th in the nation in passing yards with 2,918 on the year, averaging 243 passing yards per game. All-American candidate wide receiver N’Keal Harry comes to El Paso tied for 19th in the nation with 73 receptions and 24th in the nation with exactly 1,000 yards receiving.
Most interestingly, senior running back Demario Richard returns to El Paso with his eyes set on not only getting the win over NC State, but also earning the C. M. Hendricks Award, annually given out to the Sun Bowl offensive MVP, an award that Richard earned in 2014. In that game, Richard had 63 yards on seven rushes and five catches and chalked up four touchdowns, tying a Sun Bowl record held by Sun Bowl MVPs Thurman Thomas, Priest Holmes, and Brett Hundley. Richard finished his 2017 regular season campaign racking up 977 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns, good for 30th in the nation.
The Sun Devils prove to be great on both offense and defense as being one of the only teams in the nation that scored 20-or-more points in 10 of their 12 contests while having a linebacker that is third in the nation in solo tackles.
“I’m very proud of all three phases of our football team this year,” Graham stated. “I’m very proud of our players as they’ve done everything we’ve asked them to do.”
The Arizona State defense, led by redshirt junior linebacker Christian Sam and redshirt freshman cornerback Chase Lucas, have helped the Sun Devils be ranked 17th in the nation in sacks.
Sam, the All-American candidate and focal point of the Sun Devil defense, boasts some gaudy defensive numbers. The linebacker ranks third in Power-5 Conferences in total tackles with 127 and ranks third in the nation in solo tackles with 87 while averaging 10.6 tackles per game, good for first in the Pac-12.
Lucas, a redshirt freshman, is a lockdown cornerback for the Arizona State secondary, ranking second in the nation amongst freshman cornerbacks with a 51.3 completion percentage allowed. Lucas is a Freshman All-American candidate.
The best win for the Sun Devils was a defensive grudge match 13-7 victory over then undefeated No. 5 Washington. Sam led the way with 11 tackles, eight solo tackles and helped hold the Washington run game to just 91 yards. Through the air, Lucas helped hold the Washington passing offense to just 139 yards.
The Arizona State Sun Devils face off against No. 24 NC State, Friday, Dec. 29 with kick-off slated for 1 p.m. (MT).
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association and YMCA of El Paso have announced Charles Vrahnos as the First Place winner of the 2017 YMCA Hyundai Sun Bowl Challenge. Vrahnos picked 10 games correctly and was the closest to the point total for the tiebreaker.
“This is always such a fun contest to run and to participate in,” Executive Director of the Hyundai Sun Bowl Bernie Olivas said. “We are very thankful for the continued support from and relationship with the YMCA of El Paso. We are excited to see all the winners of this season’s contest at the game between No. 24 NC State and Arizona State.”
One (1) First place prize to Charles Vrahnos:
• Two (2) Captain’s Club Tickets to the 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl Game
• One (1) parking pass
• Two (2) Pre-game tent party tickets
• One (1) Family membership to the El Paso YMCA for one (1) year
One (1) Second Place prize to Ricardo Cortez:
• Two (2) Premium section tickets to the 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl Game
• One (1) garage parking pass
• One (1) Adult membership to the El Paso YMCA for one (1) year
One (1) Third Place prize to Alfonso Montelongo:
• Two (2) Preferred section tickets to the 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl Game
• One (1) garage parking pass
• One (1) Adult membership to the El Paso YMCA for six (6) month
One (1) Fourth Place prize to Ernesto Adame:
• Two (2) Stadium section tickets to the 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl Game
• One (1) garage parking pass
• One (1) Adult membership to the El Paso YMCA for three (3) month
One (1) Fifth Place prize to Gabriel Grijalva:
• Two (2) Sun Seats section tickets to the 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl Game
• One (1) garage parking pass
• One (1) Adult membership to the El Paso YMCA for one (1) month
The 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl game will be played Friday, Dec. 29, at 1 p.m. MT (3 p.m. ET) at Sun Bowl Stadium.
The 2017 game will mark the 50th consecutive broadcast on CBS. Tickets are available by calling the Sun Bowl Association office at 915-533-4416.
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association and Hyundai of El Paso have announced that No. 24 North Carolina State University will take on Arizona State University in the 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl, Friday, Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. (MT) at Sun Bowl Stadium.
NC State comes into the game 8-4 on the year finishing the regular season ranked No. 24 in the final College Football Playoff Rankings while its opponent out of the Pac-12, Arizona State, is heading to El Paso for the second time in four years after finishing with a 7-5 overall record and a 6-3 conference record.
“We feel this matchup will make for another great game here at the Hyundai Sun Bowl,” Executive Director of the Sun Bowl Association Bernie Olivas said. “We cannot wait for the teams to arrive here to the Borderland so that we can show them a great time. As we have seen in the past, teams that come to the Sun Bowl normally have future professional players on the team and we are ecstatic that they will get to perform in front of the best football fans around.”
NC State will be making its fourth consecutive bowl appearance, all under head coach Dave Doeren. In Doeren’s seven-year stint as a head coach, he has advanced to the postseason six times. The Wolfpack finished 6-2 in the ACC, tying the most conference wins in a single season all-time at NC State.
ASU will play in its 30th bowl game overall and the team’s sixth bowl appearance in the last seven seasons. It will be the Sun Devils’ sixth appearance in the Sun Bowl. This marks the third meeting between ASU and NC State, and the Sun Devils hold an 8-10 record all-time against the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Sun Devils last faced the Wolfpack in 1974, a 35-14 loss in Tempe, while defeating NC State at home in a 25-22 effort during the 1960 season.
“The buzz is there at Arizona State and at the end of the day all of this is about the kids and about football,” said ASU graduate and football selection committee chairman John Folmer said, “We want to make sure that the team, the coaches and the families all have a great time when they are in El Paso.”
Tickets for the 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl are on sale through Ticketmaster and the Sun Bowl Association office. The 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl is set for Friday, Dec. 29 in Sun Bowl Stadium with kick-off scheduled for 1 p.m. (MT).
All information for the game can be viewed online through the link available at www.sunbowl.org. Customers and fans can also call the Sun Bowl Association office (915-533-4416) and are also invited to stop by the Sun Bowl Association office located at 4150 Pinnacle Street, Suite 100 in El Paso to purchase tickets.
Appearances in Sun Bowl
North Carolina State (0-0)
FIRST APPEARANCE – 2017
Arizona State (3-1-1)
Tie vs. Catholic, 0-0 (Jan. 1, 1940)
Loss vs. Western Reserve, 26-13 (Jan. 1, 1941)
Win vs. Iowa, 17-7 (Dec. 31, 1997)
Win vs. Purdue, 27-23 (Dec. 31, 2004)
Win vs. Duke, 36-31 (Dec. 27, 2014)
About the universities
North Carolina State
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Enrollment: 34,015
Founded: 1887
Nickname: Wolf Pack
School Colors: Red (PMS-186) and White
Stadium (capacity): Wayne Day Family Field (57,600)
Surface: Natural Grass
Conference: Atlantic Coast
Chancellor: Dr. Randy Woodson
Athletic Director: Deborah A. Yow
Previous Bowl Appearance: 2016 Independence Bowl
Arizona State
Location: Tempe, Ariz.
Founded: 1885
Nickname: Sun Devils
Colors: Maroon and Gold
Enrollment: 82,000
Stadium: Sun Devil Stadium (67,704 capacity)
Conference: Pacific-12
President: Dr. Michael Crow
Athletic Director: Ray Anderson
Previous Bowl Appearance: 2015 Cactus Bowl
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – Elementary students all across the El Paso region had the opportunity to submit an entry into the “A’DOOR’N The Schools” Door Decorating contest for a chance to win tickets to the 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl with classmates.
The entries have been submitted and now it is time for everyone to vote for the winner. The top entries have been posted on the Hyundai Sun Bowl Facebook page and will be up from Friday, Dec. 1 at 8:00 a.m. (MST) until, Friday, Dec. 8 at 5:00 p.m. (MST). The classroom entry picture with the highest number of “likes” will be notified by phone on Monday, Dec. 11.
“We are impressed with the entries we received, especially because this is the first time we’ve had the opportunity to do something like this,” said Sun Bowl Association Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “The entries we received reflect the artistic and creative minds we have in the El Paso school systems.”
A maximum of 30 students from one class in El Paso will win tickets and also be provided a hot dog and beverage during the game by following the rules, regulations and submission process of the contest.
The deadline for entries to be submitted was Nov. 17, 2017.
For more information and a complete list of Rules and Regulations of the contest, please go to www.sunbowl.org or call Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas at 915-533-4416.
LINK TO VOTE: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1872016529505430&id=128054783901622
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association and Hyundai have announced Thursday, Nov. 30 that former Virginia Tech player and head coach Frank Beamer along with CBS Sports are the 2017 Legends of the Sun Bowl for the 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl.
Frank Beamer retired from Virginia Tech in 2015 with an impressive career record of 238-121-2. Virginia Tech found plenty of success under Beamer as it made 23 consecutive bowl appearances, including an appearance in the 80th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl in 2013.
“It was an honor for Virginia Tech, our football program and myself to participate in the Sun Bowl,” Beamer said. “I am also honored to be inducted as a Legend of the Sun Bowl.”
While at the helm for Virginia Tech, Beamer led the charge helping his team post 23 straight seasons of seven or more wins, longest streak in school history. He also guided his team to the BCS National Championship Game in 1999 against Florida State. Beamer helped the Hokies to become one of only six programs in college football history to go to a bowl in at least 20 straight years (Nebraska, Michigan, Florida State, Alabama, Virginia Tech and Florida).
Beamer also helped his team compile a school-record streak in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll at 84 consecutive weeks. His team also earned seven conference titles and eight “major” bowl bids in a 23-year span. Including his tenure at Murray State from 1981-86, he finished his illustrious career with 280 head coaching victories.
“Hosting Mr. Frank Beamer and his team in 2013 was such an honor and pleasure,” said Executive Director of the Hyundai Sun Bowl Bernie Olivas. “We are extremely excited to have Coach Beamer back in El Paso and talking with him, we know he is excited to come visit the Borderland.”
The Sun Bowl Association is also inducting CBS Sports as a Sun Bowl Legend this year in accordance with the celebration of 50 years of partnership.
“We have such a great relationship with CBS and they have treated us extremely well over the years, it’s simply the logical and right thing that we honor the company as a Sun Bowl Legend,” Olivas said. “CBS has helped put us among the best-of-the-best bowl games in the country and we cannot thank them enough.”
The Sun Bowl was first televised on CBS in 1968 when Auburn defeated Arizona 34-10 with Lindsey Nelson and Hall-of-Famer Frank Gifford announcing the game. Other notable announcers that CBS Sports has provided over the years include Verne Lundquist, Pat Summerall, Tom Brookshier, Burt Reynolds, Pat Haden, Pat O’Brien, Dan Fouts, Ara Parseghian, Michele Tafoya, Tracy Wolfson, Brent Musburger and Jim Nantz.
Jim Nantz, who called the play-by-play action for the Sun Bowl numerous times, has called the Master’s for 32 consecutive year on CBS.
“The Hyundai Sun Bowl’s history is on the field and in the booth,” Olivas said. “El Paso has been lucky to have CBS showcase the game and the City of El Paso for 50 straight years.”
Announcers Verne Lundquist, Pat Summerall and Tom Brookshier along with producer Craig Silver have all been inducted as Sun Bowl legends in the past. Summerall and Brookshier, who called the game together from 1977-80 were inducted in 1997 while Lundquist was inducted in 2005.
Producer Craig Silver was inducted in 2008 after producing the game from 1983-2005. He also produced the game in 2008 and again from 2009-16. Silver has been a part of over half of the CBS broadcasts and has won multiple sports Emmy Awards and has produced multiple Winter Olympic broadcasts on CBS. He also produced several NCAA basketball tournament broadcasts, including the 1992 NCAA East Regional final between Duke and Kentucky, when Christian Laettner hit the buzzer-beater to lift the Blue Devils over the Wildcats to advance to the Final Four.
CBS Sports will bring viewers all the color, artistry and drama inherent to the nation’s second oldest bowl game with live coverage of the Hyundai Sun Bowl on Friday, Dec. 29 (3 p.m. ET; 1 p.m. MT). The game features select teams from the ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) and the Pac-12.
+ Sun Bowl +
By Josele Diaz
For the Sun Bowl Association
EL PASO, Texas – It’s no secret that the city of El Paso becomes overwhelmed with excitement every December in anticipation of watching one of the nation’s longest running bowl games. The Hyundai Sun Bowl has never been a stranger to talent loaded rosters along with big name schools playing in the contest every year.
With the Hyundai Sun Bowl announcement upon us, the chance to revisit the past five years of this longstanding tradition is here and with it, we can look back at how some of the players and teams from past games have gone on to have success.
The previous five Hyundai Sun Bowls have had a good number of players drafted into the NFL. You can imagine with big name schools such as Miami and USC that the number would be around 10. Maybe even 15?
Not quite.
Try 44 players drafted from teams that have played in just the past five Hyundai Sun Bowls (2012-2016).
For comparison’s sake, the Fiesta Bowl, one of the major bowls for all of college football, has had 48 players drafted in Fiesta Bowls played during the same time period, with the majority of the players (32) being drafted in the last games, coming from Clemson, Ohio State, and Notre Dame.
“When you come to the Hyundai Sun Bowl, you’re going to see some great football, and this stat alone proves that,” asserted Executive Director of the Sun Bowl Association Bernie Olivas. “Whether we’re in the first tier or second tier, we have a great game here. Not only great teams, but great football players too.”
Looking back at last year’s Hyundai Sun Bowl between Stanford and North Carolina, a total of eight players were drafted to the NFL, two of them in the first round (Mitchell Trubisky and Solomon Thomas) and one player drafted in the 3rd round (Jimmy Rogers Jr. Award winner Nazair Jones).
Mitchell Trubisky (UNC) and Solomon Thomas (Stanford) - Currently playing in the NFL played in the 2016 Sun Bowl
“There are 40 bowls in all of the land, and picks No. 2 and 3 played here in the Hyundai Sun Bowl last year,” Olivas stated proudly, quick to reiterate the fact that Stanford coming to the Hyundai Sun Bowl has always produced NFL talent.
The 2013 Hyundai Sun Bowl featured many players that have made their impact in the NFL this year. UCLA linebackers Anthony Barr, Myles Jack, and Cassius Marsh are all linebackers playing at an All-Pro level while the UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley has filled in for All-Pro quarter-back Aaron Rodgers.
Olivas, a native of El Paso, was quick to point out that Brett Hundley won the C. M. Hendricks Sun Bowl MVP Award when he played here in 2013.
Going back to the 2012 Hyundai Sun Bowl, the USC Trojans who are referred to as college foot-ball royalty and are always centered on the main talk of the NCAA, had a slew of NFL talent on their roster when they made the December trip to El Paso. Coached by none other than Lane Kiffin, the 2012 squad had seven players who are all NFL starters in 2017. Their names include: Marqise Lee, Robert Woods, Cody Kessler, Matt Barkley, Nelson Agholor, Javorious Allen, and Xavier Grimble.
Not only do players who go on to play in the NFL give the Hyundai Sun Bowl a tremendous amount of credibility, but the past teams that play in the ACC-Pac 12 showdown have proven to be consistently successful teams. Teams such as Stanford, Miami, and Washington State, all teams that came to the Hyundai Sun Bowl in the past two years, were all ranked higher than 15 in 2017.
The talent that this game has seen pass through the Hyundai Sun Bowl is unmatched for a non-New Year’s Bowl. Washington State’s quarterback Luke Falk, who won the C. M. Hendricks Sun Bowl MVP Award in 2015, is a projected top draft pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Stanford’s running back Bryce Love, who racked up a total of 168 yards of offense and a touchdown last year, is legitimate contender for the coveted 2017 Heisman trophy, annually given to college football’s top performer.
Miami, who two years ago lost a snowy game against Washington State, is having their best season in recent memory as they are currently ranked No. 7 and are at the center of the discussion of which teams should play in the College Football Playoff for the chance to win the National Championship.
In reference to knowing Miami played here two years ago, Olivas is fine with being a ladder for teams to compete at the higher level. “We’re a stepping stone to future national champions and it really is cool seeing teams come to El Paso that go on to have future success,” Olivas said.
With a plethora of talent having played on the historic Sun Bowl Stadium turf in recent memory, it is encouraging to know that the skilled college football landscape will undoubtedly provide top-notch football once again.
The 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl kicks off Friday, Dec. 29 on CBS at 1 p.m. (MT).
+ www.sunbowl.org +
EL PASO, Texas – The NCAA, the Football Bowl Association and the Division I football conferences are scheduled to announce all placements for post-season play Sunday, Dec. 3 at approximately 2 p.m. (MT)
The Sun Bowl Association and Hyundai will be hosting a “Selection Sunday Party” from 12:30-2:30 p.m. at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino, which is located at 1200 Futurity Dr., Sunland Park, N.M.
“With the way the games ended up in the final weeks of play we have an idea of who will be coming from the Pac-12,” said Executive Director of the Hyundai Sun Bowl Bernie Olivas. “Out of the ACC there are a few different teams that we could get including Louisville, NC State, Wake Forest and Virginia.”
The 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl game will be played Friday, Dec. 29, at 1 p.m. MT (3 p.m. ET) at Sun Bowl Stadium.
The 2017 game will mark the 84th anniversary of the Sun Bowl game and the 50th consecutive broadcast on CBS. The game features selections from the ACC and Pac-12 conferences.
Stanford defeated North Carolina, 25-23 in the 2016 Hyundai Sun Bowl.
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – With temperatures in the mid-70s on Thanksgiving Day, the people of El Paso and the surrounding area ventured out to Montana Ave. in droves and an estimated 290,000 people lined the sidewalks, sat on balconies and came together in the review stands.
Members of the community could be seen making breakfast as early as 5 a.m. as they patiently waited for the parade to start. There were approximately 85 units in the parade including floats, bands, monster trucks and the famous Budweiser Clydesdales.
“Things seemed to go well again this year and one of the best parts of the parade was the weather,” said Executive Director of the Sun Bowl Association Bernie Olivas. “When the weather is this nice it is expected that more people will show up.”
Those following the parade and wanting to see the memories that were made can visit the Hyundai Sun Bowl’s Social Media platforms. A photo album was created on Facebook for El Pasoans to download photos of themselves.
Hyundai Sun Bowl Social Media Accounts
Facebook: Hyundai Sun Bowl
Instagram: @HyundaiSunBowl
Snapchat: sunbowl2015
Thank you and ALL winners Parade 2017
"Mississippi Riverboat" - 2017 Sweepstakes Award
"Gobble Squatch" - 2017 Queen's Award
"Casey Jones" - 2017 Princess Award
"Dia de los Muertos" - 2017 Duchess Award
Irvin High School - 2017 Marching Band Award
Jefferson High School - 2017 ROTC Award Winner
Grand Marshals - World War II Veterans
"Betsy Ross" - 2017 Sun Court
+ www.sunbowl.org +
EL PASO, Texas – Doug Ghim, from Arlington Heights, Ill. won the 2017 Sun Bowl Andeavor All-America Golf Classic by tying a tournament record with an 18-under-par 195 on the par 71, 6,889-yard El Paso Country Club course.
Ghim started the final day strong by knocking in birdies on three of the first four holes. He finished the day with seven birdies, two bogeys and an eagle on No. 9. He bogeyed hole No. 13 after hitting into the water hazard but bounced back with birdies on 14, 15 and 17 to edge Hurly Long (-16) of Mannheim, Germany.
“Obviously 13 was a setback.” said Ghim, “But I stayed patient and got a good break on the next hole.”
Ghim, who finished second at the 2017 US Amateur, finished the 2016-17 campaign as Golfstat’s sixth ranked collegiate golfer.
“Playing well is fun but the camaraderie of the guys is unlike any week of the year during the college season,” said Ghim. “We get to hang out with players from other schools and having fun off the golf course is the best part.”
Long entered the day tied for first with Ghim and the two battled all day before Ghim was able to retake the lead after hitting a par shot on hole No. 16, while Long bogeyed.
“It was a great battle and Doug played amazing, so he deserved it for sure,” said Long.
Will Gordon of Davidson, N.C. and Ben Griffin of Chapel Hill, N.C. tied for third at 13-under-par 200. Griffin and Ghim matched each other for lowest round of the tournament with Griffin shooting 64 in round two and Ghim shooting 64s in both the second and third rounds.
Full Results
Click here for printable results>> 2017 Andeavor Sun Bowl All-America Golf Classic Final Results
1. Doug Ghim: 67-64-64—195 (-18)
2. Hurly Long: 65-66-66—197 (-16)
T3. Will Gordon: 66-66-68—200 (-13)
T3. Ben Griffin: 68-64-68—200 (-13)
5. Dawson Armstrong: 66-69-68—203 (-10)
6. Davis Shore: 67-71-66—204 (-9)
T7. Mason Overstreet: 70-69-66—205 (-8)
T7. Brad Dalke: 65-70-70—205 (-8)
T7. Grant Hirschman: 67-66-72—205 (-8)
10. John Augenstein: 72-68-67—207 (-6)
11. Shintaro Ban: 70-66-72—208 (-5)
12. Cole Miller: 70-70-69—209 (-4)
T13. Doc Redman: 70-70-70—210 (-3)
T13. Ian Holt: 70-71-69—210 (-3)
T15. Kyle Mueller: 69-70-72—211 (-2)
T15. Kristoffer Ventura: 67-76-68—211 (-2)
T17. Kristoffer Reitan: 70-74-68—212 (-1)
T17. Lee Hodges: 73-70-69—212 (-1)
T17. Fredrik Nilehn: 77-65-70—212 (-1)
T20. Kyler Tate: 71-73-69—213 (E)
T20. Dylan Wu: 72-69-72—213 (E)
T20. Blaine Hale: 71-70-72—213 (E)
T23. Chip McDaniel: 74-71-69—214 (1)
T23. Franklin Huang: 72-68-73—214 (1)
T25. Ryan Gronlund: 72-68-75—215 (2)
T25. Chandler Blanchet: 72-71-72—215 (2)
T25. Luis Gagne: 75-66-74—215 (2)
28. Patrick Martin: 73-73-70—216 (3)
T29. Bryson Nimmer: 71-75-71—217 (4)
T29. Alex Smalley: 69-74-74—217 (4)
+ www.sunbowl.org +
EL PASO, Texas – Hurly Long of Mannheim, Germany and Doug Ghim of Arlington Heights, Ill. are tied for first place after two rounds at the 2017 Sun Bowl Andeavor All-America Golf Classic. Both players posted an 11-under-par 131 on the par 71, 6,889 yard El Paso Country Club course.
Long started hot with four birdies in his first six holes to help him to a first-place tie after round one. He finished the day with 14 birdies, most by any player on the day.
“I told myself it was important to stay patient out here because you’re going to have a lot of chances,” said Long. “I’ve been putting well so I knew if I kept giving myself looks I’d be fine and that’s kind of the way it went.”
Ghim sank five birdies in the first round and added eight more in the second round to pull even with Long.
“It definitely helps to know the course,” said Ghim, who also made the trip to the Sun City in 2015. “This tournament is so much fun, the camaraderie with the guys who aren’t on your school’s team is just a lot of fun.”
Long and Ghim are one stroke ahead of Ben Griffin, of Chapel Hill, N.C. and Will Gordon, a native of Davidson, N.C., who both shot 10-under-par. Long and Ghim are holding on to a two-stroke lead ahead of Grant Hirschman, of Collierville, Tenn., who shot 9-under for the day.
Gordon, Long and Hirschman were in the same pairing, which was by far the best pairing of the day.
“Sometimes if everybody plays well in a group, that can really help you,” said Long. “I think that was the case today.”
The final round of the Sun Bowl Andeavor All-America Golf Classic is, Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 8 a.m. (MT) at the El Paso Country Club. Tee times will start at 8 a.m. with the final groups beginning at 8:40 a.m. (MT).Day One Results
Click here for printable results>> 2017 Day One Leaderboard _ Sun Bowl Andeavor All-America Golf Classic
T1. Doug Ghim: 67-64—131 (-11)
T1. Hurly Long: 65-66—131 (-11)
T3. Will Gordon: 66-66—132 (-10)
T3. Ben Griffin: 68-64—132 (-10)
5. Grant Hirschman: 67-66—133 (-9)
T6. Brad Dalke: 65-70—135 (-7)
T6. Dawson Armstrong: 66-69—135 (-7)
8. Shintaro Ban: 70-66—136 (-6)
9. Davis Shore: 67-71—138 (-4)
T10. Kyle Mueller: 69-70—139 (-3)
T10. Mason Overstreet: 70-69—139 (-3)
T12. Cole Miller: 70-70—140 (-2)
T12. John Augenstein: 72-68—140 (-2)
T12. Ryan Gronlund: 72-68—140 (-2)
T12. Doc Redman: 70-70—140 (-2)
T16. Blaine Hale: 71-70—141 (-1)
T16. Dylan Wu: 72-69—141 (-1)
T16. Ian Holt: 70-71—141 (-1)
T16. Franklin Huang: 73-68—141 (-1)
T16. Luis Gagne: 75-66—141 (-1)
21. Fredrik Nilehn: 77-65—142 (E)
T22. Alex Smalley: 69-74—143 (1)
T22. Chandler Blanchet: 72-71—143 (1)
T22. Kristoffer Ventura: 67-76—143 (1)
T22. Lee Hodges: 73-70—143 (1)
T26. Kyler Tate: 71-73—144 (2)
T26. Kristoffer Reitan: 70-74—144 (2)
28. Chip McDaniel: 74-71—145 (3)
T29. Bryson Nimmer: 71-75—146 (4)
T29. Patrick Martin: 73-73—146 (+4)
+ www.sunbowl.org +
EL PASO, Texas – On the day before Thanksgiving, volunteers from around El Paso get ready to show-off the parade floats they have dedicated hundreds to thousands of hours of their time making.
The FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade draws more than 250,000 people from the region each year. They line Montana Avenue before sunrise for the best view of this Thanksgiving Day tradition. What they may not realize is that while they eagerly wait for the parade to begin, hundreds more people behind the scenes work to make it possible.
Sun Bowl Association Special Events Director Joe Daubach has been organizing the parade for the last 15 years and it’s a job that he cannot do alone. The Sun Bowl Association has seven full-time staff members, each a role in putting it together. Although, it takes many more people to put on such a grand event.
“I direct other folks, but when you really look at it, it’s the volunteers that truly make it happen,” Daubach said. “We have over 800 volunteers that put the parade together.”
From float builders to street cleaners, volunteers are the heart and soul of what keep the parade going. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, alone, coordinates 600 volunteers. They wait at each block on Montana Avenue from Ochoa to Copia streets and clean them as soon as the parade passes through. Another 100 volunteers help keep the procession in order ensuring it runs smoothly.
Maruyi Hughes, of El Paso, has been a volunteer for the Sun Bowl Association for seven years now, building floats for her organization. Hughes runs the Edison Hope Leadership Christian Academy, a non-profit homeschool, and encourages her students and their families to participate in the parade. Growing up in El Paso, she remembers how special it was for her to see the parade as a child.
“When I was little, going to see the parade was like going to Disneyland. I remember when Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse used to be the Grand Marshals of the parade. We didn’t have much, but we had the parade to look forward too,” Hughes recalls. “I remember what it was like for me, so I do this now to give back to the community.”
Daubach is thankful for Hughes and her non-profit organization, and the assistance they provide for the parade. Involvement by non-profit groups are important to the Sun Bowl Association, since it is also a non-profit.
“I think that’s a really key part with some of these float builders, that they use it as part of a community service project,” Daubach said. “To be able to show the community what they do aside from their organization, it’s pretty neat that they get to experience that.”
Volunteering for the parade has become a tradition of its own for many. Many of the people involved with organizing the parade have watched the parade since they were children. Those people became volunteers because their parents and grandparents were volunteers. It’s a family tradition that continues to be passed from generation to generation.
Daubach was hired in 2002 and had never organized a parade, but he’s received valuable help from well-respected and treasured Parade Chairman, Jim Lawrence. Lawrence, who was born in Deming, N.M. and moved to El Paso at the age of three, has served as a mentor to Daubach these last 15 years, providing guidance throughout the organizing process.
“Having someone like Jim mentor me and explaining the do’s and don’ts, what to focus on, what not to focus on has been invaluable because he’s lived through so many parades,” Daubach mentioned. “He really knows how to do things that help not only me, but everybody.”
Lawrence has been involved as a volunteer with the parade for 48 years, and has seen the parade in different stages of its life. From a young boy standing on the sidewalks, watching the parade in awe, to designing and building floats, the parade remains special to him.
“It’s in my blood. Being involved with the parade all this time, I’ve seen many floats, many specialty units, and it’s special every year,” Lawrence recalls. “It’s a parade centered around the community, and I think it makes families and children really happy to come out each year and see what we’ve put together for them.”
Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas has worked with Lawrence for many years. He’s grateful for the dedication Lawrence continues to provide for the Sun Bowl Association year-after-year. Before Lawrence was appointed Parade Chairman, he was set to retire as a volunteer, until Olivas convinced him otherwise. Lawrence is an irreplaceable asset to the organization.
“Jim is an invaluable person to the Sun Bowl Association,” Olivas mentioned. “He’s just a tremendous individual and if he had left us before Joe took over, I honestly don’t think we’d have a parade. That’s how valuable he continues to be for this organization.”
Volunteers make a tremendous impact not only on the parade, but on the organization as a whole. Though the parade is the largest event put on by the Sun Bowl Association, volunteers are crucial in assuring that each event put on by the association is successful. Without volunteers the organization would not exist.
“There’s no way seven people can put on the events, not just the parade, but all the events we have. We depend on every volunteer that help us throughout the year,” Olivas says. “We couldn’t exist without their help. These volunteers who ask nothing in return just want to contribute to the community, and of course the Sun Bowl Association is all about putting on community events. Without them, we wouldn’t have a job.”
The 81st Annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade kicks off on Thursday, Nov. 23 at 9:45 a.m. (MT) on Montana Avenue between Ochoa and Copia streets and will also be televised locally on KTSM Channel 9. The theme for this year’s parade is American Folklore. A fitting theme for the volunteers, because what’s more American than giving back to the community?
If you would like to sign up to become a volunteer for the Sun Bowl Association, visit www.sunbowl.org and click on the volunteer link.
+ www.sunbowl.org +
EL PASO, Texas – Thanksgiving is just days away and that also means the 81st Annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade is also just days away.
FirstLight Federal Credit Union and the Sun Bowl Association are excited to have the community of El Paso come together once again on Montana Ave. as the parade will start on Ochoa Street and end at the intersection of Copia and Montana. Start time for the parade this year is at 9:45 a.m. (MT). This year 12 World War II Veterans leading the way as Grand Marshals.
“With this year’s theme being ‘American Folklore’ we thought it’d be great to have real heroes lead our parade,” said Sun Bowl Association Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “We have a great working relationship with Fort Bliss and appreciate the team there helping us get connected with these veterans.”
The community of El Paso can expect to see approximately 20 large floats, multiple high school bands, as well as the UTEP marching band and other various entries including the famous Budweiser Clydesdale Horses.
“It’s always great to see the excitement on everyone’s faces, especially the kids,” said Sun Bowl Association Special Events Director and parade organizer Joe Daubach. “This is a great tradition in El Paso that is put on by the people of El Paso and we hope to continue this for many years.”
ABOUT THE PARADE
Review Stands: Tickets will be available at the Sun Bowl Association Office, all Circle K Stores and FirstLight Federal Credit Union branches for $10.00. New Location for Review Stands – 1600 Montana Ave. (Emergence Health Network).
Step off Time: 9:45 a.m. (MST)
Parade Route: Montana Avenue; beginning at Ochoa and ending at Copia (2.7 miles)
Anticipated Units: 100 units including floats, equestrian units, clowns, marching bands, drum and bugle corps units, dignitaries, Grand Marshals, and a wide variety of specialty units from Mexican / Indian dancers to military ceremonial units.
Television: Live coverage of the parade on local television affiliate KTSM Channel 9 (NBC). –
Television coverage starts at 10 a.m. (MT).
Anticipated Crowd: 250,000 spectators line Montana Ave. each Thanksgiving morning to watch the largest community event in the Southwest.
For more information on the parade visit the Sun Bowl Association website at www.sunbowl.org/parade.
Grand Marshals
Eladio Saucedo, United States Navy
• Served one tour on board the USS Bennington CV20
• Recipient of the WWII Campaign Medal
and Good Conduct Medal
• Has two sons and three grandchildren
who also served in the Armed Forces
Alfredo Gomez, United States Navy
• Served one tour on board the USS Panamint
• Witnessed the signing of the Surrender of Japan
Daniel Montoya, United States Marine Corps
• Attended Bowie High School
• Served with 1st Battalion, 17th Marines
• Served at Guadalcanal and Okinawa
Ramon Muñoz, United States Army
• Served one tour during WWII
• Recipient of the American Theater Campaign Medal, the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal with Five Bronze Stars and a WWII Victory medal. His unit also received the Distinguished Unit Badge
Luigi Pellicano, United States Army
• One tour as a Rifleman
• Recipient of the Purple Heart, ETO Ribbons for 4 battle Campaigns, a Bronze Star, and a WWII victory medal.
• Daughter Dolores Pellicano was the 1972 Sun Queen
Ramon “Ray” Marquez, United States Marine Corps
• Served one tour in WWII, one tour in the Korean War and one tour in Vietnam.
•Recipient of a Meritorious Mast and a Letter of Appreciation
Salvador “Tato” Diaz, United States Marine Corps
• Served one tour during WWII
• Recipient of the Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat Valor and the Combat Action Ribbon. His unit received a Presidential Unit Citation
Jose Andow, United States Army
• One of four brothers who served in WWII
(Paul Andow-Navy, Enrique Andow-Army, Angel Andow-Marines)
• Participant in the European Theater of WWII
Fidel F. Canchola, United States Army
• Served one tour during WWII
• Recipient of the Combat Infantry Badge, WWII Victory Medal, Five Bronze Stars and a Purple Heart
Alice Scherotter, Unisted States Navy-WAVES
• Served one tour during WWII
• Earned a degree in Occupational Therapy through the GI Bill
David Chavez, United States Navy
• Served one tour during WWII
• Entered the service at age 16
• Worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad
for almost 40 years after his military career
Moises Flores
• No information provided
+ www.sunbowl.org +
EL PASO, Texas – Fans don’t want to miss the opportunity to see future PGA (Pro Golf Association) players in action as the 2017 Andeavor Sun Bowl All-America Golf Classic is set for Nov. 19-21 at the El Paso County Club.
Current PGA players such as Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Ricky Fowler, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods have hit the links at the El Paso Country Club and this year there are 32 amateurs from around the country invading the Borderland.
“This year’s field is one the best we’ve had in years,” said Sun Bowl Association Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “The golf committee has worked tirelessly throughout the year to make this an A-ranked event.”
“Players are invited to this tournament because of their All-America status and outstanding amateur career and ranking,” said Tournament Director Bob Kimble. “I can assure the fans that future PGA players will be out on the course during this tournament.”
Sam Burns of Louisiana State won last year’s All-America Golf Classic carding rounds of 67-68-66.
The Andeavor Sun Bowl All-America Golf Classic is one of the premier amateur golf tournaments in the country. Some of golf’s brightest stars have traveled to El Paso to compete in the tournament since its inaugural year in 1976.
Jordan Spieth, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III, Ricky Barnes, Notah Begay and Jerry Pate are just a handful of past participants who went on to have successful PGA careers. College All-America Golf Classic Alumni have combined to win 50 major championships and have earned over $1.8 billion in career earnings.
The annual event starts with the Titleist Long Drive Contest and PING Putting Contest on Sunday, Nov. 19 at 9 a.m. (MT). The best opportunity for fans to get photos with the future PGA players and obtain autographs is on Sunday immediately following the two contests.
Round one and two are scheduled for Monday, Nov. 20 with a shotgun start scheduled for 8 a.m. (MT) while the final round is set for 8 a.m. (MT) on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
2017 Andeavor Sun Bowl All-America Golf Classic Participants
Dawson Armstrong – Hometown: Brentwood, Tenn. – Amateur Status: Sr. at Lipscomb
• Stroke Average: 70.93
• 2015 Western Amateur Medalist
• Has claimed medalist honors in eight collegiate events
• Two-time ASUN Conference Golfer of the Year
• Owns the all-time ASUN Conference record for weekly honors by a male in any sport with 12 ASUN Men’s Golfer of the Week honors
• 2017 Golfweek and PING All-American
• 2017 U.S. Amateur Quarterfinalist
• 2017 Golfweek 2nd-Team Preseason All-American
• As an amateur his two biggest wins are the 2015 Western Amateur and the 2015 Dogwood Invitational
John Augenstein – Hometown: Owensboro, Ky. – Amateur Status: So. at Vanderbilt
• Named to the GCAA Freshman All-American team and as a GCAA Honorable Mention All-American selection in 2017.
• Named SEC Freshman of the Year and to the All-Freshman Team.
• Clinched the SEC Championship after winning the deciding matches in the semifinals against Florida and the finals against Texas A&M.
• Has six top 10 finishes in his career, with best finishing coming at the Nike Golf Collegiate in 2016, where he finished fifth.
• Career round of 63 came in second round of Carmel Cup at Pebble Beach Golf Links in 2017.
Shintaro Ban – Hometown: San Jose, Calif. – Amateur Status: Sr. at UNLV
• 2016-17 Stroke Average: 71.26
• Has played in 101 rounds for UNLV with a career scoring average of 72.28 (sixth in program history)
• Has recorded 19 top-20 finishes, 12 top-10s and seven top-5s, with 50 rounds at par or better
• Earned honorable mention All-America honors in addition to PING All-West Region (second straight year)
• Had 10 top-20 finishes, seven top-10s and five top-5s during the 2016-17 season
Chandler Blanchet – Hometown: Gainesville, Fla. – Amateur Status: Sr. at West Florida
• 2017 NCAA Division II Men’s Golf National Champion, Arnold Palmer Award winner and Jack Nicklaus Award winner
• Two-time All-America, two-time PING All-South Region and two-time Gulf South Conference Player of the Year
• Has a school-record nine career victories
• The nation’s top-rated golfer in any division with a school-record 68.76 stroke avg., becoming the first Division 2 player to win the Golfstat Cup
• Won seven individual titles in 2016-17, including six of final seven tournaments with the NCAA Division II Individual title among them
• Posted a school record and career-best round 62 at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in the opening round of the 2017 Southeastern Collegiate in Valdosta, Ga., which was tied for seventh-lowest round in college golf all year
• Has four career hole-in-ones, with the last coming at the 2015 Patriot Intercollegiate
Brad Dalke – Hometown: Norman, Okla. – Amateur Status: Jr. at Oklahoma
• 2016-17 stroke average: 72.17
• Best Finish: 1st, 2017 NCAA Stanford Regional
Amateur Wins: 4
• Sank championship-clinching putt at the 2017 NCAA Championships
• Earned first collegiate win at the 2017 NCAA Stanford Regional
• Finished as the runner-up at the 2016 U.S. Amateur
• Competed in The 2017 Masters and 2017 U.S. Open
• 2017 Division I PING All-America honorable mention selection
Luis Gagne – Hometown: Orlando, Fla. – Amateur Status: Jr. at LSU
• 2016-17 Statistics: 15 tournaments, 71.35 scoring average (career low), 2 wins, 7 Top 10s
Best Career Finish: 1st Place (3 times)
• 2016 Maui Jim Intercollegiate; Sept. 23-25, 2016; Mirabel Golf Club, Scottsdale, Arizona
• 2016 David Toms Intercollegiate (Co-Champion); Oct. 8-9, 2016; University Club, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• 2017 David Toms Intercollegiate (Co-Champion); Oct. 6-7, 2017; University Club, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
• 2017 PING Honorable Mention All-American
• 2017 Second-Team All-SEC
• 2016 PING & Golfweek Honorable Mention All-American
• 2016 U.S. Amateur Quarterfinalist
• Ended the 2016-17 season as the No. 25-ranked player in the college golf by Golfweek following the NCAA Championships.
• Career-low 71.35 scoring average in 2016-17 is the fourth-best by an LSU Tiger since records have been compiled dating back to 1982.
Doug Ghim – Hometown: Arlington Heights, Ill. – Amateur Status: Sr. at Texas
• 2017 Pacific Coast Amateur Champion
• 2017 U.S. Amateur runner-up
• 2017 Big 12 Player of the Year
• 2017 Golfweek All-America First Team
• 2017 PING All-Region
• 2017 All-Big 12
• 2017 Jack Nicklaus Award semifinalist
• 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup selection
• 2017 Ben Hogan Award Watch List
• 2016 Palmer Cup selection
• 2016 PING All-America Second Team
• 2016 Golfweek Second Team All-America
• 2016 Jack Nicklaus Award semifinalist
• 2016 All-Big 12
• 2015 PING All-America Honorable Mention
• 2015 All-Freshman Team
• 2015 All-Big 12 First Team
Ben Griffin – Hometown: Chapel Hill, N.C. – Amateur Status: Sr. at UNC
• 2016-17 average: 72.29
Best Finish: (three first place finishes)
• 2014-15 Tar Heel Intercollegiate, Chapel Hill, N.C.
• 2014-15 Bridgestone Collegiate, Greensboro, N.C.
• 2017-18 Tar Heel Intercollegiate, Chapel Hill, N.C.
Honors
• Two-time honorable mention All-America (2015, 2017)
• 2015 All-ACC
• Second-lowest stroke average in UNC history
• Won the 2013 AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions
Ryan Gronlund – Hometown: Pleasanton, Calif. – Amateur Status: Jr. at Oregon
• Earned honorable mention All-America recognition from PING
• Named second-team All-Pac-12
• Competed nationally including numerous AJGA, FCWT, NCGA tournaments including 2013 Junior PGA Championship, 2013 Western Junior Championship. 2011 & 2012 FCWT First Team All-American
• Member of Oregon’s 2016 NCAA Championship team
Will Gordon – Hometown: Davidson, N.C. – Amateur Status: Jr. at Vanderbilt
• 2016-17 Scoring Average: 72.78
• Named Freshman All-American in 2016
• Named to the All-SEC 2nd Team and the All-Freshman Team in 2016.
• Only freshman to be named to the the U.S. Palmer Cup team in 2016
• Tied for first at the Schenkel Invitational (67-73-63) in 2016, which included a final round 63.
• Also posted a final-round 63 at the SunTrust Gator Invitational in 2016.
Blaine Hale – Hometown: Dallas, Texas – Amateur Status: Jr. at Oklahoma
• 2016-17 stroke average: 72.30
• Best Finish: Tied for 4th, Ka’anapali Collegiate Classic
Amateur Wins: 4
• Earned wins in the semifinal and final to help OU secure the 2017 NCAA Championship
• Shot career-low 64 at Nike Golf Collegiate Invitational (Oct. 1-3)
• Two top-5 and six top-10 career finishes during his OU career
• Best finish came at the Ka’anapali Collegiate Classic, tying for fourth
• 2017 Division I PING All-America honorable mention selection
Grant Hirschman – Hometown: Collierville, Tenn. – Amateur Status: Sr. at Oklahoma
• 2016-17 stroke average: 71.08
• Best Finish: First, twice
• Amateur Wins: 3
• Two career wins: (2016 Gopher Invitational and 2017 Southern Highlands Collegiate)
• 26 career top-10 finishes
• Aided OU’s comeback versus Baylor at the 2017 NCAA Championships
• Tied a school record with a career-low 63 at the 2016 Big 12 Championships
• Posted career-low 54-hole score at the 2017 Carmel Cup (206, -10).
• 2017 Division I PING All-America honorable mention selection
Lee Hodges – Hometown: Ardmore, Tenn. – Amateur Status: Sr. at Alabama
• 2016-17 Scoring Average: 71.91
• Was a two-time all-conference performer at UAB, including being named the 2015 Conference USA Freshman of the Year
• Named to 2017 PING All-Region team
Ian Holt – Hometown: Stow, Ohio – Amateur Status: Sr. at Kent State
• 2016-17 stroke average: 71.33
• Best finish: Individual champion at the Gopher Invitational, 70-67-66–203 (-10).
• PING All-American after junior season in 2016-17
• A Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar
• Last season’s Mid-American Conference Golfer of the Year
• Began the season ranked third all-time at Kent State with a 71.54 scoring average.
• His seven eagles last season set a program record.
• His 2016 fall season included nine consecutive rounds shooting 70 or lower. The run included his first collegiate victory at the Cleveland State Invitational, where his 18-under-par 198 set a new program record for a 54-hole tournament, bettering the record set by Ben Curtis in the 1999-2000 season by two strokes.
Amateur Wins
• The 2015 Midwest Collegiate Amateur (68-70)
• Won the 2013 Hudson Junior Invitational (69-70)
Franklin Huang – Hometown: Poway, Calif. – Amateur Status: Sr. at Stanford
• 2016-17 stroke average: 71.41
• Best Finish: First at 2016 NCAA Regional Championships (May 16-18, Tucson, Ariz.)
• 2017 PING All-America honorable mention
• 2017 PING All-Region
• 2017 All-Pac-12 second team
• 2017 Pac-12 All-Academic honorable mention
• First at 2016 U.S. Amateur Qualifier (67-65, 132)
• First at 2014 California Junior Amateur Championship
• First at 2014 CIF San Diego Section
• First at 2013 Southern California PGA Toyota Tour Cup Tour Championship
• First at 2012 AJGA Junior Championship
Hurly Long – Hometown: Mannheim, Germany – Amateur Status: Jr. at Texas Tech
• 2016-17 Scoring Average: 73.07
• Long’s first-round 67 was his low round of the season
• Placed first 2017 Carmel Cup, Sept. 2017, Pebble Beach – He broke the course record with a second-round 61
Patrick Martin – Hometown: Birmingham, Ala. – Amateur Status: Jr. at Vanderbilt
• Best Finish: First at the Schenkel Invitational (Forest Heights Country Club, Statesboro, Ga., March 17-19, 2017)
• Named first-team All-American in 2017
• Led Vanderbilt with 70.34 stroke average in 2016-17, the second-lowest in program history.
• Nicklaus Award Finalist.
• Named to All-SEC First Team.
• Finished runner-up at the SEC Championship after posting a 10-under par, 200, a Vanderbilt record at the event.
• Won the Schenkel Invitational in 2017 for his first collegiate individual title
Chip McDaniel – Hometown: Manchester, Ky. – Amateur Status: Sr. at Kentucky
• 2016-17 Scoring Average: 71.77
• Three total No. 1 finishes, most recent is Bearcat Invitational – Cincinnati, Ohio – Sept. 25-26, 2017
• Has started 37 events at UK and played more than 100 rounds.
• Has 23 top-20 finishes, 14 top-10 and three individual victories
• 2016 PING Third-Team All-American
• 2016 All-SEC second team member and 2015 All-SEC Freshman Team member
• Fifty-five percent of his collegiate rounds have been par-or-better
• Career low round is 65
Cole Miller – Hometown: New Tripoli, Penn. – Amateur Status: Sr. at Penn State
• 2016-17 Scoring Average: 71.50
• First place finish in the Seminole Intercollegiate (March 10-12, 2017) and the NCAA Washington Regional (May 15-17, 2017).
• The lone senior on the 2017-18 edition of the Nittany Lions, Cole Miller has led by example his entire career at Penn State. With a career scoring average of 72.37, Miller would be the program’s all-time scoring average leader if his career were to end today. Miller has represented himself and the University in the Pennsylvania Amateur, The U.S. Amateur and the British Amateur in the summer of 2017, winning the PA Amateur in 2016. His fall 2017 scoring average of 71.25 was the best of his career.
• 2016 Pennsylvania Amateur Champion (Runner-up in 2017)
Kyle Mueller – Hometown: Athens, Ga. – Amateur Status: Sr. at Michigan
• 2016-17 Scoring Average: 71.36
• Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA) PING DI All-America honorable mention (2017)
• Golfweek All-America, honorable mention (2017)
• 3x All-Big Ten, first team (2016, ‘17), second team (2015)
• 3x PING Division I Midwest All-District Team (2015, ’16, ’17)
• All-Big Ten Tournament Team (2016)
• GCAA All-America Scholar (2017)
• GCAA Team Academic Honor (2015)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2016, ’17)
• 3x U-M Athletic Academic Achievement Award (2015, ’16, ’17)
• 3x U-M’s Bert Katzenmeyer Award for lowest scoring average (2015, ’16, ’17)
• 4x Big Ten Golfer of the Week (Sept. 9, 2014, Oct. 14, 2015, Sept. 28, 2016, March 1, 2017)
• Started 41 straight events for career, not missing a single event in four years
• In 41 career events, has 29 top-20 finishes with 19 top-10 and 11 top-five with three wins — 2014 Wolverine Intercollegiate (Sept. 6-7), 2016 Windon Memorial Classic (Sept. 25-26) and 2017 Aggie Invitational (April 1-2)
• Carries a 9-1 record in match play
Fredrik Nilehn – Hometown: Goteborg, Sweden – Amateur Status: Sr. at Texas Tech
• 2016-17 Scoring Average: 72.36
• First place finish at the 2016 Carmel Cup, Sept. 2016, Pebble Beach
• First place finish at the 2017 Amer Ari Invitational, Feb. 2017, Kona, Hawai’i
• Was named Big 12 Golfer of the Month for the month of September, 2016
• Posted five under-par rounds in the fall, including a pair of 67’s at Pebble Beach
Bryson Nimmer – Hometown: Bluffton, S.C. – Amateur Status: Jr. at Clemson
• 2016-17 Stroke Average: 70.94
• Two-time first-team All-ACC selection
• Has 26 under-par rounds in 60 total rounds in his two years
• Has 14 rounds in the 60s and over 200 birdies
• Won ACC Rookie of the Year honors in 2015-16
Mason Overstreet – Hometown: Kingfisher, Okla. – Amateur Status: So. at Arkansas
• 2016-17 Stroke Average: 73.0
• 2016-17 Best Finish: Runner-Up at NCAA National Championship
• Fall 2017 Stroke Average: 69.2
• 2017-18 Best Finish: 1st at Jerry Pate Intercollegiate
• Ended the fall 2017 season with the 19th best stroke average in the country at 69.2.
• Finished the fall 2017 semester with 10 of his 15 rounds under par, including a victory and runner-up finish.
• Shot a combined 5-under in three postseason events last year, finishing T-13th at the SEC Championship, sixth at NCAA Regionals and second at the NCAA National Championship.
• Earned 2017 PING All-America honorable mention honors from the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA).
• Became the first freshman in program history to finish even par or better at the SEC Championship.
• Finished T-14th at the Western Amateur Championship during the summer of 2017
Doc Redman – Hometown: Raleigh, N.C. – Amateur Status: So. at Clemson
• 2017 United States Amateur Champion
• Clemson’s first Walker Cup selection since Kyle Stanley in 2007
• Had second best stroke average in Clemson history in 2016-17 with 70.77
• Defeated Doug Ghim of the University of Texas and Arlington Heights, Ill in 37 holes to become Clemson’s second US Amateur Champion (Chris Patton, 1989)
• Third team All-American as a freshman according to Golfweek
• Honorable mention All-American by Golf Coaches Association
• First-team Freshman All-American…Academic All-ACC in addition to making All-ACC on the course
• First-team Freshman All-American according to Golf Coaches Association and Golfweek
Kristoffer Reitan – Hometown: Oslo, Norway – Amateur Status: Fr. at Texas
• 2016 stroke play medalist of the Boys Amateur Championship
• 2016 European Junior Ryder Cup team
• Selected as a member of the European Jacques Leglise Trophy team in 2015 and 2016
• 2015 Junior Orange Bowl champion
Scottie Scheffler – Hometown: Dallas, Texas – Amateur Status: Sr. at Texas
• 2017 U.S. Open Low Amateur
• 2017 Golfweek All-America First Team
• 2017 PING All-Region
• 2017 All-Big 12
• 2017 Ben Hogan Award Watch List
• 2016 World Amateur Team selection
• 2016 U.S. Open qualifier
• 2016 Academic All-Big 12 First Team
• 2015 Phil Mickelson Freshman of the Year
• 2015 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year
• 2015 PING All-America Second Team
• 2015 All-Freshmen Team
• 2015 All-Big 12 First Team
• SGA National Amateur of the Month (April)
• 2015 Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll
Davis Shore – Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn. – Amateur Status: Fr. at Alabama
• 2016-17 Stroke Average: 72.17
• Had his first career top-10 finish at the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate (JPNI), shooting a 54-hole score of 207 (69-67-71), which included a season-best round of 3-under 67
• Finished tied for 9th as Alabama claimed the JPNI championship
Alex Smalley – Hometown: Wake Forest, N.C. – Amateur Status: Jr. at Duke
• 2016-17 Stroke Average: 71.54
• 2016-17 Best Finish: T-2 Grand Canyon University Invitational
• 2016-17 All-ACC Team
• 2016-17 All-ACC Academic Team
• 2016-17 Division I Ping All-Region Team (East)
• Finished 2016-17 season with best stroke average on team
• Finished 2016-17 season with lowest round of 54 on team
• Won the individual medal at the 2016 U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills Country Club
• In 2017, qualified for U.S. Open after tying for first at Hawks Ridge Golf Club
Kyler Tate – Hometown: Winter Garden, Fla. – Amateur Status: Jr. at Central Florida
• Scoring average was 73.2 last season
• Top finish last year was tie for fourth at FGCU Invitational
• Earned Honorable Mention All-America honors from Golf Coaches Association of America
• Ranked second on team with 13 rounds of par or better
• Led team at NCAA Championships with a 23rd-place finish
• Earned four Top 10 finishes
• Led team at The Hayt, where he finished tied for ninth
• Ranked third on team with a 73.2 scoring average
• Only Knight to play in all 13 events in 2016-17
Kristoffer Ventura – Hometown: Rygge, Norway – Amateur Status: Sr. at Oklahoma State
• Earned honorable mention All-America status from both the Golf Coaches Association of America as well as Golfweek after the 2016-17 season
• Was tabbed as a Ping All-Region pick in 2016-17
• Was named a first-team All-Big 12 selection for the 2016-17 season
• Was also named a first-team Academic All-Big 12
• Was named a third-team All-American by both Golfweek magazine and the Golf Coaches Association of America after the 2015-16 season
Dylan Wu – Hometown: Medford, Ore. – Amateur Status: Sr. at Northwestern
• 2016-17 stroke average: 70.53
• Best Finish: First place (2x), last time at Redhawk Invitational, Apr. 3-4, 2017, Chambers Bay Golf Course)
• PING Second-Team All-American in 2017
• Unanimous First Team All-Big Ten selection
• Team leader in scoring average (70.53), rounds of par or better (23), rounds in the 60s (12), top-five finishes (5), top-10 finishes (9), top-25 finishes (11), birdies (115), and low round (66) in 2016-17
• Scoring average was the third-lowest in program history, trailing only Luke Donald’s season-ending marks from 1998-99 and 1999-2000
• Les Bolstad Award winner for low scoring average in the Big Ten Conference, edging out Illinois’ Dylan Meyer by five-hundredths of a point
• 2017 Division I PING Midwest All-Region Team … 2017 Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar
Andy Zhang – Hometown: Reunion, Fla. – Amateur Status: So. at Florida
• 2016-17 Stroke Average: 72.33
• Best finish: (Trinity Forest Invitational, Sept. 24-26, 2017, Dallas, Texas)
• Named to All-SEC Freshman Team
• Recorded two top ten finishes in the Windon Memorial and SunTrust Gator Invitational
• Finished four tournaments at or below par in 2016-17
• Carded a career-low 209 54-holes at the Mason Rudolph
Amateur tournaments won:
• 2014 AJGA Thunderbird International Junior
• 2014 Florida Junior Tour at Banyan
• Won the 2013 Florida Junior Tour events at Old Corkscrew and Carrollwood
• 2012 IMG Junior Golf Tour at World Golf Village
• Won a pair of Florida Junior Tour events in 2011 at The Evergreen Club and Lake Wales
Dustin Johnson
Jordan Spieth
Tiger Woods
EL PASO, Texas – Tickets for the 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl are on sale now through Ticketmaster and the Sun Bowl Association office. The 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl will kick off at 1 p.m. (MT) Friday, Dec. 29, 2017. The Sun Bowl features teams from the ACC and Pac-12 conferences.
This year’s game marks the 50th consecutive year the Sun Bowl has been broadcast by CBS, which makes it the second longest program on the same network on all of television only behind the Master’s.
Fans have already begun purchasing tickets and renewing their ticket plans.
“Looking at our reports this past month, we noticed that we have had more people renew early than we’ve had in the past, so that is telling me that our regular ticket buyers are excited to come back to the game,” said Hyundai Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “Our game is an El Paso tradition and the prices for tickets are very affordable, especially when one compares it to other forms of entertainment.”
Tickets for the game can be purchased online through the link at www.sunbowl.org or by calling the Sun Bowl Association office at 915-533-4416. Fans are also welcome to stop by the Sun Bowl Association office in El Paso at 4150 Pinnacle Street, Suite 100 to purchase tickets.
The Hyundai Sun Bowl also works with Ticketmaster and fans can visit www.Ticketmaster.com, call the Ticketmaster toll free line at 800-745-3000 or download the Ticketmaster mobile app for both iOS and Android to purchase tickets. Tickets purchased through Ticketmaster will have additional handling and convenience fees.
Ticket prices start at just $22 with other options priced at $32, $47, $57 and $62. A map of the stadium’s layout can be found at www.sunbowl.org.
“We have various ticket options and packages to choose from,” Olivas said. “Sun Bowl Stadium does not have a bad seat in the house so any option will give the purchaser a great view of the playing field.”
The Hyundai Sun Bowl also offers Sun Bowl Six Pack ticket packages. The Sun Bowl Six Pack includes six Hyundai Sun Bowl Game Tickets, six Hyundai Sun Bowl Pregame VIP Tent Party tickets, six The Hospitals of Providence Rotary Sun Bowl Team Luncheon tickets and six WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational Tickets. Fans can purchase tickets and set them up to be renewed on an annual basis by calling the Sun Bowl Association office.
Fans can also help send others to the game through our “Salute a Soldier Program” and “Take a Child to the Game Program.”
“As a non-profit organization we are always looking for ways to have others join us in giving back to the community,” Olivas said. “Our ‘Salute a Soldier Program’ and ‘Take a Child to the Game Program’ are two great ways to show love to the community we live in. The Fort Bliss soldiers who have received tickets in the past have been ecstatic and it’s always great to give tickets to children, especially as a Christmas gift.”
The “Salute a Soldier Program” allows fans and companies the opportunity to give a Fort Bliss soldier a memory to last a lifetime. As a sponsor, you will give the soldier an opportunity to attend the game while your company is recognized during the game.
If a fan or company would prefer to take part in the “Take a Child to the Game Program” that person or company affords local children the opportunity to attend the Hyundai Sun Bowl. With the game falling only four days after Christmas, this would make an excellent Christmas gift. The goal is to send 3,000 children to the game and give them an experience they will never forget. Along with the goodwill that comes with sending a child to the game, any person or company taking part in this program will receive recognition at the game. The Sun Bowl Association is happy to provide a list of youth organizations that your company may choose from, if you do not already have a connection with one in the community.
Contact the Sun Bowl Association ticket or marketing offices for details on the two programs.
Last year’s Hyundai Sun Bowl featured the second and third overall picks in the NFL draft, Mitch Trubisky and Solomon Thomas, with Stanford edging UNC 28-26.
Link to ticket information: http://sunbowl.org/tickets/sun_bowl
+ Sun Bowl +
2017 Door Decorating Contest – RULES
EL PASO, Texas – Elementary students all across the El Paso region have a unique opportunity to enjoy the 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl with classmates by winning tickets through the “A’DOOR’N The Schools” Door Decorating Contest.
Elementary school classes in the El Paso region grades K-5 interested in winning tickets to the game, which is on Dec. 29, 2017, can read all the rules and regulations of the contest on Facebook at the Official page of the Hyundai Sun Bowl.
“We came up on this opportunity to give tickets to children in the El Paso region and are excited to see what these talented, young minds come up with,” said Sun Bowl Association Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “There are some great and inspiring teachers in our region who, I know, will help these students create some amazing door decorations that represent the Hyundai Sun Bowl and El Paso.”
A maximum of 30 students from one class in El Paso will win tickets and also be provided a hot dog and beverage during the game by following the rules, regulations and submission process of the contest.
A picture of the uniquely decorated door should be submitted by Nov. 17 2017.
The winning class will be determined based on how many “likes” it gets on Facebook. The winner will be notified by phone on Dec. 11, 2017.
For more information and a complete list of Rules and Regulations of the contest, please go to www.sunbowl.org or call Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas at 915-533-4416.
EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association and FirstLight Federal Credit Union announced on Wednesday, Sept. 27 that 14 World War II veterans from El Paso, will lead the 81st Annual FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade as Grand Marshals on Thursday, Nov. 23 in front of thousands of spectators. The theme for this year’s annual parade is “American Folklore” celebrating the history and legends of the United States.
The Grand Marshals will ride in the FirstLight Federal Credit Union float to kick off the parade, which starts at 9:45 a.m. (MT) at the corner of Montana and Ochoa and ending at the intersection of Copia and Montana.
“With this year’s theme being ‘American Folklore’ we thought it’d be great to have real heroes lead our parade,” said Sun Bowl Association Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “We have a great working relationship with Fort Bliss and appreciate the team there helping us get connected with these veterans.”
There were 16,112,566 members of the United States Armed Forces during World War II. There were 291,557 battle deaths, 113,842 other deaths in service, and 670,846 received non-mortal wounds. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, around 558,000 American veterans from the war are estimated to still be alive as of 2017.
“El Pasoans have a long history of serving our nation in the ranks or our military services. From WWI to Vietnam and, more recently, the Gulf War, Desert Storm, and the ongoing War on Terror, they have stepped up when our nation needed them most. It is great that we are honoring our WWII veterans as Grand Marshals this year.” — Brigadier General Mark H. Landes, Deputy Commanding General 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss Texas.
During this conflict, 464 United States military personnel received the Medal of Honor, 266 of them posthumously.
ABOUT THE PARADE
Review Stands: Tickets will be available at the Sun Bowl Association Office, all Circle K Stores and FirstLight Federal Credit Union branches for $10.00. New Location for Review Stands – 1600 Montana Ave. (Emergence Health Network).
Step off Time: 9:45 a.m. (MST)
Parade Route: Montana Avenue; beginning at Ochoa and ending at Copia (2.7 miles)
Anticipated Units: 100 units including floats, equestrian units, clowns, marching bands, drum and bugle corps units, dignitaries, Grand Marshal, and a wide variety of specialty units from Mexican / Indian dancers to military ceremonial units.
Television: Live coverage of the Parade on local affiliate television KTSM Channel 9 (NBC). –
Television coverage starts at 10 a.m. (MT).
Anticipated Crowd: 250,000 spectators line Montana each Thanksgiving morning to watch the largest community event in the Southwest.
For more information on the parade go to the Sun Bowl Association website at www.sunbowl.org/parade.
EL PASO, Texas – Inspired by the 50th consecutive showing of the Hyundai Sun Bowl on CBS, the Sun Bowl Association unveiled its 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl poster on Friday, Sept. 1 showcasing the amazing broadcasters who have made the historic bowl game memorable for those watching on national television.
“We cannot find words to show our appreciation for the partnership we have with CBS so as the saying goes ‘A picture is worth a 1,000 words’ but in this case, a poster is even worth more,” Sun Bowl Association Executive Director Bernie Olivas said. “Only one other sporting event has been on one network longer than the Sun Bowl.”
Only the Master’s, which also airs on CBS, has a longer consecutive showing on one network. The Hyundai Sun Bowl is also one of only five bowl games not televised on ESPN.
The Sun Bowl was first televised on CBS in 1968 when Auburn defeated Arizona 34-10 with Lindsey Nelson and Hall-of-Famer Frank Gifford announcing the game. Other notable announcers that CBS has provided over the years include Verne Lundquist, Pat Summerall, Burt Reynolds, Pat Haden, Pat O’Brien, Dan Fourts, Ara Parseghian, Michele Tofoya, Brent Musburger and Jim Nantz.
“The Hyundai Sun Bowl’s history is on the field and in the booth,” Olivas said. “El Paso has been lucky to have CBS showcase the game and the City of El Paso for 50 straight years.”
Jim Nantz, who called the play-by-play action for the Sun Bowl numerous times, has called the Master’s for the 32 consecutive year on CBS.
CBS Sports will bring viewers all the color, artistry and drama inherent to the nation’s second oldest bowl game with live coverage of the Hyundai Sun Bowl on Friday, Dec. 29 (3 p.m. ET; 1 p.m. MT).
CBS Talent who have covered the Sun Bowl (alphabetical order – includes play-by-play announcers, color analysts and sideline reporters):
Jill Arrington, Gary Bender, Steve Beuerlein, Carter Blackburn, Todd Blackledge, Dean Blevins, Craig Bolerjack, Tim Brant, Tom Brookshier, Jane Chastain, Don Criqui, Irv Cross, Randy Cross, Gary Danielson, Steve Davis, John Dockery, Terry Donahue, Fred Dryer, Doug Flutie, Dan Fouts, Frank Gifford, Artie Gigantino, Frank Glieber, Pat Haden, Paul Hornung, Dan Jiggets, Gus Johnson, Mike Joy, Andrea Joyce, Allie LaForce, Scott Lasky, Dave Logan, Verne Lundquist, Sean McDonough, Mike Mayock, Scott Moore, Johnny Morris, Brent Musburger, Jim Nantz, Lindsey Nelson, Brad Nessler, Pat O’Brien, Ara Parseghian, Don Perkins, Burt Reynolds, Sam Ryan, Tim Ryan, John Sauer, Dick Stockton, Hank Stram, Pat Summerall, Michelle Tofoya, Lesley Visser, Andre Ware, Tracy Wolfson
EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association is teaming up with the YMCA of El Paso to give football fans around the country another chance to win a $1,500 Sun Bowl Game Package for the Hyundai Sun Bowl by participating in the YMCA of El Paso Hyundai Sun Bowl Challenge.
The contest starts this week as the 2017 college football season is now underway. Each week contestants will attempt to predict the winners of 10 predetermined Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Pac-12 games, the Hyundai Sun Bowl conference affiliates. The first set of games for contestants to predict are set for Thursday, August 31.
“The YMCA has always enjoyed being a part of the events that the Sun Bowl Association puts on,” said Bill Coon, CEO/President of the El Paso YMCA. “The community has been very generous to us and other organizations such as ours, so we are more than happy to partner with the Sun Bowl Association to do this.”
With each game valued at one point, a weekly winner will be determined by the individual who accumulates the most points. In addition, contestants will be asked to estimate the total points scored by both teams of a predetermined game. In case of a tiebreaker, the contestant with the most accurate prediction of total points scored will be the weekly winner.
“Fans from around the country continue to have a great time with this promotion and we want to continue to make the college football experience a fun and exciting one so once again we are teaming up with the YMCA of El Paso,” said Sun Bowl Association Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “We would like to thank Bill Coon and the YMCA of El Paso for the continued support, and hope the contest makes the college football season more exciting for everyone that participates.”
The 13 weekly winners will win two 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl tickets along with one month free adult membership to the YMCA of El Paso. Weekly winners will automatically advance to “Championship Week,” in which they will once again predict the winners of each college football conference championship game. The contestant with the most correctly chosen conference title games will receive two Captain’s Club level tickets to the 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl, two VIP Pre-game tent party tickets, one parking pass and one year family membership to the YMCA of El Paso.
Football fans must register for the Hyundai Sun Bowl Challenge by logging into http://sunbowl.org/contest/register. For complete rules and regulations please visit http://sunbowl.org/contest/terms.
EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association announced the 2017-18 Sun Court, Friday, July 28 with Macy McBeth as the 2017 Sun Queen and Ariana Martell as the Lady-in-Waiting.
ABOUT THE SUN COURT
Coronation has been part of the Sun Bowl since the first-ever college Sun Bowl game was played in 1936. Coronation played a huge social role in the “Sun Carnival”, the week-long pageantry associated with the Sun Bowl.
According to the 1938 Sun Bowl game program, “The social side of the Sun Carnival centers around the Coronation of the Sun Queen with Ladies-In-Waiting and her Royal Court of Princesses from all the cities of the Sun Empire and the Grand Ball tendered by the Association in honor of Her Majesty and Court.”
In the early years of the coronation, about 30 young women were part of the formal coronation, and each participant represented an organization.
Today, from five-to-nine or more individuals are chosen for the court, including one queen. Selection is based on poise, appearance, personality, communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to demonstrate knowledge of El Paso. Contestants must be enrolled as full-time students.
The Sun Court serves as ambassadors for the city of El Paso. They volunteer at various community events and make appearances at the Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic, FirstLight Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade, WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, Hyundai Sun Bowl Game, Academy Sports + Outdoors Sun Bowl International Soccer Tournament, the Helen of Troy Sun Court Charm Camp and other events throughout the year.
MEET THE COURT
2017 Sun Queen – Macy McBeth
Sun Queen Macy McBeth is a 2017 graduate of the University of Oklahoma where she received a Bachelor’s degree in English with a minor in Spanish. Macy wrapped up her undergraduate career with a 3.70 grade point average and was on the Dean’s List at OU from 2013-2017. She is the daughter of Mitch and Jill McBeth and has one sister, Kendall McBeth.
Macy is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Biology at Oklahoma with plans to go into the medical field in the future. While attending OU, McBeth was a member of Delta Gamma all four years and held various positions with the organization. She was an El Paso Panhellenic Scholarship Recipient and PITF Travel Scholarship Recipient in 2016. McBeth was also very active all four years of her undergraduate career and held various positions including Campus Activities Council Film Series Executive Committee and Campus Activities Council Film Series Executive Vice Chair.
Macy mentioned that as a child she looked up to the Sun Princesses and remembers seeing them at different events. She admired the fact that these ladies represented El Paso and understands that she has the opportunity to be a positive role model for young girls throughout the El Paso area. Macy is ready and excited to be the leader for the 2017 Sun Court and cannot wait to be an ambassador for both the Sun Bowl and the City of El Paso.
2017 Lady-in-Waiting – Ariana Martell
Ariana Martell is a graduate of Eastwood High School and is the daughter of Dr. Gustavo and Diana Martell. She recently graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and a minor in Legal Studies and Spanish at Texas Tech University. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Higher Education. While at Texas Tech Ariana has been a part of many organizations including Raider Sisters for Christ, TechPR and the College of Media and Communication Dean’s Student Ambassadors. She was also a part of the President’s Select and was the Member of the Year for two consecutive years (2015-16 & 2016-17). Ariana represented Texas Tech at the University Scholars Leadership Symposium in Hong Kong where she spoke to more than 850 students from around the world. She has also worked at Texas Tech as an undergraduate teaching assistant for anatomy teaching students about the anatomy of the human body. She was a graduate intern for the Office of the President at Texas Tech and helps organize events for donors, alumni and VIP guests while in that position. Ariana is the co-founder of SisterHoodies where she helps to collect coats and donates them to the less fortunate in El Paso. SisterHoodies has collected more than 2,100 coats to date and assists Dame La Mano, The Rescue Mission and the Reynolds Home all year long. Ariana quoted Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz stating “There’s no place like home” and is proud, honored and humbled to represent her hometown as the 2017 Sun Court Lady-in-Waiting.
2017 Sun Princess – Alexis Gonzalez
Alexis Nicole Gonzalez is a senior at Texas A&M University majoring in Animal Science and minoring in Business Administration. She is the daughter of Michael and Annette Gonzalez and is a graduate of Coronado High School. Alexis is a part of two organizations that illustrate her passion for agriculture are Sigma Alpha and Ducks Unlimited. Sigma Alpha is a professional agricultural sorority that supports women in pursuing a career in agriculture. The organization raises money for their philanthropy “Ag in the Classroom”; which is awarded as a scholarship to incoming college freshman in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. As for Ducks Unlimited, it is a national organization with collegiate chapters. Ducks Unlimited is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to conserving wetlands and waterfowl habitat across the country. Currently, the Texas A&M chapter is the number one collegiate chapter in the United States.
Alexis is a part of the National Society of Leadership & Success and received the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences department scholarship. She also recently made the Dean’s Honor Roll. Outside of the classroom she has fabricated livestock carcasses, visited feedlots, grain mills and packing plants while also interning for the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.
She mentioned that by being a part of the Sun Court, she would be able to give back to a community that has blessed me tremendously. Alexis is a fifth generation El Pasoan and sees it as an honor to represent her hometown.
She is currently studying abroad in New Zealand and will return in August.
2017 Sun Princess – Ariana Campos
Ariana Sarahi Campos is the daughter of Armida Martinez and Jesse Venzor and Jasmine and Adrian Campos. Ariana is a senior at the University of Texas El Paso and is working towards her bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology with an Exercise Science concentration. She is also pursuing a minor in Dance while she plans to return to UTEP upon graduation to work on a second bachelor’s degree in education. Ariana is a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha – Theta Xi chapter where she volunteers with four philanthropies. She also holds the chapter editor and historian chairman. Ariana is also a National Panhellenic Council member and an undergraduate assistant with the university’s Professional and Public Programs department. Outside of UTEP, she is employed with the Ysleta Independent School District as an AVID tutor at Alicia R Chacon International Magnet School. She also volunteers at Abundant Living Faith Center with the preschool ministry where she has served as a teacher and caregiver to the 3-year-old class for 5 years. Ariana was also an intern for the church.
Ariana’s family has been very involved with the Sun Bowl Association for 15 years as volunteers and she mentioned that she recalls looking up to the princesses as if they were actual princesses.
2017 Sun Princess – Ariela Gomez
Ariela Gomez is a junior at the University of Texas at El Paso where she is studying Psychology while working towards a minor in Chemistry. She is the daughter of Sixto and Terry Gomez. During her time at UTEP she has been very involved on and off campus. As a freshman, she took part in laboratory research and her findings were ultimately published and presented at the Hypothalamic Circuits for Control of Survival Behavior Conference and the Annual Meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. In addition to Ariela’s published research, she served on UTEP’s Medical Professions Organization as the Alpha Epsilon Delta Representative, in which she helped connect and enroll pre-med students with Health Pre-professional Honor Societies. Ariela is also volunteer at the El Paso Baptist Clinic – a free medical clinic that services the poor in the Segundo Barrio neighborhood of El Paso. At the clinic Ariela works in the pharmacy and nursing departments where she assists in providing the necessary medications and treatments for particular medical conditions.
Ariela mentioned that representing El Paso through a position on the 2017 Sun Court is an honor. She also said that she attributes her successes and her pride of El Paso to her late mother. Ariela is anxious to get through college so that she can one day serve El Paso as a medical doctor but is also anxious to represent the Sun Bowl and El Paso during the 2017-2018 year.
2017 Sun Princess – Emily Booher
Emily Booher is the daughter of James and Susan Booher. She is now a senior at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. Emily is majoring in Music, with an emphasis on Cello while also pursuing a minor in Spanish and is planning to graduate in May of 2018. She describes herself as “obsessed with music” and that obsession has paid off as she was awarded grant money for her recording of “The Synesthesia Project” and was also awarded with the Potter Award for the same recording. She has also worked in a recording studio with many artists throughout her life including Zach Hanson of Hanson and Emily Robinson of the Dixie Chicks. Aside from practicing and playing her cello, Emily plays in the University Orchestra, is now learning piano and teaching cello to elementary students. She is a member of Theta Epsilon Chapter of Tri Delta.
Emily mentioned that she has wanted to be a Sun Princess since childhood. She began riding the Lion’s Club float during the Sun Bowl Thanksgiving Day Parade as a toddler and continued that tradition every year through high school.
2017 Sun Princess – Gissel Ramirez
Gissel Ramirez is currently a senior at The University of Texas at El Paso majoring in Lingustics and minoring in Sociology. She is a graduate of Franklin High School and the daughter of Guillermo and Blanca Ramirez. Gissel is a member of the UTEP Miner D.R.E.A.M. She aides in developing leadership roles on campus. She is a member of The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association and last but not least is a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority, which promotes women of poise and purpose, as well as The Alpha Sigma Alpha 1901 Society. In ASA she holds two “executive board” positions: Vice President of Membership Education and Vice President of PR and Recruitment.
Gissel has participated in “Project Move” which is an effort by campus to bring together all registered student associations and have them do all kinds of community service events on the same day. She has been an active member every semester since Spring 2014, volunteering for institutions such as S. June Smith Center, Girls on the Run, The Alpha Sigma Alpha Foundation, El Paso Special Olympics and Texas DOT.
Gissel mentioned that the opportunity of becoming a community ambassador is definitely an exciting one. As a part of the Sun Court she hopes to keep developing as an individual and wants become further involved in my community.
2017 Sun Princess – Kira Conde
Kira Conde is the daughter of Ron and Christi Conde and is a graduate of El Paso High School where she maintained a 4.0 grade point average. Kira is currently a sophomore at the UCLA majoring in Neuroscience and working towards a minor in Cognitive Science. She plans to attend Medical School and become a psychiatrist after graduating and hopes to work toward finding a cure for Alzheimer’s. Kira is currently working at the UCLA Family Health Center in Santa Monica. Kira recently also got hired for an internship with the UCLA Sports Medicine program. She is also am involved in the Resilience Peer Network at UCLA, a program that aims at creating peer counselors to make up for the Universities lack of counseling services. As a peer mentor she spends an hour a week leading a counseling group for anxious and depressed students who could not be helped by UCLA’s counseling services. She also spend an hour a week fine-tuning my peer counseling and Internet Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Skills so that I may best assist her peers. Lastly, she is on the committee for the Bruin Run/Walk that occurred in April. The run raises money for the Chase Child Life Program at Mattel Children’s Hospital that provides treatment and child life specialists to sick children who are, sadly, forced to live there. Kira mentioned that when she was a little girl, my grandmother Elodia Conde told me about the Sun Court tradition. She also mentioned that truly aspired to become a Sun Princess not only for myself but my grandmother and my community.
2017 Sun Princess – Kristen Koehler
Kristen Koehler is a sophomore at Baylor University where she is a Biology major also working towards a minor in Business Administration. Kristen is the daughter of Bruce and Lee Ann Koehler and a graduate of Coronado High School where she was a part of the Thunderbirds varsity soccer team all four years. She was the team captain for two years and made first team all-district twice while also earning a sportsmanship scholarship. On top of that she graduated from Coronado High School in the top five percent of her class.
At Baylor, she is currently a part of Beta Beta Beta (biology honor society) and Alpha Lambda Delta (national honor society for first year students). Kristen is also involved in the Baylor Chapter of Relay for Life (Logistic Committee Chair), Baylor Medical Ethics Discussion Society (member), and Student Health Advisory Council (member). She also made the Dean’s list and has earned the Baylor President’s Gold Scholarship. She has ambitions to pursue a career in healthcare.
Kristen mentioned that representing the El Paso community as a Sun Princess has been a dream of hers for years and remembers watching the court walk onto the field and telling her family that I wanted to be a part of that experience someday. The Sun Bowl is especially important to her because my great-grandfather was the contractor (Ponsford Brothers) that completed the Sun Bowl Stadium.
2017 Sun Princess – Lana Hussein
Lana Hussein is the daughter of Musa Hussein and Lina Hamdan and is a graduate of Coronado High School. She is currently a senior at the University of Texas at El Paso where she is a Mechanical Engineering major and minoring in Mathematics and Biomedical Engineering. Her goal is to become a Professional Engineer for a fuel company and work on designs to supply oil and gas to several customers and locations.
At UTEP she intends to enhance her leadership skills, so she ran for elections to become a Senator At-Large and won. She represents approximately a thousand students on UTEP’s campus and is responsible for communicating with the student body and helping to create solutions for students’ concerns. With in the Student Governement Association Lana was the Chair of the Appropriations Committee and was charged with the duty to allocate a total of $90,000 for organizations and students that hosted events or traveled to conferences. She was also the Co-Chair of the EXCEL Freshman Leadership Program and hosted an Etiquette Dinner and created special projects for members to complete. Lana is a part of the Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) Women’s Fraternity as the the Ritual Chairman. She was also the Director of Sisterhood and in the position hosted events that built teamwork, leadership, communication, trust, and sisterly bonds. Lana also had the honor of being UTEP’s 2016 Homecoming Queen. She represented UTEP on TV, on the radio, and at events that she attended. Finally, she joined the University Honor’s Program (UHP) and completed all the credits necessary to gain an Honor’s Degree. Lana has been on the Dean’s List since 2014. She is currently an Engineering Intern at the Texas Gas Service Company. As an Intern she works on new gas designs and structures for buildings and also plans locations and cost estimates for gas meters and gas pipes.
Lana wanted to become a Sun Princess in order to represent her city, to give back to her community by volunteering and being more involved, to inspire and empower others to follow and achieve their dreams, and to inspire herself to reach to higher goals. Lana said that this is truly an honor and would love to make her city proud.
2017 Sun Princess – Lillian Sanchez
Lillian Ariadna Sanchez is the daughter of Eduardo Sanchez and Elizabeth Sanchez Porras. Lillian currently attends The University of Texas at El Paso and holds a 3.96 grade point average while pursing a degree in Multimedia Journalism and minoring in Legal Reasoning. Lillian plans to graduate this December and is hopeful she will graduate Summa Cum Laude. She has been the recipient of the Amelia Eckhardt Dennis Scholarship in Communication and has been on the Dean’s List since her first semester at UTEP. She is also a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the Law School Preparation Institute. Her goal is to one day become a public defense attorney in Texas.
Lillian mentioned that being a part of the Sun Court means a lot to her and is excited to be a strong ambassador for the El Paso community. She hopes to be able to exemplify the culture that truly defines the City of El Paso and wants to be a strong role model for other young ladies.
2017 Sun Princess – Mckenna Hitter
Mckenna Hitter is the daughter of Gerald and Linda Hitter. She is attending the University of Texas at El Paso where she is majoring in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. Mckenna is also a graduate of Eastlake High School where she graduated at the class Salutatorian with a 4.0 grade point average. She was able to maintain that perfect GPA while also competing on the volleyball team for four years and while being a part of the swim team for two years. At UTEP, Mckenna has already made the Dean’s List for the fall of 2016 and the spring of 2017 and is now a member of Alpha Xi Delta women’s fraternity where she holds the position of Marshal and is also on the Public Relations Council. As a member of Alpha Xi Delta she has helped to raise money for Autism Speaks. She was recently accepted into the Excel Program that is run by the Student Government Association at UTEP and was recommended for an Engineering Peer Advising position in the Engineering department.
Mckenna said that growing up in El Paso she was introduced to many of the traditions El Paso has to offer. Whether it’s UTEP sports, Chihuahuas baseball games, Viva El Paso, Fort Bliss or the Sun Bowl, Mckenna has seen the traditions and has learned what our community is about. The Sun Bowl puts El Paso on a national stage and what better way to spread the goodwill of El Paso and the Sun Bowl by being a part of the Sun Court.
2017 Sun Princess – Stephanie Paz
Stephanie Paz is the daughter of Juan and Yvette Silvas-Paz. A graduate of Harmony Science Academy in El Paso, Stephanie is now a sophomore at the University of Texas at El Paso where she is a Psychology major, minoring in Biology. Stephanie is a Native American woman from El Paso’s very own Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tigua tribe. At UTEP she is a member of the women’s fraternity Zeta Tau Alpha where she has held leadership positions on the fraternity’s Executive Committee as both Historian-Reporter and Membership Chair. Currently, she is the New Member Coordinator where she serves as an exemplary character and mentor. Through ZETA she has been able to participate in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Cancer Run. Stephanie is also the current Vice President of Recruitment for the College Panhellenic Council where she organizes Formal Recruitment and promotes Panhellenic Sorority Life. She was awarded the “2017 Greek Woman of the Year” title because she represents and promotes Greek Life on campus in the most positive manner and works with all the chapters.
From 2016 to 2017, Stephanie served as a Senator-at-Large for the University’s Student Government Association. As a Senator-at-Large, representing one thousand students, she voiced student concerns at the local college level and created “special projects” for the student body to benefit. Her platform focused on raising awareness on dating violence and sexual assault among college students and campuses by moderating films followed by open discussions.
In Stephanie’s Native American community, she is an advocate for Native American youth and health. She currently works at the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Department of Behavioral Health on a research project that aims to create a “culturally-appropriate” toolkit that will strengthen the health of Tigua families, youth, and the tribal community. As an active member, she advocates not only for her tribe but for the American Indian Country as a whole in all aspects regarding physical, mental, and spiritual health.
Stephanie is proudly representing El Paso because she takes a great amount of pride in being Native American and a UTEP Miner and El Pasoan. As Sun Princess she intends to represent the strength of minorities, the dedication of a female leader, and the embodied pride of an El Pasoan.
2017 Sun Princess – Valeria Varela
Valeria Varela was born and raised in El Paso and is the daughter of Jose and Martha Varela. She is a graduate of Burges High School and is currently a senior at The University of Texas at El Paso where is a Biological and Biomedical Science major and is holding a 4.0 grade point average. Valeria graduated in the top 4% of her class. She was a Distinguished Honors Graduate, Dual credit participant, and recipient of the Daughters of the American Revolution Award. During her senior year, she was awarded a UTEP Academic Scholarship.
At UTEP, Valeria has been inducted into the College of Science Dean’s List and Dean’s List Plus since her freshman year. During her sophomore year at UTEP, Valeria was selected as a Miner Ambassador which has given her the opportunity to represent the school at various events. She was also inducted into the College of Science 4+4 Club, which is for individuals who have a 4.0 major and overall grade point average. Additionally, she was selected as a 21st Century Scholar, member of the Honors Program, and a recipient of the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges Award.
Valeria has interned at various medical schools throughout Texas every summer since becoming a student at UTEP. Her first internship was at Paul L. Foster School of Medicine in El Paso, her second was at Texas Tech Health Sciences Center School of Medicine at Lubbock, Texas, and this summer she is attending an internship at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas.
In addition to her coursework, she am an Administrative Office Assistant to Dean Conklin at El Paso Community College. During her spare time, Valeria volunteers at various events in the El Paso and Juarez region, including the following events: The St. Anthony’s Seminary Annual Bazaar, UTEP events, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine healthcare events, and at local Elementary Schools inspiring the youth to pursue a higher education.
Knowing that El Paso is a socially and culturally diverse community with endless opportunities to grow and explore, Valeria is very excited to represent the city that has helped her to mature throughout her life. Being able to give back to my community while representing the city she loves would be an honor.
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association and WestStar Bank are pleased to announce the teams coming to El Paso for the 56th Annual WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, which will be held in the Don Haskins Center, Thursday and Friday, Dec. 21-22.
The four-team tournament includes North Carolina-Wilmington, North Dakota State, Howard University and UTEP. This marks the first appearance for UNCW and Howard, the second showing for NDSU and of course the Miners have played in every tournament.
“We are thrilled about this year’s field. We are hoping to continue our plan of bringing in the best teams we can find,” Sun Bowl basketball committee chairman Barry Kobren said. “Two of our teams from last year went on to win their conferences and play in the NIT. We think we will see that same success again this year.”
Akron won the 2016 WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational by defeating UC-Irvine in game one and beating Maryland Eastern Shore in the title game. Akron went on to win the MAC regular season title and made it to the second round of the NIT, while UC-Irvine won the Big West Conference regular season title and also made it to the second round of the NIT.
“This tournament has become a tradition and the history of teams and players that have come through El Paso is tremendous,” Sun Bowl Association Executive Director Bernie Olivas said. “Our basketball committee, which is led by Barry Kobren, continues to seek out and work towards bringing quality teams to the Haskins Center and El Paso.”
ABOUT THE 2017 TEAMS
*North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks
The UNCW Seahawks finished the 2016-17 year with a 29-6 record while reaching the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year, falling in close games to Duke in 2016 and Virginia in 2017. UNCW has won three consecutive Colonial Athletic Conference regular season titles and wrapped up the 2016-17 year with a No. 27 RPI, one of the highest ranked teams to appear in the Sun Bowl Invitational. UNCW finished No. 3 in the final Mid-Major Poll (CollegeInsider.com), behind only Gonzaga and Wichita State. One of the nation’s most explosive offensive units, the Seahawks set 63 school records along with averaging 84.8 points per game.
UNCW begins a new era as the Seahawks start the 2017-18 year with new Head Coach C.B. McGrath, who was previously an assistant coach to Roy Williams for 18 seasons both at Kansas and North Carolina. McGrath was on the bench last season for the Tar Heels during their national championship run. McGrath also played for Coach Williams and was the team captain for the Jayhawks during 1997.
Devontae Cacok is the top returner for UNCW after he was the CAA Defensive Player of the Year and the national leader in field goal percentage (79.9%).
“UNCW was one of the best teams in the country the last two years,” Kobren said. “They led Virginia by 15 in the NCAA tournament last season before falling to the 21st ranked Cavaliers.”
North Dakota State Bison
The North Dakota State athletic department has arguably become one of the top athletic programs in the country. The Bison finished the 2016-17 season with a 19-11 record, while placing second in the Summit League. They had their best four-year span in school history, winning 93 games from 2012-16. The also swept the Summit League regular season and tournament titles three times in seven years, while winning a school-record 26 games in both 2008-09 and 2013-14. NDSU appeared in the NCAA Tournament three times in seven years as well. The Bison were able to pull off an upset during the 2014 NCAA Tournament, defeating Oklahoma 80-75.
The Bison are led by fourth year Head Coach David Richman. During his first season at the helm, Richman guided NDSU to the 2015 Summit League regular season and tournament championships and their third NCAA Tournament bid in seven years. That year, he led his team to 23 victories – the most by any first-year Division I head coach that season – earning him Summit League Coach of the Year honors.
NDSU brings back First Team All-Summit League player Paul Miller, who posted 19.3 points during league play, while Khy Kabellis and A.J. Jacobson, both double digit scorers for the Bison during the 2016-17 season, also return to the team.
“North Dakota State is always a favorite to win their conference and I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in the NCAA tournament at the end of the season,” Kobren said.
Howard University Bison
Howard, predicted as one of the top teams in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), finished last season at 10-24 fighting through a number of major injuries including the loss of the nation’s leading scorer (James Daniel; 27 ppg) for the season. They did finish the season strong making a run through the MEAC tournament before falling in the semifinals.
Head Coach Kevin Nickelberry enters his eighth season leading the Bison and has already led Howard to three of the school’s best seasons. Charles “CJ” Williams was named the 2017 Mid-Eastern – Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year by the conference sports information directors and head coaches. Williams ended up being the Bison’s leading scorer and the top freshman scorer in the MEAC with 15.7 points per game in 31 games played. A seven-time MEAC Rookie of the Week, the 6-5 Richmond, Va. native notched two 30-point games, including a career-high 37 points, on 15-of-25 shooting, against Savannah State.
Howard’s 2016-2017 basketball season was chronicled on ESPN’s the Undefeated and can be found online at https://theundefeated.com/tag/howard-basketball/.
The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings of the top historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are in, with Howard University topping the list. Howard, located in Washington, D.C., not only earned the No. 1 spot, but is the only HBCU to crack the top 100 overall college rankings at No. 87.
“Howard was the first team to commit to the Sun Bowl this year and we are proud to be hosting one of the nation’s elite institutions,” Kobren said.
UTEP Miners
The UTEP Miners return five of their top six scorers from last year’s squad that charged to a 13-4 record in its last 17 games and tied for third place in Conference USA. Buoyed by the addition of a top-flight recruiting class, the Miners are looking to contend for the league title in 2017-18. UTEP will feature a potent inside-outside combination in seniors Omega Harris (17.0 ppg), a 1,000-point scorer, and Matt Willms, who ranks ninth in school history with 98 blocked shots.
Head Coach Tim Floyd leads the Miners once again after he engineered one of the biggest in-season turnarounds in the nation as the Miners started the season 2-13, but finished 13-4 and tied for third place in Conference USA with a 12-6 mark. UTEP was the only C-USA team to defeat league champion and NCAA Tournament participant Middle Tennessee. The Miners stunned the Blue Raiders in El Paso, 57-54. Floyd’s work was even more remarkable considering that UTEP lost three players from the previous year’s team — Lee Moore, Josh McSwiggan and Terry Winn — who were all expected to be major contributors and potential starters.
Senior guard Dominic Artis made the Miners go in 2016-17, becoming only the fourth player in C-USA history to register 400 points, 150 rebounds, 150 assists and 50 steals in a season. But Floyd got the most out of every other player on the roster as well, including Omega Harris (17.0 ppg), Matt Willms (11.4 ppg), Paul Thomas (8.6 ppg), Jake Flaggert, and reserves Kelvin Jones and Trey Touchet. All six players improved over the course of the campaign.
“I think everyone is excited about the Miners after their run at the end of the season last year," Kobren said.
ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT
In 2009 the tournament was renamed to honor former UTEP head coach and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer Don Haskins. “The Bear” coached at UTEP from 1961 to 1999, winning 719 games and making 14 postseason appearances. Haskins famously led the Miners to victory in the 1966 National Championship game over Adolph Rupp and the heavily favored Kentucky Wildcats.
The Sun Bowl Association would like to thank WestStar Bank for supporting the nation’s oldest holiday basketball tournament as it has been the title sponsor for nine consecutive years.
+ Sun Bowl +
EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association and Executive Director Bernie Olivas confirmed the date and start time for the 84th Annual Hyundai Sun Bowl, which is set for Friday, Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. MT (3 p.m. ET). The game will feature a team from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) taking on a team from the Pac-12 Conference and will be televised on CBS for the 50th consecutive year.
“All games played here are special but this one has a little extra prestige as it marks a 50-year tradition of being televised on CBS,” Olivas said.
The Sun Bowl’s contract with CBS Sports is the longest continuous relationship between a bowl game and one TV network, spanning since 1968 and running through at least 2019. It is one of only two college football games on CBS that does not involve the Southeastern Conference (the other being the Army–Navy Game). Although every other year, CBS broadcasts the Notre Dame–Navy game when the latter is playing as the home team.
Another unique trait the Hyundai Sun Bowl carries is that as of 2015, the game is one of only three bowls that is not being carried by the ESPN family of networks.
There has been a long list of broadcasters that have made it to El Paso including broadcast legends such as Frank Gifford, Pat Summerall, Burt Reynolds, Pat Haden, Verne Lundquist, Jim Nantz and Brad Nessler. Others to join the broadcast team over the years include Michele Tofoya, Doug Flutie, Pat O’Brien, Dan Fouts, Andre Ware and Steve Beuerlein just to name a few.
“We believe that the history of our bowl game is great,” Olivas said. “Just look at the list of teams that have been here, the list of great players that have been on the field and the list of amazing broadcasters we’ve been graced with in the broadcast booth.”
The 2016 Hyundai Sun Bowl resulted in North Carolina falling just short of a comeback to Stanford 25-23 in front of 42,166 loud and boisterous fans.
For more information about the Hyundai Sun Bowl and all the events supported by the Sun Bowl Association visit the website at www.sunbowl.org while also following on Social Media platforms such as Facebook (Hyundai Sun Bowl), Twitter and Instagram (@HyundaiSunBowl).
About the Game
On October 18, 1934, at a meeting of the El Paso Kiwanis Club, Dr. Brice Schuller suggested that the club sponsor a football game on New Year’s Day matching an El Paso High School All-Star Team against a worthy opponent. The motion was passed unanimously. It was decided to ask for public suggestions as to the name of this annual game, and the name “Sun Bowl” was submitted by Dr. C. M. Hendricks, who became the first Sun Bowl Association President.
The Sun Bowl football game was first played on January 1, 1935, as a fund-raising event for a local service club, to benefit underprivileged children and to finance improvement to the El Paso High School Stadium. It has grown into El Paso’s number one national attraction. The following year a weeklong schedule of events was added to the Sun Bowl festivities, and four other local service clubs (Rotary, Lions, Optimist and Active 20-30) joined the Kiwanis in coordinating the entire “Sun Carnival” calendar.
In 1936, New Mexico State and Hardin-Simmons Universities were invited to play, and the Sun Bowl has been a college game ever since.
PHILADELPHIA – Many young men across the country saw their dreams come true as their names were announced at the 2017 NFL Draft held in Philadelphia, April 28-30, including 17 former college student-athletes who played in the Hyundai Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
As many in the El Paso community are aware, the first round featured three players getting selected by their new NFL teams who played in the Hyundai Sun Bowl. The Chicago Bears drafted Mitch Trubisky, former North Carolina quarterback, as the No. 2 overall pick. Stanford’s star defensive lineman, Solomon Thomas, was selected as the No. 3 pick overall by the San Francisco 49ers and Miami Hurricanes former tight end David Njoku was chosen at No. 29 overall by the Cleveland Browns.
What some might not be aware of are the other 14 players who saw action in the Hyundai Sun Bowl. Those NFL draftees include three defensive players from UCLA, which faced Virginia Tech on Dec. 31, 2013 with the Bruins winning 42-12. The third round picks from UCLA are cornerback Fabian Moreau, who went to the Washington Redskins and Eddie Vanderdoes, who was chosen by the Oakland Raiders. Nazair Jones from North Carolina, who was picked by the Seattle Seahawks, also went in the third round.
Jones was the 2016 Jimmy Rogers Jr. Most Valuable lineman after recording five solo tackles, three assisted tackles, one sack for a loss of seven yards and two tackles for a loss of 14 yards as the Tar Heels dropped an exciting Hyundai Sun Bowl, 25-23.
“Our bowl game continues to bring in some of the best talent from across the nation,” said Hyundai Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas.
During the 2016 Hyundai Sun Bowl, Mitch Trubisky completed 23-of-39 pass attempts for 280 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Trubisky set UNC single-season records for touchdown passes (30) and total offense (4,056 yards) in 2016. Trubisky finished the season with just six interceptions, but all six came in UNC losses.
The No. 3 pick (Solomon Thomas) goes after the No. 2 pick (Mitch Trubisky) during the 2016 Hyundai Sun Bowl
Stanford’s defensive lineman and Texas product Solomon Thomas preserved the victory. Saving his best for last, he sacked Tar Heel quarterback Mitch Trubisky on a two-point conversion attempt with 25 seconds left. Thomas finished with seven tackles, one sack and two tackles for loss, and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
Njoku played for the Miami Hurricanes and participated in the 2015 Hyundai Sun Bowl, making one catch during the 20-14 loss to the Washington State Cougars. At 6’4” 246lbs, Njoku has great size for the position as he moves to the next level. Couple that with explosive athleticism, and it’s easy to see why teams had him rated highly, and why the Browns ended up taking him in the first round.
Former Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya was taken in the sixth round by the Detroit Lions. Kaaya threw for 219 yards on 17-of-31 passing while throwing one touchdown pass during the 20-14 loss to the Washington State Cougars during the 2015 Hyundai Sun Bowl.
Former Miami QB Brad Kaaya drops back during a snow filled day at the 2015 Hyundai Sun Bowl
Mark your calendars to watch future NFL players in the 2017 Hyundai Sun Bowl on Friday, Dec. 29 at Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas.
Players selected in the 2017 NFL Draft who also played in the Hyundai Sun Bowl:
(Players listed by round. Included is the player’s name, position, college attended and NFL team)
1st ROUND
Mitchell Trubisky, QB, North Carolina, CHICAGO BEARS
Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford, SAN FRANSICO 49ERS
David Njoku, TE, Miami, CLEVELAND BROWNS
3rd ROUND
Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA, WASHINGTON REDSKINS
Eddie Vanderdoes, DT, UCLA, OAKLAND RAIDERS
Nazair Jones, DL, UCLA, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
4th ROUND
Rayshawn Jenkins, S, Miami, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Ryan Switzer, WR, North Carolina, DALLAS COWBOYS
5th ROUND
Corn Elder, CB, Miami, CAROLINA PANTHERS
Jayon Brown, LB, UCLA, TENNESSEE TITANS
T.J. Logan, RB, North Carolina, ARIZONA CARDINALS
6th ROUND
Chuck Clark, DB, Virginia Tech, BALTIMORE RAVENS
Al-Quadin Muhammad, DE, Miami, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami, DETROIT LIONS
7th ROUND
Stacy Coley, WR, Miami, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Shalom Luani, S, Washington State, OAKLAND RAIDERS
Elijah Hood, RB, North Carolina, OAKLAND RAIDERS
Eddie Vanderdoes (No. 47 in photo) was picked by the Oakland Raiders in the third round. He is pictured here going after the Virginia Tech quarterback during the 2013 Hyundai Sun Bowl
+ www.sunbowl.org +
EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association and Executive Director Bernie Olivas announced on Friday, April 28 that Bill Coon is its 84th President for the 2017-18 year.
As president, Coon will be the spokesman for the Board of Directors and Board of Advisors, as well as the general supervisor of the various association committees and activities.
“Bill’s vast experience with not-for-profit organizations is a huge benefit for the Sun Bowl Association,” Olivas said. “His knowledge and enthusiasm for all Sun Bowl events makes him a great fit to lead our Board of Directors. We are all looking forward to a great year with Bill at the helm.”
Coon is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the YMCA of EL Paso. He oversees the Y’s overall mission to nurture youth development, promote healthy living and foster social responsibility. Coon has over 20 years of experience working for the YMCA, serving as the Executive Director for multiple YMCA facilities in El Paso. He has served as Chief Professional Officer for the Boys & Girls Club of America as well as the Vice President of Goodwill El Paso.
Coon will oversee the Association’s continued commitment to El Paso through various events, including the 84th Hyundai Sun Bowl on December 29, 2017. The Sun Bowl Association takes the lead to put on a variety of community events, college and youth sports programs, including the Academy Sports + Outdoors Sun Bowl International Soccer Tournament, the Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic and the WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational.
Coon has been heavily involved with the Sun Bowl Association since 2010-11 serving on the Board of Advisors and soon after was selected to join the Sun Bowl Association Board of Directors. In 2014 he was selected as the Vice President of Volunteers managing the Fan Fiesta. He was also the 5K Chairman when the event was active. Coon has also been in charge of overseeing the First Light Federal Credit Union Sun Bowl Parade’s equestrian unit’s safety and coordinating the overall set-up and break-down on game day of the Sun Bowl.
Coon has also assisted in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Sun Bowl International Soccer Tournament for three years as the Field Marshall Coordinator, supervising volunteer teams toward successful trash pick-up. He was elected the Executive Vice-President of the Sun Bowl Association in 2015 and designated as President-Elect in 2016.
“It is an honor to serve along with some of El Paso greatest volunteers and staff. Being President of the second oldest bowl game is beyond my wildest dreams,” said Coon. “The Sun Bowl is responsible for the city’s largest event, our parade. We bring world-class talent to El Paso through our golf tournament, basketball tournament and of course the football game. We recognize our local talent through Punt, Pass and Kick, the soccer tournament, our Sun Court, cheerleading clinics and basketball clinics. What a great organization to be part of.”
Coon and his wife, Janette, have been married for 20 years and have an 18-year-old son, Jacob and a 33-year old daughter Jacqie Bustamante.
Joining the 84th president of the association on the Board of Directors are Scott Mann (President-Elect), Stuart Silva (Executive Vice President), Steve Beltran (Immediate Past President), Jimmy Rogers, Jr. (Chair Emeritus), Natalia Flores (Secretary), John Aranda (Treasurer), Bryan Crowe (VP Community Relations), Robert Dunlop (VP Marketing), Scott Mann (VP Legal Affairs), Wayne Thornton (VP Public Relations), Tamara Gladkowski (VP Volunteers), Barry Kobren (Basketball Chairman), Asher Feinberg (CBS Host Chairman), Linda Smith (Coronation Chair), John Folmer (Football Chairman), Mark Pelletier (Golf Chairman), Jim Lawrence (Parade Chairman), Art Muñoz (VP Special Events), Allen Rystad (Provisions Chairman), Ernest Eisenberg (Board Member), Travis Hughes (Board Member), Michelle Kaip (Board Member), Richard Limas (Board Member), Michael Guerra (Board Member), Mary Kipp (Board Member), Victor Rueda (Board Member), Victor Salazar (Board Member), James O. Stewart III (Board Member) and Tony Valtier (Board Member).
The 2017 Sun Bowl Association Board of Advisors is made up of past presidents Amen Ayoub, Frank Bates, Walker Crowson, Linda East, Chris Mott, Marilyn Munden, Joe Valenzuela, along with members Joana Alferez, Joseph Bocanegra, Ruben Batista, Gil Blancas, Casandra Davisson, Richard Dayoub, Greg DiDonna, Celia Dubrule, Veronica Escobar, David Forti, Frank Hernandez, Brian Kennedy, Tommy Lewis, David Lindhuber, David Morales, Leila Melendez, Cindy Ramos Davidson, Terri Rangel, Jimmy Rogers III, Mike Rogers, Jeff Stevens, Bob Stull, Eric Swanson, Brad Taylor, Brooke Underwood, Pat Valdez-Rios, Charles Vass, Mario Vega and Rebekah Wierson.
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The 2017 Masters field is now set and there are 23 players on this year’s list that have made their way through El Paso. The 2017 Masters is set for April 6-9 at Augusta National in Augusta, Georgia.
Phil Mickelson, Mark O’Meara, Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods are all lifetime players at the Masters after winning the event in the past. Mickelson won in 2004, 2006 and 2010, O’Meara in 1998, Spieth in 2015 and Woods in 1997 and 2005.
These four players, along with those listed below, gave the City of El Paso some great memories playing in the Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic.
“The golf tournament the Sun Bowl Association puts on with Western Refining has been one of the best events we put on,” Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas said. “El Pasoans have an opportunity to see future pro golfers play here. The amount of players in the Masters this year shows the great history of the Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic.”
Mickelson played in El Paso in 1989 when he was with Arizona State while O’Meara participated in the third College All-America Golf Classic in 1976. Spieth took to the El Paso Country Club Course in 2011 and Woods won the All-America Golf Classic in 1995.
Spieth has played Augusta three times and never finished worse than second. With the way he has been striking the ball so far in 2017, he’s one of the favorites this week.
Dustin Johnson, who is currently ranked as the No. 1 golfer in the world, played in the 2005 and 2006 Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classics.
Here’s a look at the 23 players who qualified for the Masters and played in the Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic (and how they earned their invites. (Note: listed is the school each player was with during the year they played in the Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic):
CATEGORY 1: Masters Tournament champions (Lifetime)
• Phil Mickelson (Arizona State – 1989)
• Mark O’Meara (Long Beach State – 1976)
• Jordan Spieth (Texas – 2011)
Tiger Woods (Stanford – 1995), who qualified under Category 1, has withdrawn from the tournament.
CATEGORY 2: U.S. Open champions (Honorary, non-competing after five years)
• Dustin Johnson (Coastal Carolina – 2005 & 2006)
• Webb Simpson (Wake Forest – 2005 & 2007)
CATEGORY 3: British Open champions (Honorary, non-competing after five years)
CATEGORY 4: PGA Championship champions (Honorary, non-competing after five years)
• Jason Dufner (Auburn – 1997)
CATEGORY 5: Winners of The Players Championship (Three years)
• Rickie Fowler (Oklahoma State – 1998)
CATEGORY 6: Current Olympic Gold medalist (One year)
CATEGORY 7: Current U.S. Amateur champion and runner-up (Honorary, non-competing after one year)
CATEGORY 8: Current British Amateur champion (Honorary, non-competing after one year)
CATEGORY 9: Current Asia-Pacific Amateur champion
CATEGORY 10: Current Latin America Amateur champion
CATEGORY 11: Current U.S. Mid-Amateur champion
CATEGORY 12: The first 12 players, including ties, in the previous year’s Masters Tournament
• Paul Casey (Arizona State – 1998)
• J.B. Holmes (Kentucky – 2002)
• Brandt Snedeker (Vanderbilt – 2002)
CATEGORY 13: The first four players, including ties, in the previous year’s U.S. Open
• Jim Furyk (Arizona – 1990)
CATEGORY 14: The first four players, including ties, in the previous year’s British Open
CATEGORY 15: The first four players, including ties, in the previous year’s PGA Championship
• Daniel Summerhays (BYU – 2006)
CATEGORY 16: Individual winners of PGA Tour events that award a full-point allocation for the season-ending Tour Championship, from previous Masters to current Masters
• Russell Henley (Georgia – 2008, 2009, 2010)
• Russell Knox (Jacksonville – 2006)
• Ryan Moore (UNLV – 2002 & 2003)
• Justin Thomas (Alabama – 2012)
CATEGORY 17: Those qualifying for the previous year’s season-ending Tour Championship
• Kevin Chappell (UCLA – 2007)
• Kevin Kisner (Georgia – 2004)
• Matt Kuchar (Georgia Tech – 1999)
CATEGORY 18: The 50 leaders on the final Official World Golf Ranking for the previous calendar year
• Bill Haas (Wake Forest – 2001)
• Alex Noren (Oklahoma State – 2004)
• Thomas Pieters (Illinois – 2012)
CATEGORY 19: The 50 leaders on the Official World Golf Ranking published during the week prior to the current Masters Tournament
Masters Tournament Central: http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/masters-tournament.html
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EL PASO, Texas – The 2017 NCAA Sweet 16 begins Thursday, March 23 with six programs that have played in the Annual WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational in the past.
Purdue, Michigan, Arizona, Baylor, Florida and South Carolina are set to play this weekend with hopes to advance to the 2017 Final Four in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Big Dance continues on March 23 with the first games from the Midwest Region bracket. No. 4 seed Purdue takes on No. 1 seed Kansas State. In 1984, Purdue challenged UTEP in the Championship Game of the WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational becoming the 24th Champion of the annual Sun City tournament.
Purdue hoping to secure a spot in the Final Four, advanced to the Sweet 16 after defeating Vermont, 80-70 and Iowa State, 80-76.
Michigan is the No. 7 seed out of the Midwest Region bracket and will square up against No. 2 seed Oregon. Michigan is advancing after it was victorious over Oklahoma State, 92-91 and Louisville, 73-69. Michigan traveled to El Paso back in 1978 and 1983 to compete in WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational.
Out of the West Region, No. 2 seeded Arizona is set for a showdown with No. 11 seeded Xavier. Arizona is proceeding to the Sweet 16 after a 100-82 win against North Dakota in the first round and a 69-60 victory against St. Mary’s California. Xavier pulled of the upset over No. 3 Florida State in the second round.
“It’s always really interesting to look back and see all the great programs that have come through El Paso,” said Executive Director of the Sun Bowl Association, Bernie Olivas.
In the East Region of the bracket, No. 3 seeded Baylor takes on South Carolina on Friday, March 24. Baylor played in the 1961, 1963 and 1967 WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational and South Carolina played in the 1989 Sun Bowl tournament. Baylor advanced to the Sweet 16 by eliminating New Mexico State 91-73 in the first round of the NCAA tournament and USC 82-78 in the second round.
South Carolina, who played in the 1989 WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational, has found itself in the Sweet 16 by beating Marquette 93-73 in round one and upsetting Duke 88-81 in the second round. South Carolina became the 29th WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Champion after battling it out with Kansas State 62-60 in overtime.
Florida is the No. 4 seed out of the East Region in the bracket and faces Wisconsin on March 24. Defeating East Tennessee State 80-65 in round one and Virginia 65-39 in round two, the Gators are hoping to stay hot when they take on the Badgers. Florida made one appearance in WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational in 1992.
Now in its 56th year, the WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational is the oldest collegiate holiday basketball tournament in the country. The tournament is held annually at UTEP’s Don Haskins Center.
The 2017 edition is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 21 and Friday, Dec. 22. Teams have yet to be announced.
WestStar Bank is the Title Sponor for the tournament and recently renewed to support the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational for three more years.
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EL PASO, Texas – The Sun Bowl Association announced on Tuesday, March 7 the extension of its partnership with WestStar Bank as the title sponsor for the Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational through 2019. WestStar Bank originally signed on as the title sponsor in 2009.
“The Sun Bowl Association has built a family of successful and popular events and we’re excited to continue as the title sponsor of the WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational,” said L. Frederick “Rick” Francis, WestStar Bank Chairman and CEO. “We’re committed to being associated with many of El Paso’s traditions that have become a part of the fabric of our region. For many, this tournament is that – a holiday tradition – and we’re happy to be able to connect with our local community in this way.”
WestStar Bank and its employees are very involved with and in the community. Employees of WestStar Bank serve on over 95 boards and committees of nonprofit and civic organizations.
“We cannot produce events like the basketball tournament, which has been running since 1961, without great sponsors like WestStar Bank,” said Sun Bowl Association Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “We are extremely grateful for WestStar Bank and everything they have done for the Sun Bowl Association and the City of El Paso. Tournament Chairman Barry Kobren does an amazing job putting everything together and every team that visits El Paso leaves with great memories.”
The WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational is the nation’s oldest collegiate holiday basketball tournament. This year marks the 56th edition of the event that began in 1961, when legendary head coach Don Haskins was in his first year as the head coach at UTEP, then known as Texas Western.
Haskins amassed 719 career wins as the head coach of the Miners for 38 seasons. He led the Miners to the 1966 NCAA title, won seven Western Athletic Conference championships, four WAC tournament titles, had fourteen NCAA tournament berths and made seven trips to the NIT. Haskins engineered 17 20-plus win seasons and served as an assistant Olympic team coach in 1972. He led the Miners to 23 tournament titles in the WestStar Bank Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational.
Haskins was enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1997 as a basketball coach. The 1966 team was named in its entirety to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2007.
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PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Jordan Spieth, who won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Sunday, Feb. 12, was one of 23 players who previously made their way through El Paso playing at the Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic (SBWRCAAGC).
Spieth, who highlighted his victory with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole with the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop, played in the 2011 SBWRCAAGC at the El Paso Country Club. He closed his 2017 Pebble Beach performance with a 2-under 70 for a four-shot victory over former U.S. Amateur champion Kelly Kraft, a close friend from Dallas who couldn’t get a putt to fall that might have put a little pressure on Spieth.
During the 2011 SBWRCAAGC, Spieth, then a freshman at Texas and Golfweek’s top-ranked player, struggled a bit finishing T-15 with Arkansas’ Austin Cook at 5-over.
“I was able to get out to Pebble Beach for the tournament and it is always great to catch up with some of these guys,” said Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “Brandon Hagy, who played in El Paso when he was with California, told me that he still has the boots he got from Lucchese, plus others mentioned they still remember coming to El Paso.”
Dustin Johnson, who finished third in the Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Sunday, played in El Paso during the 2005 and 2006 SBWRCAAGC. He played for Coastal Carolina at the time and tied for 16th and 23th in respective years.
Brandt Snedeker, another top-five finisher at Pebble Beach this past weekend, played in the 2002 SBWRCAAGC along with J.B. Holmes and Ricky Barnes (Arizona). Snedeker was playing for Vanderbilt and finished in fifth, while Holmes (Kentucky) placed in a tie for eighth.
One name that most golf fans know is Phil Mickleson. He came to El Paso to participate in the SBWRCAAGC in 1989, but withdrew from the tournament during the early rounds of play.
Below is a list of players who have played in the Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic. The Sun Bowl Western Refining College All-America Golf Classic is one of the premier college golf tournaments in the country. Some of golf’s brightest stars have traveled to El Paso to compete in the tournament since its inaugural year in 1976. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III, Ricky Barnes and Jerry Pate are just a handful of past participants who went on to have successful PGA careers.
Place at Pebble Beach – Player – School – Year played in SBWRCAAGC
1st – Jordan Spieth – Texas-2011
3rd – Dustin Johnson –Coastal Carolina- 2005, 2006
4th – Brandt Snedeker- Vanderbilt- 2002
T10th – Nick Taylor-Washington-2008, 2009
T10th- Kevin Kisner- Georgia- 2004
T14th- Scott Stallings- Tennessee Tech- 2006
T14th- Nick Watney- Fresno State- 2001
T23rd – J.B. (John) Holmes- Kentucky-2002
T23rd – Derek Fathauer- Louisville-2007
T33rd – Tag Ridings-Arkansas-1996
T33rd – Brandon Hagy-Califonia-2012
T39th – Tom Hoge- TCU- 2009
T39th – Henrik Norlander- Augusta State-2008, 2010
T39th – Chris Kirk- Georgia- 2005, 2006
T48th – Zac Blair- BYU-2015
T48th – Rory Sabbatini- Arizona-1995, 1997
T48th – Ricky Barnes- Arizona-2000, 2001, 2002
T48th – Kevin Tway- Oklahoma State- 2009, 2010
T48th – Kevin Chappell- UCLA- 20071011
55th – Stewart Cink- Georgia Tech- 1993
58th – Jonas Blixt- Florida State- 2007
62nd – Scott Langley- Illinois-2009, 2010
65th – Phil Mickelson- Arizona State- 1989
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EL PASO, Texas – The National Football League (NFL) Pro Bowl has come and gone while Super Bowl LI is set to be played, Sunday, Feb. 5 in Houston with many former Sun Bowl participants making a name for themselves at the highest level possible.
There were 12 former Sun Bowl partakers who saw action in the 2017 Pro Bowl, which was played in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, Jan. 30. One of the most notable names to see some action was Seattle Seahawks defensive back Richard Sherman, who played for Stanford in the 2009 Sun Bowl versus Oklahoma. Sherman tallied eight tackles and one pass break up in the 31-27 loss to the Sooners.
In the second quarter of the Pro Bowl that ended with the AFC winning 20-13, the Seattle Seahawks cornerback intercepted an Andy Dalton pass that was intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders. It was a play that made a statement with highlights available online at ESPN.com.
“It’s always interesting during this time of year to see the players that came to El Paso and played in front of our fans make it to the highest level of play,” said Sun Bowl Executive Director Bernie Olivas. “I think fans get excited knowing that players such as Richard Sherman and DeMarco Murry, who played in the Pro Bowl and players such as running back D.J. Foster of the Patriots, who played with Arizona State just a couple years back, were here in El Paso.”
Foster played with the Sun Devils in the 2014 Sun Bowl helping his team to an exciting 36-31 win over Duke. Foster is the backup running back for New England and is averaging 3.4 yards a carry. Atlanta Falcons tight end Levine Tiololo played in the 2009 Sun Bowl for Oklahoma helping the Sooners to a victory in El Paso. He has three catches for 31 yards this postseason.
The Super Bowl is set for a 4:30 p.m. (MT) start, Sunday, Feb. 5, at NRG Stadium in Houston with TV coverage on FOX.
2017 Pro Bowl participants who also played in the Sun Bowl
AFC
• David DeCastro, OL (Pittsburgh Steelers) – played in the 2009 Sun Bowl with Stanford
• DeMarco Murry, RB (Titans) – played in the 2009 Sun Bowl with Oklahoma
• Leonard Williams, DE (Jets) – played in the 2012 Sun Bowl with Georgia Tech
NFC
• Zack Martin, OL (Dallas Cowboys) – played in 2010 Sun Bowl with Notre Dame
• Trent Williams, OL (Washington Redskins) – played in 2009 Sun Bowl with Oklahoma
• Johnny Hekker, Punter (Los Angeles Rams) – played in 2008 Sun Bowl with Oregon State; won the John H. Folmer Trophy after being named the Sun Bowl Special Teams MVP
• Harrison Smith, Safety (Minnesota Vikings) – played in 2010 Sun Bowl with Notre Dame
• Anthony Barr, LB (Minnesota Vikings) – played in 2013 Sun Bowl with UCLA
• Doug Baldwin, WR (Seattle Seahawks) – played in the 2009 Sun Bowl with Stanford
• Cliff Avril, DE (Seattle Seahawks) – played in the 2004 Sun Bowl with Purdue
• Richard Sherman, CB (Seattle Seahawks) – played in the 2009 Sun Bowl with Stanford
• Gerald McCoy, DT (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – played in the 2009 Sun Bowl with Oklahoma
*this list does not include all players selected to the Pro Bowl; only those who played in the Pro Bowl
Players on Super Bowl LI rosters who also played in the Sun Bowl
New England Patriots
• D.J Foster; RB – played in the 2014 Sun Bowl with Arizona State
• Shaquille Mason, OL – played in the 2011 Sun Bowl with Georgia Tech
• Eric Rowe, DB – played in the 2011 Sun Bowl with Utah
• Jabaal Sheard, DL – played in the 2008 Sun Bowl with Pittsburgh
• Matthew Slater, WR – played in the 2005 Sun Bowl with UCLA
Atlanta Falcons
• Levine Toilolo, TE – played in the 2009 Sun Bowl with Oklahoma
• Matt Bosher, P – played in the 2010 Sun Bowl with Miami
• Andy Levitre, G – Played in the 2006 and 2008 Sun Bowls with Oregon State
Former ASU Running Back D.J. Foster is on the New England Patriots Roster for Super Bowl LI
Former Notre Dame OL No. 70 Zack Martin represented the Dallas Cowboys in the 2017 NFL Pro Bowl
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