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City Council To Honor Holiday Bowl On 40th Anniversary

Minnesota players celebrate after defeating Washington State 17-12 in the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game at Qualcomm Stadium, Dec. 27, 2016.
Associated Press
Minnesota players celebrate after defeating Washington State 17-12 in the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game at Qualcomm Stadium, Dec. 27, 2016.

The San Diego City Council is poised Monday to honor the Holiday Bowl on its 40th anniversary.

A proclamation from council President Myrtle Cole notes that the college football post-season game has generated an economic benefit of nearly $800 million for the San Diego region over the years by attracting out-of-town fans during a slow period for the tourism industry and providing visibility for the region.

She also said the game has attracted some of the brightest playing and coaching stars, such as Oklahoma State running back Barry Sanders; quarterbacks Steve Young and Jim McMahon of Brigham Young; Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers and running back Marshawn Lynch; and head coaches LaVell Edwards of BYU, Mack Brown of Texas and Bob Stoops of Oklahoma.

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The bowl was originally planned by local officials to be a showcase for San Diego State, which was repeatedly shut out of the post-season despite posting sterling won-loss records during the 1970s under head coaches Don Coryell and Claude Gilbert. However, the Aztecs program hit the skids soon after the bowl started, and didn't make its first and only appearance until 1986.

The inaugural contest on Dec. 22, 1978, saw Navy defeat BYU 23-16. The Cougars put the bowl in the national consciousness two years later when they scored three touchdowns in the final minutes to upset highly regarded Southern Methodist 46-45 — in an era when pinball scores weren't as common as Monday.

The game now matches entrants from the Pac-12 and Big Ten. This year's game between Washington State and Michigan State is scheduled for Dec. 28.

The panel is also scheduled Monday to decide whether Cole will remain in her leadership role, as it selects a council president for the coming year.