Pioneer Bowl headed to Mobile Bay
September 21, 2004
The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association and the Southern
Intercollegiate Athletic Conference have selected Mobile Bay
as the new home for their annual Pioneer Bowl. This year's
game is set for Saturday, December 4, 2004 at Ladd Peebles
Stadium. .
The two conferences represent 23 colleges and universities
in the Southeast United States and the game has been played
in Atlanta every December since 1998. The Pioneer Bowl is
the only NCAA sanctioned Division II football bowl game for
Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Commissioners William Lide of the SIAC and Leon Kerry of
the CIAA began searching for a new city and venue to host
this event two months ago. After a recent visit to Mobile,
they discovered a city that is ideal for their event not
only in terms of a great football stadium, but the spirit
and willingness of local officials to help them find a permanent
home for the bowl game and ensure its success.
During their Mobile visit, the commissioners met with Mayor
Michael C. Dow, Mobile Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau
President Leon Maisel, Mobile Convention Center general manager
Bob Brazier, hotel representatives and the Board of Directors
of Ladd Peebles Stadium.
A local host committee co-chaired by Michael Pierce and
Mike Jones will begin preparations to plan and execute a
successful Pioneer Bowl game. Other events including a Battle
of the Bands Competition, Toys for Tots, Step Competition,
Team visits to local hospitals, Kickoff Banquet and Awards
event will coincide with the bowl game.
Mayor Dow said “we obviously are a great city that
knows how to execute successful bowl games,” alluding
to the already successful GMAC Bowl and Senior Bowl games
played in Mobile. Dow also stated that this will give Mobile
its third college football bowl game, the most of any city
in the U.S.
A press conference officially announcing the bowl game will
be held at the Mobile Convention Center on Monday, September
27 at 10:00am
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