Corn Bowl Explained

The Corn Bowl was a college football bowl game played from 1947 until 1955 in central Illinois. The first game was played November 27, 1947, in Normal, Illinois, between and of Illinois.^[1] Its final game was played November 24, 1955, between Western Illinois and . There was no game played in 1952 and 1954.^[2]

The game was primarily organized by A. B. Perry, who called for the construction of a stadium that would seat 150,000. The plans never came to fruition and the largest crowd attracted to a game was 8,000 spectators for the 1948 matchup. The 1949 matchup was witnessed by 4,567 fans.^[3]

The bowl was sponsored by the Hybrid Seed Corn Breeders of Illinois and the Bloomington American Legion.^[4]

Game results

Year	Winner		Loser		Stadium	Location	Attendance	Source
	Southern Illinois	21		0	Fred Carlton Field		5,500	[5]
		6	Eastern Illinois	0	Wesleyan Field		8,500	[6]
	Western Illinois	13		0	Wesleyan Field	Bloomington, Illinois	4,567	[7] [8]
		7	Illinois State Normal	6	Wesleyan Field	Bloomington, Illinois	2,500	[9]
		21		12	Wesleyan Field	Bloomington, Illinois	2,000	[10]
	Western Illinois	32		0	Wesleyan Field	Bloomington, Illinois	2,500	[11]
		24	Western Illinois	20			5,000	[12]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Corn Bowl was short-lived Thanksgiving gridiron tradition . January 3, 2012. Pantagraph.com. Bill. Kemp. November 18, 2007.
2. Web site: Corn Bowl Games. College Football Data Warehouse. David. DeLassus. January 3, 2012. December 9, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20101209040634/http://www.cfbdatawarehouse.com/data/bowls/bowl_results.php?bowlid=73. dead.
3. Web site: Wins Corn Bowl Game. Reading Eagle. November 25, 1949. January 4, 2012.
4. Web site: Full Crop Of Corn Bowl Memories. January 4, 2012. Chicago Tribune. October 16, 1997. Bill. Jauss.
5. News: Alsene . Edgar . Southern Clips North Central in Corn Bowl . November 25, 2021 . . November 28, 1947 . 14 . Newspapers.com.
6. News: Young . Fred . IWU Trips Eastern, 6-0, On Last Minute Counter . November 25, 2021 . . November 26, 1948 . 13 . Newspapers.com.
7. News: . Twin Tornadoes Collide In Corn Bowl Here Today . . . November 24, 1949 . 32 . March 28, 2024 . .
8. News: Young . Fred . Angie Marini Steals Show as Western Cops Third Annual Corn Bowl Game . November 25, 2021 . . November 25, 1949 . 11 . Newspapers.com.
9. News: Alsene . Ed . Missouri Mines Edges ISNU 7-6 . October 10, 2021 . . November 24, 1950 . 14 . Newspapers.com.
10. News: Alsene . Ed . Lewis Triumphs, 21-12 . November 25, 2021 . . November 23, 1951 . 13 . Newspapers.com.
11. News: Alsene . Ed . Western Wins 1953 Corn Bowl Game, 32-0 . November 20, 2021 . . November 27, 1953 . 30 . Newspapers.com.
12. News: . Luther Nips Western in 'Corn' Bowl' . . . November 25, 1955 . 20 . September 16, 2021 . .