1945 Sun Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1945 Sun Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game
held at Kidd Field
in El Paso, Texas
on January 1, 1945 with approximately 13,000 spectators in attendance. The game featured the representing Southwestern University
and the representing the National Autonomous University of Mexico
. As of 2009, this game is the only time an American football bowl game has included a team from outside the United States.
Mexico entered the game with a 4–0–1 record and had outscored its opponents 182–24. Southwestern was considered a "slight" favorite over the Mexican team. One reason given was that the game played at El Paso
was 6,000 feet lower in elevation to what the Mexicans were accustomed.
Southwestern won with a score of 35 points to 0, becoming the first team to win back-to-back Sun Bowl championships. Southwestern set a record for the most penalty yards gained (109 yards) while Mexico set records for the fewest passing yards, fewest offensive plays, fewest offensive yards, lowest offensive average per play, fewest first downs, and fewest first down passes. Southwestern also set the record for most points scored in the Sun Bowl up to that point.
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
held at Kidd Field
Kidd Field
Kidd Field is an athletic facility used primarily by UTEP in El Paso, TX. Contstructed for its then-primary use as a football field in 1938, it was the site of the Sun Bowl until 1963 when Sun Bowl Stadium opened. Kidd Field is used for track and field meets today. Kidd Field cost $2,000 to build,...
in El Paso, Texas
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
on January 1, 1945 with approximately 13,000 spectators in attendance. The game featured the representing Southwestern University
Southwestern University
Southwestern University is a private, four-year, undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Georgetown, Texas, USA. Founded in 1840, Southwestern is the oldest university in Texas. The school is affiliated with the United Methodist Church although the curriculum is nonsectarian...
and the representing the National Autonomous University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
. As of 2009, this game is the only time an American football bowl game has included a team from outside the United States.
Mexico entered the game with a 4–0–1 record and had outscored its opponents 182–24. Southwestern was considered a "slight" favorite over the Mexican team. One reason given was that the game played at El Paso
El Paso
El Paso, a city in the U.S. state of Texas, on the border with Mexico.El Paso may also refer to:-Geography:Colombia:* El Paso, CesarSpain:*El Paso, Santa Cruz de TenerifeUnited States:...
was 6,000 feet lower in elevation to what the Mexicans were accustomed.
Southwestern won with a score of 35 points to 0, becoming the first team to win back-to-back Sun Bowl championships. Southwestern set a record for the most penalty yards gained (109 yards) while Mexico set records for the fewest passing yards, fewest offensive plays, fewest offensive yards, lowest offensive average per play, fewest first downs, and fewest first down passes. Southwestern also set the record for most points scored in the Sun Bowl up to that point.