Cherry Bowl

Cherry Bowl (defunct)
poster from the 1985 Cherry Bowl
Stadium	Pontiac Silverdome
Operated	1984-1985
Succeeded by	Motor City Bowl
1985 matchup
Maryland over Syracuse (35-18)

The Cherry Bowl was an annual post-season college football bowl game played in the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan, in 1984 and 1985. The Cherry Bowl was an early attempt to bring a game to Michigan, years before the Motor City Bowl (later known as the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl). The Cherry Bowl and Motor City Bowl were played at the Pontiac Silverdome (the Motor City Bowl eventually moved the Ford Field). However, the bowl was not financially viable, and folded after its second year.

The Cherry Bowl inaugural 1984 game drew more than 70,000 to an Army-Michigan State matchup. This game is noteworthy as Army's first-ever bowl appearance. For 1985, the bowl promised $1.2 million to each team, the fifth-highest payout among all bowls.

The National Anthem, Half-time, and post-game shows were performed by area high school marching bands. For the 1984 game, the National Anthem and the post-game show were performed by the Marching Railroaders from Durand, Michigan.

The mid-1980s were a time of upheaval in college football. The end of NCAA control over television rights resulted in a major increase in televised games, and TV rights fees dropped sharply amid the resulting glut, something not anticipated by the Cherry Bowl organizers. Adding to their problems, without the local Michigan State team attendance for the 1985 game between Maryland and Syracuse fell by nearly 20,000.

Negotiations with General Motors to become the game's title sponsor failed. Unable to meet its payout obligation and more than $1 million in debt, the Cherry Bowl folded.

1984 saw the first edition of the Cherry Bowl, between Army and Michigan State The first quarter of the game ended without score; a second quarter 4-yard touchdown gave Army a 7–0 halftime lead. After a scoreless third quarter, Army converted a 35-yard FG in the 4th to extend its lead to 10–0. Michigan State attempted a comeback with a 36-yard touchdown, but a failed two-point conversion led to a 10–6 final.

What was eventually the last Cherry Bowl, the 1985 Cherry Bowl was the second to be played, this one contested by #20 Maryland and Syracuse. The scoring opened in the 1st with a 26-yard Syracuse field goal. Maryland countered with a 4-yard touchdown run, making it 6–3. A 10-yard run in the 2nd gave Syracuse a 10–6 lead; however, the Terrapins would overpower Syracuse, scoring 29 consecutive points, and Syracuse was unable to rally in a 35–18 Maryland victory.