MacArthur Bowl
| Location | College Football Hall of Fame, Atlanta, Georgia[1] |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Presented by | Football Writers Association of America and National Football Foundation |
| History | |
| First award | 1959 |
| Most recent | Michigan |
| Website | National Football Foundation |
The MacArthur Bowl is a trophy awarded annually by the National Football Foundation (NFF) (owners and operators of the College Football Hall of Fame) to the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football team(s) that are recognized by the NFF as the National Champions for that season.
Much like the NHL's Stanley Cup, the trophy is kept by the winning institution for one year, then passed on to the next year's winner. The trophy, manufactured by Tiffany & Co., is made of 400 ounces (11,000 g) of silver and is fashioned in the shape of a football stadium measuring 25 by 18 inches (64 cm × 46 cm) on its base, and 10 inches (25 cm) in height.
History[edit]
The trophy was the gift of an anonymous donor in honor of General Douglas MacArthur, a founder of National Football Foundation. The trophy features his famous quote: "There is no substitute for victory."[2] MacArthur was known to have a keen interest in college football, Army Cadet football in particular.[3] MacArthur had served as student manager of the Army team during his cadet days. During World War II, he sent a telegram congratulating Army on an undefeated 1944 College football season and defeat of Navy in the Army–Navy Game. The telegram read, "The greatest of all Army teams. We have stopped the war to celebrate your magnificent success."[3][4][5]
The trophy was first presented in 1959,[1][2] and has been presented annually since then. Since its inception, there have been occasions where the MacArthur trophy winner differed from the AP Poll winner, Coaches' Poll winner or both. From 1998 to 2013 during the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) era, the trophy was awarded to the winner of the BCS National Championship Game.
With the advent of the College Football Playoff (CFP), the winner of the CFP National Championship automatically wins the MacArthur Bowl; the trophy is presented to the winning head coach in a ceremony held at the College Football Hall of Fame in the spring following the championship game.[6][2]
Winners[edit]
By school[edit]
| School | Number | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 10 | 1961, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020 |
| USC | 5 | 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974, 2004 |
| Notre Dame | 5 | 1964, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988 |
| Ohio State | 4 | 1968, 1970, 2002, 2014 |
| Miami (FL) | 4 | 1983, 1987, 1989, 2001 |
| Texas | 4 | 1963, 1969, 1970, 2005 |
| Clemson | 3 | 1981, 2016, 2018 |
| Florida | 3 | 1996, 2006, 2008 |
| Florida State | 3 | 1993, 1999, 2013 |
| LSU | 3 | 2003, 2007, 2019 |
| Nebraska | 3 | 1971, 1994, 1995 |
| Oklahoma | 3 | 1975, 1985, 2000 |
| Georgia | 3 | 1980, 2021, 2022 |
| Michigan | 2 | 1997, 2023 |
| Michigan State | 2 | 1965, 1966 |
| Penn State | 2 | 1982, 1986 |
| Auburn | 1 | 2010 |
| BYU | 1 | 1984 |
| Colorado | 1 | 1990 |
| Minnesota | 1 | 1960 |
| Pittsburgh | 1 | 1976 |
| Syracuse | 1 | 1959 |
| Tennessee | 1 | 1998 |
| Washington | 1 | 1991 |
See also[edit]
- AFCA National Championship Trophy
- AP National Championship Trophy
- Grantland Rice Trophy
- BCS National Championship Game
- College Football Playoff National Championship Trophy
- NCAA Division I-A national football championship
References[edit]
- ^ a b Tucker, Tim (April 25, 2015). "Hall of Fame provides new home for treasured old trophy". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ^ a b c "The MacArthur Bowl". footballfoundation.org. National Football Foundation.
- ^ a b *Manchester, William (1983), American Caesar: Douglas MacArthur 1880–1964, Laurel, ISBN 0-440-30424-5
- ^ *Whittingham, Richard. (December 1985). Saturday Afternoon: College Football and the Men Who Made the Day: Workman Pub Co. ISBN 0-89480-933-4
- ^ Michael Mandelbaum. (2005). The Meaning Of Sports: Why Americans Watch Baseball, Football, and Basketball and What They See When They Do. PublicAffairs publishing ISBN 1-58648-330-7
- ^ a b "Ohio State Recognized as 2014 NFF MacArthur Bowl Recipient". footballfoundation.org (Press release). National Football Foundation. January 13, 2015.
- ^ "MacArthur Winners". The News–Messenger. Fremont, Ohio. December 9, 1970. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
Ohio State football Coach Woody Hayes and Texas coach Darrell Royal accept the MacArthur Bowl which was awarded jointly to their teams as the best of 1970 at the award dinner of the National Football Foundation
- ^ Written at New York. "Award for top team delayed". The Times-News. Twin Falls, Idaho. United Press International. December 7, 1971. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
...it was decided not to award a championship by ballot but rather to let these teams meet on the field and play for the MacArthur Bowl.
- ^ Written at New York. "Title at Stake in Sugar Bowl". The Kansas City Times. Kansas City, Missouri. Associated Press. December 3, 1973. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
"A championship can only truly be settled on the playing field." Richard Kazmaier, chairman of the awards committee, said in announcing that this year the committee would not vote for the MacArthur Bowl winner.
- ^ "MacArthur Bowl and ADT Trophies presented to LSU today in New Orleans" (Press release). New Orleans: National Football Foundation. January 5, 2004. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
With the advent of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) in 1998, the national BCS championship game now determines which team is presented the MacArthur Bowl and ADT National Championship Trophies and have their named etched alongside the greatest teams of all time.
- ^ "University of Alabama Recognized as 2015 NFF MacArthur Bowl Recipient" (Press release). Irving, Texas: National Football Foundation. January 12, 2016. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
During college football's Poll Era, the NFF MacArthur Bowl Committee selected the recipient of the trophy. With the advent of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) in 1998, the national championship game has determined which team claimed the MacArthur Bowl, a tradition that will continue with the adoption of the College Football Playoff.
- ^ "Alabama Recognized as 2017 NFF MacArthur Bowl Recipient". www.footballfoundation.org (Press release). National Football Foundation. January 9, 2018. Archived from the original on January 10, 2018. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
- ^ Journal-Constitution, The Atlanta. "LSU will be presented MacArthur Bowl in Atlanta". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved January 26, 2020.