For the fifth consecutive year, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College will host The Mississippi Bowl Sunday, December 2 as the 2012 Mississippi Community College/Junior College state champion and another highly ranked team in the nation does battle. Three fun-filled days of local entertainment, food and football will welcome the teams and their families, friends and special guests.
“We are thrilled to be hosting the Mississippi Bowl again in 2012,” said Ladd Taylor, Gulf Coast athletic director. “The overwhelming success of the first four games is a testament to the excellent teams we’ve had play and the outstanding work by our Mississippi Bowl Committee and our game day staff.”
On December 7, 2008, No. 7 ranked Gulf Coast defeated No. 3 Georgia Military College 41-7 in front of 5,000 fans at Biloxi Indian Stadium. The 2009 contest featured No. 6 East Mississippi defeating No. 5 Arizona Western 27-24 while 2010’s game had No. 7 Gulf Coast outgunned No. 3 Grand Rapids 62-53. Last season the No. 9 Bulldogs hammered No. 5 Blinn 46-17 giving Gulf Coast three Ms. Bowl wins in the four-year history of the event.
All revenues of this association are for the benefit of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Foundation. The Mississippi Bowl payout for each team will be $10,000, compared to the $7,500 per-team payout from other bowl organizations.
Dub Herring and Barry Harper of Paw Paw’s Campers and Cars are once again serving as co-title sponsors for the event. Harper, a Grenada native, played football at Delta State University from 1977-81. He also serves on the Pearl River Community College Board. Herring played football at Holmes Community College in Goodman.
The three-day event will also feature other off-the-field activities. Leading up to the first three games, the participating teams spent time with local children at two Boys and Girls club locations on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The kids took part with team members in activities like kickball, touch football, and basketball.
“It’s been a huge success, and I expect this year to be even better,” Taylor added. “The quality of the teams plus the hospitality of the Mississippi Gulf Coast has made this a marquee event in the NJCAA bowl season.”
