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Four old-school Small College Division bowls historically ended the season for the four traditional playoff regions, with a national champion to be determined by poll from amongst the bowl winners. In 1981, these names continued on as unofficial monikers for the I-AA/FCS Regional Finals, associated with their old regions. These games were held this past weekend, and we were likely unaware of the historical significance.

Montana won the Camellia Bowl (West Region) over UNI.

Georgia Southern won the Boardwalk Bowl (East Regionl) over Maine.

These two are up-to-date in Wikipedia, but the other two have results only through 2009, so I'm guessing as to who gets was the champion of each bowl.

NDSU won the Pecan Bowl (Midwest Region) over Lehigh.

SHSU won the Grantland Rice Bowl (South Region) over Montana State.

Congratulations to the "bowl" winners!

Wikipedia is the source for this bit of trivia.

When I think of the lush Pecan plantations in the MIdwest, it brings a tear to my eye. Nothing says Midwest like Pecans.

I think Montana State also won a Camellia Bowl.

That depends on your definitions, SACCAT.

That's definitely true under the original Camellia Bowl, held annually in Sac (Hughes Stadium) during the '60s. That's bad news for my Hornets, because MSU beat the Hornets 29-7 in 1964. (MSU also lost the Camellia Bowl in 1966 to San Diego State, which was then voted Small College Division Champs.)

In the Camellia Bowl as playoff quarterfinal era (i.e. post-1981, at home sites), the Cats beat Arkansas State in 1984.

So, depending on definition, one could say that Montana State has won TWO Camellia Bowls, and beaten the Hornets in the process.