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{{short description|Defunct annual postseason college football game}}{{Collegebowl| name = Garden State Bowl| defunct = y| full_name = | nickname =| logo = File:1981 gardenstate.png| image_size = 160px| caption = | stadium = Giants Stadium| previous_stadiums = !Date! colspan="2" | Winner! colspan="2" | Loser!Notes|December 16, 1978|December 15, 1979|December 14, 1980|December 13, 1981

East Rutherford, New Jersey>East Rutherford, New Jersey| previous_locations = | years = 1978–1981| previous_tie-ins = | conference_tie-ins =| payout =| sponsors = | former_names = | prev_matchup_season=| prev_matchup_year =| prev_matchup_teams = | prev_matchup_score = | next_matchup_season=| next_matchup_year = | next_matchup_teams= | next_matchup_date = }}The Garden State Bowl was an annual post-season college football bowl game played at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, from 1978 until 1981.Foldesy, Jody. "Bowls burgeon as big business", The Washington Times. December 21, 1997. Page A1. Freezing temperatures each year at the game, together with a lack of successful local college teams, contributed to its rapid demise. Game results {| class="wikitable"
Arizona State Sun Devils football>Arizona State|34	Rutgers Scarlet Knights football>Rutgers |18	1978 Garden State Bowl>Notes
No. 20 Temple Owls football>Temple|28	California Golden Bears football>California |17	1979 Garden State Bowl>Notes
Houston Cougars football>Houston|35	Navy Midshipmen football>Navy |0	1980 Garden State Bowl>Notes
Tennessee Volunteers football>Tennessee|28	Wisconsin Badgers football>Wisconsin |21	1981 Garden State Bowl>Notes

Garden State Bowl Broadcasters

Television{| class"wikitable"

!Date!Network!Play-by-play!Color commentator(s)!Sideline reporter(s)|December 16, 1978|Mizlou||||December 15, 1979|Mizlou||||December 14, 1980|Mizlou||||December 13, 1981|MizlouRay Scott (sportscaster)>Ray Scott|Al DeRogatis|Pat Scanlon

Effects

After the demise of the Garden State Bowl following the 1981 game, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which operated and scheduled events at Giants Stadium, decided to host a game in the beginning of the season, rather than the end. This led to the formation of the Kickoff Classic, which was held either the last week of August or the first week of September every year for 20 seasons.

See also

• List of college bowl games
• Kickoff Classic

References

{{Reflist}}{{Garden State Bowl navbox}}