THIS CONTEST BEGAN BACK IN 1983 WHEN I WAS A SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL. IT WAS CALLED THE BOWL BONANZA BACK IN THE EARLY DAYS. I AM PRETTY SURE WE ONLY HAD 18 ENTRIES THAT FIRST YEAR AND I KNOW THAT THE GYM TEACHER/FOOTBALL COACH MR. THOMAS WAS THE FIRST EVER CHAMPION. THE POOL WENT ON HIATUS IN 1985 & 1986 WHILE I WAS IN THE ARMY, BUT THE FUN WAS REBORN WHEN I RETURNED HOME. UNFORTUNATELY, I DID NOT SAVE THE INFORMATION FROM THE EARLY POOLS AS EVERYTHING WAS DONE BY HAND. I HAVE LISTED SOME OF THE HISTORY BELOW.
1998 : 114 Entries (570) 1st time with more than 100 entries. The Payouts expanded to top 5.
1999 : 141 Entries (705) The contest was renamed The Bowl Extravaganza in honor of topping the 100 entry mark. The Payouts expanded to top 6.
2000 : 95 Entries (575) Just a bad year.
2001 : 154 Entries (770) Lion King became first 20 game winner. The Payouts expanded to the top 7.
2002 : 141 Entries (705) The first Bounties were added; Best record New Years Eve and New Years Day.
2003 : 239 Entries (1190) The very last year I did everything by hand. First year with a total payout over a Grand.
2004 : 237 Entries (1180) The Last 2 Lose Bounty was added. First year using an excel spreadsheet to tabulate the contest - Big Thanks to you OLD GEEZER.
2005 : 272 Entries (1355) My best finish ever, I came in 12th place. The Payouts were expanded to the top 8.
2006 : 394 Entries (1955) Darrel 2 correctly picked the first 19 games, finishing as the first 25 game winner with 27 correct picks. The Payouts expanded to top 10.
2007 : 405 Entries (2005) First time total payour topped 2 Grand. Heiney 4 set the futility mark by getting only 6 games correct.
2008 : 449 Entries (2205) The website was added to keep me from going insane trying to send out all those email updates every night.
2009 : 556 Entries (2605) First time we topped the 500 entry mark.
2010 : 661 Entries (3105) First time the total payout topped 3 Grand. The BCS Bounty was added.
2011 : 736 Entries (3455) ZIP 3 sets the all time win mark at 29 correct picks. The Payouts were expanded to the top 12.
2012 : 885 Entries (4105) First time the total payout topped 4 Grand. The Big Ten Bounty was added.
2013 : 962 Entries (4505) This is the current record number of entries.
2014 : 821 Entries (3805) Major changes as the BCS Bounty became the Playoff Bounty, Eve & Day Bounties were combined into New Years Bounty, and the Non Power Bounty was added.
2015 : 909 Entries (4225) Bachman 2 becomes the first ever 2 time winner of the pool and sets a new win record with 34 correct picks.
2016 : 1005 Entries (4705) We finally topped the thousand entry mark.
2017 : 865 Entries (4005) A liitle bit of a drop off in entries this year.
2018 : 1067 Entries (5005) CHAMPION : Stu-Pid (29-11)
Another new entry record was established breaking the old record of 1005 and we topped 5 Grand in total payouts for the first time ever.
2nd- Bobber 3 (28-12)
3rd- Lori Jo 3 (28-12)
4th- John Crazy Ink (28-12)
5th- Jeremy Knox 1 (27-13)
6th- Ryan Galloway (27-13)
7th- Landis 1 (27-13)
8th- D Cal 1 (27-13)
9th- Cam Morse (27-13)
10th- Traci Remster (27-13)
11th- Mike Good (27-13)
12th- JTD 2 (27-13)
Also finishing with 27-13 records and just missing out on the cash in tiebreakers were: Courtney Gilbert, Big Al M, Tom Heinlein 3 & Larry Gembel.
2018 Bounty Winners were:
Last 2 Lose : SHAWN 12C (First 13 correct)
Non Power : TOM HEINLEIN 3 (13-0)
New Year's : TRUMP SR (10-1)
Big Ten : TLG5235-1 (8-1) - 4 way Tiebreaker
Playoff : CHAMP 3 (6-1) - 19 way Tiebreaker
LAST PLACE:
KATARRA E (12-27)
lost out in a 3 way tie breaker with M SINGLES 1 & MACK 2.