Zia Bowl

The bowl was sponsored by the Albuquerque Jaycees, who began working late in 1977 to bring the event to the city.

[1] The game was named after the Zia, the symbol in the center of the New Mexico state flag.

[2] A Zia Bowl parade was held in downtown Albuquerque on the morning of the game.

[3] The Zia Bowl failed to draw much interest locally, and only 4,000 attended the 1979 game.

[5] In May 1981, the NCAA awarded the Division II championship to the Palm Bowl in McAllen, Texas for the next five years.