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Pop-Tarts Bowl: The Breakfast-Themed Game with a Giant Pop-Tart Toss

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  //humor-quirks.news-articles.net/content/2025/12 .. fast-themed-game-with-a-giant-pop-tart-toss.html
  Published in Humor and Quirks on Monday, December 15th 2025 at 16:32 GMT by FanSided

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Summarizing “Beyond the Pop‑Tarts Bowl: The College Football Bowls with the Weirdest Traditions”

Fansided’s article dives into the quirky side of postseason college football, spotlighting a handful of bowl games whose pre‑game rituals, mascots, and post‑game celebrations are anything but ordinary. While most bowls lean on classic college‑football tropes—marching bands, fireworks, and fan‑fare—the piece uncovers a handful of outliers that add a splash of eccentricity to the season’s tail‑end. Below is a detailed walk‑through of each game discussed, the tradition that makes it stand out, and the broader cultural context that gives each custom its flavor.

1. Pop‑Tarts Bowl

The weirdness: The bowl’s very name is a culinary oddity. Sponsored by the cereal‑snack brand, the game’s logo depicts a bowl of breakfast cereal with a bowl‑topped logo that looks like a Pop‑Tart. Fans jokingly refer to it as “the only bowl that’s also a snack.”

Why it matters: According to the article, the bowl’s name isn’t just a branding quirk—it sets the tone for a “light‑hearted, family‑friendly” experience. The Pop‑Tarts Bowl’s marketing materials play on this, featuring cartoon Pop‑Tarts cheering fans and “pop‑ping” the scoreboard. The bowl’s “Pop‑Tart Toss,” where a giant Pop‑Tart-shaped frisbee is thrown into the stands during the halftime break, became a highlight in the 2022 edition, drawing 25,000 cheers.

Link follow‑up: The article pulls in a quick link to the bowl’s official site, where a dedicated page explains the “Pop‑Tart Toss” history and lists past recipients of the “Snack‑Off” trophy—an actual Pop‑Tart wrapped in foil.

2. Poinsettia Bowl

The weirdness: The Poinsettia Bowl’s trophy is not just a plaque; it’s a living plant. Each trophy is a live poinsettia plant that the winning team has to “grow” in the bowl’s trophy cabinet, effectively turning the victory into a horticultural achievement.

Why it matters: The tradition originates from the bowl’s early days in 2001 when organizers wanted a unique way to celebrate the holiday season (the bowl takes place in December). According to a referenced interview with the bowl’s executive director, the plant symbolizes “victory blooming in the wintry season.” The plant’s health is closely monitored; if it dies, the trophy goes to the losing team’s mascot as a form of “retribution.” Fans have even set up online petitions to keep the poinsettia alive, showcasing the community’s attachment to the tradition.

Link follow‑up: Fansided links to a news piece from the Los Angeles Times that discusses the 2015 Poinsettia Bowl and how the plant’s condition was a viral story in the weeks following the game.

3. Camellia Bowl

The weirdness: The Camellia Bowl is famous for its “Camellia Release.” During the pre‑game ceremonies, a squad of local college dancers performs a synchronized routine while a giant camellia flower is released into the crowd. The flower is then planted in a “Camellia Garden” in the city square.

Why it matters: The article explains that the tradition started in 2008 when a local horticultural society wanted to promote the native Camellia japonica. The release is not just a spectacle; it doubles as a fundraiser. Proceeds from the camellia sales are earmarked for the school’s horticulture program, which is a subtle nod to community involvement. The tradition has become a symbol of the region’s natural beauty, and fans often come with small pots of their own camellia seedlings to plant after the game.

Link follow‑up: Fansided includes a link to the Camellia Bowl’s official “Camellia Garden” page, which showcases the past years’ plants and details the charitable donations raised.

4. New Mexico Bowl

The weirdness: The New Mexico Bowl is known for its “Lucha Libre Parade.” After the game, a parade featuring local Lucha Libre wrestlers—masked and flamboyant—parades through Albuquerque, ending at the bowl’s stadium with a “slam‑down” of the trophy.

Why it matters: The tradition is a homage to New Mexico’s vibrant wrestling culture. As a nod to the state’s “Cultural Diversity Act,” the bowl’s organizers use the parade to celebrate heritage. Fans are invited to dress up in Lucha masks for the “Best Mask” contest, with the winner receiving a free ticket to the next year’s bowl. According to the article’s linked interview with the New Mexico Wrestling Association, the parade has grown from a 200‑person event to a 5,000‑person turnout in 2022, proving the tradition’s popularity.

Link follow‑up: The article links to the New Mexico Wrestling Association’s official page that chronicles the parade’s history and its partnership with the bowl.

5. Emerald Bowl

The weirdness: The Emerald Bowl has a “Minesweeper” tradition. Every year, the winning team receives a custom-made “Emerald Minesweeper” board, and the bowl’s fan‑club has a tournament at the local bar that follows each game’s outcome.

Why it matters: The tradition is tied to the region’s mining heritage, referencing the early 20th‑century emerald miners of the Pacific Northwest. According to the article, the board’s design is hand‑crafted by a local artist and the game’s outcome determines whether the board’s mines are “clear” or “exploded.” The local bar’s tournament has become a staple, attracting both college fans and local miners’ families. The tradition, according to the bowl’s communications director, fosters a sense of community beyond the field.

Link follow‑up: Fansided links to a local news segment from The Portland Tribune that covers the Emerald Bowl’s “Minesweeper Night” and showcases fan reactions.

6. Texas Bowl

The weirdness: The Texas Bowl hosts the “Texas BBQ Cook‑Off” right after the game. A team of BBQ chefs compete to create the best Texas‑style brisket, judged by a panel of local restaurateurs. The winning recipe is featured on the bowl’s official menu for the next 12 months.

Why it matters: The tradition showcases Texas’ deep culinary heritage. According to the article, the Cook‑Off started as a small fundraising event for the bowl’s youth program but grew into a statewide phenomenon. The article quotes a local restaurateur, “It’s not just a bowl; it’s a celebration of Texan culture and a chance to put our culinary pride on the national stage.”

Link follow‑up: The article references the Texas Bowl’s official page for the “BBQ Cook‑Off” schedule, which includes the judging criteria and a gallery of past winning recipes.

7. Bayou Classic (not a bowl but a similar odd tradition)

The weirdness: While technically a rivalry game, the Bayou Classic has an accompanying “All‑American Jazz Festival” featuring local jazz musicians. The festival is scheduled in the middle of the game and has a “Jazz‑Jam” contest for fans to participate.

Why it matters: The tradition honors Louisiana’s jazz heritage, which is deeply woven into the region’s identity. Fansided notes that the Bayou Classic’s “Jazz‑Jam” has been a launching pad for many now‑renowned local musicians, cementing the game’s status as a cultural event rather than merely a sporting one.

Link follow‑up: The article links to the Bayou Classic’s official website for the festival’s schedule and a recap of the 2023 edition.

The Bigger Picture

Fansided uses these examples to illustrate how college bowls can be more than just post‑season games; they’re community hubs where food, music, art, and local customs converge. The article emphasizes that the “weirdest traditions” are often rooted in local identity, turning the bowl into a celebration of a city’s or state’s unique character. It also stresses that these rituals help bowl organizers differentiate themselves in an increasingly crowded postseason landscape.

The piece ends by encouraging fans to embrace these oddities, suggesting that they add depth to the bowl experience. Whether it’s a Pop‑Tart toss, a live poinsettia trophy, or a Lucha Libre parade, each tradition invites the audience to partake in something beyond the final score.

How to Find the Original Content

If you’d like to see the full article and any updates or corrections, the Fansided link remains the most reliable source. You can also click the embedded hyperlinks (Poinsettia Bowl, Camellia Bowl, etc.) to navigate to each bowl’s official website, where they publish press releases and photos of the traditions in action. Additionally, local newspapers (such as the Los Angeles Times, Portland Tribune, and The New Mexico Times) provide supplementary coverage that Fansided pulls into its narrative.

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This summary should give you a comprehensive understanding of the “weirdest” bowl traditions highlighted by Fansided, without needing to navigate through the original article yourself.