COLUMBIA GORGE HISTORY

Rumor has it that the PIG BOWL was played two or three times in the late 1980s or early 1990’s with Local Law Enforcement vs. Local Businesses. If you spend anytime in downtown The Dalles, you’ll likely run into someone who played in one of these sporadically held events. However, no one seems to remember much about it or when the games actually took place.

Please contact us if you have more information regarding Pig Bowls of the past in the Columbia Gorge.  I would love to add Players Names, Event Dates and Photographs to our website. Thanks!

https://pigbowl.net/send-us-an-email.php

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OREGON HISTORY

The following information was printed by permission  from :

http://www.lawenforcementforyouth.com/

http://www.oregonpigbowl.com/

In 1998 two Deputy’s from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office sought to bring “Pig Bowl” to Oregon. Although “Pig Bowls” have been around in various parts of Oregon including as far back as the late 1970’s in Marion County, the true origin of “Pig Bowl” is in the Sacramento California Community. It began there in January 1974. The name of their event has since changed to “Guns and Hoses”. The “Pig Bowl” in Sacramento is a full contact football game, not touch or flag. The two Marion County Deputies sought to bring a true Pig Bowl experience to Oregon. It is believed that Oregon had not had any previous full contact fotball games such as these.

After contacting the folks running the Sacramento program and recieving permission to use the name Pig Bowl in Oregon. The two deputies organized the first full contact Oregon Pig Bowl in December of 1998. From 1998 to 2002 one game per year was held as a fundraiser for the local Boys & Girls Club. The prgram has grown dramatically and in 2003 an Independent non profit was formed “Law Enforcement for Youth”.

Today the “Pig Bowl” continues to be one of Law Enforcement for Youth’s leading fundraisers. It is now made up of three teams, the Valley LawDawgs, Metro Warriors and the North Coast. A total of three games are played each season. The season generally begins with practices sarting in April and the Games concluding in mid to late July.

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CALIFORNIA HISTORY

The following information was taken from : http://www.pigbowl.com/history.php

It all began as a friendly football game in Sacramento California on a cold day in January 1974 and grew to an event attended by over 32,000 fans.  This game started a nationwide craze of pitting law enforcement and/or fire departments against each other on the gridiron. Credit for this unique event goes to a handful of officers back in the early 1970’s. Good-natured badgering resulted in a fun and a fundraising game that has survived to this day.

“PIG” was a derogatory name given to law enforcement back in the seventies, but was turned into a motto standing for Pride * Integrity * Guts … thus the PIG BOWL was born and the only game and organization of its kind to have stood the test of time.

An all-volunteer committee was formed and a community school contest was held to pick the team’s names. The Police Department’s team became the BACON BOMBERS and the Sheriff’s Department team became the RAZORBACKS. The game is a family oriented event featuring pre-game and half time entertainment. The Pig Bowl remains the single most popular charity competition in the history of Sacramento and the only law enforcement agencies to play 35 consecutive games.

Other traditions have evolved from the original game including tailgate parties, rib eating contests, player’s breakfasts, golf tournaments, a wine festival and canned food drives during the holidays and at the game to help families in need. The Kickoff Crab Feed is one of the most attended crab feeds in the area. The HOGS and DOGS Cheerleader (adult and junior) SQUADS give their time and energy and work at every function entertaining the crowds and to assure that all raffles and prize presentations run smoothly. 

The PIG BOWL is and always has been about giving to the community and those in need.  However, the game, the festivities and the celebrations also honor the lives and the memories of DECADES OF HEROES of local law enforcement officers and firefighters who have lost their lives or have been injured in the line of duty.

Several years ago a NEW GAME IN TOWN was introduced!

PIG BOWL Presents: GUNS & HOSES. The game pits law enforcement *HOGS* against the fire service *DOGS*. These players, whose day jobs provide protection for the people of our community, practice in the cold mornings, put up with the aches and pains of getting into “football” shape in hopes that the public turns out for this fantastic event and raise money for local non profits.