UND football coach Bubba Schweigert speaks to a crowd of students about the upcoming year. The Potato Bowl this weekend remains a well-attended game and draws much of the Grand Forks community to its events throughout the week. Photo by Jennifer Freise/The Dakota Student.

The Iron Bowl, the Super Bowl…. The Potato Bowl?

While The Potato Bowl may not have the national recognition that the other “Bowls” do, The Potato Bowl holds a special place in hearts of Grand Forks residents.

Since 1965, Potato Bowl week is a time in the fall where the community of Grand Forks meets with the campus of UND to celebrate the start of the football season.

Between the parade, the French Fry Feed and all the other events going on around the city, there is something to do every day of the week to celebrate.

The UND football team will be looking to continue the winning tradition it has established for this week.

Since 2003, The Green and White have gone 10-1 in Potato Bowl games, with their lone loss coming last year against South Dakota State, in a game where they nearly made a comeback in the fourth quarter.

While this is a big week for the community, UND redshirt senior wide receiver R.J. McGill knows the stakes as well.

“For me personally, I’ve been here for a while, so I’m excited,” McGill said, “Home game, for the fans, this is the first real live time they get to see us, so with the Potato Bowl and with the new coaching era, I think it will be a big game, it will set the tempo for the season.”

That tempo does need to be set a little higher for this team to have a successful season.

Last week, UND went into San Jose State to start the season off, but left empty handed, as San Jose State throttled the Green and White, 42-10.

“We have a lot to build off of,” McGill said. “They were a good team, but I felt like we could have put up more points than we did, you know with penalties and hurting ourselves, so I feel like we have a lot to build for from the first game.”

While the football game is the main event, everything leading up to kickoff makes the entire week a special event.

Events such as the tailgating party before the game and the annual French Fry Feed in University Park make this week special the people of Grand Forks.

“The Potato Bowl is always something I’ve truly enjoyed as a student,” UND junior Evan McLaughlin said, “I’ve gone to the French Fry Feed every year I’ve been a student, this being my third year, and I plan on attending the French Fry Feed this year. I’m going to the game, and I think I’ve been to every game. So it’s a big deal to me.”

UND’s Potato Bowl opponent this year will be the 0-1 Robert Morris, which is coming off a loss to Eastern Kentucky.

Through the ups and downs of UND football over the past couple of years, one thing has always stayed the same.

No matter how good or bad the team is, students and members of the Grand Forks community will always come to support the Green and White on Potato Bowl week.
Alex Stadnik is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached [email protected].