2008 Valero Cactus Bowl Roster Announcement
2008 Valero Cactus Bowl Roster Announcement
Kingsville -- The 2008 Valero Cactus Bowl has announced its rosters for the 2008 Division II All-Star game to be played at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas on Friday, January 11, 2008 at 7:00 p.m.
The Valero Cactus Bowl will be regionally televised in up to 8
million homes on Fox Sports Southwest.
The selection committee picked from among the best seniors in NCAA Division II football.
Headlining the East team is Harlon Hill Trophy finalist Michael Eubanks. Eubanks is a linebacker from Delta State (Miss.) and is one of only two players in the history of the award, given annually to the best player in NCAA Division II, to make the three finalists as a defensive player.
Other standouts on the East team include Shepherd (W.va.) running back Drevon Wallace who finished second in the nation in rushing with 2138 yards and 24 touchdowns.
The two quarterbacks for the East team were the Players of the Year in their respective conferences. Mark Nicolet of Hillsdale (Mich.) was the Player of the Year in the Great lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference after throwing for 3,335 yards and 31 touchdowns. Brad Roach of Catawba (N.C.) was the Offensive Player of the Year in the South Atlantic Conference after compiling 3,332 yards and 32 scores.
The West team includes wide receiver Nick Smart of Southwest Baptist (Mo.) who set the NCAA All-Division record for most pass catches in a season with 143.
West quarterbacks include Daniel Polk of Midwestern State (Texas), who was the only player in college football to pass for at least 2,000 yards and rush for at least 1,000 yards, and Ben King of Minnesota State-Mankato who led NCAA Division II with 4,096 yards passing.
Valero is a part-owner of the San Antonio Spurs franchise, stepping in to help organize a bid when the franchise was being pursued by out-of-town buyers who, potentially, could have relocated the team.
Valero has also been the title sponsor of the Valero Texas Open since 2002. In that time, the tournament has gone from the bottom of the PGA TOUR in terms of charitable fundraising to raising more for charity than any other event in PGA TOUR history.
The Cactus Bowl began as the Snow Bowl in 1994 at the Fargo Dome in Fargo, North Dakota. After its initial seven-year run, the game moved to Kingsville in January 2001.
The game was played in Kingsville for six years, took a hiatus last year and will return to Javelina Stadium in 2008.
