Center Bowl Association

Beginning in the year 1998, the Center Members, in order to occupy the day, instead of watching the boring all day long pre-game shows, would get together off-campus. First at Dave’s Parents’ place, where a prequel to the CSBG took place. In that game, the receivers not only had to contend with the defenders, but the Shed as well. The following year, the Members got together in Brooklyn, where one of the most memorable (and only) BBA games took place, in which Geza’s Rockets defeated Dave’s Knicks on a last second Hail Mary from the other side of the court.

Then, in 2000, the Center Members began the tradition that has become The Center Bowl. It was then, in Southfield Estates, Manalapan, NJ at Dave’s Mom’s condo, that the first official Center Super Bowl Game took place. Scores were kept, logos were designed, and the tradition was off and running. Well, sort of . It was a mess of a game, with knee deep snow, and Matt “The Sabres” as official QB. But, always big on tradition, the Members decided to continue this ritual every Super Bowl Sunday.

The next year, the gathering was moved to Dave’s grandparents’ house, in Marine Park, Brooklyn. CSBG’s II-V were played there, until Dave’s grandparents moved, and the game therefore needed to be relocated.

Since Audwin Levasseur had moved to the Washington, D.C. area, and was studying for the bar exam, he offered to host CSBG VI at his place. While there, the players in attendance decided that since the game no longer had a permanent home, it should be played in a different city each here. That way, it would no only be an annual reunion, but a vacation as well.

Los Angeles was selected to host CSBG VII, since David Harbatkin lived out there, and having the facilities was a convenient way to get the traveling tradition started. The following year, the game was held in Las Vegas, and was the first to be done without a host, and after much debate, became the first game to be played against non-Center Members. CSBG IX was originally supposed to be played in Austin, but after a lack of members who could make it there, the game was moved to Atlanta, where LeVar and Shana graciously, and generously hosted the game.

The Members in attendance for a Center Bowl become that year's Executive Committee, and vote for the location of the following Center Bowl. Though the vote is officially won by a majority, much debate takes place to try to get the Committee to be unanimous as they have been since Atlanta, when they chose Miami, San Francisco, New Orleans, and now an attempted return to the original planned host site of CSBG IX, Austin, Texas.

Over the course of its history, the game went from a small College gathering, to a multi-city event. The gatherings have been large and small. It has survived graduation, relocation of Members and the game. It has adjusted to the challenges its faced. And, because of this, the tradition is alive and well to enjoy and, and it will hopefully be around as long as Super Bowls are being played.