The Clinic Bowl, A Nashville Tradition

by Debie Oeser Cox

The research for this article was inspired by Barry Chamberlain.  He posted a question on the I Remember Nashville When Facebook Group, asking where he might find information about history of  the Clinic Bowl.

The first Clinic Bowl was held on Thanksgiving Day in 1947, between Litton and MBA. Litton won 32 - 20. The game was attended by 12,000 fans. It was sponsored by the American Legion with a goal of raising money to establish and fund a child guidance clinic to deal with behavior and mental health problems.  This game was touted as the first annual bowl game but it was not played again.  

In 1950, the Clinic Bowl was billed as the first annual Thanksgiving Day game, to raise money for the physical therapy clinic at Vanderbilt Hospital.  The 1950 Clinic Bowl was co-sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce, the Nashville Interscholastic League, and the Mid-State Football Officials Association. In subsequent years the JCC continued their sponsorship along with NIL.  A slogan was adopted for the Clinic Bowl program that would soften any heart. "Strong legs run, so weak legs can walk."  East High triumphed over MBA, 26 to 6 in the 1950 game.

The Tennessean November 12, 1957

Through 1955 two top Nashville teams were chosen to play in the bowl.  In 1956, a change was made to match Nashville's top team with the best team in the Mid-State. These teams were chosen from those not in playoff games. The Clinic Bowl continued much the same through 1970 with most of the ticket sale proceeds going to the Vanderbilt Clinic.   

In the early 1970's the Clinic Bowl became associated with the TSSAA.  In 1972 the longstanding tradition of playing on Thanksgiving afternoon was ended.  Instead, the game was scheduled on the Friday before Thanksgiving.  The Clinic Bowl became the Class AAA Region 3 playoff game. The winning team advanced in the state playoffs. Part of the ticket sale income went to TSSAA. The Junior Chamber of Commerce continued to donate the portion they received to the Vanderbilt Physical Therapy Dept.  
 

The Clinic Bowl became the state championship playoff final in the early 80's with multiple classes playing on the same day at Dudley Field. The game had not been held on Thanksgiving afternoon for ten years. The hometown thrill of watching Nashville and Middle Tennessee teams play was lost.  The Clinic Bowl continued to be played but it was never the same again. The Junior Chamber of Commerce raised about one million dollars for Vanderbilt's Physical Therapy Department during the years of sponsorship for the Clinic Bowl. Nashville and Middle Tennessee high school football fans and players, have many fond memories of football at Dudley Field on Thanksgiving Day.

Clinic Bowl Teams and Scores 1947 through 1980.

Year	Team & Score	Team & Score
1947	Litton 32	MBA 20
1950	East 26	MBA 6
1951	East 24	West 6
1952	Litton 19	Father Ryan 12
1953	Dupont 21	Litton 20
1954	Litton 20	MBA 20
1955	MBA26	Litton 7
1956	MBA 0	Springfield 0
1957	Springfield 0	Hillsboro 0
1958	Litton 20	Murfreesboro 14
1959	Father Ryan 26	Lawrenceburg 0
1960	BGA 13	Litton 0
1961	BGA 18	Father Ryan 6
1962	Chattanooga Brainard 13	Madison 7
1963	Father Ryan 14	Murfreesboro 12
1964	Glencliff 7	Lawrenceburg 7
1965	Donelson 26	Lebanon  0
1966	MBA 21	Litton 0
1967	MBA 20	Stratford 0
1968	MBA 35	Gallatin 7
1969	Pearl 6	Maplewood 0
1970	MBA 26	Two Rivers 6
1971	Maplewood 16	Mufreesboro  8
1971	Gallatin  7	Father Ryan 7
1972	Overton  14	Pearl  0
1973	Overton 35	McGAvock  0
1974	Father Ryan  28	Maplewood 26
1975	Maplewood 29	Lawrenceburg 0
1976	Gallatin  31	Maplewood 13
1977	Father Ryan  16	Gallatin 4
1978	Gallatin 14	Maplewood 13
1979	Gallatin  24	MBA 7
1980	Gallatin  24	Father Ryan 17