The Turkey Bowl is a beloved Thanksgiving tradition for many families and friend groups across America. But what exactly is this quirky event all about? Let’s take a closer look at the history, rules, and enjoyment of the classic Turkey Bowl game.
A Brief History of the Turkey Bowl
The exact origins of the Turkey Bowl are unknown, but it’s believed to have become popular in the 1920s. Back then, giving away a live turkey was a common prize for winning bowling tournaments around Thanksgiving time. This led to an informal tradition of people bowling with frozen turkeys as a fun holiday activity.
By the 1950s, Turkey Bowls emerged as more organized backyard football games, often played for bragging rights or small wagers like desserts. The term “Turkey Bowl” became widely used to describe any informal American football game played over the Thanksgiving weekend.
What Are the Rules of a Turkey Bowl?
There are no official Turkey Bowl rules, so each group can determine their own variations. But most Turkey Bowls have some common elements:
- Played with a rubber or Nerf football to limit injuries
- Touch football or two-hand tag rules for safety
- No protective gear – just fun backyard clothing
- Between 2-10 players per team
- Shortened field, often the host’s backyard
- Casual scoring, no strict scorekeeping
- Played for fun and bragging rights
The laidback nature and homemade rules are all part of the Turkey Bowl’s goofy charm Some games last an hour or more as people rotate in and out
Why Do People Love Turkey Bowls?
For many families and friend groups, the Turkey Bowl is just as much a part of Thanksgiving as the turkey itself. There are several reasons this quirky tradition is so popular:
- Provides fresh air, exercise, and friendly competition as a break between big meals
- An excuse to get together with loved ones for silly fun and making memories
- Requires minimal equipment and accommodates varying athletic abilities
- Allows creative homemade rules and new traditions
- Unites multiple generations – kids, parents, grandparents
- Fosters community, bonding, and connection through play
Memorable Turkey Bowl Moments
The wacky, freewheeling nature of Turkey Bowls lends itself to hilarious memories being made each year. Some classic Turkey Bowl moments include:
- That time Uncle Mike threw six consecutive interceptions.
- When Aunt Carol “accidentally” deflated the game ball after her team fell behind.
- The referee’s questionable calls that always seem to favor his kids.
- Players creatively using backyard objects like pools and swing sets in play.
- Epic touchdown celebrations in the end zone (often exaggerated!).
Turkey Bowls create lasting memories and bring out everyone’s playful side. The games get boisterous and silly making for a fun shared experience.
How Can You Join the Fun?
If you’ve never participated in a Turkey Bowl before, look for opportunities to join in the fun this year! Speak to family members, neighbors or friends to see if any Turkey Bowls are happening nearby that need extra players.
Suggest organizing a casual game yourself and invite people over. All you need is an open yard a football, and a fun attitude. Provide snacks hot cider, and make it a potluck affair.
Many communities and recreation centers also host local Turkey Bowl tournaments and pick-up games open to the public on Thanksgiving morning. Don’t miss out on this classic American tradition – make this the year you finally play in a Turkey Bowl!
Turkey Bowl FAQs
What’s the best football to use?
A foam rubber or Nerf football works great since it’s soft and less prone to injuries or damage. Avoid using a fully inflated leather football.
How many players should each team have?
Good Turkey Bowl team sizes are 4-8 players each. 10 per team is typically the maximum before it’s too crowded. Play with whatever numbers work for your space.
What if we don’t have a big yard?
Consider a local park, activity center, or other open space if your backyard is too small. Turkey Bowls can adapt to any modest grass or paved area.
Should we keep score?
Keeping score is optional depending on how competitive the group wants to be. Often the games are played just for fun without strict scoring.
What if there are kids and adults playing together?
Adjust any safety rules as needed to accommodate kids. Adult versus kid matchups add to the fun and memories. Keep it lighthearted!
So grab your friends, family, and foam football – it’s time to give the Turkey Bowl a try! This quirky and casual Thanksgiving tradition brings people together through play, fresh air, and friendly competition. Make this the year you finally join in the Turkey Bowl fun!
Turkey Bowl 100 in the NewsYour web browser does not support the tag.
Fordham Prep leads the overall series 55-41-4. *Note that in November 2020, the two schools did not meet on the field due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fordham Prep was victorious in the first ever Virtual Turkey Bowl.
During the 1800s, Fordham Preparatory School was officially known as the Second Division of St. John’s College, Fordham’s original name. The school would only begin to be called Fordham Prep in the early 1900s — first as a nickname, and ultimately as our official title. Neither the College nor Prep teams were yet known as the Rams. In fact, the first instance of the word ram in Prep history does not occur until 1906. During the 19th century, the various Second Division teams had a series of colorful names. At first, our varsity squads were known as The Live Oaks. By 1862, Prep varsity would be styled The Invincibles. Maroon, however, was already proudly our school color at the time, and had been since 1874. Go Fordham Prep! Go Rams! Go Invincibles! Go Maroon!
The first recorded Turkey Bowl took place on November 27, 1887, as chronicled in a Fordham Monthly article: “The Xaviers came up on Sunday, November 27th, and played a good game. It grew dark before either team scored a single point.” The author of the piece was David Arellano, Class of 1887, one of our Central American boarding students and a truly fascinating figure in school history, who, incidentally, had been a pitcher for our baseball team – not a footballer. He was still at Rose Hill, but in St. Johns First Division, or Fordham College, when he wrote the article.
While there are earlier Fordham-Xavier football games on record, those games were between the college-level teams, not the high schoolers. (Xavier originally had a college division, as well.) And while Prep football had existed embryonically for a few seasons before 1887, our boys either played against each other, or served as practice squads for the College’s team. Therefore, Fordham Prep also looks to November 27, 1887 as the official launch of our district formal interscholastic football program. In other words, that first legendary “Turkey Bowl” — called on account of darkness — was also our first official football game.
The 1887 game was not held on Thanksgiving itself, but rather, as part of the long holiday weekend. Other early “Turkey Bowls” were also not played on Thanksgiving proper, but at some point over the holiday weekend, or on other long fall holiday weekends. Recall that while Thanksgiving had long been part of the American story, the holiday in its modern iteration as a national observance had only been ushered in by President Lincoln some decades earlier. And so, during these days, other fall celebrations, like Election Day, for instance, were still marked by parades, bonfires, and other festivities that we would associate with Thanksgiving. Some early Prep-Xavier gridiron match-ups would be held on these weekends, as well. As American-style football was still a new sport, it is worth noting that the Prep team did not have official football uniforms, yet. Instead, they were wearing the baseball’s team’s uniforms off-season. As reported after football season in the Monthly, “There has been some talk lately of getting genuine football suits for our eleven. The game is somewhat wearing on the baseball jerseys.”
1887: TIE 0-0 (Called on account of darkness)
1905: Fordham Prep 32- 0
1907: Fordham Prep 61- 0
1908: Fordham Prep 61- 0
1927: Fordham Prep 12- 6
1928: Fordham Prep 19- 6
1929: Xavier 19-13
1930: Xavier 25- 6
1931: Fordham Prep 12- 6
1932: TIE 7- 7
1933: Fordham Prep 13- 0
1934: Fordham Prep 26-13
1935: Xavier 20-13
1936: Xavier 6- 0
1937: Fordham Prep 19-12
1938: Fordham Prep 13-12
1939: Fordham Prep 13- 0
1940: Fordham Prep 7- 0
1941: Xavier 9- 6
1942: Fordham Prep 8- 6
1943: Fordham Prep 19-18
1944: Fordham Prep 12- 0
1945: Xavier 7- 6
1946: Fordham Prep 13- 6
1947: Xavier 13- 8
1948: Xavier 9- 7
1949: Fordham Prep 31-20
1950: Xavier 60- 6
1951: Xavier 32-12
1952: Xavier 6- 0
1953: Xavier 20- 6
1954: Fordham Prep 18-12
1955: Xavier 20- 6
1956: Fordham Prep 14-13
1957: Fordham Prep 14- 6
1958: Fordham Prep 7- 6
1959: Xavier 14- 8
1960: TIE 14-14
1961: Fordham Prep 19-18
1962: Fordham Prep 24- 0
1963: Xavier 14- 0
1964: Xavier 39-20
1965: Xavier 19- 0
1966: Xavier 13- 0
1967: Fordham Prep 19- 0
1968: Xavier 32- 0
1969: Fordham Prep 12- 8
1970: Xavier 22-21
1971: Fordham Prep 21-12
1972: Fordham Prep 29- 0
1973: Fordham Prep 21- 0
1974: Xavier 54- 6
1975: TIE 0- 0
1976: Xavier 40-30
1977: Fordham Prep 12- 6
1978: Fordham Prep 29-20
1979: Fordham Prep 28-12
1980: Xavier 34-12
1981: Xavier 30-22
1982: Fordham Prep 8- 3
1983: Xavier 18- 7
1984: Xavier 12- 7
1985: Xavier 30- 0
1986: Xavier 26-14
1987: Fordham Prep 36-16
1988: Xavier 18-17
1989: Xavier 14-12
1990: Fordham Prep 30-15
1991: Xavier 24-13
1992: Fordham Prep 24-14
1993: Fordham Prep 40-12
1994: Fordham Prep 32-14
1995: Fordham Prep 15-14
1996: Xavier 14-13
1997: Fordham Prep 28- 7
1998: Fordham Prep 12- 6
1999: Xavier 37-16
2000: Fordham Prep 26- 6
2001: Fordham Prep 28- 7
2002: Fordham Prep 34-14
2003: Fordham Prep 28- 0
2004: Fordham Prep 32- 7
2005: Fordham Prep 44-13
2006: Xavier 28-14
2007: Xavier 20-14
2008: Fordham Prep 41-28
2009: Xavier 35-27
2010: Fordham Prep 17- 7
2011: Fordham Prep 15-7
2012: Xavier 38-21
2013: Xavier 33-0
2014: Xavier 35-34
2015: Xavier 15-13
2016: Fordham Prep 21-18
2017: Fordham Prep 28-0
2018: Fordham Prep 21-13
2019: Xavier 40-14
*2020: Fordham Prep 21-14 (First ever “virtual” Turkey Bowl)
2021: Fordham Prep 27-13
2022: Fordham Prep 41-25
2023: Fordham Prep 21-14
First played in 1887 between the then Second Division of St. Johns College (Fordham Preps original name) and Xavier High School, the Turkey Bowl is one of the oldest high school football rivalries in the United States.
Sports Illustrated and USA Today have highlighted the game as one of the premier Thanksgiving Day games in high school football in the country. The Turkey Bowl is the oldest inter-scholastic athletic rivalry in all of New York City. The New York Post called it one of the “cant miss” events in New York City high school sports.