This Year’s Wyoming Shrine Bowl Will Be Fascinating

For some, it will be the last time they strap on a helmet and pads, then take the football field as a player. For others, it's just the last step of their high school football career, and they'll head to college to play. Either way, Wyoming's high school football all-stars will give it all they've got on Saturday, June 8, in Casper at the 51st Annual Wyoming Shrine Bowl. 

The Shrine Bowl isn't just a game played on Saturday. It's a whole week of character, leadership, and life-skill building for everyone involved. The teams arrive on Sunday, June 2, practice all week, visit with Shriner kids, intrasquad activities, media days, banquets, parades, and THEN the game.

One of the best parts of being selected to play in the game is meeting with patients of Shriner's Hospital For Children. On Monday of Shrine Bowl Week, the teams will get a chance to learn why this game is important for them and how it benefits the kids, parents, staff, and supporters of Shriners. With hospital and clinic locations throughout the United States, the Wyoming Shrine Bowl has been helping the Salt Lake City, UT, location take care of kids. Normally, the players will load up on buses and head to Salt Lake to visit the kids, but this year, the kids are coming to meet the players at the Shrine Club in Casper.

The rosters were announced earlier this spring and hand-picked by the North and South coaches. Shrine Bowl Executive Director Frank Selby announced the coaching staff early in the year to allow them enough time to pick their rosters.

At the end of the football season the head coach for each school is sent a form to nominate any player from his team who will have graduated prior to playing in the game that he feels is of sufficient quality and worthy of being considered for the next years Shrine Bowl All Star Team. The game to be played in June of the following year.

 

These nomination forms are then given to the head coaches that have been chosen to represent the North or South Shrine teams. The head coach and his staff will have the sole responsibility for selection of participants.

The Shrine Bowl was held at Kelly Walsh last year but will return to Natrona County High School's Cheney Alumni Field this year. The South team won 27-24 last year, but the North leads the all-time series 26-20-3.

John Bozis, Director of Football Operations for the Shrine Bowl, says gameday will be great. It starts with a parade and tailgate at noon. The tailgate will have food for purchase and opportunities to buy 2024 Wyoming Shrine Bowl gear. Then, get ready for the Kickoff, which will be on Saturday, June 8, at NCHS at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for ages 10 - 16, and free for kids 9 and under. Halftime this year will feature a 50-year reunion of the second Shrine Bowl teams and the Home Scott Awards.