Benning, CSU to square off in annual Doughboy Bowl

Fort Benning’s and Columbus State University’s football clubs will square off Thursday in the annual Doughboy Bowl at Doughboy Memorial Stadium on Fort Benning.

Tailgating activities start at 3 p.m. followed by Silver Wings Parachute Exhibition Team delivering the game ball at 5:30 and kickoff at 6.

Half-time entertainment will include the MCoE Band and the CSU dance team. A kids' activity area will include inflatable bounce houses, crafts and games.

This is a free event and open to the public. Refreshments will be available for purchase. Guest who do not have a military ID should use the Benning Road gate for easy access. There is no need to stop for a visitor's pass.

Event sponsors are CB&T, First Command, Wells Fargo, Columbus Kia Autosport, USAA and Omni Financial!)

Fort Benning Soldiers built Doughboy Memorial Stadium as a memorial to American Infantrymen killed in World War I. It was funded by contributions from Soldiers around the world. The word "Doughboy" was a slang term used for Infantrymen during World War I.

The dedication of Doughboy Stadium was celebrated on Oct. 17, 1925 with a game between the Blue Tide of Fort Benning and a team from Oglethorpe University out of Atlanta before a crowd of 9,000. Fort Benning won 27-6. Dwight D. Eisenhower, who earned five stars before becoming president of the United States, helped coach the Doughboys to an all-Army championship the following year.

Perhaps the greatest of all the Doughboy teams was the 1962 undefeated squad, led by Pat Dye, future coach of Auburn.

This story was originally published October 19, 2016 at 2:13 PM with the headline "Benning, CSU to square off in annual Doughboy Bowl."