For nearly 60 years, one of the biggest and most popular football games in all of San Diego has been the Holy Bowl: Cathedral Catholic vs Saint Augustine. The cancellation of the game has strongly affected fans on both sides of the stands, including players, family, alumni, and the entire CCHS community. The whole game has been CCHS’s way to keep in touch with its alumni.

In an interview with Sean Doyle, Cathedral’s football coach of 40 years and an alumnus of CCHS, the disappointment is clear. “I think it’s terrible, really terrible. Not only for us, but for the alumni,” Doyle said. “This would have been the 60th year of this game being played. And it means something to everybody. It’s crazy that it’s not being played.”

“The Dons have been playing St. Augustine’s High School for the last 60 years. So it’s a huge rivalry.”

First played in 1966 at the Jack Murphy Stadium, the Holy Bowl was originally called the Charity Bowl. Coach Doyle recalls, “As an eighth grader, I went to the first Charity Bowl at the stadium with Bob Hope at halftime. Later, when I played in it myself, we never lost against Saints. There’s been so many great games with both teams winning — it’s just been a great rivalry.”

But why would Cathedral let this cancellation happen? According to Coach Doyle, this decision was out of Cathedral’s hands. He explains that once they confronted them, they did not give any details. Doyle adds that the CCHS team offered to completely shift their schedule and make any changes just so they could play Saints for the 60th anniversary, but Saints declined.

A unique and important voice on the cancellation, star quarterback Braden Palmer carries personal experience with the Holy Bowl. Palmer transferred from St. Augustine to Cathedral Catholic and has seen the Holy Bowl from both perspectives. Palmer notices the personal effect it’s had on him, “I’ve been the starting quarterback for both Saints and here. Playing in the game on both sides is something really special.” Palmer admitted that he was “super upset because I always look forward to beating on Saints.”

Chad Colden, a Spanish teacher, coach of the novice boys waterpolo team and alumnus of CCHS seems to remember the Holy Bowl dearly. When remembering the game during his high school career in the 1980s, he recalls that “the rivalry, it was a pretty big rivalry. It was a big deal.” For Colden, it wasn’t only about the game, but the tradition, community, and excitement. “I have real fond memories of it. It was fun.”

When asked about what this means for the alumni community, Colden admitted there’s some disappointment. “They’re pretty bummed about it. Like, why? Is the question,” he said, which makes the frustration surrounding the decision clear. Mr. Colden concludes how the alumni and community feel about the cancellation, “I don’t know, bummed, bummed, bummed. Such a great tradition in San Diego, and once again, the best football game in San Diego, the most attended by people, people look forward to that all year long to come back to that.”

Whether the Holy Bowl will be played next year or the year after is unknown. For now, players, alumni, and CCHS are left with memories of crushing Saints, last second wins, and the rivalry that has created one of CCHS’s most cherished traditions.