BUZZARDS BAY, Mass -- Throughout the Buccaneer athletic programs there are a number of rivalries and in-season tournaments played for bragging rights in both men's and women's sports. For the Buccaneer football team there are three trophies that the Bucs play for each year. 

One of the younger rivalries for the Buccaneer football program is the Chowder Bowl played annually against the SUNY Maritime College Privateers. The rivalry that began between the two Maritime institutions in 2007 is one of the most anticipated games on the schedule every season in Buzzards Bay as it is always the first on the calendar for the Bucs. The game is most often played on the Friday night following Labor Day at either Massachusetts or SUNY Maritime.

"Why the Chowder Bowl?" you may ask. Well, there are two ways clam chowder can be prepared, the right way or Manhattan style; and with the institutions being based in New England and New York City it is a fitting name for this series. 

Following each game the winner is presented with the Chowder Bowl trophy, which the Buccaneers hoisted in 2019 with a 31-14 victory over the Privateers at home. The trophy is pictured below being raised by the Buccaneers.

Head football coach Jeremy Cameron, entering his 16th year at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, said of the Chowder Bowl, "Every game is important and this one is no different, but this rivalry is special for our alumni and current players. We only play two non-conference games each season and this one against another Maritime Academy is great for everyone involved." He added, "As a program we use this game as a measuring stick for our team. The Maritime institutions have so many similarities on and off the field; we use this game to see where we're at as a team before our eight-game conference schedule. Playing for the Chowder Bowl makes it that much more important. Many of our former and current players will work or have worked with SUNY guys at some point in their professional career and can certainly always use this rivalry as an opportunity to brag about being a Buccaneer."

Though both programs have a long history the teams met for the first time ever in 2007 on Taylor's Point. The reason the teams did not meet before then is the SUNY football team was not an NCAA member until 2005. Since 2007, the Buccaneers and Privateers have met 12 times in 13 years with the only year off coming in 2011. The teams will not meet in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

All-time the Privateers lead the Chowder Bowl series 8-4. SUNY won the first matchup between the teams, 10-6, in Buzzards Bay and the Buccaneers have won the most recent meeting, 31-14, also in Buzzards Bay. The full rundown of the series is listed below.

Though the team will not meet in 2020 the Chowder Bowl will remain in the Clean Harbors Athletics Center until 2021 when the teams meet again the Friday after Labor Day in Buzzards Bay for the 14th installment of the Chowder Bowl rivalry. 

Be sure to follow the Massachusetts Maritime Buccaneers facebook page to watch the entire 2019 Chowder Bowl on Friday night at 7pm.