With a 31-24 win over Stony Brook, UND’s festive (and chilly) Potato Bowl USA came to a close this afternoon. It was my first Potato Bowl, and it won’t be my last. What with free french fries at the World’s Largest French Fry Feed, baked potato bars and chip giveaways all week, a parade, 8K, and, oh yeah, a football game, the week’s festivities were plenty fun.

That said, even after all that and reading the newspaper all week, I couldn’t really figure out exactly why the Potato Bowl was being celebrated. Sure, I get that potatoes are huge around Grand Forks, but why the week after homecoming? Why, um, Stony Brook? Why put it up against opening weekend of the hockey season? I guess the Potato Bowl is more about celebrating potatoes and the potato industry than the sports matchups. But I’m not complaining. I love potatoes.

There’s the absolutely true story in my family of the time in Scotland when I ordered some sort of meal that was to consist of five sides. So I carefully chose from a wide range of options on the generous menu: french fries, baked potato, boiled potatoes, hash brown casserole, and double-stuffed potato. I was young enough that I didn’t notice the trend. But I wasn’t too young to take advantage of the great opportunity to enjoy some delicious spuds.

Some pics below. They all mash up to be a spud-erful weekend of full baked fun.