2006 Independence Bowl Set For
December 27, With 3:30 p.m. Kickoff

April 13, 2006

Shreveport, La. – The 2006 Independence Bowl will kickoff at 3:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Dec. 27 from Independence Stadium, Independence Bowl officials announced on Wednesday after receiving confirmation from officials at ESPN, the bowl’s long-time television partner.

“We’re excited to have our game date and time set,” said 2006 Independence Bowl Chairwoman Markey Pierre. “Our 2001 game between Alabama and Iowa State, and the 2002 game between Ole Miss and Nebraska were both on December 27 and gave us great matchups. This date also presents an excellent opportunity for our hospitality partners.

ESPN will televise the game to a national audience for the 15th-consecutive year, and the bowl will be held on Dec. 27 for the third time in the game’s history. Last year’s game, a thriller won by Missouri 38-31 over South Carolina, garnered a 2.75 TV rating, ranking it sixth out of 20 bowl games carried on ESPN, and 11th among all bowl games.

"We are looking forward to our 15th Independence Bowl telecast with great anticipation. The SEC and Big 12 have provided us with many terrific games and we are looking forward to another one in 2006. Shreveport and the Ark-La-Tex region is a great area for college football and our ESPN College Football team looks forward to returning every year."

The 2001 game between Alabama and Iowa State was one of two past Independence bowl’s to be played on Dec. 27, won by the Crimson Tide, 14-13. The other occurrence was the following season when Ole Miss defeated Nebraska by a score of 27-23. The crowds at each game exceeded 45,000 including 46,096 for the Rebels’ win over the Cornhuskers in 2002.

The total team payout for the Independence Bowl has been in excess of $2 million every year since 1998, and is widely-regarded as one of the nation’s most competitive and exciting bowl games, evidenced by six of the last seven games being decided by a total of 20 points. The game also pits two of the country’s elite conferences, the Big 12 and Southeastern Conference, against one another.

The Independence Bowl recently extended its partnership with both conferences through 2009, making it one of just three bowl games to feature a Big 12-SEC matchup.

Ticket renewals for the 2006 game have been mailed out and new ticket orders are currently being accepted. The deadline for renewals, and payment on renewals is April 28. Those interested in ticket information can call the Bowl office at 318.221.0712 or toll free at 888.414.BOWL (2695) and can also visit the bowl’s official web site at www.independencebowl.org.

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