2006 INDEPENDENCE BOWL
HALL OF HONOR INDUCTEES ANNOUNCED

May 8, 2006

Shreveport, La. -- Gerry DiNardo, Alan Faneca, and Deuce McAllister have been named as inductees for the 2006 Independence Bowl Hall of Honor event to be held June 19, it was announced by the Independence Bowl Foundation on Monday.

This year’s event begins with the Hall of Honor Golf Classic on Monday, June 19 at Southern Trace Country Club, beginning at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start. The induction reception will be held that same evening at 6 p.m.
The Independence Bowl Hall of Honor is comprised of players and coaches who have exemplified positive character both on and off the field, and who participated in the Independence Bowl at some point in the game’s history. The first class of inductees was honored in 1996.

DiNardo led LSU to a pair of victories in the Independence Bowl, as the Tigers defeated Michigan State in 1995 and Notre Dame in 1997. He finished with a 32-24-1 record in five seasons at LSU. He also served as head coach at both Vanderbilt and Indiana during his career.

Faneca, who helped guide the Pittsburgh Steelers to a victory in Super Bowl XL this past season, was a three-year starter at LSU from 1995-97. Faneca, who was coached all three years at LSU by DiNardo, earned All-America honors from five different organizations in 1997 and played in both of the Tigers’ Independence Bowl appearances. He earned his fourth-consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl this past season at left guard.

McAllister, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, is entering his sixth season with the New Orleans Saints. McAllister was a three-time All-Southeastern Conference selection at Ole Miss from 1997-2000. He led the Rebels to two victories in the Independence Bowl, as Ole Miss defeated Texas Tech by a score of 35-18 in the 1998 game, and then edged Oklahoma, 27-25, in the 1999 contest. McAllister rushed for a total of 204 yards and scored five touchdowns in his two appearances in Shreveport.

Tickets for the reception and spots in the Golf Classic are available by calling the Independence Bowl office at 221-0712 or toll free 888-414-BOWL. Anyone interested in these events can also stop by the bowl office located at 401 Market Street, Suite 120 in the American Tower in downtown Shreveport, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The tournament entry fee is $125 per player, which includes entry fee, greens fee, cart fee, golf shirt, ticket to the Hall of Honor reception, lunch buffet, as well as soft drinks and beer provided on the course. Tickets for the reception are available for $15 and can be purchased through the bowl office. The public is invited to participate in these events.

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