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2008 Independence Bowl


FieldValue
year_game_played2008
game_nameIndependence Bowl
captionIndependence Bowl logo
football_season2008
visitor_name_shortLouisiana Tech
visitor_nicknameBulldogs
visitor_schoolLouisiana Tech University
home_name_shortNorthern Illinois
home_nicknameHuskies
home_schoolNorthern Illinois University
visitor_record7–5
visitor_conferenceWAC
home_record6–6
home_conferenceMAC
visitor_coachDerek Dooley
home_coachJerry Kill
visitor_1q7
visitor_2q7
visitor_3q3
visitor_4q0
home_1q7
home_2q0
home_3q3
home_4q0
date_game_playedDecember 28
stadiumIndependence Stadium
cityShreveport, Louisiana
MVPWR/KR Phillip Livas, La. Tech (Offensive)
CB Weldon Brown, La. Tech (Defensive)
refereeDavid Epperley (C-USA)
attendance41,567
payout1,650,000
us_networkESPN
us_announcers_linkList of announcers of major college bowl games
us_announcersPam Ward, Ray Bentley
ratings1.00

CB Weldon Brown, La. Tech (Defensive)

The 2008 Independence Bowl marked the thirty-third edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Game summary

The game was contested starting on Sunday, December 28, 2008, with a 7:15 p.m. CST kickoff, telecast on ESPN. the contest pitted the 2008 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team against the 2008 Northern Illinois Huskies football team. Both Louisiana Tech and Northern Illinois were chosen because both of the contracted conferences – the Big 12 Conference and the Southeastern Conference – failed to produce enough bowl eligible teams as both had a pair of schools in the 2009 Bowl Championship Series. Prior to the game, citing financial difficulties due to the 2008 financial crisis, PetroSun pulled out as title sponsor.

Both participants were football-only members of the Big West Conference in the mid-1990s. This was the 7th football game between Louisiana Tech and Northern Illinois and the first since 1996. Tech now holds a 6–1 edge over Northern Illinois.

The game was Louisiana Tech's 4th appearance in the Independence Bowl and the first appearance since 1990 when Tech tied Maryland 34–34. The Bulldogs now hold an overall record of 2–1–1 in the Independence Bowl. The victory over Northern Illinois marked the first bowl game victory by the Bulldogs since their 1977 Independence Bowl victory over Louisville.

This was Northern Illinois' 1st appearance in the Independence Bowl and the 4th overall appearance in Division I FBS Bowl Games. Their previous appearances in bowl games include the 1983 California Bowl (20–13 victory over Cal State-Fullerton), 2004 Silicon Valley Classic (34–21 victory over Troy), and 2006 Poinsettia Bowl (37–7 loss to TCU).

Scoring summary

Statistics

StatisticsLouisiana Tech Bulldogs}}"La. TechNorthern Illinois Huskies}}"NIU
First Downs1217
Total offense, yards236339
Rushes-yards (net)31–9231–153
Passing yards (net)144186
Passes, Comp-Att-Int12–27–020–41–2
Time of possession26:4833:12
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs}}; text-align:center"**La. Tech**PassingRoss Jenkins12/27, 144 yds
RushingDaniel Porter18 car, 78 yds, 1 TD
ReceivingPatrick Jackson1 rec, 34 yds
Northern Illinois Huskies}}; text-align:center"**NIU**PassingChandler Harnish20/40, 186 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
RushingChad Spann14 car, 79 yds
ReceivingMatt Simon6 rec, 44 yds

References

References

  1. [http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/bowls/independence Independence Bowl Louisiana Tech vs. Northern Illinois] {{Webarchive. link. (2008-12-18 CBS Sportsline)
  2. Watson, Graham. "Independence Bowl: Louisiana Tech (7–5) vs. Northern Illinois (6–6)".
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