The 1976 Independence Bowl was a post-season college football bowl game between the Tulsa Golden Hurricane and the McNeese State Cowboys on December 13, 1976 at State Fair Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. McNeese State upset a heavily favored Tulsa 20–16. This was the first-ever edition of the Independence Bowl, which drew its name from the ongoing celebrations of the United States Bicentennial.[1][2]:140
Background
Between 1976–1980 the Independence Bowl featured the Southland Conference champion against an at-large opponent, with the Southland team playing host.[3] McNeese State clinched the championship and spot in the bowl game after defeating Southwestern Louisiana 20–19 on November 20.[4] For the at-large opponent the bowl organizers initially pursued Rutgers, which was then 10–0 and would finish the season undefeated. Rutgers declined the invitation, feeling snubbed by more prestigious bowls.[5] Rebuffed, the organizers considered Tulsa, Cincinnati, Memphis State, Boston College, and Ball State before selecting Tulsa, co-champion of the Missouri Valley Conference.[6]
Prior to the game, coverage favored Tulsa over McNeese State due in large part to sixteen of McNeese State's players being unable to play in the bowl.[7] Ten players were declared ineligible because they had redshirted in their freshman year and were thus fifth-year seniors. At the time, NCAA rules prohibited such players from participating in postseason play. Six more players were suspended from the team for violating team and school rules.[8] The players were accused of having a girl in their dormitory room, which McNeese State then prohibited. Some newspaper accounts alleged that "sexual molestation" had occurred.[9] Even before the game was played F. A. Dry, Tulsa's head coach, had accepted the head coaching job at TCU, though he stayed on at Tulsa for the bowl game.[10]
Scoring summary
| Scoring summary |
| Quarter |
Time |
Drive |
Team |
Scoring information |
Score |
| Plays |
Yards |
TOP |
Golden Hurricane |
Cowboys |
| 1 |
|
|
|
|
Golden Hurricane |
Thomas Bailey 1-yard touchdown run, Steve Cox kick good |
7 |
0 |
| 1 |
|
|
|
|
Cowboys |
42-yard field goal by Jan Peebles |
7 |
3 |
| 2 |
|
|
|
|
Cowboys |
34-yard field goal by Jan Peebles |
7 |
6 |
| 3 |
|
|
|
|
Cowboys |
Mike McArthur 1-yard touchdown run, 2-point run good |
7 |
14 |
| 3 |
|
|
|
|
Golden Hurricane |
Mel McGowen 65-yard blocked field goal returned for touchdown, kick no good (blocked) |
13 |
14 |
| 4 |
|
|
|
|
Golden Hurricane |
38-yard field goal by Steve Cox |
16 |
14 |
| 4 |
|
|
|
|
Cowboys |
Oliver Hadnot 25-yard touchdown run, 2-point pass incomplete |
16 |
20 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. |
16 |
20 |
|
[11]
References
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "Rutgers Votes to Skip Independence Bowl" in The Washington Post (23 November 1976). Page D6. (No further authorship information available).
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
