2006 Independence Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2006 PetroSun Independence Bowl
, part of the 2006–07 NCAA football bowl season, took place on December 28, 2006 at Independence Stadium in Shreveport
, Louisiana
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide
, representing the Southeastern Conference
, and the Oklahoma State Cowboys, from the Big 12 Conference
. Oklahoma State won the game, 34–31.
This was the only 2006–07 bowl game in which both teams finished 6-6 on the regular season, and the first meeting between the programs on the gridiron. With the dismissal of Alabama head coach Mike Shula
occurring in November, Joe Kines
would serve as the Tide's head coach for this contest, with Nick Saban
being hired as coach the following January.
played Oklahoma State
in the Independence Bowl
on December 28, 2006. The Cowboys scored first on a Dantrell Savage 1-yard touchdown run to lead 7–0. Alabama would respond later in the first on a Matt Caddell 18-yard touchdown reception from John Parker Wilson
to tie the game at 7–7. Oklahoma State would respond with 10 consecutive points on a Keith Toston
4-yard touchdown run and later on a 28-yard field goal by Jason Ricks to take a 17-7 lead. Alabama would respond with Tim Castille
1-yard touchdown run, only to have the Cowboys respond with a Keith Toston 7-yard touchdown run to take a 24-14 lead at the half.
After bring the score to 24-17 in the third on a 24-yard field goal by Jamie Christensen, Oklahoma State would respond with a Adarius Bowman
10-yard touchdown reception from Bobby Reid early in the fourth to extend their lead to 31–17. The Tide would respond with 14 straight points on an 86-yard punt return by Javier Arenas
and an Andre Smith 2-yard touchdown run to even the score at 31–31. The Cowboys would seal the victory with only 00:08 remaining in the game on a 27-yard, game-winning field goal by Jason Ricks. For the game, the Cowboys' 34 points and 419 yards were the most allowed by the Alabama defense for the 2006 season.
Independence Bowl
The Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
, part of the 2006–07 NCAA football bowl season, took place on December 28, 2006 at Independence Stadium in Shreveport
Shreveport, Louisiana
Shreveport is the third largest city in Louisiana. It is the principal city of the fourth largest metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana and is the 109th-largest city in the United States....
, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide
2006 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2006 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season trying to improve from a 10–2 record in the 2005 season. The Tide was led by head coach Mike Shula entering his fourth year at Alabama. Despite a strong 5–2 start, they...
, representing the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
, and the Oklahoma State Cowboys, from the Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
. Oklahoma State won the game, 34–31.
This was the only 2006–07 bowl game in which both teams finished 6-6 on the regular season, and the first meeting between the programs on the gridiron. With the dismissal of Alabama head coach Mike Shula
Mike Shula
Mike Shula is an American football quarterback coach for the Carolina Panthers, an NFL team. Between 2003 and 2006, he was the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football program.- Early life :...
occurring in November, Joe Kines
Joe Kines
-External links:...
would serve as the Tide's head coach for this contest, with Nick Saban
Nick Saban
Nicholas Lou "Nick" Saban is the head coach of the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football team. Saban has previously served as head coach of the National Football League's Miami Dolphins and three other NCAA universities: LSU, Michigan State and Toledo...
being hired as coach the following January.
Game summary
Alabama2006 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 2006 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 2006 NCAA Division I FBS football season trying to improve from a 10–2 record in the 2005 season. The Tide was led by head coach Mike Shula entering his fourth year at Alabama. Despite a strong 5–2 start, they...
played Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowboys football
The Oklahoma State Cowboys football program represents Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in college football. The team is a member of the Big 12 Conference and completes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Cowboys are led by Mike Gundy, who is in his seventh year as...
in the Independence Bowl
Independence Bowl
The Independence Bowl is a post-season NCAA-sanctioned Division I college football bowl game that is played annually at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, so named because it was inaugurated in the United States bicentennial year, 1976....
on December 28, 2006. The Cowboys scored first on a Dantrell Savage 1-yard touchdown run to lead 7–0. Alabama would respond later in the first on a Matt Caddell 18-yard touchdown reception from John Parker Wilson
John Parker Wilson
John Parker Wilson is an American football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. college football at the University of Alabama, he went undrafted during the 2009 NFL Draft, before signing with the Falcons as a free agent.-Freshman:After leading Hoover High School to...
to tie the game at 7–7. Oklahoma State would respond with 10 consecutive points on a Keith Toston
Keith Toston
-St. Louis Rams:Toston was signed by the Rams on April 25, 2010, and made the Rams opening-day roster in 2010. Toston spent the year as the Rams secondary back. He accumulated 54 yards on 19 carries in spot duty.-External links:* at St. Louis Rams official site...
4-yard touchdown run and later on a 28-yard field goal by Jason Ricks to take a 17-7 lead. Alabama would respond with Tim Castille
Tim Castille
Timothy Nehemiah Castille is an American football fullback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2007. He played college football at Alabama.-Arizona Cardinals:Castille was signed by the Arizona Cardinals as...
1-yard touchdown run, only to have the Cowboys respond with a Keith Toston 7-yard touchdown run to take a 24-14 lead at the half.
After bring the score to 24-17 in the third on a 24-yard field goal by Jamie Christensen, Oklahoma State would respond with a Adarius Bowman
Adarius Bowman
Adarius Bowman is an Canadian football wide receiver for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders as an undrafted free agent in 2008. Bowman was traded to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on April 1, 2009...
10-yard touchdown reception from Bobby Reid early in the fourth to extend their lead to 31–17. The Tide would respond with 14 straight points on an 86-yard punt return by Javier Arenas
Javier Arenas (American football)
Javier E. Arenas is an American football cornerback and return specialist for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League...
and an Andre Smith 2-yard touchdown run to even the score at 31–31. The Cowboys would seal the victory with only 00:08 remaining in the game on a 27-yard, game-winning field goal by Jason Ricks. For the game, the Cowboys' 34 points and 419 yards were the most allowed by the Alabama defense for the 2006 season.
Statistics
| Alabama | Oklahoma State | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Downs | 18 | 23 |
| Total Yards | 276 | 419 |
| Passing Yards | 168 | 212 |
| Rushing Yards | 108 | 207 |
| Penalties | 8-45 | 9-77 |
| 3rd Down Conversions | 9-16 | 5-13 |
| 4th Down Conversions | 0-0 | 2-2 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 2 |
| Time of Possession | 31:51 | 28:09 |
Alabama
- QB John Parker Wilson: 18/33, 168 yds, TD, Int
- RB Jimmy Johns: 7 rush, 39 yds
- WR D.J. Hall: 5 rec, 32 yds
Oklahoma State
- QB Bobby Reid: 15/29, 212 yds, TD, Int
- RB Dantrell Savage: 19 rush, 112 yds, TD
- WR Brandon Pettigrew: 4 rec, 65 yds