2008 Independence Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 2008 Independence Bowl
marked the thirty-third edition of the college football
bowl game
, and was played at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana
. The game was contested starting on Sunday, December 28, 2008
, with a 7:15 PM US CST kickoff, telecast on ESPN
. the contest pitted the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
against the Northern Illinois Huskies
. Both Louisiana Tech and Northern Illinois were chosen because both of the contracted conferences - the Big 12
and the SEC
- 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 stemming from the 2008 economic 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).
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....
marked the thirty-third edition of the college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
, and was played at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana
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....
. The game was contested starting on Sunday, December 28, 2008
2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on August 28, 2008, progressing through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game in Miami Gardens, Florida on January 8, 2009, where the #2...
, with a 7:15 PM US CST kickoff, telecast on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. the contest pitted the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
2008 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team
The 2008 Louisiana Tech Bulldogs football team represents Louisiana Tech University in the college football season of 2008. LA Tech competes in the Western Athletic Conference and plays their home games at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, LA. The team is coached by Derek Dooley, who is in his second...
against the Northern Illinois Huskies
2008 Northern Illinois Huskies football team
The 2008 Northern Illinois Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football during the 2008 season. Northern Illinois competed as a member of the West Division of the Mid-American...
. Both Louisiana Tech and Northern Illinois were chosen because both of the contracted conferences - the Big 12
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...
and the SEC
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...
- failed to produce enough bowl eligible teams as both had a pair of schools in the 2009 Bowl Championship Series
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
. Prior to the game, citing financial difficulties stemming from the 2008 economic crisis, PetroSun
PetroSun
PetroSun is an energy company specializing in oil and gas exploration and algae fuel. It headquarters are in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA....
pulled out as title sponsor.
Both participants were football-only members of the Big West Conference
Big West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
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
1990 Independence Bowl
Maryland and played to the only tie in I-Bowl history as the Terrapins used a 14-6 fourth-quarter scoring advantage to tie. Tech running back Michael Richardson rushed for 81 yards and two touchdowns to earn offensive outstanding player honors...
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
1977 Independence Bowl
The 1977 Independence Bowl featured the Louisville Cardinals and the Southland Conference champion Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Louisville struck first on a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown by Kevin Miller in the first quarter. Louisiana Tech answered with a 1-yard touchdown run by Lewis to tie the...
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
| Scoring Play | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Quarter | |||
| NIU - Kyle Skarb 8 yard TD pass from Chandler Harnish (Mike Salerno kick), 1:56 | NIU 7-0 | ||
| LT - Phillip Livas 97 yard kickoff return (Brad Oestriecher kick), 1:43 | Tie 7-7 | ||
| 2nd Quarter | |||
| LT - Daniel Porter 11 yard TD run (Oestriecher kick), 13:40 | LT 14-7 | ||
| 3rd Quarter | |||
| LT - Oestriecher 30 yard FG, 11:54 | LT 17-7 | ||
| NIU - Salerno 20 yard FG, 7:31 | LT 17-10 | ||