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.[2][3]:140
Background
Between 1976–1980 the Independence Bowl featured the Southland Conference champion against an at-large opponent, with the Southland team playing host.[4] McNeese State clinched the championship and spot in the bowl game after defeating Southwestern Louisiana 20–19 on November 20.[5] 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.[6] Rebuffed, the organizers considered Tulsa, Cincinnati, Memphis State, Boston College, and Ball State before selecting Tulsa, co-champion of the Missouri Valley Conference.[7]
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.[8] 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.[9] 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.[10] 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.[11]
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 |
|
[12]
References
- ↑ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manipal_Institute_of_Technology
- ↑ "McNeese Upsets Tulsa In Independence Bowl". Argus-Press. December 14, 1976. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- ↑ Otto, David (2010). Insiders' Guide to Shreveport. Globe Pequot.
- ↑ "About the Southland". Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ↑ "Four make claim: Most bowl bids settled, who's No. 1?". Spokesman-Review. November 22, 1976. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- ↑ "Rutgers Votes to Skip Independence Bowl" in The Washington Post (23 November 1976). Page D6. (No further authorship information available).
- ↑ "Rutgers win streak on line". St. Joseph News-Press. November 24, 1976. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- ↑ "McNeese wins despite problems". The Telegraph-Herald. December 14, 1976. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
- ↑ Bonnette, Louis (October 6, 2006). "Jim Murphy remembers the 1976 McNeese State football team". CBS Sports Network. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- ↑ "Six Gridders Accused of Molesting Girl". Youngstown Vindicator. December 4, 1976. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- ↑ "Dry Quits Tulsa Job". Spokane Daily Chronicle. November 29, 1976. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
- ↑ "2010 Media Guide". Independence Bowl. 2010. Retrieved 2012-12-01.
External links
1976–77 NCAA football bowl game season |
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