Independence Bowl in play...

[orangeandbrown]

SHREVEPORT, La. When L-S-U knocked Arkansas out of bowl contention, officials with the Independence Bowl started to worry whether they'd be able to feature a Southeastern Conference team this year.
Arkansas' 43-to-14 loss to L-S-U yesterday (Friday) left the Razorbacks at 5-and-6, a victory short of what they needed to become bowl eligible. It also left the S-E-C with too few winning teams to fulfill all of its bowl tie-ins.

That means the best chance the Independence Bowl has to land an S-E-C squad is to hope Alabama chooses Shreveport over a possible bid to the Music City Bowl in Nashville, Tennessee.

Independence Bowl officials have told Alabama they want a decision soon so they can move on to other teams if the Crimson Tide opts elsewhere.

If Alabama decides against Shreveport, the Independence Bowl's next likely options would include Syracuse, Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, Troy, or Southern Miss, according to Executive Director Glen Krupica.

The Independence Bowl also has been looking at Pittsburgh, but Boston College's loss to Syracuse today handed Pitt a share of the Big East title, meaning the Panthers could end up in the Bowl Championship Series if they beat South Florida next week.