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Independence Bowl and Oklahomans
Published: 12/28/2006 2:59 PM
Last Modified: 12/28/2006 2:59 PM


OU didn't lose much after 1999.
Stephen Holman/Tulsa World


Our state has a long history with the Independence Bowl and the game has often showcased teams on the way up.
Never was that more evident than when Oklahoma came to Shreveport in 1999 and lost to Ole Miss on a last-second field goal.
It would be nearly two years before the Sooners would lose again. They went unbeaten and won the national title in 2000. Then, it was late in the season in 2001 before Nebraska finally pinned another loss on OU.
That's not to say Oklahoma State is on the verge of something great. Every team is different.
Still, the Independence Bowl often pairs two teams perhaps headed in different directions.
Most believe Oklahoma State is on the verge of being a contender in the Big 12 Conference. The Cowboys have tons of playmakers and are full of optimism.
Alabama, by contrast, faces an uncertain future. It will have yet another new coach next fall the Tide play in the rugged Southeastern Conference.
When you play in the SEC, with so many national contenders, there's always a chance of being embarrassed unless you play at a very high level.
The Independence Bowl has showcased all three of our state teams.
Tulsa and Oklahoma State have both played here twice.
In fact, TU played in the first Independence Bowl in 1976. The Southland Conference was the host team in the bowl in the early years and Tulsa lost to McNeese in the first I-Bowl.
One of Tulsa's quarterbacks in that game was Dave Rader, who would later coach the Hurricane in the game.
Rader, who was Alabama's offensive coordinator in Thursday's I-Bowl, is in the Independence Bowl Hall-of-Fame.
Rader coached TU in a 27-24 loss to Oregon in the I-Bowl in 1989. TU led 24-17 going into the fourth quarter but the Ducks rallied for the victory.
Jimmy Johnson brought Oklahoma State to the Independence Bowl for the first time in 1981. The Cowboys lost to Texas A&M, 33-16.
The Independence Bowl has a strong base of fans in the Big 12 and SEC, the two leagues with a tie-in to the game. As a result, we can assume there will be more trips to Shreveport for Oklahomans.




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Klein's Korner

Tulsa World senior sports columnist John Klein is in his fourth decade of covering sports. He started his newspaper career at The Daily Ardmoreite in 1977 and moved to the Tulsa World in 1978. He served 10 years as sports editor for the Tulsa World before being named to his current position in 2005. He also spent five years as the Southwest Conference beat writer for the Houston Post. He has won many writing awards and is a former Oklahoma Sports Writer of the Year.

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