JULY 2024
TALKING BALL
CURRENT OR FORMER PAC-12 TEAM TO PLAY IN 2024 INDEPENDENCE BOWL
The Pac-12 tie-in will remain for the 2024 Bowl Season, as current Pac-12 and former Pac-12 teams will be eligible for selection by the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl.
“We appreciate the conferences and bowls all working together to bring this to fruition, as the best possible solution for everyone involved,” noted Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Executive Director Missy Setters. “We look forward to hosting one of these outstanding teams in our game on December 28, and once again showing them and their fans our southern hospitality.”
The Pac-12 worked alongside the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Big 12 Conference and Big Ten Conference to solidify affiliations with all of the Pac-12 bowl partners for 2024 and 2025 –including the 2024 Independence Bowl. Each of the Pac-12’s bowl partners will continue its agreed-upon selection process among current and former Pac-12 football teams.
The agreement will allow the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl to select from current Pac-12 teams – Oregon State and Washington State – and former Pac-12 teams – Arizona, Arizona State, California, Colorado, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah and Washington.
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IT'S TIME TO RENEW YOUR TICKETS FOR THE 2024 INDEPENDENCE BOWL!
Ticket renewals have been sent out, and it is time to renew your seats for the 2024 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl!
To secure your seats for this year's game, tickets must be renewed by July 31 .
Public tickets will go on sale in mid-August, and at that point, all un-renewed tickets will be release to the public. Click the button below to with any ticketing questions.
TICKET QUESTIONS?
IN THE NEWS
ESPN'S HOLLY ROWE SAID SHREVEPORT, INDEPENDENCE BOWL MADE HER FEEL 'BIG TIME'
From Roy Lang III – The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate, Staff Writer (July 16, 2024)
The biggest of the big. The best of the best.
Holly Rowe’s life is dedicated to covering bucket-list sporting events and bridging the gap between fans and the greatest sports superstars.
However, when the longtime ESPN standout made her first journey to Shreveport for Monday’s Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Kickoff Dinner, she felt she’d hit the “big time.”
"Someone asked to take my picture for Shreveport’s society page," Rowe said. "Now that is big time.”
Her mantra has been simple from the beginning of her career: Make viewers and fans and her subjects feel like the “big time” is that event, that place, the athlete on that day.
LSU quarterback Joe Burrow, Caitlin Clark, a random (to most) freshman basketball player from Colorado State, everyone who wanted a picture Monday – they’re all the same and treated the same by Rowe.
Rowe’s not used to speaking directly (as the subject) to a large live audience, but the cancer survivor was a natural Monday. Her time at the Shreveport Convention Center offered a perfect combination of scintillating stories, life lessons, humor, self-promotion and self-deprecation.
"I can honestly say, I only know where Shreveport is because of the Independence Bowl," said Rowe, a Utah native whose love for college football began as a 5-year-old BYU fan.
ON THE DOCKET
COME SEE OUR NEW OFFICE AT OUR OPEN HOUSE ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 13!
Come check out our new office in Ashley Ridge! We are hosting an Open House at our new office on Tuesday, August 13 from 3-6 PM.
The first 125 visitors will get free Whataburger, and Blue Bell ice cream will be available for purchase. Great door prizes will be given away to those who attend.
Anyone is welcome, so bring your friends and help us ring in our new office in Ashley Ridge!
Call the office at (318) 221-0712 for more information!
JOIN US FOR FISH N' FOOTBALL ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 24
Football season is less than a month away, which means our annual Fish N' Football event is coming quickly!
Enjoy the kickoff of the college football season on Saturday, August 24 by watching the Florida State vs. Georgia Tech game, enjoying the company of fellow members and eating fresh, hot, fried food from Johnny's Catfish from 11 AM to 3 PM at Great Raft Brewing! All Foundation members receive an invitation for two!
INSIDE THE I-BOWL
TUNE INTO THE INSIDE THE I-BOWL PODCAST!
The Inside the I-Bowl Podcast, presented by The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate, is the official podcast of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl and Independence Bowl Foundation. We keep you updated on all the I-Bowl news throughout the year, as well as college football news. We also talk to former players and coaches of the bowl, featuring their stories on their I-Bowl and college football experiences. Finally, it highlights our proud Independence Bowl Foundation volunteers and sponsors who work hard to make the bowl and our events as great as they are. Click the buttons to subscribe and listen!
YOUTUBE!
Full episodes of the Inside the I-Bowl Podcast, presented by The Shreveport Bossier City Advocate, are now on YouTube!
Watch the full episodes of the podcast on the official YouTube Channel of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl!
INDY BOWL IN THE NFL
INDY BOWL ALUM BRIAN BURNS RANKED AMONG TOP 10 EDGE RUSHERS IN NFL
From Jeremy Fowler – Senior NFL National Reporter, ESPN
(July 10, 2024)
ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to help rank the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from QB to CB and all positions in between.
The rankings process: Voters gave us their best 10 players at a position, then we compiled the results and ranked candidates based on number of top-10 votes, composite average and dozens of interviews, with research and film study help from ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen. In total, nearly 80 voters submitted a ballot on at least one position, and in many cases all positions. Additional voting and follow-up calls with those surveyed helped us break any ties.
The objective was to identify the best players for 2024. This was not a five-year projection or a career achievement award. Who are the best players today?
The competition is fierce at edge rusher. Twenty-one different rushers -- either 3-4 outside linebackers or 4-3 defensive ends -- recorded at least 10 sacks last season, compared to 13 a year ago. Five of those players blew past the 16-sack mark.
Perhaps no player save quarterback can disrupt the flow of the game like a good pass rusher, which is why the market for even fringe top-10 players at this position pushes $30 million per year. Despite 25 different players earning at least one vote from league scouts, execs and coaches in this year's top 10 edge rushers, the top tiers were clear-cut.
10. Brian Burns, New York Giants (Florida State – 2017 Independence Bowl)
Burns looked poised to crack the top five but lost momentum, needing tiebreakers to take the 10th spot.The consistent top-10 performer has one double-digit-sack season since 2019, and his last year in Carolina wasn't stellar, leading to a trade to New York. To be sure, a contentious contract standoff could have affected his play. And the Panthers rarely held leads, diminishing third-down rush opportunities. Burns is the only player in the top 10 without a single top-five vote.
"He has everything you want in the position and will always be productive -- the only thing he's lacking is that elite power," an NFL coordinator said.
Brian Burns (Florida State, 2017)
