2024 WEEK 13
IN THE NEWS
SETH LUGO NAMED 2024 CARL MIKOVICH SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR
The Independence Bowl awards the Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year Award annually to some of the greatest athletes from the Shreveport-Bossier City area, and Kansas City Royals star pitcher Seth Lugo has been named the 2024 recipient of the award.
Lugo will be honored as the 39th recipient of the Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year Award at the 2024 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl on Saturday, December 28 at 8:15 p.m. CST.
“It’s an honor to be named Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year!” exclaimed Lugo. “As someone from Shreveport-Bossier, it is really special to be recognized with this award, especially with all of the talent that has come out of the area.”
Lugo, 34, just completed his ninth season in Major League Baseball (MLB), and it was the best season of his career. In his first season with the Royals, the Parkway High School product won the Gold Glove Award for American League (AL) pitchers, was named to the AL All-Star team and All-MLB Second Team, and was named one of the three finalists for the AL Cy Young Award – given to the best pitcher in the AL.
Lugo won a career-high 16 games with a 3.00 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 3.25 FIP and 181 strikeouts in a career-high 206.2 innings. He ranked seventh in pitching WAR, 10th in ERA, tied for third in wins, second in innings pitched, 10th in FIP and fifth in ERA+. In nine seasons in the big leagues, the former Centenary Gent has a record of 56-40 with a 3.38 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 3.57 FIP and 829 strikeouts in 847.2 innings.
“Seth [Lugo] embodies what this award is all about. His hard work and perseverance show young kids from our area what you can accomplish when you put your mind to it, both on and off the field,” said 2024 Independence Bowl Foundation Chair Claire Rebouche. “We are very proud of all the accomplishments and accolades Seth has earned, and we are thrilled to add to that list with the 2024 Carl Mikovich Sportsperson of the Year Award.”
UNDER REVIEW
WEEK 12 SCOREBOARD
East CarolinaA 38, TulsaA 31
UTSAA 48, North TexasA 27
WashingtonFP 31, UCLAFP 19
ArizonaFP 27, Houston 3
1OregonFP 16, Wisconsin 13
Arizona StateFP 24, 16Kansas State 14
17ColoradoFP 49, UtahFP 24
New Mexico 38, 18Washington St.CP 35
StanfordFP 38, 19Louisville 35
25TulaneA 35, NavyA 0
Syracuse 33, CaliforniaFP 25
Air Force 28, Oregon StateCP 0
South FloridaA 59, CharlotteA 24
USCFP 28, Nebraska 20
MemphisA 53, UABA 18
CPCurrent Pac-12 Team
FPFormer Pac-12 team
AEligible with AAC tie-in
BOWL PROJECTIONS PRESENTED BY
CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Army 9-0 7-0
Tulane 9-2 7-0
Navy 7-3 5-2
Memphis 9-2 5-2
East Carolina 6-4 4-2
South Florida 5-5 3-3
UTSA 5-5 3-3
Charlotte 3-7 2-4
North Texas 5-5 2-4
Rice 3-7 2-4
Temple 3-7 2-4
UAB 2-8 1-5
3-7 1-5
2-8 0-6
Texas Tech 6-4 4-3
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
SATURDAY
// 2 PM CT // ESPN+
• Arizona is coming off of their most complete game of the season – a 27-3 win over Houston.
• Wildcats QB Noah Fifita ranks 23rd in the FBS in passing with 2,548 yards. He also has a 15-11 TD-INT ratio, but he only has two INTs in the last four games. His top pass-catching option is star WR Tetairoa McMillan, who is 3rd in the FBS in receiving with 1,136 yards and 7 TDs.
• Arizona has a tough test defensively, as they take on the 6th-best passing offense in the country. TCU QB Josh Hoover (3,233 yards and 22 TDs) leads the Horned Frogs to 329.6 passing yards per game.
SATURDAY
// 2:30 PM CT // ESPN+
• Two teams looking to finish the season strong, but they are heading in different directions. East Carolina has won three in a row with an interim coach, while North Texas has lost four straight against a tough schedule (Memphis, Tulane, Army and UTSA).
• The Mean Green have the 5th-best passing offense in the nation – averaging 342.8 yards behind the play of QB Chandler Morris (3,328 yards & 27 TDs).
• Katin Houser has taken over as the starting QB for East Carolina and has been good. In four starts, he is averaging 302 yards and has 14 TDs vs. 6 INTs.
SATURDAY
// 6:30 PM CT // FOX
Utah needs to win their final two contests to go bowling this year, but their path starts with a tough one – No. 22 Iowa State.
• The Utes offense has struggled to score this year due to QB injuries and shuffling, and they will face the top scoring defense in the Big 12. The Cyclones allow just 18.6 points per game.
• Utah's offense is improving late in the season. After four straight weeks of scoring under 20, the Utes have topped 20 points in back to back games.
• The Utah defense is one of the Big 12's best –ranking in the top 3 in points and yards allowed.
SATURDAY //
2:30 PM CT // ACCN
• Cal needs one more win to go bowling for the second year in a row. They face their arch rivals who are coming off of a great win over Louisville last week.
• Golden Bears QB Fernando Mendoza is 15th in the country in passing with 2,705 yards. He also has 13 TDs vs. just 6 INTs. He is averaging 302.5 yards per game over the last 7 games – after averaging just 196 per game the first 3 games of the season.
• The Cal defense has also been good this year, as they rank 33rd in points allowed per game (20.7). That ranks 1st in the ACC.
SATURDAY
// 6 PM CT // NBC
• A pair of teams trying to get into the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff.
• Army QB Bryson Daily has returned after missing the Air Force game. Daily has been the catalyst of the offense this year. He has 644 passing yards, a team-leading 1062 rushing yards, 28 total TDs and just one INT.
• The Black Knights defense ranks 2nd in the country in points against per game (10.3). They also rank in the top 10 in yards allowed (273.9) and rush yards allowed (82.6) per game.
SATURDAY
// 9:30 PM CT // NBC
• USC is trying to get to bowl eligible with a win this week, while UCLA is trying to get within one win of a bowl – with Fresno State left.
• The Trojans started a new QB last week vs. Nebraska – Jayden Maiava, who was 25/35 for 259 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT. He also rushed for a TD.
• With 146 yards last week, USC RB Woody Marks topped 1,000 yards on the season (1,024).
• UCLA QB Ethan Garbers has been good this year – with 2,173 yards, 14 TDs and the 33rd best QBR in the country (72.6). He has been sacked 26 times, so keeping him protected is a key for the Bruins.
he Ultimate Bowl Experience
• Two (2) chairback tickets to the 2024 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl on December 28, 2024
• One (1) Parking Pass
• Two (2) pre game sideline passes
• Two (2) nights accommodations at The Remington Suites
• Two (2) Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl t shirts
• $100 Gift Card from Pizza Hut
• $250 Gift Card from SportsCards Louisiana
TICKETS! GET YOUR TICKETS!
Tickets to the 48th playing of Shreveport's annual bowl game are on sale! Individual tickets options are available for everyone – ranging from $20 to $70. Along with individual tickets, a bevy of ticket packages are also available for families, small businesses and other groups. These options include the Family Four-Packs, Small Business Fan-Pack and group ticket packages.
PURCHASE TICKETS!
GOODWILL TICKET GIVEAWAY
Fans can register for a chance to win two tickets to the Radiance Technologies
Independence Bowl at eight Goodwill locations across North Louisiana. Registration runs through Tuesday, December 10. No purchase necessary.
Fans can view the rules and regulations at RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl. com/Goodwill.
SPORTSCARDS LA TICKET GIVEAWAY
Fans can register for a chance to win tickets to the Radiance Technologies
Independence Bowl at SportsCards Louisiana located at 3000 North Market, Suite 178 in Shreveport. No purchase necessary and registration ends December 14th.
Fans can view the rules and regulations at RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl. com/SportsCardsLA .
INSIDE THE I-BOWL
INSIDE THE I-BOWL RADIO SHOW EVERY WEDNESDAY ON 1130 THE TIGER!
Tune into 1130 The Tiger every Wednesday during football season from 6-7 p.m. for Inside the I-Bowl, the official radio show of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl!
Director of Communications Erik Evenson and Lou Groza Awardwinning kicker and former I-Bowl Chairman Art Carmody IV get you set for each weekend of college football –breaking down all the best games of the weekend and everything you need to know about the 48th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl!
Can't catch the show live? You can listen to each show on our Inside the I-Bowl podcast channels!
INSIDE THE I-BOWL
BEAT ROY IN OUR WEEKLY PICK 'EM CONTEST TO WIN WEEKLY PRIZES!
Want to win weekly prizes or even a season-long grand prize? Play in our weekly "Beat Roy" contest, presented by The Shreveport-Bossier City Advocate!
Each week, Advocate Sports Editor Roy Lang III will make his picks on five of the top games of the weekend, and fans will have their chance to submit their picks and beat Roy! Winners will win weekly Independence Bowl and Advocate prizes, and each weekly winner will be entered in a drawing for the grand prize at the end of the year! Listen to Inside the I-Bowl every Wednesday from 6-7 PM on 1130 The Tiger to hear Roy's weekly picks!
Submit your picks on this week's games by clicking the button below!
CAN'T LISTEN LIVE? LISTEN TO THE EPISODE ON OUR PODCAST CHANNEL!
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