| 2007 PetroSun Independence Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | December 30, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Independence Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Shreveport, Louisiana | ||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | Alabama QBJohn Parker Wilson Alabama DEWallace Gilberry | ||||||||||||||||||
| Favorite | Alabama by 3½[2] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Bill Athan (WAC) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 47,043[3] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Payout | US$2,200,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ESPN | ||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Mark Jones,Bob Davie, andStacey Dales | ||||||||||||||||||
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The2007 PetroSunIndependence Bowl, part of the2007–08 NCAA football bowl season, took place on December 30, 2007 atIndependence Stadium inShreveport, Louisiana. The competing teams were theAlabama Crimson Tide, representing theSoutheastern Conference, and theColorado Buffaloes, from theBig 12 Conference. Alabama won the game, 30–24.
This was the only 2007–08 bowl game in which both teams finished 6–6 on the regular season. At their current programs, it was also the first bowl game for both respective head coaches (Nick Saban andDan Hawkins).
Alabama playedColorado in theIndependence Bowl on December 30, 2007.[4][5] Alabama scored on their opening drive on a 41-yardLeigh Tiffin field goal to lead 3–0.[4] Colorado's first offensive play of the game resulted in aninterception byRolando McClain.[6] Once again, Alabama relied on another field goal from Tiffin to push their lead to 6–0.[4] Later in the quarter,John Parker Wilson threw touchdown strikes of 15-yards to Keith Brown and 34-yards toMatt Caddell to extend the Crimson Tide lead to 20–0 after one quarter.[6]
Early in the second quarter, Wilson connected with Nikita Stover on a 31-yard touchdown pass and the Crimson Tide lead 27–0.[4] The Buffaloes controlled the majority of the second quarter after Wilson threw an interception to Ryan Walters with just under six minutes remaining in the half.[6] Colorado cut the Alabama lead to 27–14 at the half on a pair ofCody Hawkins touchdown passes. The first was a four-yard pass toTyson DeVree and the second a 25-yard pass to Dusty Sprague.[4]
The only score in the third quarter would come from Kevin Eberhart on a 39-yard Colorado field goal.[4] Tiffin kicked a field goal as the Crimson Tide lead 30–17 with just over four minutes remaining in the game.[4] Colorado responded on the following drive with a 14-yard Hawkins touchdown pass to DeVree to cut the Alabama lead to 30–24 with 3:51 remaining in the game.[6] Alabama was able to run the clock down, and after receiving the 49-yard P.J. Fitzgeraldpunt, only 0:01 remained in the game.[6] On the final play of the game, Colorado attempted severallateral passes but would fall short of midfield.[6] The 30–24 victory sent Alabama to a 7–6 overall record as they avoided a second consecutive losing season.
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