| 2001 MainStay Independence Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | December 27, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Independence Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
| Location | Shreveport,Louisiana | ||||||||||||||||||
| MVP | QBSeneca Wallace (Iowa State)[1] SWaine Bacon (Alabama)[1] LB Matt Word (Iowa State)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Referee | Ron Cherry (ACC) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 45,627[2] | ||||||||||||||||||
| Payout | US$2,344,214 | ||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ESPN | ||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers | Rich Waltz (Play by Play) Mark May (Analyst) Heather Cox (Sideline) | ||||||||||||||||||
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The2001 MainStayIndependence Bowl, part of the2001–02 bowl game season, took place on December 27, 2001, atIndependence Stadium inShreveport,Louisiana. The competing teams were theAlabama Crimson Tide, representing theSoutheastern Conference (SEC), and theIowa State Cyclones of theBig 12 Conference (Big 12). Alabama won the game, 14–13 in what was the first all-time game between the programs. It was also the first bowl game forDennis Franchione at Alabama and the second bowl game forDan McCarney at Iowa State.
The 2001 Alabama squad finished the regular season with a 6–5 record in head coachDennis Franchione's first season leading the Crimson Tide.[3] Through eight games, the Crimson Tide were 3–5 with losses toUCLA,South Carolina,Ole Miss,Tennessee andLSU.[3] However, Alabama was able to win their final three games againstMississippi State,Auburn andSouthern Miss to finish the regular season bowl eligible with a 6–5 record.[3]
On December 9, Alabama accepted a bid to play in the Independence Bowl for the first time in school history.[4] There was some controversy with the selection of Alabama instead over Ole Miss, as the Rebels (which did not go to a bowl in 2001) had beaten Alabama that year and had a better record of 7–4.[5] Presumably, Alabama was selected because it had a larger fan base and Ole Miss had just played in the Independence Bowl in 1998 and 1999.[5] The appearance marked the 51st all-time bowl appearance for Alabama.[6]
Iowa State finished the regular season with a 7–4 record with losses againstNebraska,Texas A&M,Kansas State andColorado.[7] On December 9, Iowa State accepted a bid to play in the Independence Bowl for the first time in school history.[8] The appearance marked the sixth all-time bowl appearance for the Cyclones.[9]
Iowa State scored first on a 36-yardTony Yelk field goal to lead 3–0 in the first quarter. After reaching the 1-yard line on a 33-yard catch by Lane Danielsen to close the quarter, the Cyclones scored the game's first touchdown on a 1-yard run by Joe Woodley, for a 10–0 lead.[10] Alabama responded later in the quarter with an 8-yard touchdown run by Andrew Zow to close the gap to 10–7. Yelk missed a 25-yard field goal with 26 seconds remaining in the quarter, to keep the score 10–7 at the half.[10]
Third quarter scoring was limited to a 41-yard Yelk field goal to bring the Cyclones' lead to 13–7 heading into the fourth. With 5:31 remaining in the game,Waine Bacon blocked a Yelk punt and Alabama recovered at the Iowa State 29-yard line. Two plays later, Zow hitTerry Jones for a 27-yard touchdown reception, and the extra point gave the Crimson Tide a 14–13 lead.
The Cyclones drove and attempted a late field goal. The kick sailed over the upright and was ruled no good. The victory sent Alabama to a 7–5 overall record for the season.[10]
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