1995 Independence Bowl

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1995 Poulan/Weed Eater Independence Bowl
Independence Bowl XX
Michigan State Spartans LSU Tigers
(6–4–1) (6–4–1)
Big Ten SEC
26 45
Head coach: 
Nick Saban		 Head coach: 
Gerry DiNardo
1234 Total
Michigan State 71702 26
LSU 714213 45
DateDecember 29, 1995
Season1995
StadiumIndependence Stadium
LocationShreveport, Louisiana
MVPKevin Faulk, RB
Gabe Northern, DE
RefereeTerry Turlington (Big Eight)
Attendance48,835
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN
AnnouncersJerry Punch (Play by Play)
Bill Lewis (Analyst)
Independence Bowl
 < 1994  1996 > 

The 1995 Independence Bowl was a college football postseason bowl game between the LSU Tigers and the Michigan State Spartans.

Background[]

This was the first Independence Bowl to have an at large bid for the Southeastern Conference, which continued on until 2009. The Spartans were 5th in the Big Ten Conference in Nick Saban's first year with the program. LSU was 4th in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference in Gerry DiNardo's first year with the program as well. This was the first Independence Bowl for both teams.

Game summary[]

Muhsin Muhammad gave the Spartans the lead after catching a touchdown pass from Tony Banks in the first quarter. LSU tied the game on a touchdown run before the quarter ended. Michigan State took the lead again on a Greene touchdown run. A kickoff return for a touchdown by the Spartans along with a field goal by Gardner made it 24-7. Eddie Kennison, however, would give the Tigers life. A 92-yard kickoff return narrowed the lead to 10, and Kevin Faulk's 51 yard touchdown run made the halftime deficit 24-21. The second half was all LSU as Faulk ran for a second touchdown, Gabe Northern recovered a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown, and Kennison caught a touchdown pass from Herb Tyler to give LSU a 42-24 lead by the time the fourth quarter started. The final period had only a LSU field goal and a Spartan safety as the Spartans' six turnovers and limited success with rushing doomed them as LSU won their first Independence Bowl. MVP Kevin Faulk had 234 yards on 25 carries for an average of 9.5 yards. Both the yards and yards per carry are Independence Bowl records.[1][2][3]

Aftermath[]

The Tigers returned to Shreveport for the Independence Bowl two years later, in 1997. The Spartans have not returned to Shreveport since this game. Saban left Michigan State for LSU after the 1999 season.

Statistics[]

Statistics LSU Michigan State
First Downs 17 23
Yards Rushing 272 100
Yards Passing 146 348
Total Yards 418 448
Punts-Average 4-44.5 6-37.5
Fumbles-Lost 2-1 4-3
Interceptions 1 3
Penalties-Yards 5-42 9-80

References[]

  1. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2015. Retrieved July 28, 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=177162
  3. ^ http://archive.shreveporttimes.com/article/99999999/SPORTS02/51220002/Independence-Bowl-history
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