2001 Independence Bowl

NCAAFootballSingleGameHeader
Name=2001 Independence Bowl
Date=December 27, 2001
Year=2001
Visitor School=University of Alabama
Visitor Name Short=Alabama
Visitor Nickname=Crimson Tide
Visitor Record=6–5
Visitor Coach=Dennis Franchione
Visitor1=0
Visitor2=7
Visitor3=0
Visitor4=7
Home School=Iowa State University
Home Name Short=Iowa State
Home Nickname=Cyclones
Home Record=7–4
Home Coach=Dan McCarney
Home1=3
Home2=7
Home3=3
Home4=0
Type=bg
Stadium=Independence Stadium
City=Shreveport, Louisiana


MVP=
Odds=
Anthem=
Referee=
Halftime=
Attendance=45,627cite news
last =Kirk
first =Steve
title =The great escape - Sputtering Bama defense bends, but Cyclones blow it wide right
work =The Birmingham News
pages = 1E
date =December 28, 2001 ]
US Network=ESPN
US Announcers=

The 2001 MainStay Independence Bowl, part of the 2001–02 NCAA football bowl season, took place on December 27, 2001 at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference, and the Iowa State Cyclones, from the Big 12 Conference. Alabama won the game, 14–13. In addition to being the first all-time match-up between these two programs, this marked the first bowl game for Dennis Franchione at Alabama and the second bowl game for Dan McCarney at Iowa State.

Game summary

Iowa State would put the first points on the board off of a 36-yard Tony Yelk field goal to lead 3–0 in the first quarter. After reaching the 1-yard line on a 33-yard by Lane Danielsen to close the quarter, the Cyclones would schore the game's first touchdown on a 1-yard run by Joe Woodley to give State a 10-0 lead. Alabama would respond later in the quarter with an 8-yard touchdown run by Andrew Zow to close the gap to 10-7. Yelk would then miss a 25-yard field goal with 00:26 remaining in the quarter to keep the score 10-7 at the half.

Third quarter scoring would be limited to a single, 41-yard Yelk field goal to bring the Cyclone lead to 13-7 going into the fourth. With 5:31 remaining in the contest, Waine Bacon blocked a Yelk punt with the recovery occurring on the ISU 29. Two plays later, Zow would hit Terry Jones, Jr. for a 27-yard touchdown reception, with the extra point giving the Tide a 14-13 lead. The Cyclones would just miss a 47-yard field goal attempt with 00:46 remaining in the fourth, which would have given State the lead and potential victory. Subsequent to the game there was some question about whether or not the field goal was actually good, as it sailed directly over one of the uprights. The victory sent Alabama to a 7–5 overall record for the season.

coring summary

;First quarter
*Iowa State Tony Yelk 36 yard field goal. 3-0 Iowa State

;Second quarter
*Iowa State- Joe Woodley 1 yard touchdown run (Yelk kick good). 10-0 Iowa State
*Alabama- Andrew Zow 8 yard touchdown run (Neal Thomas kick good). 10-7 Iowa State

;Third quarter
*Iowa State- Tony Yelk 41 yard field goal. 13-7 Iowa State

;Fourth quarter
*Alabama- 27 yard touchdown pass from Zow to Terry Jones, Jr. (Thomas kick good). 14-13 Alabama

References