2007 Independence Bowl

NCAAFootballSingleGameHeader
Name=2007 Independence Bowl
Date=December 30 2007
Year=2007
Visitor School=University of Alabama
Visitor Name Short=Alabama
Visitor Nickname=Crimson Tide
Visitor Record=6–6
Visitor Coach=Nick Saban
Visitor1=20
Visitor2=7
Visitor3=0
Visitor4=3
Home School=University of Colorado
Home Name Short=Colorado
Home Nickname=Buffaloes
Home Record=6–6
Home Coach=Dan Hawkins
Home1=0
Home2=14
Home3=3
Home4=7
Type=bg
Stadium=Independence Stadium
City=Shreveport, Louisiana


MVP=Alabama QB John Parker Wilson
Alabama DE Wallace Gilberry
Odds=Alabama by 3½ [World Features Syndicate via "Long Beach Press-Telegram", Dec. 26, 2007]
Anthem=
Referee=
Halftime=
Attendance=47,043 [cite web| url=http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=273640038| title=Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Colorado Buffaloes Box Score| date=2007-12-30| accessdate=2008-07-25| publisher=ESPN]
US Network=ESPN
US Announcers=Mark Jones, Bob Davie [cite web |url=http://awfulannouncing.blogspot.com/2007/12/your-comprehensive-bowl-game-announcing.html |title=Your Comprehensive Bowl Game Announcing Schedule| date=2007-12-11| accessdate=2007-12-30] The 2007 PetroSun Independence Bowl, part of the 2007–08 NCAA football bowl season, took place on December 30, 2007 at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference, and the Colorado Buffaloes, from the Big 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. [cite web|url=http://www.idahostatesman.com/104/story/241391.html | title=Screen plays: Breaking down the bowl games and the bowl system | publisher="Idaho Statesman" | author=Chadd Cripe | date=2007-12-18 | accessdate=2007-12-30] It was also the first bowl game for both respective head coaches (Nick Saban and Dan Hawkins) at their current programs.

Game summary

Alabama played Colorado in the Independence Bowl on December 30, 2007. Alabama scored on their opening drive off of a Leigh Tiffin field goal to lead 3–0. Colorado's first offensive play of the game resulted in an interception by Rolando McClain. Once again, Alabama relied on another field goal from Tiffin to push their lead to 6–0. Later in the quarter, Alabama's John Parker Wilson threw touchdown passes to Keith Brown and Matt Caddell to push the Crimson Tide to a 20–0 lead after one quarter. Early in the second quarter, Wilson connected with Nikita Stover on a 31–yard touchdown pass and the Crimson Tide lead 27–0 after just under 20 minutes played in the game. The Buffaloes controlled the majority of the second quarter after Wilson threw an interception. Buffaloes freshman quarterback Cody Hawkins threw touchdown passes to Tyson DeVree and Dusty Sprague to close the gap, as the Crimson Tide lead 27–14 at halftime. The only score in the third quarter came from Kevin Eberhart on a Colorado field goal. Leigh Tiffin kicked a field goal in the fourth quarter to increase the Crimson Tide lead to 30–17, and Cody Hawkins and Tyson DeVree connected on another passing touchdown to close the scoring gap to 30–24. In a desperation attempt with 0:01 left in the fourth quarter, Colorado attempted several laterals but fell short of midfield. The victory sent Alabama to a 7–6 overall record as they avoided a second consecutive losing season.

AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
Quarter=1
Time=11:30
Team=Alabama
DriveLength=8 plays, 44 yards
DriveTime=3:30
Type=FG
yards=41
Kicker="Leigh Tiffin"
Visitor=0
Home=3AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
Quarter=1
Time=9:13
Team=Alabama
DriveLength=4 plays, 8 yards
DriveTime=2:01
Type=FG
yards=24
Kicker="Leigh Tiffin"
Visitor=0
Home=6AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
Quarter=1
Time=5:09
Team=Alabama
DriveLength=6 plays, 55 yards
DriveTime=2:08
Type=RecTD
Receiver="Keith Brown"
QB="John Parker Wilson"
yards=15
kickresult=good
Kicker="Leigh Tiffin"
Visitor=0
Home=13AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
Quarter=1
Time=1:31
Team=Alabama
DriveLength=5 plays, 63 yards
DriveTime=2:08
Type=RecTD
Receiver="Matt Caddell"
QB="John Parker Wilson"
yards=34
kickresult=good
Kicker="Leigh Tiffin"
Visitor=0
Home=20AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
Quarter=2
Time=12:20
Team=Alabama
DriveLength=6 plays, 67 yards
DriveTime=1:47
Type=RecTD
Receiver="Nikita Stover"
QB="John Parker Wilson"
yards=31
kickresult=good
Kicker="Leigh Tiffin"
Visitor=0
Home=27AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
Quarter=2
Time=2:05
Team=Colorado
DriveLength=8 plays, 43 yards
DriveTime=3:43
Type=RecTD
Receiver="Tyson DeVree"
QB="Cody Hawkins"
yards=4
kickresult=good
Kicker="Kevin Eberhart"
Visitor=7
Home=27AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
Quarter=2
Time=0:04
Team=Colorado
DriveLength=6 plays, 5 yards
DriveTime=1:07
Type=RecTD
Receiver="Dusty Sprague"
QB="Cody Hawkins"
yards=25
kickresult=good
Kicker="Kevin Eberhart"
Visitor=14
Home=27AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
Quarter=3
Time=3:00
Team=Colorado
DriveLength=14 plays, 76 yards
DriveTime=5:19
Type=FG
yards=39
Kicker="Kevin Eberhart"
Visitor=17
Home=27AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
Quarter=4
Time=4:36
Team=Alabama
DriveLength=7 plays, 14 yards
DriveTime=3:16
Type=FG
yards=26
Kicker="Leigh Tiffin"
Visitor=17
Home=30AmFootballScoreSummaryEntry
Quarter=4
Time=3:51
Team=Colorado
DriveLength=5 plays, 69 yards
DriveTime=0:45
Type=RecTD
Receiver="Tyson DeVree"
QB="Cody Hawkins"
yards=14
kickresult=good
Kicker="Kevin Eberhart"
Visitor=24
Home=30

References