Thursday, December 30 Bowl organizers as excited as fans
Associated Press
SHREVEPORT, La. -- Mississippi's acceptance of an invitation
to the Independence Bowl, combined with Oklahoma's healthy ticket
sales already, should mean a big crowd at Independence Stadium New
Year's Eve, organizers say.
"I have no concerns that Ole Miss fans will not travel. They
will be here in droves," Independence Bowl chairwoman Sandy Cimino
said Sunday.
The Rebels, 7-4, are returning to Shreveport after playing here
last season. Ole Miss defeated Texas Tech, 35-18, a year ago in
coach David Cutcliffe's debut as Ole Miss' head coach.
This year, the Rebels will face Oklahoma for the first time
ever.
The Sooners were 7-4 under first-year coach Bob Stoops.
Oklahoma already has sold out its 12,000 allotted tickets. The
Sooners requested an additional 2,000 tickets, which sold out as
well. And Oklahoma fans also bought 3,000 tickets through the local
Independence Bowl ticket office, bowl officials said.
Ole Miss will receive 12,000 tickets that will go on sale at the
Oxford, Miss., campus beginning Monday.
"I'm excited about it," Scott Cunningham, an Ole Miss alum who
lives in Shreveport, said. "From my point of view, it will be
good. From the city's point of view, it will be good."
