1995 Independence Bowl

August 2023 March 2026 Independence Bowl Independence Bowl XX Poulan/Weed Eater December 29 1995 1995 LSU Tigers 6–4–1 SEC Gerry DiNardo 7 14 21 3 Kevin Faulk, RB Gabe Northern, DE Michigan State Spartans 6–4–1 Big Ten Nick Saban 7 17 0 2 ESPN Jerry Punch (Play by Play) Bill Lewis (Analyst) bg Terry Turlington (Big Eight) Independence Stadium Shreveport, Louisiana 48,835 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.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-state-lsu-wallops-michigan-state/140547633/ The State LSU wallops Michigan State December 30, 1995 February 8, 2024 Newspapers.com http://independencebowl.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2014-IBowl-Media-Guide.pdf Archived copy July 28, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150719000404/http://independencebowl.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/2014-IBowl-Media-Guide.pdf July 19, 2015 dead http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=177162 LSU Football Bowl History & Recaps - LSUsports.net - the Official Web Site of LSU Tigers Athletics 2015-07-28 2015-09-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20150905100530/http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?ATCLID=177162 dead http://archive.shreveporttimes.com/article/99999999/SPORTS02/51220002/Independence-Bowl-history Independence Bowl history | Shreveporttimes | shreveporttimes.com 2015-07-28 2015-12-10 https://web.archive.org/web/20151210221455/http://archive.shreveporttimes.com/article/99999999/SPORTS02/51220002/Independence-Bowl-history dead 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 448Punts-Average 4-44.5 6-37.5Fumbles-Lost 2-1 4-3Interceptions 1 3Penalties-Yards 5-42 9-80 References Independence Bowl Category:Independence Bowl Category:LSU Tigers football bowl games Category:Michigan State Spartans football bowl games Category:December 1995 sports events in the United States Category:1995 in sports in Louisiana