JULY 2026 EDITION
ON THE DOCKET
LESS THAN ONE MONTH UNTIL KICKOFF DINNER WITH TYRANN MATHIEU
The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Kickoff Dinner, featuring LSU legend Tyrann Mathieu, returns to the Shreveport Convention Center in less than one month on Monday, August 17.
Individual tickets to the event are on sale for $75 apiece, and a table of eight is $600. Fans can purchase tickets at RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/product/ kickoff-dinner or by calling the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl office at 318.221.0712 or toll-free at 888.414. BOWL.
Mathieu rose to prominence as a member of the LSU Tigers in 2010 and 2011, as he was college football’s premier game-changer, causing turnovers on defense and scoring electric touchdowns on special teams. He enhanced his game-breaking reputation in the National Football League (NFL) during his 12-year career, being named First-Team All-Pro three times and Second-Team All-Pro once. He was also a key member of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV-winning defense.
CLICK HERE TO BUY TICKETS
NSU KICKOFF LUNCHEON ON AUGUST 22
Tickets are on sale now for the annual Northwestern State/ Independence Bowl Kickoff Luncheon, sponsored by John and Lynne Manno, in Shreveport.
The longtime event, which will honor the 50th anniversary of Shreveport’s bowl game, will take place Thursday, August 20, one week ahead of Northwestern’s Aug. 27 season opener against Louisiana Christian in Natchitoches.
The luncheon will be in Ballroom B inside Superior’s Steakhouse and begins at 11:45 a.m.
Cost for the all-inclusive lunch is $25 and includes salad, a plated meal and dessert. Reservations are being accepted by contacting the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl office at 318-221-0721. Attendees are asked to bring cash or check to the event to cover the cost.
FISH 'N FOOTBALL RETURNS SEPT. 19
Join us for our annual Fish 'N Football at Provenance Town Center on Saturday, Sept. 19 from 5-9 pm!
Live music will kick us off at 5 pm before we stream the LSU-Ole Miss game on the big screen!
Free & open to the public, but IBF members get the VIP treatment with: catered fish fry by Johnny’s Catfish, complimentary drinks and access to an exclusive members-only section.
Bring the whole family because there will be games, inflatables, and fun for all ages! We’ll have a cash bar for adult beverages for non-members.
Thank you to the event sponsors: Carter Credit Union, Eagle Distributing, KSM Marketing Agency, Sonic & Xfinity!
IN THE COMMUNITY
BOWL SET TO HOST 2ND ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL MEDIA DAY
After a successful inaugural event in 2025, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl is set to host the 2nd Annual High School Football Media Day, presented by Xpress Car Wash, on Tuesday, August 4 at Independence Stadium.
The 2nd annual media day, presented by Xpress Car Wash for the first time, is expanding to feature close to 40 high schools from those 13 Parishes –Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Grant, Jackson, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Red River, Sabine, Union, Webster and Winn Parishes.
All attendees must have a credential for admission. Media representatives can apply for credentials at RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl. com/Media/HS-FB-Media-Day. Credential requests must be submitted by Friday, July 31 at 11:59 PM.
All attendees must apply for credentials before the credential application closes. No walk-up credentials will be provided on the day of the event. Applicants will receive an email indicating their acceptance or denial after submitting the application. Applications will be thoroughly reviewed and limited strictly to legitimate media representatives who routinely cover local and regional high school football and/or specific local and regional high school football programs.
HELP RAISE MONEY FOR LOCAL TEACHERS!
The Independence Bowl Foundation and Flying Heart Brewing & Pub are teaming up to support the Bowl's 2026 Extra Yard for Teachers initiative!
Flying Heart is hosting five Pizza & Pints for a Purpose nights between May and September on the third Wednesday of the month. The next one is August 12.
On these nights, Flying Heart will donate a portion of the proceeds from each night to the Independence Bowl's Extra Yard for Teachers initiative, and teachers who present their teacher ID will receive 10% off pizzas!
Through this initiative, the Independence Bowl has donated $142,000 to local educators since 2021, supporting 164 classrooms and approximately 25,000 students.
Join us at Flying Heart for a great night, and help support local teachers!
HALF A CENTURY OF INDY BOWL
INDEPENDENCE BOWL REVEALING TOP 50 PLAYERS IN GAME'S HISTORY
Selection & Ranking Criteria
With such a long and rich history, there may be no better way to celebrate 50 years of Independence Bowl than to celebrate the stars who have come through Independence Stadium throughout the first 49 years of the game and helped fans create the memories they still talk about.
The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl began revealing the top 50 players in the game’s history on July 6, counting down from 50 until revealing the number one player in the history of college football’s 11th-oldest bowl game.
Players 50 through 20 have been announced to date, and players will be announced individually every Monday, with No. 1 being announced on Monday, December 7.
The list of the top 50 all-time players was compiled by a committee that included local media members and Independence Bowl representatives. Players were nominated and evaluated based on the following criteria:
• 40 percent weight based on their Independence Bowl performance(s)
• 30 percent based on their college career and accolades
• 30 percent based on their pro career and accomplishments
To read all of the stories already published and more about the nomination and selection process, release schedule and selection and ranking committee, visit RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com/news.
To help celebrate half a century of the Independence Bowl, Craig Routh designed an INCREDIBLE 50th anniversary commemorative painting! Thank you to Craig for this amazing work of art!
Independence Bowl Foundation members can purchase a signed and numbered, limited edition print for $120 by calling the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl office at (318) 221-0712 or by emailing info@ independencebowl.org.
Purchase one today and get your hands on a special piece of Independence Bowl history!
HALF A CENTURY OF INDY BOWL
WIN PRIZES THROUGH THE SUMMER OF GIVEAWAYS!
As part of the year-round celebration of its 50th anniversary, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl is launching the Summer of Giveaways on Monday, June 22 – six months from the kickoff of the milestone game.
During the nine weeks of the Summer of Giveaways –spanning from June 22 through August 24, fans will have the chance to win eight weekly prizes and one grand prize. Prizes will include Independence Bowl merchandise and memorabilia packs, as well as prizes from sponsors such as Coca-Cola Bottling Company, Eagle Distributing, Lee Michael's Fine Jewelry, Live! Casino & Hotel Louisiana, SportsCards Louisiana, The Golf Club at Stonebridge and Tickets For Less.
To register for the contest, fans should visit the Bowl's official social media channels at @IndyBowl. The weekly prizes and how fans can register to win will be posted each Monday, with the winner announced the following Monday. Click the buttons below to follow us on social media!
SHARE YOUR FAVORITE INDEPENDENCE BOWL MEMORIES WITH US!
Another aspect of the Independence Bowl's 50th anniversary celebration, currently open for fan participation, is the Fan Memory Submissions. Fans can submit their favorite Independence Bowl memories by clicking the button below or scanning the QR code:
Select memories will be posted online and will be shown during the 50th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl on Tuesday, December 22 at 7:30 p.m.
