2001 MainStay Independence Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||
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Date | December 27, 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||
Season | 2001 | ||||||||||||||||||
Stadium | Independence Stadium | ||||||||||||||||||
Location | Shreveport, Louisiana | ||||||||||||||||||
MVP | QB Seneca Wallace (Iowa State) S Waine Bacon (Alabama) LB Matt Word (Iowa State) |
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Attendance | 45,627 | ||||||||||||||||||
Payout | US$2,344,214 | ||||||||||||||||||
United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||
Network | ESPN | ||||||||||||||||||
The 2001 MainStay Independence Bowl, part of the 2001–02 bowl game 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 (SEC), and the Iowa State Cyclones of the Big 12 Conference (Big 12). Alabama won the game, 14–13 in what was the first all-time game between the programs. It was also the first bowl game for Dennis Franchione at Alabama and the second bowl game for Dan McCarney at Iowa State.
The 2001 Alabama squad finished the regular season with a 6–5 record in head coach Dennis Franchione's first season leading the Crimson Tide. Through eight games, the Crimson Tide were 3–5 with losses to UCLA, South Carolina, Ole Miss, Tennessee and LSU. However, Alabama was able to win their final three games against Mississippi State, Auburn and Southern Miss to finish the regular season bowl eligible with a 6–5 record.