Free bowl week events precede the big game
The 45th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl will kick off on Saturday, Dec. 18, at 2:30 p.m. CST on ABC, and the matchup is set, as the No. 13 Brigham Young University Cougars will take on Conference USA’s University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers in Shreveport.
Ranked No. 13 in the final College Football Playoff Rankings, BYU will be the highest-ranked team to play in an Independence Bowl in the game’s 45- year history. The last highest-ranked team entering an Independence Bowl was LSU in 1997, when the Tigers entered the bowl ranked No. 15.
Coach Kalani Sitake has led the BYU Cougars to a 10-2 regular season and No. 13 College Football Playoff ranking in 2021, after an 11-1 season and No. 11 final ranking in 2020. It’s the first time BYU has had back-to-back seasons with 10 or more wins since 2008-09. The Cougars beat six teams from the Power 5 in 2021, including a perfect 5-0 against Pac-12 opponents. BYU also claimed the Beehive Boot in 2021 with in-state victories over Pac-12 champion Utah and Mountain West champion Utah State.
The UAB Blazers (8-4, 6-2 C-USA) are playing in the program’s fifth bowl game and their fourth since returning to action in 2017. UAB has been bowl eligible all six seasons under the direction of head coach Bill Clark (2014, 2017-2021). Clark sports a 48-26 record in his six seasons as UAB’s head coach.
UAB enters bowl season with the nation’s 15th-ranked defense and a ground attack featuring sophomore DeWayne McBride, who currently has the fifth most single season rushing yards in school history with 1,188. Quarterback Dylan Hopkins has helped lead an efficient Blazers offense, ranking second in C-USA in quarterback rating (164.5).
Tickets for the 45th edition of the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl between No. 13 BYU and UAB are on sale at RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl. com/tickets/. Endzone bench seats are $30, while sideline bench seats are $45. Groups of 20 or more can purchase tickets for $15 apiece to sit together at the game. Parking is available for pre-purchase on the tickets page. Blue lot passes are $10 if bought in advance of game day, while brown and silver lot passes are $25. Blue lot parking is $15 if purchased on game day.
The Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl will feature a full lineup of free bowl week events this year beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 15.
Big Game Show (Wednesday, Dec. 15, at 6:30 p.m. – Riverview Theatre)
The Big Game Show will be at the Riverview Theater on Wednesday, Dec. 15. It features an array of game showstyle competitions between the players and coaches from the two Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl teams. Admission is free, and the audience will have a chance to participate in the fun.
Rally On The Red (Friday, Dec. 17, from 5-9:30 p.m. - Red River District & Louisiana Boardwalk)
Back for the first time since 2018, the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl Rally on the Red will feature a free night of fun for fans in downtown Shreveport-Bossier City.
Dan Smalley, who hails from Shreveport, will headline the night at the Coors Light Block Party – following 2018 Louisiana Music Prize winners Tipsey. The Coors Light Block Party, alongside the Louisiana Mardi Gras Preview Parade and Pep Rally and Battle of the Bands, will form the Rally on the Red free night of entertainment.
A local band will lead off the Coors Light Block Party on the BOM Stage in the Red River District. Tipsey will follow him from 6-7 p.m., and then two school marching bands will play in a pep rally and battle of the bands at 7 p.m. Smalley will headline the night of music and entertainment from 8-10 p.m. on the BOM Stage in the Red River District.
During the Block Party, the Louisiana Mardi Gras Preview Parade will start at 5:30 p.m. and run through the Louisiana Boardwalk Outlets. The parade will feature floats from local Mardi Gras krewes, as well as the two school bands and spirit squads. Floats from the parade will be parked along Commerce Street in downtown Shreveport following the parade.
Coca-Cola Fan Fest (Saturday, Dec. 18, at 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at State Fair Grounds)
The 45th Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl kicks off at Independence Stadium at 2:30 p.m. CST on Saturday, Dec. 18, but Coca-Cola Fan Fest will precede the game from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on the State Fair Grounds.
The event will feature a full load of live music entertainment on three stages lined up for the Coca-Cola Fan Fest & Tailgate! New for 2021, the Louisiana Travel Tailgate Town, featuring a tailgate with Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, inflatables for the kids and lots of other interactive experiences. The three stages will feature a variety of bands throughout the day – including The Hollow Decks, Monty Russell, Josh Love Trio, Seth Bradford and B-Cam & The Zydeco Young Bucs.
The event is free admission, but fans will need to purchase parking to gain access to the State Fair Grounds. Fans can pre-purchase parking at RadianceTechnologiesIndependence Bowl.com/tickets/. Tailgating spots are still available. To reserve yours, call the State Fair of Louisiana at (318) 635-1361.
