College Football
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."

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