Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Oklahoma football: A 20-year look back at OU’s only Independence game

By Chip Rouse

SHREVEPORT, LA - DECEMBER 27: Photograph of stadium scoreboard during the MainStay Independence Bowl game between the University of Mississippi Ole Miss Rebels and the University of Nebraska Huskers at Independence Stadium on December 27, 2002 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Mississippi defeated the Nebraska 27-23. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
SHREVEPORT, LA - DECEMBER 27: Photograph of stadium scoreboard during the MainStay Independence Bowl game between the University of Mississippi Ole Miss Rebels and the University of Nebraska Huskers at Independence Stadium on December 27, 2002 in Shreveport, Louisiana. Mississippi defeated the Nebraska 27-23. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

It’s the 4th of July, the day we celebrate America’s independence. It also represents the heart and heat of summer, and that means Oklahoma football isn’t far off…59 days, to be precise.

Because football is a fall sport and the season doesn’t begin until late August  — it seemingly gets earlier every year; remember when the season-opening game wasn’t until the second or third weekend in September?  — Oklahoma has never played a football game on Independence Day.

The Sooners have, however, played an Independence game, as in the Independence Bowl, played in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Twenty years ago this season, in Bob Stoops first year as the Oklahoma coach, the Sooners finished with a 7-4 regular-season record and earned a postseason bowl bid for the first time in five seasons. It was also OU’s first winning season since 1993.

Oklahoma was headed to western Louisiana in late December 1999, to play in the 24th edition of the Independence Bowl on New Year’s Eve in what would be their final game in the 20th century.

It was the fourth trip to the Independence Bowl for the Sooners’ opponent, Ole Miss, out of the tough Southeastern Conference. They had been there the year before, defeating Texas Tech, which had become a member of the Big 12 just two years before.

Although they had not made a bowl appearance in five years, the Sooners were no strangers to postseason play. OU was 19-12-1 all-time in bowl appearances entering the 1999 game with Ole Miss in the Independence Bowl.

It was the first and only time so far that Oklahoma and Ole Miss have met on the football field.

Although outgaining the Rebels 481 to 361, the Sooners committed four turnovers and came up on the short end of the most important stat: the final score. Ole Miss never trailed in the game and withstood a second-half rally to hold off the Sooners for a two-point, 27-25 victory.

Josh Heupel set three Independence Bowl records, launching 53 passes for 390 yards and three touchdowns, and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player on offense.

After the loss to Mississippi, Oklahoma would not lose again for 21 games, including going 13-0 the following season and winning the school’s seventh national championship.

Home/OU Football