Louisiana Tech trainer Sonny Cumbie is aware of find out how to pull off a bowl sport disenchanted.
Flash again to the 2004 Vacation Bowl, when Cumbie threw for 520 yards to guide No. 23 Texas Tech to a 45-31 win over Aaron Rodgers, Marshawn Lynch and No. 4 California.
20 years later, Cumbie hopes to engineer any other postseason marvel as Louisiana Tech (5-7) is a prohibitive underdog in opposition to No. 22 Military (11-2) within the Independence Bowl on Saturday in Shreveport, Los angeles.
The Bulldogs were not meant to be part of this sport. They’re a alternative for Marshall (10-3), which withdrew as a result of the exodus of a minimum of 25 gamers during the switch portal.
Input Louisiana Tech, which provides native taste as Shreveport is an hour power from the Bulldogs’ campus in Ruston.
Cumbie stated that the seniors had been particularly excited when they had left campus for the vacation destroy figuring their faculty careers had been over.
“The primary guys we were given at the telephone with had been the seniors,” Cumbie stated. “They concept it used to be like a prank name. They concept we had been jacking with them.”
Louisiana Tech is coping with 16 portal losses, together with a number of linemen from a protection which allowed 301.9 yards in line with sport, the most productive mark in Convention USA.
Defensive lineman David Blay, who led the Bulldogs in sacks (6.5) and tackles for a loss (10.5), has dedicated to Miami.
Offensively, Louisiana Tech averages simply 3.0 yards in line with lift. The Bulldogs depend extra on Evan Bullock, who has thrown for 1,932 yards and 14 touchdowns with simply two interceptions.
Military has a chance to complete the season on a good notice after surrendering the Commander-in-Leader’s Trophy in a deflating 31-13 loss to Military on Dec. 14.
Additionally it is an opportunity for Bryson Day by day to rebound as he threw 3 interceptions in opposition to Military after tossing only one prior to now within the common season.
Day by day, who completed 6th in vote casting for the Heisman Trophy, is the bell cow in Military’s rush-heavy triple-option offense. He has carried for 1,532 yards and 29 touchdowns and has additionally thrown for 9 rankings.
Military will likely be with out its second-best working danger, Kanye Udoh, who introduced his switch to Arizona State hours after the Military sport, prompting Black Knights trainer Jeff Monken to name the switch panorama “off the rails.”
“I do not believe it is wholesome to have a switch portal window open all over the season,” Monken stated.
Udoh rushed for 1,117 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
If Military can care for Louisiana Tech, it’s going to end with 12 wins, which will be the maximum in a season in program historical past, even supposing it did not get the only it sought after essentially the most.
“Anytime you get your butt whipped, you need to get again in the market and end up that isn’t who we’re,” Monken stated.
This will likely be Louisiana Tech’s first bowl look since 2020 and its 6th time within the Independence Bowl, the place it has a 3-2 file.
Military used to be final in a bowl sport in 2021, and that is its moment look within the Independence Bowl. In its first look, it misplaced to Auburn 32-29 in 1996.
Military and Louisiana Tech have met two times ahead of, with the Black Knights successful each matchups in 2008 and 2013.
–Box Stage Media
