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Home , Independence Bowl, Will Parks

MAY 2020 @INDYBOWL

INSIDE THE I-BOWL

/////////////////////////// OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE INDEPENDENCE BOWL FOUNDATION & RADIANCE TECHNOLOGIES INDEPENDENCE BOWL THE OFFICIAL INSIDE THE I-BOWL NEWSLETTER OF FOUR DOWNS RADIANCE TECHNOLOGIES ///////////////////// //////////////////////////////////////////// FOUR DOWNS WITH I-BOWL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MISSY SETTERS RADIANCE TECHNOLOGIES ANNOUNCED AS TITLE SPONSOR THROUGH 2024

st Radiance Technologies is the new title sponsor of the Independence Bowl, Shreveport-Bossier City’s annual 1 DOWN: As the bowl enters its 45th year with the 2020 Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl, what . The agreement between Radiance Technologies and the Independence Bowl is a are you most proud of over the last few years? guaranteed, five-year agreement that will begin with the 2020 edition of the game and run through 2024. I am very excited about our new title partner, Radiance Technologies, and the five-year agreement that will bring our partnership through at least the 2024 bowl season. We are excited to work with Radiance Technologies and their Bill Bailey, Radiance Technologies CEO: “Radiance is very excited about this partnership with the Indepen- entire team. dence Bowl. We have been looking for the right opportunity to increase our brand awareness nationally, and we have found it with this partnership. The bowl’s proximity to an Air Force major command and its tie-in with I’m happy with the changes we’ve made and continue to make in our bowl-week events for both the teams and [Army] West Point are both very appealing and should increase awareness of Radiance with our two largest fans. We have a young, innovative staff who are constantly striving to make improvements. customers, the U.S. Army and Air Force.”

I’m also happy with the lineup of events we have throughout the year, in a typical year. From our crawfish boil, FULL ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO kickoff dinner and youth football clinic, to our half marathon and USTA junior tennis tournament, we’ve added a number of events that span the entire year, and bring excitement, visibility and economic impact. Add those events FULL STORY to our usual bowl-week lineup and we are now hosting more than 20 events, both large and small during the entire calendar year. 2nd DOWN: Speaking of Radiance, what are you most excited about with the new partnership with Radiance Technologies? I-BOWL ALUMNI IN THE NFL I’m most excited about partnering with an employee-owned, technology company that has close ties to this area and the state, working with them to bring strong brand awareness. From the beginning it felt like a true partnership and we’re looking forward to building on that. //////////////////////////////////////////// 3rd DOWN: What are your thoughts on the I-Bowl’s new agreements involving the Pac-12, AAC, C-USA, Army and BYU? I’m excited about the new agreements. It gives this bowl a new look in its 45th year and brings new teams and conferences to the mix as well as some NINE I-BOWL ALUMNI DRAFTED IN 2020 NFL DRAFT conference partners we’ve worked with in recent years. The feedback from ticket holders has been very positive as everyone looks forward to the new six- Although no players were added to the list of 72 Independence Bowl alumni taken in the first round of the NFL year cycle. Draft throughout the years, there were nine alumni drafted in the seven-round 2020 NFL Draft. 4th DOWN: As executive director, what are a few goals you have as the 11th oldest bowl game enters its sixth decade? As far as goals for this year, that’s a loaded question. This will be a year of flexibility. As conferences and institutions plan and prepare in the wake of Former Florida State running back Cam Akers was the highest selection – going in the second round to the Los a pandemic, we are also planning and preparing for a traditional schedule of annual events and bowl-week events, but will have to remain flexible Angeles Rams with the 52nd overall pick. He was followed by one more day two selection, as former Temple throughout the planning process. Some events may take place at different times and in different formats than in a typical year. center Matt Hennessy was selected with the 78th overall selection by the Atlanta Falcons. Seven more players were taken on Saturday between the fourth and seventh rounds, bringing the grand total to nine players This bowl game was started with the vision and dreams of a number of community-minded individuals, with the first game taking place in 1976. Year selected in this year’s NFL Draft. Temple led the way with three players selected in the draft. after year our goal is to improve and enhance the bowl and related events, while never losing sight of our history and mission. The Radiance Technologies MATT HENNESSY Independence Bowl has a history of honoring the ideals and values our nation was founded on and that is always at the forefront of everything we do. FULL STORY INDY BOWL ALUMNI RAKE IN NEARLY $200 MILLION IN NFL FREE AGENCY YOUTH CLINIC POSTPONED Independence Bowl alumni have collected a total of $195.05 million in free agency. Ryan Tannehill (WR/QB, Texas A&M, 2009) signed the largest contract - inking $118 million over four years with the Tennessee Titans. 2013 //////////////////////////////////////////// Defensive Player of the Game, Will Parks, was one of the most recent players to sign in free agency – heading to the on a one-year deal worth $1.6 million. Two more I-Bowl alumni, wide receiver A.J. Green and In the wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the 10th-annual Radiance Technologies Independence safety Justin Simmons, have been franchise tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals and , respectively. Bowl Youth Football Clinic – originally scheduled for Saturday, June 6, 2020 – has been postponed to a Green hauled in six catches for 57 yards in the 2009 Independence Bowl, while Simmons made six solo tackles and later date. recovered one for Boston College in 2013. One notable I-Bowl alumni that has yet to sign in free agency is offensive tackle Jason Peters (Arkansas, 2003), who played tight end for the Razorbacks in the 2003 Independence Jeff Butler, Director of Events & Operations: “The Youth Clinic is one of the best and most fulfilling Bowl. events of the year, and it is disappointing to have to postpone it. The Independence Bowl Foundation prides itself on giving back to our Shreveport-Bossier community, and the clinic provides us with a • TOTAL (as of 5/13): $195.05 million (excluding franchise tags) unique opportunity to teach our local youth both football and life skills. We look forward to being able to conduct this free clinic safely and seeing all the kids out at Independence Stadium in the later this year!” RYAN TANNEHILL FULL STORY

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