The 1993 Independence Bowl was a post-season American college football bowl game between the Virginia Tech Hokies and the Indiana Hoosiers at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, Louisiana, on December 31, 1993. The 18th edition of the Independence Bowl was the final contest of the 1993 NCAA Division I-A football season for both teams, and ended in a 45–20 victory for Virginia Tech. The game was the first bowl victory for Virginia Tech head coach Frank Beamer, and began a streak of 27 consecutive bowl appearances for Virginia Tech.
The 1993 Independence Bowl kicked off at 12:30 p.m. EST on December 31 at mid sunny skies and temperatures. Indiana took an early 7–0 lead, but Virginia Tech responded, taking a 14–7 lead with two touchdowns—one late in the first quarter, and the other early in the second. Indiana closed the gap to 14–13 with two field goals in the second. In the final 23 seconds of the first half, however, Virginia Tech scored an additional 14 points. Tech's defense recovered and returned a fumble 20 yards for a touchdown, then blocked a 51-yard field goal attempt and returned the ball 80 yards for the first blocked-kick touchdown in Virginia Tech history. After a scoreless third quarter, Virginia Tech scored 17 points in the fourth quarter to secure an insurmountable lead. Indiana scored one more touchdown and brought the game's final score to 45–20.
The game paid $700,000 to each team in exchange for their participation. The official attendance for the game was 33,819. Maurice DeShazo of Virginia Tech was named the game's offensive most valuable player (MVP), while Antonio Banks, also of Virginia Tech, was named the game's defensive MVP.
Several Independence Bowl records were set during the game, some of which still stand. Indiana's Thomas Lewis returned eight punts in the game and earned 177 receiving yards, including the third-longest pass in Independence Bowl History—a 75-yard reception from quarterback John Paci. Hokie Kicker Ryan Williams set the record for the most extra points in an Independence Bowl game with six, a mark that was tied during the 1995 Independence Bowl.
Team selection
Indiana
Indiana was coached by Bill Mallory, who would go on to accumulate the winningest record in IU football history.Indiana University Athletics Communications Department. "All-time head coaching records", 2006 IU Football Media Guide. (PDF p. 2) The Indiana Hoosiers football team ended the 1992 college football season with a record of 5–6, and prior to the 1993 season was picked to finish no better than eighth in the 11-team Big Ten conference during the regular season.Blanchard, Scott. "Out to prove itself, Tech tangles with Indiana today in Independence", The Roanoke Times. December 31, 1993. Page B5. From the start, however, Indiana set out to upset those expectations. Indiana raced out to a 3–0 record in the first three games of the season, with the third win coming against Southeastern Conference opponent Kentucky.Indiana University Athletics Communications Department. "Year-by-Year records", 2006 IU Football Media Guide. (PDF p. 27)
In the fourth week of the season, however, Indiana suffered its first loss: a 27–15 conference defeat at the hands of No. 22 Wisconsin. The Hoosiers recovered from the setback, however, and won their next four games—all of which were against Big Ten opponents. The fourth of those victories came against the Michigan State Spartans, who had replaced Wisconsin at the No. 22 spot in the country. Indiana held the Spartans scoreless in a tough defensive battle, earning a 10–0 victory. With a 7–1 record, Indiana appeared to be in position to compete for the Big Ten championship, but consecutive losses to highly ranked Penn State and Ohio State put an end to any thoughts of a championship. The Hoosiers ended the season with a 24–17 win over traditional rival Purdue and accepted a bid to the Independence Bowl.
Virginia Tech
The Virginia Tech Hokies football team ended the 1992 college football season with a record of 2–8–1.Virginia Tech Sports Information Department. Virginia Tech Past Football Schedules: 1992-1993. Hokiesports.com. Accessed September 17, 2008. Some Tech fans called for Tech head coach Frank Beamer's firing after the worst Tech football season since 1987, but Tech athletic director Dave Braine refused to do so.Bogaczyk, Jack. "The onus clearly on Beamer", The Roanoke Times. November 29, 1992. Page C1. After a shakeup that saw several assistant coaches replaced and new defensive and offensive formations implemented,Blanchard, Scott. "Beamer completes shakeup of football staff", The Roanoke Times. January 13, 1993. Page B4. Tech players and coaches promised a "complete turnaround" for the 1993 season.
In the first two games of the season, Tech followed through on that promise, winning 33–16 and 63–21 against Bowling Green and Pittsburgh, respectively.Virginia Tech Sports Information Department. Virginia Tech Past Football Schedules: 1993-1994. Hokiesports.com. Accessed September 17, 2008. A loss to No. 3 Miami followed, but a victory over Maryland in the game that followed gave Tech a 3–1 record, already better than its 1992 win total. After a close loss at No. 14 West Virginia that was determined by a missed last-second field goal by Tech placekicker Ryan Williams, the Hokies won five of their last six regular-season games. These wins included victories over Big East opponent Syracuse and No. 23 Virginia, Tech's traditional rival. With an 8–3 regular-season record and ranked No. 22 in the country by the Associated Press, Tech was extended an invitation to the Independence Bowl, its first bowl bid since the 1986 Peach Bowl.Bogaczyk, Jack. "Beamer plans to ring in '94 with style", The Roanoke Times. December 26, 1993. Page D1.
Pregame buildup
The matchup of No. 21 Indiana and No. 22 Virginia Tech was the first matchup of ranked teams in Independence Bowl history. Despite that fact, the bowl had difficulty selling tickets for the game. Slightly more than 33,000 tickets were sold by the day of the game, far less than the stadium's 50,459-seat capacity.Bogaczyk, Jack. "Independence still seeking respect", The Roanoke Times. December 31, 1993. Page B5. In exchange for their participation in the game, each team received $700,000, the minimum payout required by the NCAA at that time. Spread bettors favored Virginia Tech to win by three points. The matchup was Indiana's first time playing Virginia Tech, and was the first time Virginia Tech played any team from the Big Ten.
Virginia Tech's turnaround from a 2–8–1 season in 1992 was the largest single-season turnaround in school history and was the second-best in the country that year. Tech hoped to improve upon a 1–4 all-time record in bowl games, while Indiana hoped to do likewise for its 3–4 historical bowl-game record. In the week prior to the game, bad weather in Virginia caused travel delays that prevented many fans and the Virginia Tech marching band from arriving at the game early.Lee, Mara. "Tech band still hopes to slide to Shreveport", The Roanoke Times. December 30, 1993. Page NRV1. Two days prior to the Independence Bowl, Tech was shocked by the death of Dr. Richard Bullock, who served as the team's physician from 1971 to 1988. Bullock designed a special football neck protector worn by players during the 1980s and 1990s before being phased out in favor of more advanced padding.Bogaczyk, Jack. "Hokies mourn friend", The Roanoke Times. December 31, 1993. Page B9.
Indiana offense
Indiana's offense averaged 21.6 points and 320 total yards per game during the regular season, good enough for ninth in the Big Ten. As a whole, the Hoosiers accumulated 3,818 yards of offense before the Independence Bowl. 2,156 yards of this total were passing yards and came through the air, while the remaining 1,662 yards were gained by Indiana's running backs and fullbacks on the ground.Indiana University Athletics Communications Department. "Team Statistics: 1993", 2006 IU Football Media Guide. (PDF p. 36)
Indiana quarterback John Paci was the cornerstone of Indiana's offense, and completed 133 of 258 passes for 1,796 yards and eight touchdowns during the regular season. During the team's regular-season game against Penn State, Paci completed the longest passing play in Indiana history, completing a 99-yard pass to wide receiver Thomas Lewis for a touchdown. That play in part helped make Paci's performance against Penn State the fourth-highest single-game passing total for an Indiana quarterback in school history.Indiana University Athletics Communications Department. "Passing", 2006 IU Football Media Guide. (PDF p. 2) Paci suffered a separated shoulder during the regular season, but despite the injury, he was predicted to start at quarterback against Virginia Tech and undergo surgery following the Independence Bowl.
Paci's favorite passing target was wide receiver Thomas Lewis, who completed the regular season having caught 55 passes for 1,058 yards and seven touchdowns.Indiana University Athletics Communications Department. "Receiving: Yearly Leaders", 2006 IU Football Media Guide. (PDF p. 6) Lewis' 1,058 receiving yards were the second most ever accumulated by an Indiana player, and his 285 receiving yards in the Hoosiers' game against Penn State were the most in a single game by an Indiana player in school history.Indiana University Athletics Communications Department. "Receiving", 2006 IU Football Media Guide. (PDF p. 6) On the ground, Indiana's offense was led by running back Jermaine Chaney, who finished the regular season with 186 carries for 716 yards and six touchdowns.Indiana University Athletics Communications Department. "Rushing: Yearly Leaders", 2006 IU Football Media Guide. (PDF p. 2)
Virginia Tech offense
Virginia Tech's offense was ranked 11th nationally in scoring, averaging 36.4 points per game, and 10th in rushing offense, averaging 242.8 yards per game. The totals were the most recorded to that point by a Virginia Tech offense.Blanchard, Scott. "Hokies keeping all their options open", The Roanoke Times. December 29, 1993. Page B4. That high-ranking rushing attack was led by Dwayne Thomas, who accumulated 1,130 yards and 11 touchdowns during the regular season. Thomas' 11 touchdowns were the most for a Tech running back since 1969.Virginia Tech Sports Information Department. 2008 Virginia Tech football Media Guide, "Year-by-Year rushing leaders" . (PDF p. 4) Accessed September 19, 2008. Page 158. Thomas was ably assisted by a capable offensive line anchored by center Jim Pyne, who earned consensus All-America honors in recognition of his performance. By being named to every All-America team in the country, Pyne became the first consensus All-American in Virginia Tech history.Virginia Tech Sports Information Department. 2008 Virginia Tech football Media Guide, "Hokie All-Americans" . (PDF p. 19) Accessed September 19, 2008. Page 173.
Tech quarterback Maurice DeShazo was also a major part of the record-breaking Tech offense. DeShazo threw 22 touchdown passes during the regular season, setting what was then a school record. He completed 129 of 230 passes for 2,080 yards and seven interceptions in addition to the touchdown record.Virginia Tech Sports Information Department. 2008 Virginia Tech football Media Guide, "Year-by-Year passing leaders" . (PDF p. 6) Accessed September 19, 2008. Page 160. DeShazo's favorite target passing the ball was wide receiver Antonio Freeman, who set a Tech record with nine touchdown receptions during the regular season. Freeman caught 32 passes for 644 yards in addition to the touchdown mark.Virginia Tech Sports Information Department. 2008 Virginia Tech football Media Guide, "Year-by-Year receiving leaders" . (PDF p. 7) Accessed September 19, 2008. Page 161.
Indiana defense