| 1996 Builders Square Alamo Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowl Game | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date | December 29, 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Season | 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stadium | Alamodome | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | San Antonio, Texas | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States TV coverage | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Network | ESPN | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Announcers: | Ron Franklin and Mike Gottfried | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alamo Bowl
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The 1996 edition to the Alamo Bowl featured the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Texas Tech had gone into the game as the heavy favorite, behind Running Back Byron Hanspard, and his rushing game, however, Hanspard suffered a personal record of takles.
Iowa opened the scoring with a 1 yard touchdown run from quarterback Matt Sherman, opening up a 6-0 lead. In the second quarter, Sedrick Shaw rushed 20 yards for a touchdown. The ensuing 2 point conversion attempt was successful, and Iowa built a 14-0 lead. Zach Bromert added field goals of 36 and 26 yards, as Iowa's lead ballooned to 20-0. In the fourth quarter, Rodney Filer scored on a 14 yard touchdown run making the final score 27-0, Iowa.
The win was somewhat bittersweet for Iowa, as linebacker Mark Mitchell had lost his mother in a fatal car accident while she drove to San Antonio to attend what would be her son's final collegiate game. Therefore, as a symbolic gesture of mourning, the entire Iowa team stripped their helmets of all markings, the game ball was also given to Mitchell.
Iowa 27 vs Texas Tech 0
Iowa Shutouts Texas Tech in Return To San Antonio
Attendance: 55677
MVPs: Sedrick Shaw, Running Back, Iowa (Offense) Jared DeVries, Defensive End, Iowa (Defense)
Awards: Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Award: Shane Dunn, Offensive Tackle, Texas Tech
Coaches: Hayden Fry (Iowa) Spike Dykes (Texas Tech)
Highlights: Iowa's Sedrick Shaw rushes for 113 yards as Hawkeyes notch first shutout in Alamo Bowl history.
TV Rating: 3.8
TV Coverage: ESPN
The (#21) Iowa Hawkeyes redeemed their 37-3 loss to California in the inaugural Builders Square Alamo Bowl in 1993 with a dominating 27-0 victory over Texas Tech in the Fourth Annual Builders Square Alamo Bowl. The second-largest crowd ever gathered for the Builders Square Alamo Bowl at the time (55,677) witnessed Iowa's domination as 12 bowl records were shattered or tied.
Texas Tech`s nationally-ranked offensive unit would never get off the ground as the Iowa defense dominated from the very beginning. star line backer Roderick Davis recorded 10 tackles and a fumble recovery and break out freshman Jason Cavaliere who led the way with 7 tackles, 2 sacks and a forced fumble. Running back and Doak Walker Award Winner Byron Hanspard was held to just 64 yards rushing on 18 carries after averaging 200-plus yards a game during the regular season. Texas Tech quarterback Zebbie Lethridge was sacked a bowl-record five times and limited to minus-four yards rushing on 12 carries.
The original predictions saw Iowa as the underdog, matched up against a strong 3 1/2-point favored Texas Tech. But after a Plez Atkins interception of Lethridge early in the first quarter, Sedrick Shaw, an Austin, Texas native, would punch into the end zone on a one-yard run. The Red Raiders never recovered as Shaw would surpass the Builders Square Alamo Bowl`s rushing record with his 113 yards on the ground.
Part of that performance followed in the second quarter, as quarterback Matt Sherman led the Hawkeyes on 10 plays down to the Red Raider 20 to set up the second of Shaw`s touchdowns. Shaw`s 20-yard sprint with 5:30 to go in the second quarter, however, would not stand as the final score of the half. A last-second drive of 60 yards allowed kicker Zach Bromert to connect on a 36 yard field goal as time expired to comfortably put the Hawkeyes up 17-0 at the half.
After a scoreless third quarter, Iowa would again position themselves for another field goal. With 10:36 remaining in the game, Bromert connected from 26 yards out to put the Big Ten representatives up 20-0.
Later, Rodney Filer, Aaron Granquist and Tavian Banks would each contribute runs of 12, 13 and 15 yards, respectively, in a 14-play, 99-yard drive resulting in Filer`s 14-yard scoring dash with 2:09 remaining in the game.
Shaw`s record-setting performance would garner him Offensive MVP honors before his "home" crowd and Freshman line Backer Jason Cavaliere, who registered two of Iowa`s five sacks, would receive Defensive MVP honors. Texas Tech offensive lineman Shane Dunn would receive the Fred Jacoby Sportsmanship Award.
Those observing the Builders Square Alamo Bowl Week knew the true meaning behind this victory. On the Friday before the game, Iowa linebacker Mark Mitchell received word that his family, en route to San Antonio to see his last collegiate performance, was part of an auto accident that would result in his mother`s death and severe injuries to his father and two brothers. The Hawkeyes dedicated their victory to the Mitchell family, wearing blank black helmets previously bearing the traditional gold "Tigerhawk" logo and stripe.
The Hawkeyes finished the 1996 season ranked No. 18 in the country with a 9-3 record. The victory was also the first by the Big Ten Conference in the Builders Square Alamo Bowl in its three attempts, dating back to Iowa`s 1993 appearance in San Antonio. The Red Raiders, shut out for the first time since 1987, would complete their inaugural season in the Big 12 Conference at 7-5.
The Iowa Hawkeyes destroyed several offensive records. Receiver Tim Dwight set records for longest pass reception (51 yards) and most receptions (six), while Sedrick Shaw set a rushing record of 113 yards. The Iowa offense established a team rushing record of 217 yards. The Iowa defense also set several bowl records including recording the most sacks for a team (five), the most sacks individually (Jason Cavaliere with two) and holding Texas Tech to fewest points (0).
Both teams shared the title of longest punt as Nick Gallery of Iowa and Jeremy Hernandez of Texas Tech reached 59 yards. Gallery would also record the highest bowl punting average of 52.0 yards. Texas Tech's Stacy Mitchell set the longest kickoff return record at 45 yards. The Fourth Annual Builders Square Alamo Bowl attracted the second-largest bowl attendance to date with 55,647. The ESPN broadcast received a 3.8 rating that translated into an audience of 4.3 million.
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