1981 Independence Bowl
The 1981 Independence Bowl was played in Shreveport, Louisiana on December 12, 1981, pitting the Texas A&M Aggies against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Texas A&M, coached by Tom Wilson, defeated Oklahoma State, coached by Jimmy Johnson, by a score of 33–16. The Aggies' MVP was quarterback Gary Kubiak; Oklahoma State’s MVP was linebacker Mike Green. Attendance was 48,600, and Mizlou Network carried the game.
Oklahoma State jumped out to a 10–0 lead in the first quarter, but Texas A&M answered with field goals and two long touchdown catches by Jimmie Williams and Gary Kubiak to lead 20–10 at halftime. A Texas A&M field goal stretched the lead to 23–10 after three quarters. In the fourth quarter, Texas A&M added a 4-yard touchdown run by Johnny Hector to make it 33–10, and Vince Orange added a 5-yard score to finish at 33–16.
Kubiak completed 15 of 20 passes for 225 yards, and Williams had five receptions for 118 yards.
After the season, Texas A&M fired Wilson due to a 21–19 four-year record and hired Jackie Sherrill. The Cowboys would reach one more bowl game under Johnson and four more before the decade ended. Texas A&M returned to the Independence Bowl in 2000, and Oklahoma State returned in 2006.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 02:32 (CET).