Nebraska vs. Mississippi in the MainStay Independence Bowl Dec. 27 Courtesy IndependenceBowl.org December 25, 2002 ON THE HUSKER MENU: OLE MISS REBELS Nebraska looks for positive Independence Bowl performance to jump start momentum for next season By Jim D. Berryman MissingNebraska.com Call it phase one in the renovation of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The Huskers, who have gone through a season like no other in recent memory, limp into the MainStay Independence Bowl in Shreveport Friday to face Ole Miss. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 pm central. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN. The Huskers are still smarting from a painful, uncharacteristic 7-6 season, which included two straight losses to bitter rivals Kansas State and Colorado to close out the year. But even though the Huskers are unranked, unappreciated, and unwelcome in a major BCS bowl, there are reasons to be hopeful with what happens on the field in Shreveport. With a victory, Nebraska gets a much-needed confidence builder heading into a new and fresh football season with lots of new coaching faces on the field. Consider the Independence Bowl as the first building block in the renovation of one of the most storied football programs in all of football. Ole Miss is 6-6 going into the bowl game and a mystery to many Husker fans. The Rebels' quarterback is no mystery, however. Especially when you hear his last name. Eli Manning, younger brother of Tennessee star Payton Manning, hopes to put up big passing numbers vs. the Husker Blackshirts to obtain a winning season for the Rebels. Nebraska is in Shreveport now enjoying somewhat milder temperatures than what they would be experiencing in Lincoln right now. One Omaha World Herald article below compares Shreveport to Omaha. We are interested in hearing your MainStay Independence Bowl experiences. Please post on our message board for our many visitors to enjoy. Shreveport Show & Tell HUSKER INDEPENDENCE HQ Latest links, stories, pics of the Husker trip to Shreveport NEBRASKA vs. MISSISSIPPI 12-27-02: Welcome to the Redemption Bowl More from LJS 12-27-02: Exactly which team will show up today? More from LJS 12-27-02: Sea of red spotty More from LJS 12-27-02: One more Husker streak is on line More from OWH 12-26-02: Battle of the quarterbacks More from GII 12-26-02: Huskers already eyeing next year More from Jackson, MS Clarion Ledger 12-26-02: Rattling Rebels' QB isn't an easy task More from LJS 12-26-02: Bowl offers NU one more chance More from OWH 12-26-02: Husker bowl foes protective of QB More from LJS 12-25-02: Just call it Omaha, La. More from OWH 12-25-02: ESPN Independence Bowl Preview Details 12-21-02: Rebel Royalty: Eli Manning adds to legacy More from LJS 12-21-02: Solich says Huskers coaches will call plays by committee More from OWH 12-20-02: Husker fans not bowled over More from OWH 12-18-02: Ole Miss eager to take on NU More from OWH 12-10-02: Early ticket requests at a trickle for NU's bowl More from OWH 12-09-02: Undaunted, football fans prepare for Independence More from LJS 12-09-02: Huskers paired with Rebels in Independence More from LJS 12-08-02: Huskers Shreveport-bound to meet Ole Miss More from OWH 12-08-02: Bowl bid keeps Nebraska streak alive More from AP Who's Playing Who? All Bowl Games Huskers on ESPN.com Husker Hot Pics Photos from AP Husker Game Watch Locations Nationwide