Advertisement

Duck Commander no longer Independence Bowl sponsor

Dec 27, 2014; Shreveport, LA, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) looks to pass as South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Gerald Dixon (44) pressures during the first half in the 2014 Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium. (Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports)
Dec 27, 2014; Shreveport, LA, USA; Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya (15) looks to pass as South Carolina Gamecocks defensive end Gerald Dixon (44) pressures during the first half in the 2014 Independence Bowl at Independence Stadium. (Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports)

The Independence Bowl is looking for a sponsor yet again.

The bowl agreed to a letter of intent with Duck Commander (of Duck Dynasty fame) last February, but the two sides never signed a contract. The 2014 Independence Bowl was played under those circumstances and a multi-year agreement was never reached. Now the Independence Bowl is headed “back to the drawing board.”

“After reviewing everything, the model that was presented to them didn't work in the end and we're going back to the drawing board,” said outgoing Independence Bowl chairman Paul Pratt. “We're still working with them with a post-game review to see if we can put in place a financial mechanism that works for them and the bowl.

"We're currently in the market for a new title sponsor. We officially, as of (Tuesday) started to look at a search firm to go out and find us either local or national sponsor, but out goal is to have a 2015 Independence Bowl game.”

According to the Shreveport Times, the bowl, which is played at Independence Stadium in Shreveport, had a “unique agreement” with Duck Commander.

Unlike most title sponsors, Duck Commander did not make a lump sum payment to become the title sponsor. Bowl officials hoped to leverage the Duck Commander brand to bring some of its partners to the bowl for sponsorship and revenue opportunities.

After South Carolina knocked off Miami in last season’s game, Pratt expressed a sense of urgency concerning the contract with Duck Commander.

"We have to see if this is a good fit. It might not be," Pratt told The Times in December. "We have bills to pay. I don't want to be here when we don't have a bowl.

"The agreement is still fluid, that's why we have to go back and hammer this out. There are terms must be met. We need to get a real contract."

Before its lone season with Duck Commander, the Independence Bowl was sponsored by AdvoCare, PetroSun, Mainstay Suites, Sanford and Poulan.

- - - - - - -

Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!