Four Downs with I-Bowl Chairman Frank Auer

1st Down: When and how did you first get involved with the Independence Bowl Foundation?

I attended the bowl regularly for several years when a friend of mine, Jack Andres, took me to lunch and asked me to help the Bowl with a new service it decided to offer: corporate tents to be set up on the South mezzanine.  I was eager to help the bowl, which is such an important event in Northwest Louisiana each year, so I agreed.  After getting that offering going for a few years, I was asked to serve in a number of different capacities, including hospitality of the teams and various game day activities.  After several years, I decided I would like to take on the challenge of overall foundation growth.

2nd Down: How have you seen the Foundation grow and change during your years of involvement? 

I have seen the membership of the bowl change and broaden.  It is so encouraging to see young people and people of different backgrounds working together to achieve the growth and longevity of the 11th oldest college football bowl game.

3rd Down: What are some of your fondest memories or highlights of the Independence Bowl?

Three great memories include General Omar Bradley attending the bowl himself, the Army vs. Auburn game in 1996, and the 2000 “Snow Bowl” of Mississippi State vs. Texas A&M.

4th Down: What are you most looking forward to in your year as Chairman, and what are your key goals?

I have two goals for this year.  The first is to establish a long term relationship with an outstanding corporate partner, and the second is to grow the membership of the Foundation.  We are making great progress relative to the bowl sponsor and I am challenging people to bring a friend to each of the bowl events in order to grow Foundation membership.  The pandemic is obviously putting some constraints on the number of in-person meetings we will hold, but I am encouraged by comments from Foundation members about people they intend to invite to our next meeting.  I believe we will grow the Foundation this year in spite of the pandemic.  The bowl is understood by so many people as a key opportunity for Shreveport-Bossier to showcase its benefits to a national audience!