By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

The intensity of game week begins today for the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl teams.

The California Bears and Texas Tech Red Raiders will arrive in Shreveport and meet for the first time this evening at the Big Game Welcome Party at Riverview Hall on Clyde Fant Parkway in Shreveport.

The teams collide at 8:15 Saturday night at Independence Stadium.

The head coaches, Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire and Cal’s Justin Wilcox, and a handful of their players will meet local media in sessions this afternoon. Cal will practice at the stadium at 2 o’clock.

The teams and their entourages will finally get their much-anticipated feast of Louisiana food tonight with the fare including smoked whole hog, bacon-wrapped alligator, jambalaya, Louisiana Gulf shrimp and king cake at the welcome party, before players represent their teams in TV game show-like competition with the overall points winning team earning the Bowl Week Belt.

Thursday’s slate begins early with the annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Breakfast, also at the Riverview Hall, at 7:30 a.m.

That afternoon, both teams will visit the Holy Angels facility, an independent non-profit organization that provides support and care for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Both squads will also go through their last full-speed workouts before the game, which apparently will dodge a rainy forecast with precipitation projected to leave the area Saturday morning.

For more information and the complete bowl week schedule, visit the RadianceTechnologiesIndependenceBowl.com website or call the bowl office at 318-221-0712.

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com