Sadie Robertson Offers Opening Prayer at Duck Bowl, Entire 'Duck Dynasty' Cast Pitches in

By Emma Koonse, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, January 06, 2015

Willie Robertson of the reality television show 'Duck Dynasty' speak at the Walmart Stores, U.S. associates meeting in Fayetteville, Ark., June 5, 2013. — Willie Robertson of the reality television show "Duck Dynasty" speak at the Walmart Stores, U.S. associates meeting in Fayetteville, Ark., June 5, 2013. | (Photo: Reuters/Rick Wilking)

"Duck Dynasty" stars including Sadie, Missy, Willie, Si and Phil Robertson all attended the Duck Commander Independence Bowl over the holidays and conducted many of the game's ceremonies together.

The Dec. 27 bowl game between the South Carolina Gamecocks and the Miami Hurricanes featured several appearances from the famous family who played an active role throughout the match. While Sadie Robertson offered the pre-game prayer, Missy Robertson sang the National Anthem with her sons, Reed and Cole. Moreover, Uncle Si Robertson performed the pre-game coin toss and Willie Robertson presented the trophy to the winning team.

"It's fun that the whole family came over," Willie told KTVE at the time. "We all did this together, like we do most things. I just was tickled that Missy and them sang and Sadie said the prayer, that's the way we do it in the Robertson family, we all work together as a team."

Willie serves as CEO of his family's business, Duck Commander, which sells duck calls and other equipment. Patriarch Phil Robertson was also in attendance at the college bowl game, but the 68-year-old supported his family from the sidelines.

There had reportedly been protests over Duck Commander's sponsorship of the Independence Bowl after Phil's comments about homosexuality during an interview with GQ in Dec. 2013. The comments even caused A&E to suspend Phil from "Duck Dynasty," but conservative supporters' protests quickly reversed the decision. Despite the controversial statements, the same Robertson family teamwork will be applied to the next Independence Bowl; in fact, the "Duck Dynasty" stars have agreed to sponsor the event through 2019.

"The Independence Bowl is proud Duck Commander has agreed to become our new title sponsor," John Hubbard, the current Bowl chairman said, according to CNS News. "Their success has been phenomenal. As we both explored this opportunity, it was clear this national and growing worldwide success could help bring new business relationships to the Independence Bowl and enable us to showcase Louisiana as a Sportsman's Paradise."