2009 Sugar Bowl

2009 Allstate Sugar Bowl
BCS Bowl Game
75th Sugar Bowl

Sugar Bowl 75th Anniversary logo
1234 Total
Utah 21073 31
Alabama 01070 17
Date January 2, 2009
Season 2008
Stadium Louisiana Superdome
Location New Orleans, Louisiana
MVP QB Brian Johnson, Utah
Favorite Alabama by 10[1]
National anthem Shades of Praise Choir New Orleans, LA
Referee Scott Novak (Big XII)
Halftime show The Pride of Utah
Million Dollar Band
Attendance 71,872
Payout US$17,500,000 per team[2]
United States TV coverage
Network FOX
Announcers Kenny Albert play-by-play
Darryl Johnston color
Charissa Thompson sideline
Chris Myers sideline
Nielsen ratings 7.8 (13.369 millions, up 11%)[3]

The 2009 Allstate Sugar Bowl was the 75th annual edition of the annual college football bowl game that is part of the 2008–09 bowl season of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The game was played on Friday, January 2, 2009[4] at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana between the Utah Utes, champions of the Mountain West Conference, and the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference.[5]

The Sugar Bowl usually takes the champion of the SEC and pits them against an At-Large BCS team. However with the 2008 SEC Champion, Florida Gators being selected to play for the national championship game, the Sugar Bowl selected two At-Large BCS teams. The bowl kept their traditional ties with the Southeastern Conference for the second consecutive year though, in selecting the Alabama Crimson Tide with an at-large selection.

In the 2009 edition of this bowl game, the No. 6 Utes pulled off an upset of the heavily favored No. 4 Crimson Tide by a score of 31–17. Utah quarterback Brian Johnson was named Most Outstanding Player of the game. With this win, Utah completed the 2008 season as the only undefeated, 13–0 Division I FBS team in the nation, along with becoming the first team from a non-BCS conference to win two BCS bowls. It was also Utah's first win over a Southeastern Conference school.[6] Andre Smith(Alabama starting left Tackle and 2008 Outland Trophy winner) was suspended for the game because he declined to cooperate with an investigation by the school's compliance staff on the issue with his uncle's illegal contact with a sport's agent. A few days later, he declared himself for the NFL Draft and was the 6th overall pick.[7]

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring Information[8]Score
Length Time Utah Alabama
1 11:02 5 plays, 68 yards 1:19 Utah Brent Casteel 7–yard reception from Brian Johnson, Louie Sakoda kick good 7 0
8:37 5 plays, 32 yards 1:37 Utah Matt Asiata 2–yard rush, Louie Sakoda kick good 14 0
4:01 7 plays, 65 yards 1:57 Utah Bradon Godfrey 18–yard reception from Brian Johnson, Louie Sakoda kick good 21 0
2 14:55 7 plays, 23 yards 4:06 Alabama Leigh Tiffin 52–yard field goal 21 3
5:28 0 plays, 0 yards 0:00 Alabama Javier Arenas 73–yard punt return, Leigh Tiffin kick good 21 10
3 11:41 7 plays, 30 yards 3:05 Alabama Glen Coffee 4–yard reception from John Parker Wilson, Leigh Tiffin kick good 21 17
10:04 7 plays, 71 yards 1:37 Utah David Reed 28–yard reception from Brian Johnson, Louie Sakoda kick good 28 17
4 2:49 7 plays, 31 yards 2:24 Utah Louie Sakoda 28–yard field goal 31 17
Final Score 31 17

References

  1. "College Football Lines". Maddux Sports. Archived from the original on 19 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  2. "BCS Bowl Facts". Fox Sports. 2008-12-15. Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  3. Mandel, Stewart (2009-01-05). "Ratings are proof the addition of fifth BCS game officially a failure". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  4. "Sugar Bowl Preview". The Spread. 2008-12-16. Archived from the original on 29 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  5. "Utah-Alabama Preview". ESPN. Archived from the original on 18 December 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-22.
  6. Dinich, Heather (2009-01-02). "Whittingham, Utes believe they deserve consideration for national title". ESPN. Archived from the original on 17 January 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
  7. Andre Smith (offensive tackle)
  8. "Utah Utes vs. Alabama Crimson Tide (Jan 02, 2009)". University of Alabama Athletics Media Relations. 2009-01-02. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
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