2009 Sugar - Profiles, History & More

Player profiles, team history, the breakout players, the best bowl moments and more for the 2009 Sugar Bowl.

Sugar Bowl History

2008	Georgia 41, Hawaii 10
2007	LSU 41, Notre Dame 14
2006	West Virginia 38, Georgia 35
2005	Auburn 16, Virginia Tech 13
2004	LSU 21, Oklahoma 14
2003	Georgia 26, Florida State 13
2002	LSU 47, Illinois 34
2001	Miami 37, Florida 20
2000	Florida St 46, Virginia Tech 29
1999	Ohio State 24, Texas A&M 14
1998	Florida State 31, Ohio State 14
1997	Florida 52, Florida State 20
1995	Virginia Tech 28, Texas 10
1995	Florida State 23, Florida 17
1994	Florida 41, West Virginia 7
1993	Alabama 34, Miami (Fla.) 13
1992	Notre Dame 39, Florida 28
1991	Tennessee 23, Virginia 22
1990	Miami 33, Alabama 25
1989	Florida State 13, Auburn 7
1988	Auburn 16, Syracuse 16
1987	Nebraska 30, LSU 15
1986	Tennessee 35, Miami 7
1985	Nebraska 28, LSU 10
1984	Auburn 9, Michigan 7
1983	Penn State 27, Georgia 23
1982	Pittsburgh 24, Georgia 20
1981	Georgia 17, Notre Dame 10
1980	Alabama 24, Arkansas 9
1979	Alabama 14, Penn State 7
1978	Alabama 35, Ohio State 6
1977	Pittsburgh 27, Georgia 3
1975	Alabama 13, Penn State 6
1974	Nebraska 13, Florida 10
1973	Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23
1972	Oklahoma 40, Auburn 22
1972	Oklahoma 14, Penn State 0
1971	Tennessee 34, Air Force 13
1970	Mississippi 27, Arkansas 22
1969	Arkansas 16, Georgia 2
1968	LSU 20, Wyoming 13
1967	Alabama 34, Nebraska 7
1966	Missouri 20, Florida 18
1965	LSU 13, Syracuse 10
1964	Alabama 12, Mississippi 7
1963	Mississippi 17, Arkansas 3
1962	Alabama 10, Arkansas 3
1961	Mississippi 14, Rice 6
1960	Mississippi 21, LSU 0
1959	LSU 7, Clemson 0
1958	Mississippi 39, Texas 7
1957	Baylor 13, Tennessee 7
1956	Georgia Tech 7, Pittsburgh 0
1955	Navy 21, Mississippi 0
1954	Georgia Tech 42, W Virginia 19
1953	Georgia Tech 24, Mississippi 7
1952	Maryland 28, Tennessee 13
1951	Kentucky 13, Oklahoma 7
1950	Oklahoma 35, LSU 0
1949	Oklahoma 14, North Carolina 6
1948	Texas 27, Alabama 7
1947	Georgia 20, North Carolina 10
1946	Oklahoma State 33, St Mary's (Colorado) 13
1945	Duke 29, Alabama 26
1944	Georgia Tech 20, Tulsa 18
1943	Tennessee 14, Tulsa 7
1942	Fordham 2, Missouri 0
1941	Boston Coll 19, Tennessee 13
1940	Texas A&M 14, Tulane 13
1939	TCU 15, Carnegie Mellon 7
1938	Santa Clara 6, LSU 0
1937	Santa Clara 21, LSU 14
1936	TCU 3, LSU 2
1935	Tulane 20, Temple 14

2009 AllState Sugar Bowl History & Profile

Utah (12-0) vs. Alabama (12-1)

January 2nd, 8:00 p.m. ET, Fox

Get Tickets for the Sugar Bowl

- 2009 CFN Sugar Bowl Preview

Scroll Down For Each Team's Bowl History

By Richard Cirminiello

Best Ute Bowl Moment: Four years ago, the Utes set the bowl bar pretty doggone high for future teams to reach. Utah got four touchdown passes from Alex Smith, adding an exclamation point to a perfect regular season by completely obliterating Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. The win more than justified the Utes’ selection as the first non-BCS program to ever get invited to a BCS bowl game.   
 
Best Crimson Tide Bowl Moment: With an NCAA-record 54 invites and 31 victories, you can make a credible argument for about a dozen different games. By a sliver, the nod here goes to the 1979 Sugar Bowl over the 1993 Sugar Bowl. Both produced national championships, but the 14-7 win over top-ranked Penn State more than a quarter century ago featured an epic, game-saving goal line stand from the ‘Bama D that’s etched in the memory of everyone that witnessed it.

The Last Time You'll See ...

Alabama: LT Andre Smith. Or won’t see, since he was suspended. Smith was thinking long and hard about his future. So were the agents and NFL teams that want a piece of the 6-4, 330-pound fortress on the left side of the ‘Bama line. He’s the prototype at the position, combining immense power in the running game with the light feet of an ace pass protector. Once it sinks in that he could be one of the top five picks in April’s draft, he’ll likely forego his final year of eligibility in Tuscaloosa.
 
Utah: QB Brian Johnson. The inspirational leader of the Ute program finally got a chance to show what he can do when healthy for an entire season. As a swan song to a rollercoaster ride in Salt Lake City, Johnson has thrown for a career-high 24 touchdown passes, while leading the program to a perfect regular season. With the pressure escalating late in the year, he elevated his game, authoring a masterpiece in the blowout of rival BYU.
 
Breakout Player ...

Utah: WR David Reed. Reed came on late in his first season out of Pasadena City (Calif.) College, and is poised to be the Utes’ go-to receiver in 2009. The team’s long-ball threat, he’s caught 23 passes for 369 yards and five touchdowns, with most of the big plays coming in November. He’s got the speed and improving ball skills to be a 50-catch guy once Freddie Brown, Brent Casteel, and Bradon Godfrey are off campus.
 
Alabama: LB Dont’a Hightower. It’s early, but Hightower looks like he has the potential to be the second coming of teammate Rolando McClain at Alabama. A big, physical linebacker who runs well, he’s already made an instant impact on the Tide D as a true freshman. A starter at weakside since September, he’s gobbled up 62 tackles almost entirely on raw ability. Once Hightower has a better grasp of where to be on the field, he’ll have all-league potential. 
 
Best Non-Game Event
The Allstate Sugar Bowl fan fest is an annual favorite with fans. It's held in the French Quarter near Jax Brewery and includes live music, interactive games, food, and appearances by the bands and cheerleaders of both schools. This year's Fan Fest dates are Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. In conjunction with the celebration of the Sugar Bowl's 75^th anniversary, the Bowl will also host a Legends Luncheon on Jan. 2. At that event, former Sugar Bowl head coaches and MVPs will be honored and recognized.

Player Gift Package
Players will receive a Sony blu-ray disc player, a Sony Walkman digital MP3 player, and a custom watch.

Charitable Component
The Sugar Bowl Committee supports the efforts of a number of different entities in the New Orleans area, including City Park, the New Orleans Recreation Department, and several local colleges and universities.

How Success is Measured
All bowls receive postgame reports from the institutions participating in the game. Positive remarks from these primary constituents are important in measuring the game’s efforts.  The Sugar Bowl also conducts an economic impact study annually and high numbers on that report are viewed favorably as well.

MVP of the Bowl
The Allstate Sugar Bowl is a total team effort among local businesses, sponsors, committee members, and staff. The efforts of these groups and others are vital to the standing the bowl has earned in its industry.

Impact to the Community
It provides a tremendous boost for the New Orleans and Louisiana economies. Recent studies show the game averages $175 million in impact annually and last year, as the game hosted both the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the Allstate BCS National Championship, that figure grew to more than $400 million.

Role of Volunteers
The Sugar Bowl Committee, a group of 125 volunteers, is the lifeblood of the organization. For 75 years, the efforts of these committee members have been invaluable in carrying out the many tasks involved in the operation of what has become a first-rate BCS game.

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Utah Bowl History (10-4)

2007	Poinsettia	Utah 35, Navy 32
2006	Armed Forces	Utah 25, Tulsa 13
2005	Emerald	Utah 38, Georgia Tech 10
2004	Fiesta	Utah 35, Pitt 7
2003	Liberty	Utah 17, Southern Miss 0
2001	Las Vegas	Utah 10, USC 6
1999	Las Vegas	Utah 17, Fresno State 16
1996	Copper	Wisconsin 38, Utah 10
1994	Freedom	Utah 16, Arizona 13
1993	Freedom	USC 28, Utah 21
1992	Copper	Washington St 31, Utah 28
1964	Liberty	Utah 32, West Virginia 6
1946	Pineapple	Hawaii 19, Utah 16
1938	Sun	Utah 26, New Mexico 0

Alabama Bowl History (14-21-1)

2007	Independence	Alabama 30, Colorado 24
2006	Independence	Oklahoma State 34, Alabama 31
2005	Cotton	Alabama 13, Texas Tech 10
2004	Music City	Minnesota 20, Alabama 16
2001	Independence	Alabama 14, Iowa State 13
1999	Orange	Michigan 35, Alabama 34
1997	Music City	Virginia Tech 38, Alabama 7
1996	Outback	Alabama 17, Michigan 14
1994	Citrus	Alabama 24, Ohio State 17
1993	Gator	Alabama 24, North Carolina 10
1992	Sugar	Alabama 34, Miami 13
1991	Blockbuster	Alabama 30, Colorado 25
1990	Fiesta	Louisville 34, Alabama 7
1989	Sugar	Miami 33, Alabama 25
1988	Sun	Alabama 29, Army 28
1987	Hall of Fame	Michigan 28, Alabama 24
1986	Sun	Alabama 28, Washington 6
1985	Aloha	Alabama 24, USC 3
1983	Sun	Alabama 28, SMU 7
1982	Liberty	Alabama 21, Illinois 15
1981	Cotton	Texas 14, Alabama 12
1980	Cotton	Alabama 30, Baylor 2
1979	Sugar	Alabama 24, Arkansas 9
1978	Sugar	Alabama 14, Penn State 7
1977	Sugar	Alabama 35, Ohio State 6
1976	Liberty	Alabama 36, UCLA 6
1975	Sugar	Alabama 13, Penn State 6
1974	Orange	Notre Dame 13, Alabama 11
1973	Sugar	Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23
1972	Cotton	Texas 17, Alabama 13
1971	Orange	Nebraska 38, Alabama 6
1970	Bluebonnet	Alabama 24, Oklahoma 24
1969	Liberty	Colorado 47, Alabama 33
1968	Gator	Missouri 35, Alabama 10
1967	Cotton	Texas A&M 20, Alabama 16
1966	Sugar	Alabama 34, Nebraska 7
1965	Orange	Alabama 39, Nebraska 28
1964	Orange	Texas 21, Alabama 17
1963	Sugar	Alabama 12, Ole Miss 7
1962	Orange	Alabama 17, Oklahoma 0
1961	Sugar	Alabama 10, Arkansas 3
1960	Bluebonnet	Alabama 3, Texas 3
1959	Liberty	Penn State 7, Alabama 0
1953	Cotton	Rice 28, Alabama 6
1952	Orange	Alabama 61, Syracuse 6
1947	Sugar	Texas 27, Alabama 7
1945	Rose	Alabama 34, USC 14
1944	Sugar	Duke 29, Alabama 26
1942	Orange	Alabama 37, Boston College 21
1941	Cotton	Alabama 29, Texas A&M 21
1937	Rose	California 13, Alabama 0
1934	Rose	Alabama 29, Stanford 13
1930	Rose	Alabama 24, Washington State 0
1926	Rose	Alabama 7, Stanford 7
1925	Rose	Alabama 20, Washington 19