1993 Sugar Bowl

NCAAFootballSingleGameHeader
Name=Sugar Bowl
Year=1993
Type=ncg
Date=January 1, 1993
Stadium=Louisiana Superdome
City=New Orleans, Louisiana
Visitor Name Short=Alabama
Visitor Nickname=Crimson Tide
Home Name Short=Miami
Home Nickname=Hurricanes
Visitor Record=12–0
Home Record=11–0
Visitor Coach=Gene Stallings
Home Coach=Dennis Erickson
Visitor1=3
Visitor2=10
Visitor3=14
Visitor4=7
Home1=3
Home2=3
Home3=0
Home4=7
Visitor

Visitor Coaches=2
Home

Home Coaches=1
Attendance=76,789
MVP=Alabama RB Derrick Lassic [cite web| url=http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19930102&slug=1677874| title=Tide washes away Miami mystique -- sweet Sugar victory for Alabama| publisher="The Seattle Times"| date=1993-01-02| accessdate=2008-09-09]
US Network=ABC Sports
US Announcers=Keith Jackson
Odds=Miami favored by 8 pointsThe 1993 Sugar Bowl took place on January 1, 1993, in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. It served as the final game and the National Championship of the 1992-93 college football season. The game featured two unbeaten teams in the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Miami Hurricanes. This game marked the first National Championship selected by the Bowl Coalition, a predecessor to the current Bowl Championship Series.

Alabama was sent to the National Championship following their 28–21 victory over the Florida Gators in the innagural SEC Championship Game. Miami, from the Big East, was led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Gino Torretta.

Though Miami were favorites to claim the victory, Alabama's defense held the Hurricanes to just 13 points, while intercepting Torretta three times, en route to a 34–13 victory to claim their 12th National Championship. Alabama rushed for 267 yards–67 more yards than the Hurricanes had allowed all season.

A legendary play in Alabama football lore, known as "The Strip", [cite web| url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/highschools/content/sports/epaper/2008/08/13/a1c_thomas_0814.html| title=Lamar Thomas brings fiery spirit to job as Boynton Beach football assistant| publisher=PalmBeachPost.com| date=2008-08-13| accessdate=2008-09-09] occurred when Miami wide receiver Lamar Thomas caught a pass and sprinted for, what looked to be, an 89-yard touchdown throw from Torretta. But Alabama defensive back George Teague, who was several yards behind Thomas, chased the receiver down and stripped the ball from him.cite web| url=http://www.mmbolding.com/bowls/Sugar_1993.htm| title=The Sugar Bowl 1993| accessdate=2008-09-09] The play became famous following Thomas's pre-game comments regarding the SEC, the superiority of the Miami receiving corps, and the manhood of the Alabama defensive backs. [cite web| url=http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1137538/index.htm| title=The End Of The Run| publisher="Sports Illustrated"| last=Murphy| first=Austin| quote=Thomas started the press conference off by running down the SEC. "Not what it was," said Thomas. He then questioned the manhood of Alabama's defensive backs, who, Thomas had noticed, played lots of zone. "Real men play man," he said.| date=1993-01-11| accessdate=2008-09-09] The play, however, was negated by an Alabama offside penalty.

Following the poor performance, some reporters began to question as to whether or not Torretta deserved the Heisman. [cite journal| title=Alabama speaks loudest| publisher="St. Petersburg Times"| last=Mizell| first=Hubert| date=1993-01-02| quote=... I thought it correct to label Gino "good, and successful" but not "great, and best player in the land."]

References

External links

* [http://www.allstatesugarbowl.com/ Sugar Bowl official website]