Utah-Alabama Sugar Bowl Gameday Open Thread
by JazzyUte on Jan 2, 2009 1:18 AM MST
in Sugar Bowl
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PrintUtah Utes at Alabama Crimson Tide, Jan 2, 2009 6:17 PM MST
It's finally here. Go Utes, let's finish what we started!
Next Game
Utah Utes
@ Alabama Crimson Tide
Friday, Jan 2, 2009, 6:17 PM MST
Allstate Sugar Bowl - Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LA
TV: FOX
Radio: KALL 700
What to expect when Utah has the ball: The Utes are going to do their best at balancing out their offense. A lot will depend on how much Brian Johnson gets through the air, but expect a game very similar to the TCU one. If the Utes can get things moving in the passing game, though, it will certainly open things up a bit.
What to expect when Alabama has the ball: The Tide love to run the ball and will probably do just that. Expect them to test Utah's defensive line early and if they can tear it up on the ground, there won't be much need for John Parker Wilson's arm.
How Utah wins: No turnovers, decent run defense and a balanced offense. This will be the toughest test Utah has had in years and they'll need to play near-flawless to have a chance. If they don't, then things will get out of hand rather quickly.
Lucky is hopin' to celebrate tonight!
I be aglow when me Utes are 13 and 0!
Let's hear what you think. Register for a free account here and leave your comments, predictions and other gameday chatter below in the comments section. GO UTES, ROLL THE TIDE!
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Comments
Toughest opponent
This is a high quality team we are facing. We are going to have to play really well.
Go Utes!
Getting Nervous
This game means a lot to all of us, especially those of us who have to continue to live with an avid UTE fan who is going to be at the game yelling and sceaming.
GO UTES, you can do it.
Still not as nervous as I was for the BYU game.
Not sure why. Maybe it’s because I spent the entire night sick, or maybe I just know something deep down.
Anyway, I just want a good game. Watching the Rose Bowl last night made me realize just how much I want Utah to not roll over like Penn State did.
It's gonna get crazy!
I hope Utah doesn’t overly try to run it. We have a great run game, but I don’t think we will have too much success against that defense. Let’s have short passes and open it up for the run.
I think Andre Johnson’s suspension is bigger than most let on. A team doesn’t lose it’s best player and not feel it. The question is can the Utes take advantage. Utah 27-25.
By the way, a BYU buddy of mine and I started a Utah vs. BYU blog; my write up on the game is here: http://cougsandutes.blogspot.com/2009/01/sugar-bowl-game-day.html
Check it out. GO UTES!!!!!!!!
GO UTAH!
Show the country what the Mountain West is made of!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 6:10 PM MST reply actions
Oh
and thanks for that revenue sharing BCS money. :D :D :D
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 6:18 PM MST up reply actions
Great start!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 6:22 PM MST reply actions
that was scary
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 6:23 PM MST up reply actions
Very Nice!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 6:28 PM MST reply actions
Utah is doing
a great job on both lines right now.
yeah baby!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 6:33 PM MST reply actions
Keep it going
All night long!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 6:37 PM MST reply actions
Go Mountain West
I’m SB Nation’s 49ers blogger and I’m a life-long UNLV fan but definitely love to see the Mountain West do well as a whole!
That's why I'm here too
Huge MWC fan.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 6:44 PM MST up reply actions
Utah
is playing for every fan of a non-BCS team. Go Utes!!
I'm not convinced it's all emotion
They look like the much better football team right now. As well as Boise played in 2006, they never looked this dominant.
Yup
San Jose State/Hawaii fan here, rooting for the Utes, with fans of the MWC, WAC, C-USA, Sun Belt, MAC
The Utes are flying around the field like mad-men
Bama seems to be taking a lot of shots downfield instead of using their strong running game.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 6:50 PM MST reply actions
This is fantastic
Absolutely bleeping fantastic.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 6:55 PM MST reply actions
I'm loving this
I logged in here just to join this thread!!!
Go Utes!!! Beat the Bammers!!!!
Do the Mountain West proud!!!
Yeah, that drive was getting scary.
I was hoping they’d miss, giving Utah great field position, but I’ll trade FGs for TDs all night!
Or FGs for three TDs all night.
I hope we can keep this up.
Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.
yah I'll take that ratio
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:09 PM MST up reply actions
2nd quarter
Emotions are usually calmer by now. Let’s see if Bama has made any adjustments
need to get down there and score
TD or FG, doesn’t matter, either keeps the pressure on Alabama’s offense
also keeps the alabama defense ON the field
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:10 PM MST up reply actions
They are getting more pressure
gotta hit those check down targets
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:14 PM MST reply actions
This is what I feared.
Utah was playing really high and now they’re coming down. Alabama settling into their offense and working the Utes.
DEFENSE
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:21 PM MST reply actions
See what I did there?
haha
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:23 PM MST up reply actions
Shoot!
So close!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:23 PM MST reply actions
NO GOOD!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:23 PM MST reply actions
That's not good.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:32 PM MST reply actions
Wow,
that’s how Bama won their first 12 games right there
I don't think the blowout is happening.
Time to settle in for a good game.
If Utah doesn't man up and start getting something on offense, the Tide could blow it open in the third.
The Utes can’t keep having three and outs.
They’re going to need to find some run game.
I'm not sure
the Tide can score quick enough on offense to blow it open. Win it certainly, but I don’t see Bama going Texas Tech on anyone.
That was a nice run
let’s try to hold onto the football however.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:36 PM MST reply actions
Was just thinking that
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:39 PM MST up reply actions
Why do everyone's damn helmets keep flying off
in all of the bowl games??
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:39 PM MST reply actions
Awful spot.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:39 PM MST reply actions
Alllllllllrighty then.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:41 PM MST reply actions
Our secondary is playing too soft, don't want to give up big plays.
Unfortunately, ’Bama has a ton of time to get great field position…like they do now.
Gotta catch that!!!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:47 PM MST reply actions
It was a great effort by their WR to break it up
Their QB owes him big time.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:48 PM MST up reply actions
HALFTIME!!!
Great defense on that last drive.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:50 PM MST reply actions
Huge penalty to end the half
JPW screws up not getting out of bounds there.
Halftime thoughts...
Utah’s defense is playing well. The offense looked good on that final drive, but were jobbed by the refs. If I’m Alabama, the concern has to be the fact their lone TD came off a punt return. Without that, Utah has completely dominated this game.
Hey ooooo
MWC just got awarded an auto-bid to the BCS!! lol
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:54 PM MST reply actions
No reason we shouldn't
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 7:58 PM MST up reply actions
I think we need good players lol
We just put together a very strong coaching team and have a great young QB. Hopefully we can parlay that into some good soon.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:08 PM MST up reply actions
I never understood how you guys got
players drafted relatively high, but still struggled to put it all together.
Was a huge fan of O’Connell, until he ended up on the Cheatriots instead of my Panthers. Then that came to a quick end.
Yah that sucked
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:16 PM MST up reply actions
Oh man, I'm freaking out now. So nervous.
Second half is all or nothing. No time to regroup at the half…keep it up, Utah!
That's even worse
:(
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:17 PM MST up reply actions
I will say this
I think the Utes have done a good job of containing the run tonight
NO TDs here
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:21 PM MST reply actions
This is the game for Utah right now. They don't score and the Tide will roll 'em.
They need to do something. That’s 17 unanswered now.
Alright, 21-17 with 10 minutes left in 3rd.
I think everyone here would have taken that 3 hours ago. Just relax and play football.
No doubt, it's just football is a game of momentum and you can definitely feel it slanting 'Bama's way.
They’ve got everything going their way and Utah hasn’t been able to get it done the last quarter and few minutes. They need something to break this run, or the flood gates just may very well open.
Very true, but
good teams respond when momentum is all with the other team.
Alabama
Still hasn’t driven down the field to score a TD. Punt return and very short field on the fumble. Offense needs a long drive to get that Utah Defense a rest.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:28 PM MST up reply actions
Need to forget about that turnover
Go back to what made them successful earlier in the game
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:26 PM MST reply actions
There we go!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:27 PM MST reply actions
First Down!
That was huge.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:29 PM MST reply actions
Hey Hey Hey!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:32 PM MST reply actions
Why are all their TD drives so damn short??
Need some time to rest the D and keep the Alabama D on the field. Also, keep the Alabama offense on their heels.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:36 PM MST reply actions
Yes
Underthrown ball, minimal contact. PI is overcalled in football at all levels.
Tide's best playing on Offense is down
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:40 PM MST reply actions
*player
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:40 PM MST up reply actions
He stayed back to block
Got hit pretty hard but I didn’t see anything too bad.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:42 PM MST up reply actions
HeHeHeHeHeHeHe
NO GOOD!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:43 PM MST reply actions
As an aside
How good is #10? He looks like he could start anywhere in the country.
Just that.
Alabama has yet to show they can drive nearly the entire field and score a TD. Don’t give them a short field.
Agreed
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:53 PM MST up reply actions
Not with the lead like this.
Not with Alabama struggling to develop anything on offense without a short field.
Coffee is down too
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:54 PM MST up reply actions
Finally Made It To A Computer
Happy New Year All! My Goodness, what a game. Go Utes!
Honors B.A. 1999
Awful Call
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 8:56 PM MST reply actions
That should be
the last play of the quarter. 15 minutes away Utah.
1998 NCAA Final
I was kind of being reminded of the 98 Final against Kentucky for awhile there. Hopefully, that won’t happen here.
Honors B.A. 1999
This game kind of reminds me of
the 2006 Fiesta Bowl.
Got him!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:01 PM MST reply actions
This could be it if Utah puts a scoring drive together from the 2.
Or it could give Alabama solid field position.
Two things...
I see. First, the Bama OL seems to be holding alot. Second, why aren’t they pounding the run? Not that I want them to, but I don’t understand why they aren’t.
I said that same thing earlier
They were taking a lot of shots downfield for some reason instead of running the ball and kept giving the ball back to Utah.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:07 PM MST up reply actions
This is bad
Considering the lack of a run game.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:05 PM MST reply actions
Beautiful
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:06 PM MST reply actions
<12 Minutes...
We can almost start to watch the clock now. up two possessions.
Yikes
another problem of no run game.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:08 PM MST up reply actions
NICE!!! Sakoda flips the field!
Saban’s ticked.
Punter may have just had the biggest play of the game so far.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:09 PM MST reply actions
You guys have surprised me
Your defense has been dominant. Maybe you guys should be playing in the championship game.
That delayed blitz
has been money for Utah most of the night.
Denied!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:14 PM MST reply actions
THE [expletive] RG
was holding the Ute’s neck on that play!!!
He was blocked into the ball
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:18 PM MST up reply actions
Apparently
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:19 PM MST up reply actions
Let's get some runs by Asiata
Eat up some clock.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:18 PM MST reply actions
Fantastic.
Gives Brian and the O-Line some relief from the Pass Rush.
What's the NCAA rule?
He was out of the pocket/tackle box….
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:23 PM MST reply actions
My God. Every flag this half has gone against us
Not saying the flags aren’t deserved, but, man, what a run of bad luck/bad execution
Honors B.A. 1999
Come on 5:46 left
Gotta play the rest of the game Utah. It’s not a 55 minute game.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:24 PM MST reply actions
lol
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:27 PM MST up reply actions
HELLLLLLLLO!!!!
Turn out the lights, the party is over!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:27 PM MST reply actions
FORK!!!!
Stick in BAMA! They’re done! EEES EEEE CEEE speed, eat your heart out.
Anybody have Joe Schap from ESPN's email?
He said that Utah was “going to be exposed like Hawaii was last year…” I’d like to forward him Jazzy’s post on why that was an asinine and lazy opinion to have
Honors B.A. 1999
If Utah wins
they should be National Champions. At the VERY least play the winner of Florida and Oklahoma.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:33 PM MST reply actions
After all,
since “none of Utah’s players would even be recruited by Alabama” shouldn’t those backup Offensive linemen just be able to step up and block somebody…. Or maybe that legendary talent gap was non-existent…
#8
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:39 PM MST up reply actions
Sylvester for Player of the Game?
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:39 PM MST reply actions
Looks like right knee hyperextension
hopefully will be ok.
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:41 PM MST up reply actions
hmm.
Florida only beat Alabama by 11. How much are the Utes leading by?
I'd like to quote Bruce Campbell from ARMY OF DARKNESS here:
“gimme some sugar, baby”
Honors B.A. 1999
Thirteen and Zero
Congrats!
Brady Hoke, Al Borges, and Rocky Long. Aztec football is back!
by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jan 2, 2009 9:43 PM MST reply actions
Utah Fans
Congratulations on a big victory and a great season.
WOOOW, what a great game, Utes!
Nice, nice, NICE – congrats on a great season from one of your 13 defeated foes! 13-0 means #1, right?
President of the Tijuana Beaver Nation Boosters Club - "We don't need no stinkin' touchdowns!"
Congratulations to the Utes!
Way to represent!
I just have to say...
I love that freakin’ leprechaun.
Dance into the night, Lucky. The only team that left the field a winner in every game it played this year was the Utah Utes.
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