Will Start Of New Year Be Sweet For Bama?

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - During its glory days, there was no place
Alabama would rather end a season than in the Sugar Bowl.
The Crimson Tide won its last national championship in the 1993
edition, its eighth victory in 12 previous appearances in New
Orleans during the new year.
The Bowl Championship Series era changed that. Alabama's berth
in the Sugar Bowl this season was more akin to a relegation. It had
lost to Florida in the Southeastern Conference title game, keeping
the Tide (12-1) from playing for the BCS championship in Miami.
That cannot be said for Utah (12-0). The Utes needed to run the
table to get the school's first taste of the Sugar Bowl and its
first matchup with Alabama on Friday night.
Utah receiver Bradon Godfrey says it's the biggest or
second-biggest thing ever.
The only comparable accomplishment was their undefeated 2003
season, which ended with a Fiesta Bowl victory over Pittsburgh.
that gives Utah a measure of bragging rights. Alabama has only one
BCS bowl appearance - the 2000 Orange Bowl, which it lost to
Michigan in overtime.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)