1988 Sun Bowl

Last updated

1988 John Hancock Sun Bowl
55th Sun Bowl
1234Total
Army7714028
Alabama3107929
DateDecember 24, 1988
Season 1988
Stadium Sun Bowl
Location El Paso, Texas
MVPDavid Smith, Alabama QB
Derrick Thomas, Alabama LB
Referee J.C. Louderback (Big Eight)
Attendance48,719
United States TV coverage
Network CBS
Announcers Verne Lundquist and Pat Haden
Sun Bowl
 < 1987   1989 > 

The 1988 John Hancock Sun Bowl , part of the 1988 bowl game season, took place on December 24, 1988, at the Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the Army Cadets, competing as a football independent. The game put Alabama's air attack against Army's ground attack, and ended with Alabama just edging past Army in the fourth quarter to win the game 29–28.

Contents

Teams

Alabama

The 1988 Alabama squad finished the regular season with an 8–3 record and losses against Ole Miss, LSU and Auburn. The appearance marked the third for Alabama in the Sun Bowl, and their 41st overall bowl game appearance.

Army

The 1988 Army squad finished the regular season with a record of 9–2 with losses coming against Washington and Boston College. The appearance in the Sun Bowl marked the first for Army in the game, and their third overall bowl game appearance.

Game summary

The Cadets opened the scoring with a one-yard Mike Mayweather touchdown run to take a 7–0 lead. [1] The Crimson Tide responded with a 37-yard Philip Doyle field goal to cut the lead to 7–3 at the end of the first. [1] In the second quarter, Army again scored on the run with Bryan McWilliams reaching the endzone on a 30-yard run. [1] Alabama again responded with a 22-yard Philip Doyle field goal and a 7-yard Marco Battle touchdown reception from David Smith to close the gap to 14–13 at the half. [1] Army went into halftime with a 14–13 lead by putting up 232 yards on the ground.

Alabama put together a 69-yard drive to take its first lead 20–14 in the game half way through the third quarter on a 23-yard Greg Payne touchdown reception. [1] Army answered with another touchdown on the next drive to take the lead back at 21-20. On Alabama's next drive David Smith was intercepted by Army's O'Neal Miller who returned it 57 yards for a touchdown and a 28-20 lead. In the fourth quarter Alabama put together two scoring drives for a 32-yard Doyle field goal and a 2-yard David Casteal run to regain the lead at 29–28. [2]

Army put up 350 yards on the ground against Alabama's 5th-ranked defense that gave up less than 100 yards per game on average during the season. Army Coach Jim Young said about the game "Alabama was one of the better teams in the country. We played them and beat them in everything except the score." [3] The El Paso Times ranks this game 11th among the top Sun Bowl games ever. [2]

Scoring summary
QuarterTime Drive TeamScoring informationScore
Plays Yards TOP ArmyAlabama
112:047702:56ArmyMike Mayweather 1-yard touchdown run, Keith Walker kick good70
11:2514654:30Alabama37-yard field goal by Philip Doyle 73
214:026692:23ArmyBryan McWilliams 30-yard touchdown run, Keith Walker kick good143
27:3311676:29Alabama22-yard field goal by Philip Doyle 146
20:35876AlabamaMarco Battle 7-yard touchdown reception from David Smith, Philip Doyle kick good1413
34:238692:50AlabamaGreg Payne 23-yard touchdown reception from David Smith, Philip Doyle kick good1420
31:226692:50ArmyMike Mayweather 3-yard touchdown run, Keith Walker kick good2120
30:07157ArmyInterception returned 57 yards for touchdown by O'Neal Miller, Keith Walker kick good2820
47:2512494:12Alabama22-yard field goal by Philip Doyle 2823
44:015542:16AlabamaDavid Casteal 2-yard touchdown run, 2-point run failed2829
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football.2829

Legacy

Alabama quarterback David Smith later became a college football referee in the SEC; games he officiated include the 2013 Senior Bowl and 2018 Sun Bowl. [4] [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007 Alabama Crimson Tide football team</span> American college football season

The 2007 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama for the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Tide was led by its new head coach Nick Saban, the former head coach of rival LSU. Despite a strong 6–2 start, they finished the season by losing four of their final five games. The team closed the regular season at 6–6 and lost for a sixth-straight time to rival Auburn. The Tide defeated Colorado in the 2007 Independence Bowl 30–24 to finish the season at a 7–6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team</span> American college football season

The 2008 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 114th overall season, 75th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and its 17th within the SEC Western Division. The team was led by head coach Nick Saban, in his second year, and played their home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The 1988 Hall of Fame Bowl, part of the 1987 bowl game season, took place on January 2, 1988, at Tampa Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The competing teams in the second edition of the Hall of Fame Bowl were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the Michigan Wolverines of the Big Ten Conference. In what was the first ever meeting between the schools, Michigan was victorious by a final score of 28–24.

The 1966 Orange Bowl was the 32nd edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida, on Saturday, January 1. The final game of the 1965–66 bowl season, it matched the third-ranked and undefeated Nebraska Cornhuskers of the Big Eight Conference and the #4 Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabama–Ole Miss football rivalry</span> American college football rivalry

The Alabama–Ole Miss football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Alabama Crimson Tide and Ole Miss Rebels. They are charter members of the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and both have competed in the SEC West since 1992.

The 1964 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1964 NCAA University Division football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 70th overall and 31st season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his seventh year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished the season with ten wins and one loss, as SEC champions and with a loss to Texas in the Orange Bowl. As the major wire services at that time awarded their national champions prior to the bowl season, Alabama was also recognized as national champions by the AP and UPI before their loss to Texas. After the bowl games, the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) named the undefeated Arkansas Razorbacks as the national champions.

The 1969 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1969 NCAA University Division football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 75th overall and 36th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his 12th year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished season with six wins and five losses and with a loss against Colorado in the Liberty Bowl.

The 1952 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1952 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 58th overall and 19th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Harold Drew, in his sixth year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham, Ladd Stadium in Mobile and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished with a record of ten wins and two losses and with a victory over Syracuse in the Orange Bowl.

The 1958 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1958 NCAA University Division football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 64th overall and 25th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Bear Bryant, in his first year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and at Ladd Stadium in Mobile, Alabama. They finished with a record of five wins, four losses and one tie. As they finished the season above .500, Alabama secured its first winning season since 1953, and their five victories gave Bryant more wins games in one season than former head coach Jennings B. Whitworth did in previous three.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1925 Alabama Crimson Tide football team</span> American college football season

The 1925 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1925 Southern Conference football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 32nd overall and 4th season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The team was led by head coach Wallace Wade, in his third year, and played their home games at Denny Field in Tuscaloosa, at Rickwood Field in Birmingham and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished the season with their first ever perfect record, as Southern Conference champions, defeated Washington in the Rose Bowl, and were retroactively named as national champion for 1925 by several major selectors.

The 1926 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1926 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 33rd overall and 5th season as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon). The team was led by head coach Wallace Wade, in his fourth year, and played their home games at Denny Field in Tuscaloosa, at Rickwood Field in Birmingham and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of nine wins, zero losses and one tie, as Southern Conference champions. They tied undefeated Stanford in the Rose Bowl. The 1926 Alabama team was retroactively named as the 1926 national champion by Berryman QPRS, Billingsley Report, College Football Researchers Association, and Poling System, and as a co-national champion by the Helms Athletic Foundation and National Championship Foundation. The team was ranked No. 9 in the nation in the Dickinson System ratings released in December 1926.

The 1990 Sugar Bowl was the 56th edition of the college football bowl game, played at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Monday, January 1. Part of the 1989–90 bowl game season, it featured the second-ranked independent Miami Hurricanes and the #7 Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Favored Miami won 33–25.

The 1934 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1934 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 41st overall season and 2nd as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Frank Thomas, in his fourth year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. They finished the season with a perfect record, as Southeastern Conference champions for the second consecutive season and defeated Stanford in the Rose Bowl.

The 1937 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1937 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 44th overall and 5th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Frank Thomas, in his seventh year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa and Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. They finished the season with a record of nine wins and one loss, as SEC champions and with a loss against California in the 1938 Rose Bowl.

The 1945 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1945 college football season. It was the Crimson Tide's 51st overall and 12th season as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The team was led by head coach Frank Thomas, in his 14th year, and played their home games at Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Legion Field in Birmingham and at the Cramton Bowl in Montgomery. They finished with a perfect season and with a victory in the Rose Bowl over USC. This team was the second season of the "War Babies" as coined by head coach Thomas.

The 1983 Sun Bowl, part of the 1983 bowl game season, took place on December 24, 1983, at the Sun Bowl Stadium in El Paso, Texas, United States. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the SMU Mustangs of the Southwest Conference (SWC). Alabama was victorious in by a final score of 28–7. This was the 50th edition of the Sun Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1968 Cotton Bowl Classic</span> College football game

The 1968 Cotton Bowl Classic, part of the 1967 bowl game season, was the 32nd edition of the college football bowl game, held at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, on Monday, January 1. It matched the eighth-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the unranked Texas A&M Aggies, champions of the Southwest Conference (SWC). Underdog Texas A&M won the game 20–16.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Alabama Crimson Tide football team</span> American college football season

The 2014 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2014 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It marked the Crimson Tide's 120th overall season, 81st as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and its 23rd within the SEC Western Division. The team was led by head coach Nick Saban, in his eighth year, and played its home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

The 2014 Sugar Bowl was a college football bowl game played on Thursday, January 2, 2014, at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The 80th annual Sugar Bowl, it featured the #10, #11 Oklahoma Sooners of the Big 12 Conference and the #3-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference. The game was broadcast live on ESPN at 8:30 PM EST. It was one of the 2013–14 bowl games that concluded the 2013 FBS football season. It was sponsored by the Allstate insurance company and was officially known as the Allstate Sugar Bowl.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Alabama Crimson Tide football team</span> American college football season

The 2015 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. It marked the Crimson Tide's 121st overall season, 82nd as a member of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and its 24th within the SEC Western Division. The team played its home games at Bryant–Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They were led by ninth-year head coach Nick Saban. They finished the season with a record of 14 wins and 1 loss, as SEC champions and as consensus national champions after they defeated Clemson in the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship Game. Alabama also secured its 10th Associated Press (AP) national title. Running back Derrick Henry became Alabama's second Heisman Trophy recipient. He led the nation in both rushing yards (2,219) and rushing touchdowns (28).

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Hurt, Cecil (December 25, 1988). "Smith rallies Tide in Sun". The Tuscaloosa News. p. 1B. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  2. 1 2 "Best of the Sun Bowl: #11". El Paso Times. November 19, 2006. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  3. "Black Knight Flashback: 1988". GoArmySports.com. Army Athletic Communications. October 29, 2009. Retrieved January 30, 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  4. Hicks, Tommy (January 26, 2013). "Former Alabama quarterback finally makes it to Senior Bowl". al.com. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
  5. @CAPTMCMcCarron (December 31, 2018). "The referee for today's @HyundaiSunBowl was the quarterback for Alabama in the 1988 Sun Bowl" (Tweet). Retrieved December 31, 2018 via Twitter.