NEWS
The Ohio State Buckeyes held on for a 31-26 victory over the Arkansas Razorbacks in the Sugar Bowl.
Star quarterback Terrelle Pryor tossed two touchdown passes and racked up 336 total yards of offense.
He later limped off the field after spraining his ankle, but he will have plenty of time to recover in the offseason.
After building a big lead, Ohio State needed an interception in the final minute to seat the victory. ( Read More…)
Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 7:06 pm by steve
Tags: Sugar Bowl news, Sugar Bowl schedule, Sugar Bowl tickets
By Bud L. Ellis
The journey won’t be a long one for the Arkansas Razorbacks, but getting to the Sugar Bowl is a trip 30 years in the making.
Leaving Fayetteville and making the trip south to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4 is a sweet reward for a Razorbacks’ team that finished 10-2 in the ultra-tough SEC West. And while national finalist and SEC champion Auburn kept Arkansas from playing in the SEC title game in Atlanta, the season nonetheless ends with the Hogs’ first BCS bowl berth. ( Read More…)
Monday, December 6, 2010 at 4:23 pm by bud
Tags: Arkansas Razorbacks, Auburn Tigers, Dan Herron, Knile Davis, Ohio State Buckeyes, Ryan Mallett, Sugar Bowl news, Sugar Bowl schedule, Sugar Bowl tickets, Terrell Pryor
By Bud L. Ellis
For the final showing of his stellar college career, Tim Tebow put on quite a show in the Sugar Bowl.
The Florida quarterback closed his collegiate days with a masterpiece, finishing with 533 yards of total offense and four touchdowns as the fifth-ranked Gators routed No. 4 Cincinnati 51-24 at the Louisiana Superdome on New Year’s night.
The win sends Tebow into the NFL draft and sends Florida coach Urban Meyer into an indefinite leave of absence due to health problems. There wasn’t a better way for the duo to go out, as Tebow passed for 482 yards and three touchdowns on 31-of-35 passing.
Add in the 51 yards rushing and another touchdown, and it’s easy to see why Tebow was the story.
Florida destroyed Cincinnati’s dream of a perfect season, racing to a 30-3 halftime advantage over the overmatched Bearcats. Tebow finished the first two quarters with 320 yards passing.
Riley Cooper hauled in seven passes for 181 yards. Aaron Hernandez added nine catches for 111 yards. Defensively, the Gators made life miserable for Cincinnati quarterback Tony Pike, picking off four passes to spark the rout.
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Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 9:33 pm by bud
Tags: Aaron Hernandez, Cincinnati, Florida, Louisiana Superdome, Riley Cooper, Sugar Bowl, Tim Tebow, Tony Pike, Urban Meyer
By Bud L. Ellis
The whirlwind surrounding the coaching future of Urban Meyer has succeeded in doing what should be nearly impossible:
Overshadow Tim Tebow.
When you consider that most people consider Florida’s senior quarterback to be one of the greatest college football players ever – and plenty will argue all day that Tebow is the best to ever grace the collegiate gridiron – the fact that there is so little buzz about his final college game just 72 hours shy of kickoff is amazing.
But when Meyer dropped the bombshell this weekend that he was stepping down due to health reasons, then recanted to a certain extent a day later to say he’s taking a leave of absence after Florida faces Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl on Friday at the Louisiana Superdome, the subsequent discussion and analysis has all but blocked out the fact that Tebow will author the final chapter of his remarkable Florida career against the Bearcats.
The numbers may not be as gaudy as they were two seasons ago, when Tebow won the Heisman Trophy, or last season, when he directed the Gators to their second national championship in his three seasons in Gainesville. But still, just take a look at the stat sheet, and even the most ardent Gator-hater has to tip his or her cap in the direction of the 6-foot-3, 245-pounder.
Tebow has passed for 2,413 yards this season, including 18 touchdowns. Far below the
32 TDs he fired in 2007 and the 30 he hit for last season, and the yardage trails his ’07 total by more than 800 yards. For his career, Tebow has passed for a remarkable 8.803 yards and 85 touchdowns. On the ground, Tebow – who very well may make his money in the NFL as a halfback – has rushed for 859 yards this season, just 36 behind his 2007 total.
It won’t end with a national title, and it even won’t be the most compelling storyline coming out of New Orleans Friday night. But even with Meyer grabbing all the headlines, the final game of Tebow’s college career is worth plenty of attention.
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Tuesday, December 29, 2009 at 7:53 pm by bud
Tags: Cincinnati, Florida, Louisiana Superdome, Sugar Bowl, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer
By Bud L. Ellis
It appears Urban Meyer will coach Florida after all when the Gators take on Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl. And the meeting at the Louisiana Superdome on New Year’s night won’t necessarily be Meyer’s finale as Gators’ coach.
One day after announcing he was stepping down due to health reasons, Meyer told media members Sunday in New Orleans that he’s instead taking an extended lead of absence after the Sugar Bowl. Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will assume interim duties while the 45-year-old Meyer steps away to focus on his health.
Meyer was hospitalized for dehydration after the Gators’ 22-game winning streak ended with a 32-13 loss to Alabama at the SEC Championship Game Dec. 5 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. But published reports since have instead claimed Meyer suffered from chest pains after the loss to the Crimson Tide, and chest pains have been a common occurrence for the coach who in five years has led the Gators to two national championships and a sparkling 56-10 record.
As if the Gators weren’t motivated enough for their meeting with the Bearcats, after missing out on a shot at a third national title in four years by losing to Alabama, comes this: the realization that Meyer’s leave of absence is indefinite, and there is no guarantee he’ll be on the sidelines after Friday.
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Sunday, December 27, 2009 at 9:51 pm by bud
Tags: Alabama, Cincinnati, Florida, Georgia Dome, Louisiana Superdome, Steve Addazio, Sugar Bowl, Urban Meyer
By Bud L. Ellis
When the Florida Gators take on Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Night, they’ll do so without their leader in all-purpose yardage.
Kick returner Brandon James, who left the Gators’ SEC title game loss against Alabama with a broken bone in his right foot Dec. 5, will not play when the Gators take on the Bearcats at the Louisiana Superdome.
James has had surgery on the foot and has been ruled out of the game.
The senior has enjoyed a stellar season for the 12-1 Gators, ranked No. 5 in the nation. James finishes his season with 1,324 total yards and two touchdowns. His biggest impact came returning kicks for Florida, where he gained 756 yards and scored one touchdown. James also caught a touchdown pass this season, finishing with 215 yards receiving, 244 yards on punt returns and 109 yards rushing.
Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps and Joe Haden will take over on special teams in James’ absence.
The loss of James takes away a playmaker who caused coverage teams fits with his breakaway speed this season.
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Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at 7:25 pm by bud
Tags: Alabama, Brandon James, Chris Rainey, Cincinnati, Florida, Jeff Demps, Joe Haden, Louisiana Superdome, SEC championship, Sugar Bowl
By Bud L. Ellis
Carlos Dunlap made a big mistake the week of the SEC championship game. But the Florida defensive end’s behavior in his three years at the school has led school officials to clear him to play in the Sugar Bowl.
Dunlap, who was arrested and charged with driving under the influence four days before the Gators’ 32-13 loss to Alabama in the SEC title game at the Georgia Dome, will play for Florida in the Sugar Bowl, Jan. 1 against Cincinnati at the Louisiana Superdome.
Dunlap is regarded as a first-round draft pick, and the Sugar Bowl likely will be his final game in a Florida uniform. But on Friday, Florida coach Urban Meyer told reporters the fact Dunlap has never been in trouble before this transgression led school officials to believe it OK for Dunlap to return to active duty
The return of Dunlap bolsters a Florida defensive front that was ripped apart by the Crimson Tide in the SEC title contest. Dunlap, who won the defensive MVP honors in last year’s BCS championship game, has recorded seven sacks this season.
Florida, 12-1 on the season, can end Cincinnati’s dream of an undefeated season in the Sugar Bowl. It’s possible the winner of this game finishes the season ranked No. 2 in the nation.
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Friday, December 18, 2009 at 11:51 pm by bud
Tags: Alabama, Carlos Dunlap, Cincinnati, Florida, Georgia Dome, Louisiana Superdome, SEC, Urban Meyer
By Bud L. Ellis
Go ahead and book it: Butch Jones will be the next head football coach at Notre Dame.
All joking aside, it’s easy to say that. After all, Jones followed Brian Kelly at Central Michigan when Kelly left to take over at Cincinnati. And now that Kelly has left the Bearcats to take the Notre Dame job, Jones has been hired as Kelly’s replacement.
Jeff Quinn still will coach unbeaten Cincinnati in the Sugar Bowl, New Year’s Night against Florida in the Louisiana Superdome. But the speculation over who would assume the reins of the rising Cincinnati program following Kelly’s departure is finished.
After succeeding Kelly at Central Michigan, Jones went 26-13 in three season. In 2009, he directed the Chippewas to an 11-2 record and an invite to the GMAC Bowl.
In getting Jones, Cincinnati keeps the same offensive philosophy that Kelly made so successful for the Bearcats – the spread offense. Under the wide-open attack, the Bearcats have thrived, winning all 12 games this season and rising to No. 4 in the polls following the regular season.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2009 at 10:45 pm by bud
Tags: Brian Kelly, Butch Jones, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Florida, GMAC Bowl, Jeff Quinn, Louisiana Superdome, Notre Dame, Sugar Bowl
By Bud L. Ellis
The Sugar Bowl won’t just be the biggest moment in the University of Cincinnati’s football history.
It also will be quite a stage for Jeff Quinn’s audition.
With Brian Kelly having left the Bearcats for Notre Dame, Quinn slides in as interim head coach. It’s not a totally foreign environment for Quinn, who – when Kelly left Central Michigan three years ago – directed the Chippewas past Middle Tennessee State in the Motor City Bowl.
But there is a big difference between the surroundings and the pressure Quinn faced in that game and what he’ll see New Year’s Night inside the Louisiana Superdome, as the Bearcats try to cap their perfect season against a one-loss Florida team and all-everything quarterback Tim Tebow.
According to published reports, Quinn has expressed his interest in the Cincinnati job. An assistant to Kelly for the past 22 years, the 47-year-old has turned the Bearcats into one of the nation’s most dangerous offenses. That offense will get quite a test against the Florida defense in New Orleans, and Quinn has a lot more to focus on than just trying to beat the Gators and get into the end zone.
But if he does a good job amid the bright lights of the Sugar Bowl, Quinn figures to get a pretty good gig for 2010 – be it at Cincinnati or somewhere else.
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Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 9:01 pm by bud
Tags: Brian Kelly, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Florida, Jeff Quinn, Louisiana Superdome, Middle Tennessee State, Motor City Bowl, Notre Dame
By Bud L. Ellis
When Florida and Cincinnati collide in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s night, the game won’t lack for storylines:
How will the Gators, winners of two of the past three national championships, bounce back after their first loss in 22 games?
How will the Bearcats, winners of 12 straight games and two consecutive Big East championships, respond with a perfect season on the line?
How will Florida quarterback Tim Tebow play in the final game of his brilliant college career?
Will Brian Kelly be coaching his final game at Cincinnati?
On the surface, a matchup between two teams ranked in the top five – Cincinnati is No. 4; Florida No. 5 – with a combined record of 24-1 would attract tons of interest. But because this is Florida and Cincinnati, and because it’s the Sugar Bowl, there is even more buzz.
For Cincy, who capped the Big East title with a thrilling 45-44 victory over Pittsburgh last week – a game the Bearcats trailed 31-10 in the second quarter – the Sugar Bowl is a chance to silence the critics who have wondered all season if the Bearcats belong being mentioned in the same breath as the Floridas, Alabamas and Texas of the world.
It’s the second year in a row Cincy has made it to a BCS bowl game. Last season, the Bearcats lost 20-7 to Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Whether Kelly is around for a third straight run to the BCS is unknown, as he is the leading candidate for the Notre Dame job and is to interview there Thursday, according to published reports.
Florida coach Urban Meyer, who attended Cincinnati, already said he isn’t leaving Florida, the school he’s launched into the stratosphere since arriving from Utah. Two national titles in his first three years, sparked by Tebow, the leading touchdown scorer in NCAA Division I history and a Heisman Trophy winner.
But the Gators’ march to a potential third national crown in four years ended with a 32-13 loss to Alabama in the SEC championship game at the Georgia Dome last Saturday. How the Gators bounce back after seeing their 22-game winning streak and national title dreams end will be a big part of the buildup to the Sugar Bowl.
And of course, there will be plenty of other things to watch at the Louisiana Superdome in this one, as well.
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Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 9:04 pm by bud
Tags: Alabama, Brian Kelly, Cincinnati, Florida, Louisiana Superdome, Notre Dame, Orange Bowl, Pittsburgh, Sugar Bowl, Texas, Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, Virginia Tech
