On January 1, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time, the Florida Gators, the SEC Eastern Division Champs, will meet the Cincinnati Bearcats, the Big East winners, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The University of Florida Gators have played in the Sugar Bowl 7 times before, with a win in 1997 of 52-20 over Florida State to give them a national title. The Gators played a Big East winner once before in 1994, defeating Virginia 41-7.

But a good record of games doesn't guarantee victory, as the Gators found out in their final game of the season. After an undefeated season and a winning streak of 22 games, winning 12 consecutive games in one season for only the second time in Gators' history, the Gators lost the SEC Championship to Alabama. The Gators and the Bearcats have played one time previously, but that was in 1984 during Homecoming weekend. At that time, Florida won 48-17.

The Sugar Bowl, now known as the Allstate Sugar Bowl, got its start during the Depression and celebrated 75 years at the beginning of 2009. Chief Executive Officer of the Sugar Bowl Committee, Paul Hoolahan, said they're pleased to host 2 of the top 5 teams in the country in the Allstate Sugar Bowl this year. This is the Gators' 19th consecutive New Year's bowl appearance, which is the 2nd longest streak of consecutive bowl games in the country.

The Gators' entrance into the bowl game hasn't been without some controversy. Urban Meyer, Gators' coach, announced just Saturday, December 26th, that he was leaving the Gators and stepping down as coach for health reasons. But on Sunday, he said that he'd continue as coach through the Sugar Bowl, then take a leave of absence after the bowl.

Meyer's brought Gators 2 BCS titles in 5 years but plans to let Steve Addazio, the Gators' offensive coordinator, run the team until he's ready to come back. Meyer says he's been suffering from recurring and unexplained chest pains, but now, just one day after announcing his resignation, says he plans to be back in time to coach the opening game of the 2010 football season.

Criticism has come from all corners, first at the resignation announcement coming just before the bowl game which is seen as upstaging the game now. Ticket sales for the Gators were less than expected, possibly because of the final game loss that stunned fans and players. So an announcement of a resignation 1 week before the bowl game, and star Heisman-Trophy winning quarterback Tim Tebow's final game as a Gator, has many in the sports world wondering why. The reversal the next morning is seen as even more strange.

Even the announcement and reversal, and the final game loss, can't take away the achievements of the Gators over their 2009 season, with team and individual player records being broken and set almost every game.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl will be televised by the FOX Network.

Photo Credits: Ludie Cochrane

Originally posted 2009-12-31 01:47:23. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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With Alabama and Florida both 12-0 for the season, both teams knew that only one could remain undefeated after Saturday's game. That team was Alabama, reigning over Florida 32-13, and knocking the Gators to 12-1 for the season. In the Georgia Dome, 75,514 fans turned out to see Alabama remain victorious during this second consecutive game that the two teams met in the SEC championships.

Overall, this was the 7th time Crimson Tide met the Gators in an SEC championship game, and the 4th since Meyer became Gator's head coach (2005, 2006, 2008, 2009) putting him 2-2 with Alabama. This marks the first time the Gator's lost an away game since January 1st, 2008, when they lost to Michigan in the Capital One Bowl game. Tim Tebow, departing senior quarterback who's had a stellar season, completed 20 passes of 35 for 247 yards and scored 1 touchdown. Junior tight end Aaron Hernandez had 8 catches for 85 yards, But Alabama's offense managed 490 yards, and a victory.

The Crimson Tide started the game with 9 plays and 47 yards, with senior kicker Leigh Tiffin putting the first 3 points on the board thanks to a 48-yard field goal kick. Over 10 minutes of the first quarter had already passed.

Alabama forced Florida to a 3 and out punt their first time out, the Mark Ingram scored Alabama's first touchdown with a 7-yard run with 5:33 remaining in the first quarter. The score became 6-0, with a missed extra point.

The Gators' next shot at control of the ball led to 2 third down conversions, and Caleb Sturgis kicked a good one 48 yards for the Gators' first 3 points on the board. Each team punted and after a career-first sack by Florida's Ahmad Black, Alabama scored a 34-yard field goal after a 68-yard, 12-play push, putting Alabama at 12-3.

Then Florida rallied and scored their first touchdown with Tebow rushing 38 yards and making a 23-yard pass to wide receiver David Nelson who caught it in the end zone. The score moved to 12-10 Alabama.

Alabama answered with their second touchdown that stretched their lead to 19-10 on their next possession, with a 3-yard rush by Ingram. The Gators narrowed the gap to 19-13 with a 32-yard field goal from Sturgis with less than a minute-and-a-half in the first half.

Florida had possession at the start of the second half, and punted. Alabama drove the ball 74 yards, and quarterback Greg McElroy passed it 17 yards to tight end Colin Peek who scored, widening Alabama's lead to 26-13. Alabama's 3rd touchdown came with less than 14 minutes in the 4th quarter on a 1-yard rush by Ingram, with a failed 2-point conversion, widening the gap to 32-13.

Florida looked about to score and bridge the gap with 11:51 left, but Alabama cornerback Javier Arenas intercepted Tebow in the end zone. Another attempt by the Gators ended on downs at 7:28 remaining in the game, and the Crimson Tide held onto the ball for the remainder of the game, grabbing the SEC championship with a score of 32-13. The Gators' next Bowl game has not yet been announced.

Photo Credits: bsteve76

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