Alabama Football Sugar Bowl History and seven memorable games
By Ronald Evans
Alabama Football Memorable Sugar Bowl No. 2 – Jan. 2, 1967
In the 1966 season, Alabama Football had a chance for a National Championship three-peat. The 1964 and 1965 Alabama National Championship teams were worthy, but the 1966 team was Bryant’s best of the three.
Some Alabama football fans will neither forget nor forgive the undefeated Crimson Tide finished No. 3, after the two top teams, according to the polls, played each other to a 10-10 tie. At least Michigan State played to win that game. Notre Dame did not.
During the regular season, only two teams had produced double-digit points against the Tide. Tennessee scored 10 points and Mississippi State scored 14.
An angry Crimson Tide allowed Nebraska to score seven points in the Sugar Bowl, in a 34-7 butt-kicking. The 1966 team allowed 44 points in the 11-game season.
Alabama Football Memorable Sugar Bowl – Dec. 31, 1973
Even though it was a heartbreaking loss, the game cannot be ignored as memorable. Due in a large part to one of the greatest third-down calls in college football history, Notre Dame prevailed, winning 24-23. A missed Alabama extra-point attempt earlier in the game proved to be the losing margin.
The Coaches Poll awarded Alabama the National Championship before the college football bowl season. With their win, the Fighting Irish were the 1973 AP Poll National Champions
Alabama Football Memorable Sugar Bowl – Dec. 31, 1975
The 1975 edition of the Sugar Bowl was not an especially great game. Still, the 13-6 win over Penn State was huge for the Crimson Tide. Bear Bryant’s teams had not won any bowl games since the previous Sugar Bowl victory over Nebraska in 1967.
The drought also included a couple of not Alabama-like, 6-5 seasons in 1969 and 1970. Even worse, the Crimson Tide bowl losses had not only been embarrassing, but they also caused some Alabama football fans to believe Bryant had lost his championship magic.
Breaking the Tide’s bowl-losing streak was huge.