1993 Sugar Bowl
Encyclopedia
The 1993 Sugar Bowl
took place on January 1, 1993, in the Louisiana Superdome
in New Orleans, Louisiana
. It served as the final game and the National Championship
of the 1992–93 college football season
. The game featured two unbeaten teams in the Alabama Crimson Tide
and the Miami Hurricanes
. This game marked the first National Championship selected by the Bowl Coalition
, a predecessor to the current Bowl Championship Series
.
Alabama was sent to the National Championship following their 28–21 victory over the Florida Gators
in the inaugural SEC Championship Game
. Miami, from the Big East, was led by Heisman Trophy
-winning quarterback Gino Torretta
, and was playing for back-to-back undefeated seasons and consecutive National Championships.
Though Miami were favorites to claim the victory, Alabama's defense held the Hurricanes to just 13 points, while intercepting Torretta three times, en route to a 34–13 victory to claim their 12th National Championship. Alabama rushed for 267 yards—67 more yards than the Hurricanes had allowed all season.
A legendary play in Alabama football lore, known as "The Strip", occurred when Miami wide receiver Lamar Thomas
caught a pass and sprinted for what looked to be an 89-yard touchdown throw from Torretta. But Alabama defensive back George Teague
chased him down and stripped the ball from him. The play became famous following Thomas's pre-game comments regarding the SEC, the superiority of the Miami receiving corps, and the manhood of the Alabama defensive backs. The play was negated by an Alabama offside
penalty, but the strip was still successful in preventing a Miami touchdown on the play, as Miami would have simply declined the penalty had the strip not taken place. At one point, the Tide lined up all eleven players up to the line of scrimmage, confusing Torretta, which led to an interception returned for a touchdown.
Following the poor performance, some reporters began to question as to whether or not Torretta deserved the Heisman.
Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is an annual American college football bowl game played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Sugar Bowl has been played annually since January 1, 1935, and celebrated its 75th anniversary on January 2, 2009...
took place on January 1, 1993, in the Louisiana Superdome
Louisiana Superdome
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, previously known as the Louisiana Superdome and colloquially known as the Superdome, is a sports and exhibition arena located in the Central Business District of New Orleans, Louisiana, USA...
in New Orleans, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. It served as the final game and the National Championship
NCAA Division I FBS National Football Championship
A college football national championship in the highest level of collegiate play in the United States, currently the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , is a designation awarded annually by various third-party organizations to their selection of the best...
of the 1992–93 college football season
1992 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 1992 NCAA Division I-A football season was the first year of the Bowl Coalition, and ended with Alabama's first national championship in thirteen years—their first since the departure of Bear Bryant...
. The game featured two unbeaten teams in the Alabama Crimson Tide
1992 Alabama Crimson Tide football team
The 1992 Alabama Crimson Tide football team represented the University of Alabama in the 1992 college football season. This was the team's third season under head coach Gene Stallings. They played their home games at both Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Legion Field in Birmingham,...
and the Miami Hurricanes
1992 Miami Hurricanes football team
The 1992 Miami Hurricanes represented the University of Miami in the 1992 NCAA College Football season.-Schedule:-Awards and honors:*Gino Torretta, Davey O'Brien Award*Gino Torretta, Heisman Trophy *Gino Torretta, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award...
. This game marked the first National Championship selected by the Bowl Coalition
Bowl Coalition
The Bowl Coalition was a predecessor of the Bowl Championship Series that was formed through an agreement among college football bowl games and conferences for the purpose of forcing a national championship game between the top two teams and to provide quality bowl game matchups for the champions...
, a predecessor to the current Bowl Championship Series
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
.
Alabama was sent to the National Championship following their 28–21 victory over the Florida Gators
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
in the inaugural SEC Championship Game
1992 SEC Championship Game
The 1992 SEC Championship Game was played on December 5, 1992 at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The game was the inaugural championship game and determined the 1992 football champion of the Southeastern Conference . The Alabama Crimson Tide, winners of the Western division of the SEC,...
. Miami, from the Big East, was led by Heisman Trophy
Heisman Trophy
The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
-winning quarterback Gino Torretta
Gino Torretta
Gino Louis Torretta is a Heisman Trophy winner who played quarterback for several teams in the National Football League from 1993 to 1997....
, and was playing for back-to-back undefeated seasons and consecutive National Championships.
Though Miami were favorites to claim the victory, Alabama's defense held the Hurricanes to just 13 points, while intercepting Torretta three times, en route to a 34–13 victory to claim their 12th National Championship. Alabama rushed for 267 yards—67 more yards than the Hurricanes had allowed all season.
A legendary play in Alabama football lore, known as "The Strip", occurred when Miami wide receiver Lamar Thomas
Lamar Thomas
Lamar Thomas is a former NFL player and former color commentator. Thomas played college football, college basketball and ran Track at the University of Miami before being drafted in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.With the University of Miami Thomas set a...
caught a pass and sprinted for what looked to be an 89-yard touchdown throw from Torretta. But Alabama defensive back George Teague
George Teague
George Theo Teague is a former American football player who played free safety in the National Football League with the Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, and Miami Dolphins.-College:...
chased him down and stripped the ball from him. The play became famous following Thomas's pre-game comments regarding the SEC, the superiority of the Miami receiving corps, and the manhood of the Alabama defensive backs. The play was negated by an Alabama offside
Offside (sport)
Offside is a rule used by several different team sports regulating aspects of player positioning. It is particularly used in field sports with rules deriving from the various codes of football, such as association football, rugby and field hockey, as well as in ice hockey.Offside rules are...
penalty, but the strip was still successful in preventing a Miami touchdown on the play, as Miami would have simply declined the penalty had the strip not taken place. At one point, the Tide lined up all eleven players up to the line of scrimmage, confusing Torretta, which led to an interception returned for a touchdown.
Following the poor performance, some reporters began to question as to whether or not Torretta deserved the Heisman.