1986 Sun Bowl

The 1986 Sun Bowl featured the Alabama Crimson Tide of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and the Washington Huskies of the Pacific-10 Conference. In Ray Perkins's final game as Alabama head coach, the Crimson Tide defeated the Huskies 28–6.[2][3][4]

1986 John Hancock Sun Bowl
Washington Huskies Alabama Crimson Tide
(8–2–1) (9–3)
Pac-10 SEC
6 28
Head coach: 
Don James		 Head coach: 
Ray Perkins
APCoaches
1211
APCoaches
1314
1234 Total
Washington 0600 6
Alabama 07147 28
DateDecember 25, 1986
Season1986
StadiumSun Bowl
LocationEl Paso, Texas
MVPCornelius Bennett, Alabama DE
Steve Alvord, Washington G
FavoriteAlabama by 2 points [1]
RefereeFrank Shepard (SWC)
Attendance48,722
United States TV coverage
NetworkCBS
AnnouncersBrent Musburger, Ara Parseghian, John Dockery

This was the first edition of the Sun Bowl that carried corporate sponsorship,[5] as John Hancock Financial entered a three-year, $1.5 million partnership.[6] The Fiesta Bowl had done so approximately a year earlier, entering a sponsorship agreement in September 1985 and playing its January 1986 edition as the Sunkist Fiesta Bowl.[7]

Teams

Alabama
See also: 1986 Alabama Crimson Tide football team

Alabama opened the season with seven wins, then lost three of its final five regular season games to finish with a 9–3 record. Following their loss to Auburn in the Iron Bowl, university officials announced they accepted an invitation to play in the Sun Bowl. The appearance marked the second for Alabama in the Sun Bowl, and their 39th bowl game. The Tide was favored by two points.[1]

Washington
See also: 1986 Washington Huskies football team

Washington finished the regular season with an 8–2–1 record. Tied for second place in the Pac-10, the Huskies lost to USC and Arizona State, and tied UCLA. Following their victory over Washington State in the Apple Cup, university officials announced they accepted an invitation to play in the Sun Bowl.[8] It was Washington's second appearance in the Sun Bowl, and their 17th bowl game.

Game summary

After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama scored first on a 64-yard Bobby Humphrey touchdown run.[2] Washington responded with a pair of Jeff Jaeger field goals to cut the lead to 7–6 at the half.[2][3][4]

With a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, Alabama extended their lead to 21–6. Mike Shula was responsible for both touchdowns with the first coming on a 32-yard pass to Greg Richardson and the second on a 17-yard pass to Bobby Humphrey.[2] Humphrey then scored the final points of the game midway through the fourth on a three-yard run to cap a 16-play, 92-yard drive.[2][3][4]

Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP Washington Alabama
2 13:45 3 plays, 72 yards 1:15 Alabama Bobby Humphrey 64-yard touchdown run, Van Tiffin kick good 0 7
2 5:55 11 plays, 48 yards Washington 31-yard field goal by Jeff Jaeger 3 7
2 0:38 11 plays, 47 yards Washington 34-yard field goal by Jeff Jaeger 6 7
3 6:24 6 plays, 48 yards Alabama Greg Richardson 32-yard touchdown reception from Mike Shula, Van Tiffin kick good 6 14
3 0:13 6 plays, 83 yards Alabama Bobby Humphrey 17-yard touchdown reception from Mike Shula, Van Tiffin kick good 6 21
4 7:16 16 plays, 92 yards Alabama Bobby Humphrey 3-yard touchdown run, Van Tiffin kick good 6 28
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 6 28

Aftermath

According to then Washington defensive coordinator Jim Lambright, this game highlighted the need for Washington to begin to recruit speed more seriously.[9] Lambright would later be quoted as saying, "[i]t was after our bowl game against Alabama in the Sun Bowl [that we started recruiting speed specifically] .... [W]hen we broke down the film, there was no way that our personnel matched their personnel as far as speed. So we went out after that to specifically recruit faster people .... We weren't selective enough up to that point with speed."[9]

Five years later in the 1991 season, Washington went undefeated and won the national championship.

References
  1. "Betting line". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). December 25, 1986.
  2. Hurt, Cecil (December 26, 1986). "Bama ends season happily, 28–6". Tuscaloosa News. (Alabama). p. 1. Retrieved January 4, 2011.
  3. "Alabama has fun in Sun Bowl win". Reading Eagle. (Pennsylvania). wire services. December 26, 1986. p. 35.
  4. Nissenson, Herschel (December 26, 1986). "Alabama gets well in the Sun". Associated Press. p. 21.
  5. Ross, Kenneth (December 31, 1986). "Corporations playing ball as year ends". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. p. B8. Retrieved December 25, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  6. Nissenson, Herschel (June 27, 1986). "Sponsorships: A new way to pay". The Anniston Star. Anniston, Alabama. AP. p. 3B. Retrieved December 25, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  7. Young, Bob (September 27, 1985). "Sunkist agrees to sponsor Fiesta Bowl". The Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. G1. Retrieved December 24, 2020 – via newspapers.com.
  8. Hancock, Hec (November 23, 1986). "UW 44, WSU 23: 3 field goals give Jaeger all-time record". Tri-City Herald. p. D1. Retrieved January 30, 2011.
  9. "The Seattle Times | Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment, travel, restaurants and opinion for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest". Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
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