SEC Bowl Season Part 1 A look at how the SEC has fared in bowl games thus far

         SEC Bowl Season Part 1
     A look at how the SEC has fared in bowl games thus far
 
By Rafael Garcia
Sr. Contributing Writer Football Reporters Online
Southeast Region
 
Music City Bowl
Clemson 21 Kentucky 13
It was another cold day in Nashville and the fans not only represented the teams playing, they also wore jerseys of their favorite college teams. It was definitely a college type atmosphere with the face paint and the bands playing loudly. Clemson came in with the ACC player of the year in C.J. Spiller and he did not disappoint. He had 15 carries for 67 yards and a touchdown. He also had three catches for 58 yards as well as his usual return yards. In all he had 172 all-purpose yards and became the first player in the ACC to have 1,00 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving in the same year.  Even though the stats will show that Kentucky had the advantage it was Clemson that made the most of its opportunities. They were able to keep the Wildcats from scoring holding them to 6-16 on third downs. Kentucky quarterback Morgan Newton was only 13-23 for 98 yards but had a chance for a big play. With 5:39 left in the fourth Kentucky went for it on fourth and eight but Newton could manage just seven of those yards and Clemson began to celebrate. After the game Kentucky head coach Rich Brooks said he was 80% sure he would retire. Well I am not exactly sure what that means but he was trying to get his fourth straight bowl win and fell short. As for Spiller, well he will now move on to the next level and see if he can be as productive there as he has been in his career at Clemson. The Tigers end the season 9-5 and won their first bowl game in four years. Kentucky was in it but could not capitalize and will see where the program goes now if Joker Phillips takes over soon. They finished 7-6, which is probably a game worse than they should have but give them credit as an SEC representative.
 
Independence Bowl
Georgia 44 Texas A&M 20
It has not been the type of season that Georgia would have hoped for so they came into this one hungry. What they got was bailed out by their excellent special teams play that lead to 24 points. They were able to block two kicks and got a spectacular 81-yard kickoff return from Brandon Boykin. Quarterback Joe Cox went 15-28 for 158 yards and two touchdowns and a pick. The running game was effective as they got 208 yards and two touchdowns. On the downside they gave up 471 total yards to the Aggies with QB Jerrod Johnson accounting for 362 on 29-58 passing. He did have two touchdowns but threw two picks that helped the Bulldogs in the third. It was a spectacular defensive effort by the Dawgz considering they had fired their defensive coordinator and two others on that side of the ball. Then in the second half the offense showed up and out scored A&M 30-13 for the winning margin. Head coach Mark Richt will end his season with a little satisfaction after this one. It could have been so much worse but players like Caleb King (16-60 and two scores) and the special teams would not let them give in on this day. The season ends at 8-5 for a team that had hoped to compete for the SEC crown. It won’t get any easier next year but that is football in this conference.
 
Chick-fil-A Bowl
Virginia Tech 37 Tennessee 14
It has been a crazy season for the Volunteers. First, they lose they long time coach Phillip Fulmer and watch Lane Kiffin take over and take on all comers. He has opened his mouth when some said he shouldn’t have and has stirred up feeling among coaches in the SEC. There have been violations and drama in Knoxville. So it came down to this game against the Hokies to see if they could end it on a good note. What they could not do was run the football at all. They had a total of five yards on the ground and 240 total yards. Quarterback Jonathan Crompton made some key errors when he was picked to set up a touchdown and then fumbled late to set up another. The offense was on the field for just 26 minutes and could never get any momentum. Meanwhile, the Hokies were getting another big game from their freshman sensation runner Ryan Williams (25-117 and two touchdown runs). He finished the year with 1,655 yards to become Tech’s single-season leader, and his 21 rushing touchdowns and 22 total set the ACC mark. Tech had a balanced offense all day getting 229 yards on the ground and 209 through the air. They also outscored the Vols 20-0 in the second half when the Tennessee seamed to have lost interest. It was the first time Tech has won back-to-back bowls in school history.
 
Sugar Bowl
Florida 51 Cincinnati 24
It has been one of the best four-year runs in college football history and AT&Tebow left his best for last. If anyone wondered if the Gators would come to play Tebow answered them soundly. He threw for a career-high and a BCS record 482 yards on 31-35 passing. He had three touchdown passes and added 52 yards rushing. In all he had a whopping 533 of offense and coach Urban Meyer was sent off with a win in what may be his last game. Cincinnati was looking forward to playing this game to show it could hang with and SEC team and to win it after losing their coach to another job. What they found was a defense unlike any other they had faced all year. The Gator defense held Cincy’s offense to 246 total yards and never let them in the game. The loss of Brian Kelly to Notre Dame may have hit them harder than they thought it would. Florida would finish with a Sugar Bowl-record 659 yards and it ended one of the best careers ever witnessed. They are also the first team to win 13 games two straight years in history. Riley Cooper and Aaron Hernandez were the beneficiaries of Tebow’s great day. Cooper finished with seven catches for 181 yards and a score and Hernandez chipped in with nine grabs for 111 yards and his own touchdown. In the end it was all about Tebow and his will to win. He came in determined to lead his team to victory and rallied his troops all day. At the end it was Tebow and Meyer walking off together after four great years. It will be on to the NFL now for Tim and we will see what decision coach Meyer makes. Whatever happens to the two of them form here on out they have given us some of the best memories in recent college football memory.