News / Allstate Sugar Bowl

THE BEST GAME POSSIBLE

Friday, June 18, 2010

From the first Sugar Bowl in 1935 through the 76th Allstate Sugar Bowl this past January, the goal of the event has remained the same - to create the best game possible. In the three-quarters of a century history of the Sugar Bowl, there have literally been dozens of memorable games, played by a cavalcade of outstanding athletes and coached by some of the giants of the game.

Marty Mulé, who covered the game and the organization for decades for the New Orleans Times-Picayune, has chronicled its highlights and low points in the book "Sugar Bowl Classic: A History." He gives his take on the top Sugar Bowls of all-time - a tough challenge any way you look at it. In deciding how to pick the high points of an annual football extravaganza that has stretched from the Great Depression to the rebuilding of post-Katrina New Orleans, Mulé decided it's not enough to have been just another great game. The ones listed here have some significance attached.

Click here for the top 10 Sugar Bowls of all-time as chosen by Marty Mulé.

Click here for the full History section.

Sugar Bowl Assists With NCAA Hoops in New Orleans

The Allstate Sugar Bowl was part of the hosting committee for 2010 NCAA Men's Basketball First and Second Round action at the New Orleans Arena on March 18 and 20. The Sugar Bowl is part of the support group for host school Tulane University.

Top-seeded Kentucky rolled to a pair of victories at the New Orleans venue, cruising over East Tennessee State, 100-71, and blowing out Wake Forest, 90-60. The Demon Deacons had upended Texas, 81-80, in a thrilling overtime contest in the first round.

The other team to advance out of New Orleans was Baylor, led by local product Tweety Carter (pictured). The Bears topped Sam Houston, 68-59, before pulling away from Old Dominion, 76-68. ODU had edged Notre Dame, 51-50, in the first round.

This year's first and second round games were just the first of three years of NCAA Men's Basketball events coming to New Orleans. The city will host the NCAA Men's Southeast Regional Championship in 2011 and then the NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four in 2012. The 2011 Regional, to also be played in the New Orleans Arena, will be the 11th Regional Championship for New Orleans, while the 2012 Final Four, to be played in the Louisiana Superdome, will be the fifth Final Four for the Crescent City.

The previous four Final Fours in New Orleans have all been among the most memorable in the event's grand history. In 1982, Dean Smith captured his first National Championship as a freshman named Michael Jordan buried the game-winning shot to upend Georgetown. In 1987, it was Bobby Knight and Indiana defeating Syracuse on a baseline jumper by Keith Smart. Smith was back again in 1993, as his North Carolina team defeated the Fab Five from Michigan. And in 2003, Jim Boeheim made up for his 1987 loss as freshman Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse to a win over Kansas.