1983 Sun Bowl

American college football game August 2023 January 2026 Sun Bowl 50th Sun Bowl December 24 1983 1983 Sun Bowl El Paso, Texas University of Alabama Alabama Crimson Tide 7–4 Ray Perkins SEC 14 14 0 0 Southern Methodist University SMU Mustangs 10–1 6 6 Bobby Collins SWC 0 0 7 0 Walter Lewis, Alabama QB John McClintock (Big Eight) 41,412 CBS Gary Bender and Pat Haden The 1983 Sun Bowl, part of the 1983 bowl game season, took place on December 24, 1983, at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, United States. The competing teams were the Alabama Crimson Tide, representing the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the SMU Mustangs of the Southwest Conference (SWC). Alabama was victorious in by a final score of 28–7. This was the 50th edition of the Sun Bowl (49th playing between college teams). Teams Alabama 1983 Alabama Crimson Tide football team The 1983 Alabama squad finished the regular season with a 7–4 record and losses against Penn State, Tennessee, Boston College and Auburn. Following their loss against Boston College, university officials announced they accepted an invitation to play in the Sun Bowl. The appearance marked the first for Alabama in the Sun Bowl, and their 27th overall bowl game appearance. SMU 1983 SMU Mustangs football team The 1983 SMU squad finished the regular season with a record of 10–1 and as SWC runner-up with their only loss coming against Texas. The appearance in the Sun Bowl marked the second for SMU in the game, and their 10th overall bowl game appearance. Game summary Coming into the 50th annual Sun Bowl, the Mustangs were heavily favored over the Crimson Tide.Bama overwhelms SMU with explosive first half Billy Mitchell The Tuscaloosa News 1B December 25, 1983 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=szQdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gqUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6300%2C7182966 November 14, 2010 At #6, SMU was the highest ranked team in Sun Bowl history.http://www.sunbowl.org/the_sun_bowl_game/recap/50 Alabama 28, SMU 7 | Recaps - Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl | December 31, 2021 | el Paso, Texas Alabama dominated play in the first half and took a 28–0 lead into halftime. The Crimson Tide scored touchdowns in the first quarter on a pair of Ricky Moore runs from one and eleven yards respectively. In the second quarter, Bama scored touchdowns on a one-yard Walter Lewis run and on a 19-yard Lewis pass to Joey Jones. In the second half, both defenses were dominant with the only points coming on a 15-yard Lance McIlhenny touchdown pass to Marquis Pleasant in the third to bring the final score to its 28–7 margin. Entering the game, the Mustangs had only allowed four rushing touchdowns all season only to see the Tide score three on the ground in the first half and outgain the Mustangs in total offense 303 to 105 yards. For his performance, Alabama quarterback Walter Lewis was named the Sun Bowl MVP.Perkins pleased with Bama play Billy Mitchell The Tuscaloosa News 1B December 25, 1983 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=szQdAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gqUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4788%2C7182340 November 14, 2010 Scoring summary Alabama SMU 1 7:33 Alabama 7 plays, 59 yards 2:17 RushTD Ricky Moore 1 good Van Tiffin 7 0 1 Alabama 2:18 3 plays, 51 yards 1:04 RushTD Ricky Moore 11 good Van Tiffin 14 0 2 Alabama 13:38 15 plays, 91 yards 6:22 RushTD Walter Lewis 1 good Van Tiffin 21 0 2 Alabama 1:09 3 plays, 62 yards :28 RecTD Joey Jones Walter Lewis 19 good Van Tiffin 28 0 3 SMU 11:29 3 plays, 78 yards :20 RecTD Marquis Pleasant Lance McIlhenny 15 good Jeff Harrell 28 7 28 7 References Category:1983–84 NCAA football bowl games 1983 1983 1983 Category:1983 in sports in Texas Category:December 1983 sports events in the United States