Alabama Sugar Bowl notes: Tide offensive guard injured early

Early injury
Alabama offensive lineman Mike Johnson, who moved over from his normal starting position of left guard into the left tackle slot in place of the suspended Andre Smith, limped off the field favoring his right ankle with 8:09 to play in the opening quarter. Drew Davis then moved over from his right tackle spot to left tackle, and John Michael Boswell went in at right tackle. Johnson did not return in the game.
Off to the races
When Javier Arenas returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter, it marked the sixth time in his career he has returned a punt for a touchdown. It was the fourth longest punt return by an Tide player in a bowl game.
More milestones
Julio Jones went over the 900-yard mark in receptions in the first half when he caught four passes for 58 yards. Glen Coffee moved into third place on the school single-season rushing list with 1,371 yards after gaining 24 yards in the first half. When Leigh Tiffin kicked through a 52-yard field goal in the second quarter, it marked his 20th made field goal of the season and 53rd of his career. Tight ends Nick Walker and Travis McCall each played in their 52nd game for Alabama, tying former Tide fullback Tarrant Lynch (1990-94) for most games played.
I’ll take that
Tide defensive end Bobby Greenwood came up with a fumble when Utah QB Brian Johnson lost the handle while beginning his passing motion on the first drive of the second half. Greenwood returned the ball 5 yards to the Utes’ 30, leading to 4-yard TD pass from John Parker Wilson to Glen Coffee.
Dominating quarter
Utah shocked Alabama in the first quarter in putting 21 points on the scoreboard while rolling up 150 yards of total offense and holding the Tide to just 43.
On target
Utah quarterback Brian Johnson completed five straight passes in the Utes first drive, culminating with a 7-yard scoring toss to complete the 5-play, 68-yard drive in 1:19.

Sweet history
The game program saluted the 75th playing of the Sugar Bowl, which included a look back at the Top 10 games in the classic’s history.
Alabama, which has played in 13 Sugar Bowls, is featured in three of those games.
At No. 9 was the Tide’s most recent visit, Jan. 1, 1993, the 34-13 victory over top-ranked Miami that produced its most recent national championship.
The Crimson Tide’s 14-7 win over Penn State, played on Jan. 1, 1979, earned another national title and the No. 3 spot on the list.
At No. 2 was Notre Dame’s 24-23 victory over the Tide on Dec. 31, 1973. Alabama was given the UPI national championship before the game, while the Irish won the AP crown.
Here are the other games and where they fell on the countdown:
10. Jan. 1, 1935 — Tulane 20, Temple 14
8. Jan. 1, 1951 — Kentucky (coached by Paul “Bear” Bryant) 13, Oklahoma 7
7. Jan. 4, 2004 — LSU 21, Oklahoma 14
6. Jan. 1, 1981 — Georgia 17, Notre Dame 10
5. Jan. 1, 1941 — Boston College 19, Tennessee 13
4. Jan. 4, 2000 — Florida State 46, Virginia Tech 29
1. Jan. 2, 2006 — West Virginia 38, Georgia 35
Tough against the best
Coming into the game, Utah was 6-0 all-time when it was ranked and playing ranked opponents.
That includes two victories over ranked opponents this season. The Utes defeated then-No. 11 TCU 13-10 and then-No. 14 Brigham Young 48-24.
Utah came into the game with the longest winning streak in the nation at 13 games; and also the longest current bowl winning streak at seven games.
That streak includes wins over Fresno State (1999), Southern Cal (2001), Southern Miss (2003), Pittsburgh (2004-05), Georgia Tech (2005), Tulsa (2006) and Navy (2007).
Been here, done that
Alabama was playing in its NCAA-best 56th bowl game — and its 13th Sugar Bowl. Alabama has 31 bowl victories, also tops in the nation, and was 8-4 in New Orleans coming into Friday night’s game. It was the first football game between the two programs.
Been here, done that
Nine Utah players were on the roster when the Utes went undefeated in 2004 and beat Pittsburgh in the 2005 Fiesta Bowl. Quarterback Brian Johnson was the only player that played that season, although he didn’t play in the bowl game.
The other players on the roster were Brent Casteel, Brad Clifford, Robert Conley, Afa Garrigan, Paul Kruger, John Peel, Colt Sampson and Ray Stowers.
Best/Worst
Best effort: An electrifying punt return of 73 yards by Alabama’s Javier Arenas.
Best foot: Leigh Tiffin booted through a 52-yard field goal to give Alabama its first points on the first play of the second quarter.
Best luck: When Utah’s Brent Casteel fumbled the first punt of the game, teammate RJ Rice had the ball bounce right into his hands.
Best opening burst: Utah went 68 yards in five passing plays to score on its opening drive in just 1:19.
Worst choice: Tide QB John Parker Wilson overthrew an intended receiver right into the waiting hands of Utah’s Robert Johnson on the Tide’s second possession.
Worst jump: Tide tight end Nick Walker had two false starts over a three-play span to stunt a Tide drive in the first quarter.