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Alabama Returns to the Sugar Bowl
A Fans and Party Guide to the Game and New Orleans
The Alabama football team has put smiles on the faces of the cheerleaders.
Bama is back.
In New Orleans, that is.
New Orleans is as much of a sweet home to Alabama football fans as the White House is to the president, Dreamland is to a rib, a martini is to an olive.
Bama faithful know their way around the Quarter, know to line up for bargin dinners at the Acme Oyster House, where to go for gumbo (the Gumbo Shop), what a muffaletta is, and can find their way into and stumble out of Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe.
And they certainly know their way around Bourbon Street, so much so they can order a hand gernade at the Tropical Isle without bothering to ask the bartender what's in it.
Part of it is just Southern culture and has nothing to do with a football game – everyone in the South it seems, can connect with New Orleans – but there is something special about being here for the Sugar Bowl.
 For the Sugar Bowl is where much of Alabama's proud history is based. There have been some memorable moments captured here (and subsequently, in Daniel Moore prints): The goal line stand against Penn State in '79, finishing off the undefeated season and national title in '80, capping national championship seasons in 1961 and 1965 and whipping Nebraska in what should have been a third consecutive title in 1966. George Teague's unbelievable play to highlight an upset over Miami that won the 1992 championship. In 1975, Alabama defeated Penn State in the first game ever played in the Superdome. The Sugar Bowl has been responsible for some of the Greatest Moments in Alabama Football History.
Yet there have also been disappointments: Missing an extra point to lose a national title to Notre Dame in 1973 and whipping Woody Hays' Ohio State team in 1978 only to be leap-frogged by #5 Notre Dame in the final polls after entering the game #2 in the nation.
So for the 2009 Sugar Bowl, in comes Alabama, anxious to put an explanation mark on a 2008 season that was as unexpected as it was successful. The Tide went 12-1 and was ranked #1 in the country for five weeks. Only a narrow loss to Florida in the SEC Championship game kept the team from playing for a national title in only Head Coach Nick Saban's second year.
Bama fans celebrate the season-opening win against Clemson.
Utah may or may not know what it's getting into on the field of the Superdome, but its followers surely have no idea of what it's like when the "Roll Tide" cheers from Bama fans thunder down Bourbon Street. That is, if the Uites go to Bourbon Street in the first place.
And just wait until one of the many cover bands blasting live music out of places like the Famous Door or Krazy Korner plays Sweet Home Alabama. Even when it's not Sugar Bowl season, Alabama fans who happen to be in New Orleans let out a huge "Roll Tides" that can be heard for blocks. This year, the roar will be deafening.
So here is when and where to find the party – or partying, more accurately – making this article as much of a guide for Utah fans as for those from Alabama. For Utahians may want to avoid this scene altogether.
On the balconies, the street and in the bars, the party's on Bourbon Street.
• Bourbon Street. As the name implies, it's the party equivalent of being on the 50-yard-line. And since Alabama fans like bsourbon, it stands to reason they love Bourbon Street. The "lower end," that is the part closest to Canal Street, has some of the city's most famous high-end restaurants. But that soon gives way to strip clubs (Jimmy Buffett used to strum his guitar in front of the swinging legs), bars and more bars.
 Warning to alchol-abstaining Utah fans: Avoid this area at all costs. Bourbon Street has dozens of bars lined up next to each other with music pumping out into the Quarter. It is legal to walk out of bars with drinks (be sure and pour the contents into a plastic cup). It is also legal to drink on the street. In fact, one does not even have to leave the street to get a drink – there are beer stands between the bars and counters serving all kinds of mixed concoctions in tall containers.
Bourbon Street bars have 3-for-1 drinks from 4-7. Everday. Even weekends. Even on New Year's Eve. On game day.
There is no "last call" in New Orleans. Bars close when people leave. And on Bourbon Street, that's rarely before 4 in the morning.
Day and night, Bourbon Street is busy.
On the plus side for the visitors – and those from Utah must be considered the visitors because they are, in a sense, visitng the home-away-from-home of Alabama folks – most Bama supporters are quite polite. They may challenge Utah people with heavy Southern drawls, but will usually follow that up with a smile and an offer to buy a beer. The exeeptions are usually the people who never actually went to the school but consider themselves fans.
• Bourbon Street's Bars
• Krystal Burgers and Lucky Dogs. Late at night (or early in the morning, really) find those fans at Krystal Burger at the end of Bourbon Street. They will order a half-dozen or more of the little square patties, then wake up in the morning wondering why they did it. Lucky Dogs are unhealthy but delicious hot dogs sold by street vendors positioned up and down Bourbon Street.
Look for a live show at FanFest like this one from Eddie Money.
• Fan Fest. Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, noon-6 p.m. Location: Jax Brewery parking lot, Decatur Street. It's an NFL-experience type of corporate corner, though it does involve a pep rally and la New Year's Day concert by Blues Traveler. Detials on the latter will be posted when announced.
New Orleans is PubClub.com's #1 New Year's Eve party destination.
• New Year's Eve. The Big Easy is PubClub's #1 destination in the world for NYE. Why? Because it's a huge, open street party that doesn't even require going into a bar to have fun. And getting into a bar is a snap, with the exception of Pat O'Brien's which has a line around the block after midnight. There's a fireworks show at Jackson Square with live band and countdown, plus countless places to stock up on the "roadies" to enjoy the show. And then it's back to Bourbon Street.
• New
Year's Eve in New Orleans
Jimmy may not be at his cafe, but he has a song about Cafe du Monde.
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Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville, Cafe du Monde: New Orleans' Legendary Places. There is a "Bama Breeze" blowing down Decatur Street and it's coming from Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville Cafe. With live local bands and muscians, Buffett concert videos, cheeseburgers, boat drinks and margaritas, it's part of life for Bama fans. Conveniently, it's located just down from the Cafe du Monde and its legendary beinets. Appropriatley, a Buffett song salutes it with this line: "The coffee is strong and the doughnuts are too hot to touch." The name of the song? "The Wino and I Know." How appropriate for New Orleans.
Bama fans won't miss a second of the on-field action.
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The Game, Pre-Party Tailgate, Superdome, Post-Game Celebration. Finding Alabama fans on game day will not be difficult. They will be on Bourbon Street. Some will start early but by the time Happy Hour kicks in so, too, will the crowds. Kickoff is at 7 p.m., and since the Super Dome is but a safe, 20-minute walk from, say, Razzo, it will be going strong until about 6. Once at the Superdome the partying doesn't stop there, for beer and alcohol is sold inside the stadium. Don't expect Bama fans to miss a play, though. They love their Crimson Tide and will be in stheir seats in plenty of time to cheer the players – and especially the head coach – when they run onto the field. Afterward, you guessed it: Bourbon Street!
Finaly, Locals' New Orleans Tips: Walk on the sidewalk to best
avoid betting constantly bumped into by stumbling revelers on Rue Bourbon....It's
quite acceptable to walk out of bars with full drinks in New Orleans.
Just be sure and pour it in a plastic "to go" cup. ...With
all this great food, restaurants close between 10:30 and 11, so eating
late is a definite problem. Go for it early....Wear white when eating
beignets at Cafe du Monde (the powdered sugar really shows up on dark
clothes)...If you ever get in trouble in New Orleans, remember these
key words: "Yes Sir. No Sir. Thank You Sir."
 Take
a Tour of Bourbon Street!
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