South Beach &
the Sun Bowl…Again
By Andy Lopusnak,
AndysPictures.com
December 29-31,
2013
For the second time in the past three seasons, I ended
the year with a Jets-Dolphins game in Miami and the Sun Bowl. Only this time
the games were switched with the NFL game on 12/29 and the Sun Bowl as usual at
high noon on New Year’s Eve. In 2011, I did the Sun Bowl that Utah won in
overtime 30-27 on New Year’s Eve and then covered the Dolphins’ 19-17 win over
the Jets on New Year’s Day 2012, which was the last NFL contest for future Hall
of Famers Jason Taylor and LaDainian Tomlinson. This time, the Jets won and
likely it will be the last game ever played by future HOFer Ed Reed, who picked
off his 64th pass in the game.
JETS 20, DOLPHINS
7
New York eliminated Miami from the playoffs with the
surprising win after trailing 7-0 then scoring the game’s final 20 points. Jets
rookie QB Geno Smith surpassed the 3,000-yard passing mark on the season during
the game. He ran for a touchdown in the game. Rookie defensive lineman Sheldon
Richardson pounded in the other Jets touchdown giving him two on the season (I
covered the other one at Carolina two weeks earlier) which tied William
“Refrigerator” Perry for the most rushing scores in a season by a defensive
lineman. The Fridge also did it in his rookie year (of 1985 when the Bears won
the Super Bowl).
For the Dolphins, receiver Brian Hartline went over 1,000
yards for the second time, but was injured on the play and missed the rest of
the game. Without his favorite receiver, Ryan Tannehill struggled and at one
point threw three interceptions in the span of eleven pass attempts.
This game marked by 275th NFL contest that I’ve covered
since “turning pro” in 1997. Additionally, this became my 30th Jets game
covered. Here’s a look at the teams I’ve covered the most during my CBS tenure
and their respective records in those contests.
TEAM
|
MOST CBS GAMES
|
RECORD
|
1. Baltimore
|
32
|
16-16
|
Houston
|
32
|
12-20
|
3. Cincinnati
|
31
|
9-22
|
4. NY Jets
|
30
|
14-16
|
5. Jacksonville
|
26
|
8-18
|
SUN LIFE STADIUM
TIME LAPSE
I’ve done two 50-yard line time lapses here in the past,
so with it supposed to pour down rain I only put out the GoPro Hero 2 for a
really unique shot. I place it in the low end zone behind the goal post and a
tarp with the Dolphins logo. I was a bit scared that the camera might get
stolen since it was literally in front of fans (see photo below). It worked out
though and is truly a great time lapse.
As you can see, the clouds are amazing (though it was very overcast). You cannot see much game action because it’s so low but I think the sky makes up for it
as does the moving tarp in the wind. Notice at the very end as the ground crew
takes down the goal post.
THIRD SUN BOWL
In the past five years, I’ve now covered the Sun Bowl
three times. My first trip to El Paso was in 2008 when Oregon State beat
Pittsburgh 3-0 in the lowest scoring bowl game since 1959. In the game, Victor
Butler posted four sacks and 11 tackles. It was also the 75th edition of the
Sun Bowl. Three years later, I returned as Utah beat Georgia Tech 30-27 in overtime
with Utes running back John White scoring the game winner to go with 115 yards
on the ground.
2013 SUN BOWL:
UCLA 42, VIRGINIA TECH 12
Bruins quarterback Brett Hundley had a career day on the
ground rushing for 161 yards on ten carries with two scores. He had an 86-yard
rushing touchdown and another from seven yards out. His previous career high
was just 85 total rushing yards. Hundley also threw two more scores in the win.
#1 PICK &
HOFer ADDED
Bruce Smith, who played at Virginia Tech and was the #1
overall pick of the 1986 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills, was at the Sun Bowl.
Smith is the NFL’s all-time leader in sacks and is a member of the Pro Football
Hall of Fame. With one photo, I added him to my collection of #1 overall NFL
picks (CLICK HERE TO VIEW)
and NFL Hall of Famers (CLICK
HERE TO VIEW). Smith became my 22nd #1 overall pick I’ve photographed.
SUN BOWL TIME
LAPSE
When I was here in 2011, I got a corner time lapse of the
game (CLICK HERE TO VIEW);
so I set up sideline shots in the broadcast booth as well as one in the end
zone. This time, I set up three time lapses – one in the end zone, another at
the 50-yard line and the third in the broadcast booth.
UP NEXT: Duke at
Notre Dame Hoops
Next week, I’ll be making my third trip to South Bend,
Indiana to cover the Duke-Notre Dame college basketball game. Aside from the
NFL playoff game the week after ND, I’m now into basketball mode the rest of
the way.
