User:PCN02WPS/sandbox/1992 SECCG

The 1992 SEC Championship Game was a postseason college football conference championship game played on December 5, 1992, at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama. It was the first edition of the SEC Championship Game, and it determined the champion of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) for the 1992 season. The contest featured the No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide, champions of the West Division, and the No. 12 Florida Gators, champions of the East Division. The game was scheduled to begin at 2:30 p.m. CST and was televised by ABC.

Following the game, undefeated Alabama advanced to the Sugar Bowl, where the Crimson Tide defeated the Miami Hurricanes to win the Crimson Tide's 12th national championship. Florida received an invitation to play in the Gator Bowl, where the Gators defeated the North Carolina State Wolfpack.

Background and reception
After the addition of Southwest Conference member Arkansas and independent South Carolina to the SEC in time for the 1992 season, then-SEC commissioner Roy Kramer implemented the idea of splitting the conference into divisions, named East and West, and created a conference championship game, the first of its kind, which would determine the SEC champion rather than just relying on regular season standings. The SEC was the first conference in NCAA Division I college football to host a post-season conference championship game.

The idea was unpopular at first among coaches and fans; it was called the "Kramer Bowl" by many who opposed its implementation.

The idea ended up being a success; two additional conferences added a championship game starting in 1996, and the format has been in use for every NCAA Division I-A (now NCAA Division I FBS) conference since the creation of the Sun Belt Conference Football Championship Game in 2018.

Starting lineups
Florida's starting offense was led by quarterback Shane Matthews, who had been named SEC Player of the Year for each of the two years prior. The Florida backfield was composed of running back Errict Rhett and fullback Kelvin Randolph, with the receiving corps made up of wide receivers Harrison Houston and Willie Jackson, and tight end Greg Keller. Tackles Reggie Green and Jason Odom, guards Dean Golden and Jim Watson, and center Gantt Crouch made up the Gators' offensive line. On the defensive side, the Gators' line was composed of ends Kevin Carter and Johnie Church and tackles Bill Gunter and Henry McMillian. (add linebackers and DBs)

Alabama's offense took the field second, and was led by quarterback Jay Barker. The backfield was composed of tailback Derrick Lassic and fullback Martin Houston. Flanker Prince Wimbley, split end Kevin Lee, and tight end Steve Busky made up the receiving corps. The Crimson Tide's offensive line was made up of tackles Matt Hammond and Roosevelt Patterson, guards George Wilson and Jon Stevenson, and center Tobie Sheils. The Crimson Tide defense was fronted by left end John Copeland, nose tackle Elverett Brown, and right end Eric Curry. The four starting Alabama linebackers were Lemanski Hall, Michael Rogers, Derrick Oden, and Antonio London. Finally, the secondary was made up of cornerbacks Antonio Langham and George Teague, as well as strong safety Sam Shade and free safety Chris Donnelly.

Game summary
The Florida Gators scored first, on a five-yard touchdown reception by Errict Rhett to take a 7–0 lead in the first quarter. The Crimson Tide responded by scoring the next 21 points. The Tide's first points came later in the first quarter on a Derrick Lassic 3-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7–7. In the second quarter, Curtis Brown would score on a 30-yard touchdown reception from Jay Barker to take a 14–7 lead at the half.

Alabama would further extend their lead to 21–7 in the third on a 15-yard Derrick Lassic touchdown run. Down by 14, the Gators would respond with a pair of touchdowns, tying the game at 21 midway through the fourth quarter. Willie Jackson would score first on a 4-yard touchdown reception on a pass from Shane Matthews late in the third, and Errict Rhett would knot the game at 21 with just over eight minutes remaining in the contest. With momentum in the favor of the Gators, with 3:16 remaining in the game, Antonio Langham would return a Matthews interception 27 -yards for a touchdown in providing the final 28–21 margin.