2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season
During the 2008–2009 campaign, the Crimson Tide completed a perfect 12–0 regular season record with wins over No. 9 Clemson, No. 3 Georgia, longtime rival Tennessee, No. 16 LSU, and in-state rival Auburn to end a six-game losing streak in the Iron Bowl. The Tide went on to lose their final two games in the postseason to end the season 12–2. They lost to the Florida Gators (31–20) in the SEC Championship Game, and to the Utah Utes (31–17) in the Sugar Bowl.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season
Alabama reached No. 1 in the AP and Coaches' Polls for the first time since the final polls in 1992 and during the regular season for the first time since 1980 between weeks ten and fourteen. The Tide reached No. 1 in the BCS rankings for the first time in school history between weeks ten and fourteen. The team finished the 2008 season with a final ranking of No. 6 in both the AP and Coaches' Polls.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season
In February 2009, Alabama signed the No. 1 recruiting class according to Rivals and the No. 2 recruiting class according to Scout. Spring practice began on March 13 and concluded with the annual A-Day game on April 18. Televised live by ESPN, the Crimson team defeated the White team by a score of 14–7 before 84,050 fans in Bryant–Denny Stadium. Greg McElroy and Marquis Maze were named co-MVPs of the game.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season
On June 11, 2009, the NCAA Committee on Infractions sanctioned Alabama for "major violations" of NCAA policies as a result of athletes who received improper benefits in 16 of 19 NCAA sports, including football. As a penalty, the football program was forced to vacate 21 victories from the 2005, 2006, and 2007 seasons in addition to being placed on three years probation, ending in June 2012.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season
The university stated that none of the textbooks or materials identified in the investigation were used for profit, and that the athletes involved who still had eligibility remaining were to pay restitution for the additional materials identified as part of the inquiry. Alabama appealed the ruling to the NCAA Infractions Appeals Committee in late June, but was unsuccessful; the Committee upheld the sanctions in March 2010.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season
During SEC Media Days in July, voters selected Alabama and Florida to again win their divisions, with 63 of 64 ballots choosing Florida to win the SEC Championship Game. Voters selected Julio Jones, Mike Johnson, Terrence Cody, Rolando McClain, Javier Arenas (as a defensive back), and Leigh Tiffin to the Preseason All-SEC First Team and selected Mark Ingram and Arenas (as a return specialist) to the Preseason All-SEC Second Team.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season
By August, Alabama had 19 players on 11 different preseason award watch lists. These included Cody and McClain for the Chuck Bednarik Award; Jones for the Fred Biletnikoff Award; Dont’a Hightower and McClain for the Butkus Award; Leigh Tiffin for the Lou Groza Award; Cody, Hightower, Mike Johnson, and McClain for the Lombardi Award; Cody and McClain for the Lott Trophy; Jones for the Maxwell Award; Javier Arenas, Cody, and McClain for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy; Cody and Johnson for the Outland Trophy; Arenas for the Jim Thorpe Award; and Mark Ingram for the Doak Walker Award.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season, Returning starters
Alabama had 16 returning starters from the previous season, including eight on defense, four on offense, and all of the special teams. The most notable departures from the previous year were Andre Smith, Antoine Caldwell, and Marlon Davis on the offensive line; John Parker Wilson at quarterback; Glen Coffee at running back; and Rashad Johnson at safety.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Before the season, Recruiting class
Alabama's recruiting class was highlighted by seven players from the "ESPN 150": No. 4 Dre Kirkpatrick (CB); No. 6 Trent Richardson (RB); No. 12 D.J. Fluker (OT); No. 20 Nico Johnson (ILB); No. 36 A. J. McCarron (QB); No. 65 Kendall Kelly (WR); No. 110 Tana Patrick (OLB); No. 142 Petey Smith (ILB); and No. 143 Eddie Lacy (RB). Alabama signed the No. 1 recruiting class according to Rivals and the No. 2 recruiting class according to Scout. The football program received 29 letters of intent on National Signing Day, February 4, 2009.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Schedule
The Sagarin computer ratings calculated Alabama's strength of schedule to be the most difficult out of the 245 Division I teams. The Congrove Computer Rankings also calculated it as the most difficult out of the 120 Division I FBS teams in its rankings. Alabama's 2009 schedule was officially released on December 19, 2008. In accordance with conference rules, Alabama faced all five Western Division opponents: Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, and Ole Miss. They also faced three Eastern Division opponents: official SEC rival Tennessee, Kentucky, and South Carolina. Alabama did not play SEC opponents Georgia and Vanderbilt. Although not on the regular season schedule, Bama met Florida in the SEC Championship Game.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Schedule
Alabama also played five non-conference games. For the season opener, the Tide played in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game against Virginia Tech at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. The non-conference schedule also included games against Florida International and North Texas of the Sun Belt Conference and UT-Chattanooga of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). For the 2010 BCS National Championship Game, Alabama played Texas for the first time since the 1982 Cotton Bowl Classic.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Coaching staff
Prior to the 2009 season, Alabama made several changes to its coaching staff. Alabama lost their defensive head coach, Kevin Steele, on January 10, 2009, when he was hired as defensive coordinator for Clemson, and their linebacker coach Lance Thompson on January 16, when he was hired as linebacker coach by Tennessee. The following week, Saban named Sal Sunseri from the NFL's Carolina Panthers as his team's new assistant head and linebacker coach, and James Willis from Auburn as the new associate head and linebacker coach.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Virginia Tech
After defeating Clemson in the inaugural Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, Alabama announced in December 2008 they would return for the 2009 edition against the Virginia Tech Hokies. The Tide dominated play for most of the game, outgaining Tech in total offense by 498 yards to 155, but mistakes, penalties, and poor play by the special teams allowed the Hokies to hang on until 18 fourth-quarter points sealed the 34–24 Alabama victory.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Virginia Tech
Bama scored first with field goals of 49 and 34 yards from Leigh Tiffin to take an early 6–0 lead. The Hokies responded with a 98-yard Dyrell Roberts kickoff return for a touchdown to give Tech a 7–6 lead. Following the recovery of a Ryan Williams fumble by Brian Selman deep in Hokie territory, the Tide retook the lead 9–7 on a 32-yard Tiffin field goal. Early in the second quarter, Antoine Hopkins intercepted a Greg McElroy pass. On the ensuing possession, Tech led 10–9 after a successful 28-yard Matt Waldron field goal.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Virginia Tech
Alabama responded by driving 76 yards for a touchdown and a 16–10 lead, with the big plays coming on a 14-yard run by Mark Ingram, passes of 16 and 10 yards from McElroy to Julio Jones and the score coming on a 19-yard Roy Upchurch run. On the next Virginia Tech possession, three personal fouls and a pass interference penalty carried the Hokies downfield with Williams scoring on a one-yard touchdown run. The score remained 17–16 at the half after Tiffin missed a 36-yard field goal at the end of the second quarter.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Virginia Tech
In the third quarter Roy Upchurch fumbled the ball at the Tech nine after a long run,  negating the lone scoring opportunity for either team in the third quarter. Still down by a point in the fourth quarter, McElroy hit Marquis Maze for a 48-yard completion to the Virginia Tech six-yard line, and Ingram scored a touchdown on the next play. A successful two-point conversion pass from McElroy to Colin Peek gave Alabama a 24–17 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Davon Morgan fumbled and Chris Rogers recovered for the Tide at the Tech 21.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Virginia Tech
The following Alabama drive stalled at the 3, but Tiffin's fourth field goal made the score 27–17. Poor kickoff coverage and penalties set up a 32-yard Williams that run cut the lead to 27–24 late in the fourth quarter. Alabama quickly struck back as Ingram rushed for 39 yards, McElroy completed a 19-yard pass to Peek, and then threw to Ingram for an 18-yard touchdown and a 34–24 lead. The Hokies never threatened to score again and Alabama won its opener, 34–24. Ingram led the Tide with 150 yards rushing on 26 carries and a pair of touchdowns, and he was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Hokies to 11–1.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Florida International
The Golden Panthers of Florida International proved a tougher opponent than Alabama expected in the first half. However, the Tide pulled away with a 40–14 victory in the 2009 home opener. Alabama opened the scoring with a 23-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal followed by a 24-yard Greg McElroy touchdown pass to Mike McCoy, which gave Bama a 10–0 lead. FIU followed the McElroy touchdown with T. Y. Hilton returning the ensuing kickoff 96 yards, bringing the score to 10–7.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Florida International
Bama responded with a 29-yard Tiffin field goal to extend the lead to 13–7 early in the second quarter; the following kickoff was booted out of bounds, which set up the Golden Panthers at the 40. The ensuing 60-yard drive resulted in a 9-yard Paul McCall touchdown pass to Greg Ellingson that gave FIU a 14–13 lead. Bama responded with a 64-yard drive  culminating with a two-yard Mark Ingram touchdown run to put Bama up 20–14 at the half.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Florida International
Trent Richardson continued the Alabama scoring in the third quarter with a nine-yard touchdown run to extend the lead to 26–14. A 46-yard punt return by Javier Arenas set up Richardson's second score on a 35-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter. Alabama led 33–14. Terry Grant scored the Tide's final points with a 42-yard touchdown run to bring the final score to 40–14. Alabama outgained FIU 516–214 in total offense and 275–1 in rushing offense. Greg McElroy set an all-time Alabama record by completing 14 consecutive pass attempts and was 18–24  for 241 yards and a touchdown. For his 113-yard, two-touchdown rushing performance, Richardson was named the SEC Freshman of the Week. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Golden Panthers to 2–0.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, North Texas
Alabama's second consecutive matchup with a Sun Belt opponent on the season resulted in its second consecutive victory, as the Tide defeated the North Texas Mean Green 53–7. Greg McElroy opened the scoring with a two-yard touchdown run followed by a 34-yard touchdown pass to Marquis Maze to take a 14–0 first quarter lead. The Tide continued the scoring in the second quarter, with touchdowns on a one-yard Trent Richardson run and a 29-yard McElroy pass to Mark Ingram followed with a 35-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal. This gave Alabama a 30–0 lead at the half.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, North Texas
In the third quarter, Bama extended their lead to 44–0 following touchdown runs of five and one yard respectively from Ingram and Terry Grant. After North Texas reached the end zone on a 34-yard Nathan Tune touchdown pass to Lance Dunbar, Alabama closed the game with ten fourth-quarter points on a 20-yard Tiffin field goal and 9-yard Grant touchdown run.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, North Texas
Alabama outgained the Mean Green 523–187 in yards of total offense. It was the most points for Alabama in a game since beating Texas-El Paso 56–7 in 2001 and the most scored at Bryant–Denny since defeating Tulane 62–0 in 1991. By completing of 13 of 15 passes, McElroy tied a school record with an overall completion percentage of 86.7. The game was notable for McElroy as the North Texas head coach, Todd Dodge, was his high school head coach when McElroy led Southlake Carroll to the 2005 Texas Class 5A high school football championship. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Mean Green to 3–0.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Arkansas
In Bobby Petrino's first visit to Tuscaloosa as a head coach, Alabama opened conference play by defeating the Arkansas Razorbacks 35–7. After a scoreless first quarter, two big touchdown plays, a 52-yard run by Trent Richardson and a 50-yard pass from Greg McElroy to Julio Jones, had the Tide up 14–0 at the half. Arkansas responded early in the third quarter and cut the lead to 14–7 after Ryan Mallett hit Greg Childs for an 18-yard touchdown reception; the Hogs would not reach the end zone again as the Tide responded with three unanswered touchdowns. Bama scored first on an 80-yard touchdown pass from McElroy to Marquis Maze followed with two touchdowns by Mark Ingram, one on a 14-yard pass from McElroy and one on a 2-yard run, bringing the final score to 35–7.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Arkansas
Alabama outgained the Razorbacks 425–254 in yards of total offense. McElroy threw for career highs of 291 yards and three touchdowns. For his 65-yard, nine-carry, one-touchdown performance, Richardson was named the SEC Freshman of the Week. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Razorbacks to 10–8 (13–7 without NCAA vacations and forfeits).


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Kentucky
In Alabama's first trip to Lexington since 2004, and their first road game of the 2009 season, the Tide defeated the Kentucky Wildcats 38–20. Alabama scored on their opening drive after Javier Arenas returned the opening kickoff 60 yards, which set up an 11-yard Mark Ingram touchdown for an early 7–0 lead. Kentucky responded with a pair of 49-yard Lones Seiber field goals. The score was 7–6 at the end of the first quarter. The Tide extended their lead late in the second quarter following a nearly seven-minute, 13-play, 97-yard touchdown drive.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Kentucky
Greg McElroy passes of 27 and 21 yards and a 13-yard run by Ingram moved Bama down the field, culminating with a three-yard touchdown pass from McElroy to Colin Peek to put the Tide up 14–6. With only 40 seconds remaining in the half, Kentucky tailback Derrick Locke fumbled the ball after catching a short pass. Courtney Upshaw returned 45 yards for an Alabama touchdown that put the Tide ahead 21–6 at halftime.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Kentucky
On the second play of the third quarter, Rolando McClain intercepted a Mike Hartline pass, giving Alabama possession at the Wildcat 38. Two plays later Ingram scored on a 32-yard run, making the score 28–6. Following an Eryk Anders interception that set up a 36-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal, the Wildcats reached the end zone for the first time on the ensuing drive. Hartline connected with Randall Cobb for a 45-yard touchdown reception in bringing the score to 31–13. The Tide responded with a 7-yard Darius Hanks touchdown reception to complete a 13-play, 76-yard drive.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Kentucky
Kentucky scored the afternoon's final points in the fourth quarter on a two-yard Alfonso Smith touchdown run. The final score was 38–20. Kentucky's four turnovers sabotaged an effort that was better than any other of Alabama's previous opponents, as the Wildcats gained 301 yards in total offense and held Alabama to 352. McElroy threw for two touchdowns, giving him nine on the season against only one interception, and Ingram rushed for 140 yards on 22 carries. For his 12 tackles (8 solo), one interception, one forced fumble and one pass break-up, McClain was named both the SEC Defensive Player of the Week and the Bronko Nagurski Award National Defensive Player of the Week. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Wildcats to 35–2–1.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Ole Miss
Before the largest crowd to ever witness a game in Vaught–Hemingway Stadium, Alabama defeated their long-time rival, the Ole Miss Rebels, 22–3. Alabama struggled to put the ball in the end zone all afternoon with drives stalled at the Mississippi 8, 4, 4, 4, and 13. Each of those drives resulted in a field goal by Leigh Tiffin, who was 5 for 5 on the day. Other special teams contributions included a blocked punt in the second quarter and a recovered Dexter McCluster fumble on a punt return in the third quarter, both by Cory Reamer. McElroy struggled, completing only 15 of 34 passes for 147 yards, but Mark Ingram ran for a then career-high 172 yards and accounted for Alabama's only touchdown on a 36-yard run in the second quarter.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Ole Miss
The Alabama defense had an excellent day, with Javier Arenas, Kareem Jackson, Rolando McClain, and Cory Reamer each intercepting a Jevan Snead pass. Overall, the Tide held the Rebels to 212 yards of total offense and a single Joshua Shene field goal in the third quarter. center William Vlachos was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week and Tiffin was named the Lou Groza Award "Star of Stars" for his five field goal performance. The victory was the team's  sixth in a row over the Rebels and improved Alabama's all-time record against Ole Miss to 43–9–2 (47–8–2 without NCAA vacations and forfeits).


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, South Carolina
In South Carolina's first trip to Bryant–Denny since 2004, the Tide defeated the South Carolina Gamecocks 20–6 on homecoming in Tuscaloosa. On the second play from the start of the game, Mark Barron intercepted a Stephen Garcia pass and returned it 77 yards for a touchdown and a 7–0 Alabama lead. Greg McElroy struggled; he threw a pair of first-quarter interceptions on Bama's first two offensive possessions. South Carolina's C.C. Whitlock fumbled the ball on the return of the second interception and possession was recovered by Darius Hanks. The Tide continued its drive to the Gamecock 8, and Leigh Tiffin kicked a field goal to put Alabama ahead 10–0.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, South Carolina
Following a failed 49-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal attempt in the second quarter, South Carolina answered by driving to the Alabama five-yard line. However, the Bama defense held the Gamecock offense to three consecutive incompletions; the result was a 22-yard Spencer Lanning field goal to make the score 10–3. On the following possession, Mark Ingram ran 54 yards to the South Carolina 28. The drive stalled at the 17 and Tiffin's field goal made it 13–3. South Carolina responded with a quick drive that ended with a 31-yard Lanning field goal as time expired in the first half with the score 13–6.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, South Carolina
After a scoreless third quarter, with 8:08 to go, Alabama took possession at its own 32 following a Gamecock punt. Taking direct snaps out of the wildcat formation, Ingram rushed for 64 yards on five carries, then took a pitch from Greg McElroy for the last four yards and the touchdown, sealing Alabama's 20–6 victory. The Alabama offense turned the ball over four times in this game after committing only two turnovers in the first six games. Mark Ingram's 246 yards rushing marked his third consecutive career-high effort and the third highest single game total in Alabama history. For their performances, Ingram was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week and Rolando McClain was named the Lott Trophy IMPACT Player of the Week. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Gamecocks to 10–3 (12–2 before NCAA vacations and forfeits).


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Tennessee
This edition of the Third Saturday in October was a defensive struggle with a surprise finish as the Crimson Tide defeated the Tennessee Volunteers 12–10. In a defensive struggle for both teams, Leigh Tiffin was 4 for 4 on field goals and accounted for all of Alabama's scoring.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Tennessee
With the Tennessee defense stopping the Tide on consecutive drives, Alabama's defense responded with Mark Barron intercepting a Jonathan Crompton pass at the Bama 19 in the first quarter. The ensuing drive resulted in a 38-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal and a 3–0 lead. The Vols responded with a 24-yard Daniel Lincoln field goal that tied the game 3–3. Tiffin hit field goals of 50 and 22 yards before Lincoln missed a 47-yard attempt at the end of the first half, leaving the score 9–3 at halftime. After a scoreless third, in the fourth Tennessee drove to the Alabama 27, but Terrence Cody blocked Lincoln's field goal. On the ensuing possession, Tiffin hit a 49-yard field goal to bring the score to 12–3.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Tennessee
Late in the fourth, Mark Ingram lost a fumble for the first time in his collegiate career, giving Tennessee possession at the Alabama 43 with 3:29 remaining in the game. The Vols drove the ball 43 yards in 2:10, culminating with an 11-yard Crompton touchdown pass to Gerald Jones to cut the gap to 12–10. The Vols followed with a successful onside kick attempt and regained possession of the ball at their own 41-yard line. After Tennessee was penalized five yards for a false start, Crompton completed a pass to Luke Stocker for 23 yards, to the Bama 27-yard line.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Tennessee
With the clock ticking off the final seconds and Tennessee out of time outs, Crompton spiked the ball to stop the clock with four seconds left. This set up Lincoln for a 45-yard field goal attempt to win the game. However, Terrence Cody knocked his blocker over and broke through the line. He blocked Lincoln's field goal as time expired, preserving Alabama's 12–10 victory and perfect season. For their performances, Cody was named the SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week and Tiffin was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, LSU
With the SEC West divisional championship on the line, Alabama defeated their long-time rival the LSU Tigers 24–15 to secure a spot in the SEC Championship Game. Following a scoreless first quarter, LSU took possession on its own 9 on the last play of the first quarter and embarked on a 13-play, 91-yard drive that ended in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Jefferson to Deangelo Peterson and a 7–0 lead. Javier Arenas returned the ensuing punt 40 yards to the Alabama 49, and the Tide drove to the LSU 11 before settling for a 28-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal that made the score 7–3. Neither team could mount a sustained drive for the rest of the half.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, LSU
At the start of the second half Alabama received the kickoff, took possession at its own 19, and started getting the ball to Mark Ingram. On the drive, Ingram was responsible for a 12-yard reception from Greg McElroy and rushes of 4, 12, 12, and 18 yards that advanced the ball to the Tiger 23. Two plays later, McElroy hit Darius Hanks for his first touchdown pass since the Kentucky game, and Alabama was up 10–7. The ensuing LSU drive stalled at the Tide 46. The  LSU punt was downed at the Alabama 1-yard line.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, LSU
Two plays later McElroy was sacked for a safety, making the score 10–9. LSU returned the free kick to its own 41 and drove 59 yards for the touchdown, the big play coming on a 34-yard run by Charles Scott. The two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score 15–10 in favor of LSU.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, LSU
Alabama received the kickoff and again relied on Ingram: seven Ingram rushes for 48 yards accounted for most of the offense on a drive that ended with a 20-yard Tiffin field goal, making the score 15–13. Following a LSU three and out, Alabama took possession on its own 27-yard line. On first down, McElroy completed a screen pass to Julio Jones which Jones turned into a 73-yard touchdown. After a successful two-point conversion, Alabama led 21–15. LSU went three and out again.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, LSU
A methodical 11-play, 31-yard Alabama drive consumed 6:14 of game time and ended in a 40-yard Tiffin field goal with 3:04 left to  seal a 24–15 Alabama victory. Alabama won the SEC Western Division championship and clinched a berth in the SEC Championship Game against Florida, which clinched the East that same day with a 27–3 victory over Vanderbilt. Ingram rushed for 144 yards and Jones had 102 receiving yards. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Tigers to 45–23–5.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Mississippi State
Playing in front of the largest crowd to ever witness a game in Davis Wade Stadium, and with the Bulldogs wearing black jerseys for the first time in their history, Alabama cruised to a 31–3 victory over long-time rival Mississippi State. After a scoreless first quarter, Alabama scored a pair of touchdowns in the second to take a 14–0 lead. The first touchdown came on a 45-yard Darius Hanks reception from Greg McElroy and the second on a 1-yard Mark Ingram run.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Mississippi State
After a 39-yard field goal by Leigh Tiffin extended the lead to 17–0 in the third, the Bulldogs scored their only points of the night on a 34-yard Derek DePasquale field goal. On the ensuing kickoff, Javier Arenas returned the ball 46 yards and on the next play, McElroy hit Julio Jones for a 48-yard touchdown reception. The score was 24–3. Mark Barron intercepted a Tyson Lee pass at the Alabama 30 on the next Bulldog offensive series. On the following play, Ingram scored a touchdown on a 70-yard run to bring the final score to 31–3.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Mississippi State
For the game, McElroy threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns on 13 of 18 passing, and Mark Ingram rushed for 149 yards two touchdowns. Mississippi State was held to 213 total yards, with Barron intercepting two Tyson Lee and Marquis Johnson intercepting one Chris Relf pass. For his performance, left guard Mike Johnson was named the SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Bulldogs to 73–18–3 (72–19–3 without NCAA vacations and forfeits).


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Chattanooga
On senior day in Tuscaloosa, Alabama dipped down to college football's Football Championship Subdivision and defeated the Mocs of UT-Chattanooga 45–0. After being stopped on their first possession, Alabama reached the end zone on the next five consecutive possessions in running up a 35–0 lead in the first half. First-quarter touchdowns included a 2-yard Trent Richardson run, a 25-yard Mark Ingram run, and a 19-yard Julio Jones reception from Greg McElroy. In the second quarter, touchdowns were scored by Javier Arenas on a 66-yard punt return and on a 40-yard Ingram run. With the only third quarter points coming on a 41-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal, Bama's final points of the afternoon came on a 21-yard Roy Upchurch touchdown run in the fourth.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Chattanooga
Javier Arenas set the all-time SEC record with his seventh punt return for a touchdown and was named the SEC Special Teams Player of the Week. Mark Ingram led the offense with 102 yards and two touchdowns before being pulled early in the second quarter. Alabama outgained Chattanooga in total offense 422–84 and recorded their first defensive shutout since defeating Auburn 36–0 in 2008. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Mocs to 11–0.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Auburn
One year after Alabama's 36–0 victory in Tuscaloosa, the 2009 Iron Bowl contest against the Auburn Tigers ended with a 26–21 Tide victory and a 12–0 regular season. The Tigers, who entered the game 7–4 and unranked, took the ball after Alabama's initial three and out and struck quickly. On Auburn's fourth play from scrimmage, Terrell Zachery raced 67 yards on a reverse for a touchdown and a 7–0 Auburn lead. The run was the longest allowed by the Tide since a 70-yard run by Arkansas' Darren McFadden in 2005.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Auburn
Auburn then successfully executed an onside kick and retained possession of the ball. After the onside kick, Auburn drove 58 yards in 12 plays, scoring on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Chris Todd to Eric Smith. The Crimson Tide, which had never trailed in a game by more than seven points all season, found itself down 14–0 before the first quarter was over.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Auburn
Early in the second quarter Alabama completed a 10-play, 58-yard drive by scoring on a two-yard run by backup tailback Trent Richardson. The key plays were a 15-yard pass from McElroy to Darius Hanks and a 13-yard pass from McElroy to Richardson. After an exchange of punts gave Alabama good starting position at the Auburn 45, the Tide quickly struck again with McElroy hitting tight end Colin Peek on a 33-yard touchdown pass that left the game tied 14–14 at halftime.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Auburn
In the third quarter, Auburn scored on another quick strike. The Tigers took possession on their 24 after a Bama punt; Kodi Burns rushed for four yards, and then Todd hit Darvin Adams on a 72-yard completion that put Auburn back in front 21–14. The completion marked the longest play from scrimmage allowed by the Bama defense all season and the longest pass play since 1999.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Auburn
Javier Arenas gave Alabama an opportunity by returning the ensuing kickoff 46 yards to the Auburn 45, but Mark Ingram, who struggled the entire game, rushed for 7 yards and 2 yards and then was held for no gain on both third and one and fourth and one, and Alabama turned the ball over on downs. Auburn went three and out and punted, and Arenas set the Tide up again, returning the punt 56 yards to the Auburn 33-yard line.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Auburn
Alabama drove to the Auburn 10 before settling for a Leigh Tiffin field goal that cut the deficit to 21–17. Alabama kicked off and two plays later, Auburn quarterback Todd threw an interception that gave Alabama possession at the Auburn 43. The Tide drove to the Tigers' 13 before this drive also stalled, forcing another Leigh Tiffin field goal that made the score 21–20. As the third quarter ended, Auburn continued to hang on to a one-point lead.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Auburn
Neither team could make progress with possessions early in the fourth quarter, and after an exchange of punts, Alabama got the ball on its own 21 with 8:27 to go, and began what would soon be known as "The Drive". Richardson opened with a 7-yard rush, and on third and three, McElroy completed a nine-yard pass to Julio Jones for a first down. Three plays later, on third and five, McElroy completed a six-yard pass to Jones for another first down and advancing the ball to the Tide 48.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Auburn
Two plays later, on second and eight, a third pass from McElroy to Jones for 11 yards led to a third first down. Two plays after that, a fourth pass from McElroy to Jones and a fourth first down at the Auburn 28-yard line. On second and nine at the Auburn 27, McElroy chose a different target, hitting Richardson for a first down to the Auburn 11-yard line. After a four-yard run by Richardson to the Auburn 7, the Tigers called time out with 1:34 left.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Auburn
Richardson took the ball three more yards to the Auburn 4, leaving the Tide at third and three. Each team called a time out in succession with 1:29 left. Alabama's offensive coaches called for a running play, but head coach Nick Saban, unwilling to settle for a field goal, overruled this decision and demanded a pass. McElroy completed a 4-yard touchdown pass to third-string tailback Roy Upchurch, giving Alabama a 26–21 lead with 1:24 to go. McElroy had completed seven consecutive passes on The Drive after missing his first.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Auburn
A two-point conversion attempt failed and the lead was five points. Auburn took possession at the 25 following the kickoff and took 1:14 to run four plays and advance the ball to its own 46 with ten seconds to go. Todd completed a 17-yard pass to Darvin Adams at the Alabama 37, and after spiking the ball, Todd's last pass fell incomplete and the game was over. Alabama had survived, beating Auburn 26–21 despite being outgained 332 yards to 291 and being held to only 73 yards rushing.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Florida
Alabama faced Florida in the SEC Championship Game in a rematch of the 2008 contest, with the Tide capturing their 22nd conference championship following their 32–13 victory over the Gators. The Tide struck first, driving 47 yards with the opening possession before Leigh Tiffin kicked a 48-yard field goal and a 3–0 lead. Following a Florida three and out on their first possession, Alabama responded with an 8-play, 76-yard touchdown drive.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Florida
On the drive, Greg McElroy completed key passes to Colin Peek and Marquis Maze and Mark Ingram rushed for 37 yards and the touchdown in taking a 9–0 lead following a missed extra point. On the ensuing possession, Caleb Sturgis hit a 48-yard field goal that made the score 9–3 at the end of the first quarter.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Florida
Alabama scored first in the second quarter on a 34-yard Tiffin field goal to complete a 68-yard drive and extend the Bama lead to 12–3. Florida followed with what turned out to be its only touchdown drive of the game. Rushes of 23 yards and 15 yards from quarterback and former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow were followed by a 23-yard touchdown pass from Tebow to David Nelson, and Florida had cut the lead to two, 12–10.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Florida
On the next offensive play, Ingram took a short pass from McElroy and raced 69 yards to the Gator 3-yard line, and ran it in for a touchdown from three yards out on the next play. The Gators ended the first half with a 32-yard Sturgis field goal to make the halftime score 19–13.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Florida
Florida opened the third quarter with a three and out. On the Tide's first offensive series of the second half, McElroy completed a 28-yard pass to Maze and was followed with a 15-yard personal foul penalty in bringing the ball into the red zone. On the next play McElroy completed the drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Colin Peek. Alabama took a 26–13 lead. Florida got one first down on its next possession before punting the ball to Alabama.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Florida
Taking the ball at its own 12-yard line with 7:36 to go in the third quarter, Alabama held the ball for the rest of the quarter and into the fourth, using up 8:47 of game time on a 12-play, 88-yard drive. Ingram, who rushed for 37 yards on the drive, scored on a 1-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter to increase Bama's lead to 32–13. Florida mounted a late drive that reached the Alabama 6 before Tebow threw an interception to Javier Arenas in the end zone. On Florida's next possession, the Gators turned the ball over on downs at the Alabama 13, and the Tide was able to run out the clock to secure the 32–13 victory.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Florida
For his 239-yard, one touchdown passing performance, Greg McElroy was named the game's MVP. Ingram rushed for 113 and Trent Richardson rushed for 80 yards. The victory gave Alabama its 22nd SEC title, their third since the inception of the Championship Game and their first in ten years—the longest time the Crimson Tide program has ever gone without an SEC championship. The victory improved Alabama's all-time record against the Gators to 20–14 (21–14 without the NCAA vacation of the 2005 victory). Alabama earned their third SEC championship since the inception of the SEC Championship Game in 1992, and their 22nd SEC title.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Texas
Following victories in their respective conference championship games, on December 6 the final Bowl Championship Series (BCS) standings were unveiled, pitting the No. 1 ranked Crimson Tide against the No. 2 ranked Texas Longhorns for the 2010 BCS National Championship. The game was held in the Rose Bowl, although it was not the actual Rose Bowl Game, in which Ohio State beat Oregon six days earlier. Alabama came into the game having never beaten Texas, compiling an all-time 0–7–1 record against the Longhorns.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Texas
Alabama won the toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff. After losing thirteen yards on a sack and a penalty, Nick Saban called for a fake punt, which resulted in a Texas interception by Blake Gideon at the Alabama 37-yard line. On the initial possession, Texas quarterback Colt McCoy suffered a hit from Marcell Dareus which forced him to leave the game. Suffering from a pinched nerve in his throwing shoulder, McCoy did not return. With McCoy out, freshman Garrett Gilbert replaced him at quarterback, and the Longhorns settled for a field goal and a 3–0 lead. The ensuing kickoff was an onside kick, and Texas retained possession of the ball when Alabama failed to field the kick. The Longhorns only advanced the ball five yards and Hunter Lawrence kicked another field goal to go ahead 6–0.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Texas
The Tide went ahead in the second quarter. Greg McElroy threw for only 58 yards on 6 of 11 passing for Alabama, but 23 of those yards came on a completion to Julio Jones that advanced the ball to the Texas 12. Three plays later Mark Ingram ran it in from two yards out, and Alabama went ahead 7–6. After an exchange of punts, Bama took possession on the Texas 49-yard line, and on the second play Trent Richardson burst through a hole in the middle and raced 49 yards untouched for the touchdown, extending the lead to 14–6.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Texas
Texas continued to struggle for offense in McCoy's absence, and on the next possession a Texas drive ended when Javier Arenas intercepted a Gilbert pass at the Alabama 25. Following a short punt late in the quarter, Bama drove to the Texas 9, and increased their lead to 17–6 following a successful 26-yard Leigh Tiffin field goal. It appeared that the Crimson Tide would go into the locker room leading 17–6. However, after gaining nine yards on a rush up the middle, Texas called time out with 15 seconds left. With the ball at the Texas 37, Gilbert threw a shovel pass to D.J. Monroe, who bobbled the ball and batted it into the arms of Alabama defensive lineman Marcell Dareus, who lumbered 28 yards for a touchdown that made the halftime score 24–6.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Texas
Having been sacked 4 times in the first half but had considerable success rushing the ball, Alabama came out rushing after halftime, attempting only two passes in the 3rd quarter. Meanwhile, Gilbert, who had struggled early in the game, started to find his rhythm, mostly due to the efforts of Jordan Shipley, one of only two Texas receivers to catch a pass thrown beyond the line of scrimmage in the game. A 44-yard touchdown pass from Gilbert to Shipley cut the lead to 24–13. Early in the fourth, Leigh Tiffin missed a 52-yard field goal.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Texas
On the ensuing possession, the Longhorns drove 65 yards and scored another touchdown on a 28-yard Shipley reception. A successful two-point conversion pulled the score to within three points, 24–21. Following an Alabama punt, Texas gained possession on their own 7-yard line with 3:14 to go. On the second play of the drive, Eryk Anders laid a hit on Gilbert that forced a fumble, and Alabama recovered at the Texas 3. Three plays later Ingram, who rushed for 116 yards in the game, ran it in for the score that gave Alabama a 31–21 lead. On the following drive, Gilbert threw a second interception to Arenas, and a Trent Richardson touchdown with 47 seconds left made the final score 37–21.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Game summaries, Texas
For their performances, Mark Ingram was named the game's offensive MVP and Marcell Dareus was named defensive MVP. Alabama beat Texas for the first time in their history, won its first ever BCS championship game, and won its first national championship since 1992. It was Alabama's thirteenth claimed and eighth national championship by vote of the AP poll or coaches' poll, the others coming in 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, and 1992, and ninth perfect season, the others coming in 1925, 1930, 1934, 1945, 1961, 1966, 1979, and 1992. Alabama became the third school in major college history to go 14–0, joining the 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes and the 2009 Boise State Broncos.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, Rankings
Entering the 2009 season, the Crimson Tide was ranked No. 5 in the AP and Coaches' Preseason Polls. By week seven Alabama moved into the No. 1 ranking in the AP Poll and the No. 2 ranking in both the Coaches' Poll and the initial BCS rankings. After dropping as low as No. 3, following the victory against Florida in the SEC Championship Game Alabama captured the No. 1 ranking in the AP and Coaches' Polls as well as in the final BCS rankings. Following the victory over Texas in the BCS Championship Game, Alabama was selected a unanimous No. 1 by the AP and as the No. 1 team in the Coaches' Poll.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season
Following the victory against Texas for the national championship, the team arrived at the Tuscaloosa Regional Airport on the evening of January 8. Several thousand fans were there to greet them upon their arrival. On January 16, a public national championship celebration at Bryant–Denny Stadium was attended by well over 30,000 spectators. Speakers at the event included head coach Nick Saban and Alabama athletic director Mal Moore. All of the championship trophies were available for public viewing. In early March, the team was invited to the White House, where Obama greeted the team and offered congratulatory remarks for their championship season.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season
For their victory, each team member and coach received three championship rings designed by Jostens: a university-issued title ring, a BCS issued title ring, and another for winning the SEC championship. The rings were distributed as part of the annual A-Day weekend the following April. Also as part of the A-Day celebrations, the 2009 team captains Javier Arenas, Rolando McClain, and Mike Johnson were honored at the Walk of Fame ceremony at the base of Denny Chimes. As recognition for becoming the fifth Alabama head coach to win a national championship, the University unveiled a statue of coach Saban along the Walk of Champions outside Bryant–Denny Stadium as part of A-Day festivities on April 16, 2011.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season, Final statistics
After their victory over Texas in the BCS National Championship Game, Alabama's final team statistics were released. On the defensive side of the ball, they ranked second in scoring defense (11.71 points per game), second in total defense (244.14 yards per game), second in rushing defense (78.14 yards per game) and tenth in passing defense (166.00 yards per game). They were also the conference leaders in scoring, total and rushing defense.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season, Final statistics
On offense, nationally the Crimson Tide ranked 12th in rushing offense (215.07 yards per game), 22nd in scoring offense (32.07 points per game), 42nd in total offense (403.00 yards per game) and 92nd in passing offense (187.93 yards per game). Individually, Leigh Tiffin led the SEC with an average of 2.14 field goals and 9.43 points per game.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season, Awards
In the weeks following the SEC Championship Game, multiple Alabama players were recognized for their on-field performances with a variety of awards and recognitions. At the team awards banquet on December 6, Javier Arenas, Mike Johnson and Rolando McClain were each named the permanent captains of the 2009 squad. At that time both McClain and Mark Ingram were also named the 2009 co-most valuable players with McClain and Terrence Cody named defensive players of the year and Ingram and Johnson named the offensive players of the year.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season, Awards, Conference
The SEC recognized several players for their individual performances with various awards. Alabama swept the three major individual awards on the AP All-SEC team, with Mark Ingram named Offensive Player of the Year, Rolando McClain named Defensive Player of the Year, and Nick Saban named Coach of the Year. In addition to Ingram and McClain, Javier Arenas (as a defensive back), Terrance Cody, Mike Johnson, and Leigh Tiffin were named to the AP All-SEC First Team. James Carpenter, Colin Peek, and Arenas (as a return specialist) were named to the AP All-SEC Second Team.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season, Awards, Conference
Eight players were named to the Coaches' All-SEC First Team, including Arenas (as both a defensive back and return specialist), Mark Barron, Cody, Ingram, Mike Johnson, McClain, and Tiffin. Julio Jones was named to the Coaches' All-SEC Second Team. Nico Johnson, Barrett Jones, and Trent Richardson were named to the 2009 Freshman All-SEC Team.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season, Awards, National
After the season, a number of Alabama players were named as national award winners and finalists. Mark Ingram became Alabama's first Heisman Trophy winner, with the closest margin of victory in the history of the award, over Stanford's Toby Gerhart. Ingram was a finalist for the Maxwell Award and the Doak Walker Award. Linebacker Rolando McClain won the Butkus Award and the Jack Lambert Award. Other national award finalists included Terrence Cody (for the Chuck Bednarik Award) and Leigh Tiffin (for the Lou Groza Award). Defensive coordinator Kirby Smart won the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season, Awards, National
In addition to the individual awards, several players were also named to various national All-American Teams. Javier Arenas, Terrance Cody, Mark Ingram, Mike Johnson, Rolando McClain, and Leigh Tiffin were named to the AP All-American First Team and Mark Barron was named to the AP All-American Second Team. Cody, Ingram, Mike Johnson, and McClain were named to the Walter Camp All-American First Team. Arenas and Tiffin were named to the Walter Camp All-American Second Team. Arenas, Ingram, Mike Johnson, and McClain were named to the AFCA All-America Team. With their selections on various teams, Mike Johnson, Mark Ingram, Terrence Cody, Rolando McClain and Javier Arenas were each consensus All-America, with Ingram and McClain each being unanimous selections.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season, Awards, All-star games
Seven Alabama players were selected by postseason all-star games. Lorenzo Washington appeared in the Texas vs. The Nation Game. Justin Woodall participated in the East-West Shrine Game. Javier Arenas, Terrence Cody, Mike Johnson, Colin Peek, and Leigh Tiffin  played in the Under Armour Senior Bowl.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season, NFL Draft
Of all the draft-eligible juniors, only Rolando McClain and Kareem Jackson declared their eligibility for the 2010 NFL Draft. Ten Alabama players, eight seniors and two juniors, were invited to the NFL Scouting Combine. The invited Alabama players were tight end Colin Peek, offensive lineman Mike Johnson, defensive linemen Terrence Cody, Brandon Deaderick and Lorenzo Washington, linebacker Rolando McClain, defensive backs Javier Arenas, Kareem Jackson and Justin Woodall, and placekicker Leigh Tiffin. In the draft, Alabama had seven players selected.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season, NFL Draft
The first round selections were McClain (8th Oakland Raiders) and Jackson (20th Houston Texans); the second round picks were Arenas (50th Kansas City Chiefs) and Cody (57th Baltimore Ravens); the third round pick was Mike Johnson (98th Atlanta Falcons); and the seventh round picks were Marquis Johnson (211th St. Louis Rams) and Deaderick (247th New England Patriots). Both Peek and Washington, with the Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys respectively, signed as undrafted free agents.


2009 Alabama Crimson Tide football team, After the season, NFL Draft
Following the 2010 season, juniors Mark Ingram, Julio Jones and Marcell Dareus declared their eligibility for the 2011 NFL Draft. Five Alabama players, two seniors and three juniors, were invited to the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine. The invited players were offensive lineman James Carpenter, quarterback Greg McElroy, defensive end Marcell Dareus, running back Mark Ingram, and wide receiver Julio Jones. In the draft, Alabama set a school record with four players selected in the first round. The first round selections were Dareus (3rd Buffalo Bills), Jones (6th Atlanta Falcons), Carpenter (25th Seattle Seahawks) and Ingram (28th New Orleans Saints). McElroy was selected in the seventh round (208th New York Jets). Preston Dial signed as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions in July 2011 after the NFL labor dispute was resolved.


2009 Alaska floods
The 2009 Alaska floods were a series of natural disasters taking place in the United States state of Alaska during April and May 2009. The floods were a result of heavier-than-normal winter snowfall and above-average spring temperatures that resulted in rapid melting of the winter snowfall. The resulting high water levels were magnified in places by the development of ice dams which caused catastrophic flooding. The record-breaking flood that affected Eagle, Alaska in early May is the best example of an ice dam causing flooding beyond the norm.


2009 Alaska floods, Causes
The winter of 2008–2009 brought unusually heavy snowfall to much of Alaska. Kotzebue, on the Bering Sea coast, received a record 102 inches of snowfall—more than double the average of about 40 inches. In other locations, winter snowfall did not set records but still was heavier than average. Fairbanks, Alaska's second-largest city, received 71.5 inches of snow and experienced unusually cold temperatures for the first three months of the year, preventing early melting of the snowpack. Snow also fell heavily in Lake Minchumina and the Alaska Range. At Eagle, the ice on the Yukon River was 55 inches thick—over 40 percent greater than normal.


2009 Alaska floods, Causes
By mid-April, concerns were raised that the heavy snowpack would pose a problem if it melted quickly. "There's plenty of snowpack out there to cause problems this year," warned a National Weather Service meteorologist at the time.


2009 Alaska floods, Causes
In Fairbanks and most of Interior Alaska, temperatures remained below freezing for most of April and temperatures did not hit 50 degrees until April 26. After that date, temperatures rose rapidly. By April 28, the snowpack at Fairbanks International Airport had melted, leaving only snow berms and piles. The next day, Fairbanks recorded a record high temperature of 74 degrees. On April 30, Fairbanks set an all-time high temperature for the month of April when the thermometer reached 76 degrees. Record high temperatures also were recorded at Eagle, Delta Junction, and other towns in central Alaska. In less than one week, central Alaska residents went from skiing to swatting mosquitoes. The warmup was so rapid that on May 1, the Alaska Division of Forestry issued its first wildfire alert of the year. By that date, however, rivers across central Alaska were already flooding.


2009 Alaska floods, Tanana Valley
The Tanana River valley was the first area of Alaska to experience spring flooding. On April 28, the ice on the Salcha River broke up, flowed into the Tanana River, and formed an ice jam. The jam partially dammed the river, flooding low-lying areas of the town of Salcha. High temperatures during the following couple of days added to the ice jam, and several families were forced from their homes by the rising water. Fairbanks North Star Borough officials set up a self-serve sand bag station at the Salcha Fairgrounds, and residents near the river erected impromptu levees. The Salcha ice jam broke loose on April 30, causing flood levels to decline dramatically. Record-high temperatures that day caused jams to form on other rivers in the area, however.


2009 Alaska floods, Tanana Valley
On the Chatanika River, a jam caused a flood that threatened several homes before the ice broke loose and dropped water levels to near normal. By May 1, almost the entire Fairbanks North Star Borough was directly threatened by some sort of flooding. In Fox, small-stream flooding caused a house to be evacuated. Flooding was reported in North Pole and in rural areas of the borough. On May 2, high water on the Chena River swept through Fairbanks, causing flooding in low-lying areas.


2009 Alaska floods, Tanana Valley
The high water caused the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consider closing the floodgates at the Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project, a structure built to protect Fairbanks from flooding. The high water registered just below the threshold to close the gates, however, and they remained open throughout the flood. By May 5, the water receded in Fairbanks and the surrounding area as the Tanana River drained floodwater into the Yukon. The draining high water ripped a barge away from its moorings in the Tanana River near Nenana, causing it to float down the Yukon River until it was arrested by a helicopter.


2009 Alaska floods, Kuskokwim River
On May 6, multiple ice jams formed on the Kuskokwim River near the villages of Upper and Lower Kalskag. These jams caused the snowmelt-bolstered river to flood areas around both villages, forcing residents to take action. After the jams broke and flowed downriver, they re-formed near Akiak. The resulting flood caused the evacuation of more than 10 percent of the town's residents to nearby Bethel, while many of the remaining residents sought shelter in the local school.


2009 Alaska floods, Susitna River
On May 3, an ice jam formed on the Susitna River, causing flooding that washed out the tracks of the Alaska Railroad. Large chunks of ice also were pushed onto the tracks, making work difficult for crews assigned to repair the rail line. The incident severed rail traffic between Fairbanks and Anchorage until May 7, when track repairs were completed and the railroad resumed service.


2009 Alaska floods, Yukon River, Eagle and Eagle Village
On May 3 and May 4, ice on the Yukon River near the Alaska/Canada border began to break up. Open water was seen near the town of Eagle, which is just west of the border. On May 4, a large ice jam developed about 10 miles downriver of Eagle. The high-flowing Yukon, fueled by snowmelt from the high temperatures of the previous week, soon flooded the town. Large chunks of ice were carried over the town's riverbank retaining wall and smashed into stores and buildings. The Alaska Native settlement of Eagle Village was severely flooded and virtually destroyed by marauding blocks of ice. In Eagle itself, floodwater lifted buildings off their foundations and caused havoc for the town's 120-plus residents.


2009 Alaska floods, Yukon River, Middle Yukon
The high water released by the break-up of the Eagle ice jam reached Circle, the next significant town downriver from Eagle, in early May.


2009 Alaska floods, Yukon River, Middle Yukon
The river surge hit Fort Yukon on May 7 and early in the morning of May 8. Although the flood reached 4 feet (1.2 m) above flood stage, it did not top the town's Yukon River levee. Areas outside the levee received minor flooding, and some residents were evacuated to the village school and to Fort Yukon Air Force Station.


2009 Alaska floods, Yukon River, Lower Yukon
The surge of water released from the Yukon River near Eagle in the first week of May reached the lower Yukon villages of Grayling, Holy Cross, and Nulato by May 16.


2009 Alaska floods, Response
Initial responses to the flooding were organized by people and organizations closest to the separate disasters. Most efforts were focused on assisting residents of Eagle, but notable help was given to other affected communities, including Akiak and Stevens Village.


2009 Alaska floods, Response
On May 3, National Park Service employees from the headquarters of the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve in Eagle moved to support residents of the town who had been flooded out of their homes. Supplies of food and water were delivered to old Eagle Village on May 5, and the next day, officials from the Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management arrived to manage the response from a headquarters set up at Eagle's school. By Thursday, May 7, National Park Service helicopters were airborne, checking on people in isolated homesteads near and within the preserve.


2009 Alaska floods, Response
On May 6, Governor Sarah Palin declared the drainages of the Yukon, Kuskokwim, Kobuk, and Susitna rivers to be disaster areas. The next day, she canceled a trip to attend the White House Correspondents Dinner in order to survey the damaged communities.


2009 Alaska floods, Response
In Fairbanks, private citizens donated more than 7,000 pounds (3,175 kg) of supplies to Eagle residents. The amount of donations was so great that the airline that volunteered to fly the supplies to Eagle was overwhelmed. By May 7, the total amount of private donations exceeded 10,500 pounds (4,763 kg).


2009 Alaska floods, Response
By May 10, larger amounts of government aid began reaching affected areas. Akiak on the Kuskokwim River received diesel fuel, potable water, food, and other items, while four 400-gallon (1,514-liter) water tanks were sent to Eagle to alleviate problems caused by contaminated wells.


2009 Albanian Cup Final
The 2009 Albanian Cup Final was the 57th final of the Albanian Cup. The final was played at Stadiumi Niko Dovana in Durres on 6 May 2009. The match was contested by KF Tirana, who beat Elbasani in their semi-final, and Flamurtari who beat Shkumbini. After Rezart Dabulla opened the scoring with a header after 42 minutes, Devis Mema equalised in the 65th minute before Hair Zeqiri scored the winner on the 92nd minutes to give Flamurtari their third Albanian Cup success.


2009 Albanian Supercup
Albanian Supercup 2009 is the 16th edition of the Albanian Supercup since its establishment in 1989. The match was contested between the 2009 Cup winners KS Flamurtari and the 2008–09 Albanian Superliga champions KF Tirana.


2009 Albanian Women's National Championship
The 2009 Albanian Women's National Championship was the 1st season of women's league football under the Albanian Football Association, played after several unofficial tournaments, which were staged as promotion for women's football in Albania.


2009 Albanian Women's National Championship
The competition was played in a knock-out tournament over 5 days, with 8 teams participating. Tirana AS won the title, beating Juban Danja 4–0 in the final.


2009 Albanian Women's National Championship, Results, Quarter-finals
All matches were played on 23 January 2009, with two played at Selman Stërmasi Stadium in Tirana and two at the National Sports Centre in Kamëz.


2009 Albanian parliamentary election
Parliamentary elections were held in Albania on 28 June 2009. No alliance achieved 71 deputies on its own needed to form a parliamentary majority. A coalition government was formed by the Democratic Party and Socialist Movement for Integration.


2009 Albanian parliamentary election, Electoral System
The 140 members of Parliament were elected in twelve multi-member constituencies analogous to the country's twelve counties. Within the constituencies, seats are elected by closed list proportional representation, with an electoral threshold of 3% for parties and 5% for alliances.


2009 Albanian parliamentary election, Electoral System
Seats are allocated to alliances using the d'Hondt system, then to political parties using the Sainte-Laguë method.


2009 Albanian parliamentary election, Background
Prior to the election, the electoral law was changed to a regional and proportional system. Polls from March and April 2009 saw a very close race, with both the governing Democratic Party of Albania and the opposition Socialist Party of Albania around 37%, with minor parties like the Socialist Movement for Integration, the G99 Movement, the Unity for Human Rights Party and the Republican Party of Albania in the low single digits.


2009 Albanian parliamentary election, Background
Shortly before the election, the ethnic Greek Unity for Human Rights Party switched their allegiance, abandoning their alliance with the Democratic Party of Albania to join the Socialist Party of Albania. The Party for Justice and Integration, a party representing the interest of ethnic Albanians whose properties in Greece were seized after WW2, joined the coalition Alliance of Change.


2009 Albanian parliamentary election, Alliances
This election saw a total of 33 parties organized in four alliances, one party running on its own and one independent candidate.


2009 Albanian parliamentary election, Results, Regional level
The electorate was split in twelve regions, in a regional proportional system, each of which elected a specific number of Members of Parliament (deputet). The following table details the regional results going from North to South.


2009 Albanian parliamentary election, Aftermath
Initially the PD led coalition interred into discussions about dividing up the various cabinet posts.


2009 Albanian parliamentary election, Aftermath
While it was still unclear whether the PD-led alliance held 70 or 71 seats, the leader of the Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) announced on 4 July 2009 that he had accepted Berisha's invitation to form a government with the PD and stated he wanted to be a stabilising factor in Albania's path towards European Union membership. With the addition of the four seats from LSI, the coalition had the necessary majority to form a government. Nonetheless, in November 2010, the EU in its "Key findings of the Opinion on Albania" found that the political stalemate since the June 2009 elections was a significant barrier to Albania's candidacy for European Union membership.


2009 Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts
The 2009 Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Alberta's women's provincial curling championship, was held January 28 - February 1 at the Medican Multiplex in Sylvan Lake. The winning Cheryl Bernard team represented team Alberta at the 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Victoria, British Columbia.


2009 Albina, Suriname riots
The 2009 Albina, Suriname riots took place on December 24–25, 2009, when local maroon inhabitants attacked Brazilian, Chinese, Colombian and Peruvian gold diggers after a man was allegedly stabbed to death by a Brazilian.


2009 Albina, Suriname riots
One death has been confirmed by the local police authorities, but Roman Catholic Brazilian priest José Vergílio, which is aiding the victims, said that at least seven people died, vehicles and houses were burned and stores owned by Chinese were plundered. According to the Surinamese government, 20 women were raped, one of which was pregnant and lost her baby in the trauma.


2009 Albina, Suriname riots
At least 24 people were injured during the riots. The injured were transported to a military hospital, while the Brazilians living in Albina were transferred to Paramaribo. Brazilians and Chinese living in the region have been evacuated. According to eyewitnesses, 17 people are missing.


2009 Albina, Suriname riots
The Brazilian government sent a diplomatic mission on December 27, 2009 to attend the Brazilian victims. Five Brazilians returned to Brazil on December 27 on an airplane of the Brazilian Air Force. On December 28, an airplane with capacity for 40 people was sent to the city with the purpose of rescuing more Brazilians. The Surinamese government sent in troops to conduct searches and keep the peace, although violence is over by all accounts. Suriname officials have come out saying they have the forces to protect all foreigners in the country and have already taken several people into custody for questioning. 35 suspects were arrested on December 28, according to the city's chief of police, Krishna Mathoera-Hussainali.


2009 Albina, Suriname riots, Background
Albina is primarily a base for nomadic gold prospectors. The town is made up of people from Suriname, neighboring French Guiana, the People's Republic of China and Brazil.


2009 Albina, Suriname riots, Background
There are between 15,000 and 18,000 Brazilian nomad gold diggers in Suriname, or about 4% of the total population of the country, most of them living illegally. They are some of the poorest people in Brazil, mostly from the Northeast Region.


2009 Albina, Suriname riots, Background
Tensions in gold prospecting villages like Albina are not sporadic, but violence is quite uncommon. Gold diggers often come in conflict with indigenous people in their search to find and extract gold from remote areas.


2009 Albirex Niigata season
The 2009 Albirex Niigata season is Albirex Niigata's sixth consecutive season in J. League Division 1. It also includes the 2009 J. League Cup, and the 2009 Emperor's Cup.


2009 Albirex Niigata season, Players, First team squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2009 Albirex Niigata season, Players, Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


2009 Albuquerque mayoral election
The Albuquerque mayoral election of 2009 occurred on October 6, 2009.


2009 Albuquerque mayoral election
In July 2009, incumbent Mayor Martin Chavez announced that he would seek a fourth term.


2009 Albuquerque mayoral election
State Representative Richard J. Berry won the election with 36,466 votes (43.82%) to Chavez's 29,140 votes (35.02%) and Romero's 17,458 (20.98%) Write-in candidates won 149 votes, or .18% of the total. Although Berry received less than 50 percent of the vote, Albuquerque election law requires a runoff only if no candidate receives at least 40 percent of the vote.


2009 Alessandria Challenger
The 2009 Alessandria Challenger (known as 2009 Trofeo Cassa di Risparmio di Alessandria) was a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor red clay courts. It was part of the 2009 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Alessandria, Italy between May 25–31, 2009.


2009 Alessandria Challenger, Singles entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2009 Alessandria Challenger, Champions, Men's doubles
Rubén Ramírez Hidalgo /  José Antonio Sánchez-de Luna def. Martín Alund /  Guillermo Hormazábal, 6–4, 6–2


2009 Alessandria Challenger – Doubles
Flavio Cipolla and Simone Vagnozzi were the champions in 2008. Cipolla chose to not play this year and Vagnozzi partnered up with Uros Vico. They lost to Paolo Lorenzi and Giancarlo Petrazzuolo in the first round. Rubén Ramírez Hidalgo and José Antonio Sánchez-de Luna won in the final 6–4, 6–2, against Martín Alund and Guillermo Hormazábal.


2009 Alessandria Challenger – Singles
Paolo Lorenzi was the defender of title, but he lost to Kavčič in the first round. Blaž Kavčič won in the final 7–5, 6–3, against Jesse Levine.


2009 Alexander Keith's Tankard
The 2009 Alexander Keith's Tankard (New Brunswick's men's provincial curling championship) was held February 11–15 at Thistle St. Andrews Curling Club in Saint John, New Brunswick. The winning team will represent New Brunswick at the 2009 Tim Hortons Brier in Calgary.


2009 Algarve Cup
The 2009 Algarve Cup was the sixteenth edition of the Algarve Cup, an invitational women's football tournament held annually in Portugal. It took place between 4 and 11 March 2009. It was won by Sweden who defeated holders the United States in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in the final-game.


2009 Algarve Cup, Format
The twelve invited teams were split into three groups that played a round-robin tournament. The entrants were almost identical to the previous year, but Iceland moved up into Group B from their previous ranking in 2008, replacing Italy who did not feature this time. Wales returned to the competition for the first time in five years, while Austria appeared in the competition for the first time.


2009 Algarve Cup, Format
Groups A and B, containing the strongest ranked teams, were the only ones in contention to win the title. The group winners from A and B contested the final, with the runners-up playing for third place and those that finished third in these two groups playing for fifth place.


2009 Algarve Cup, Format
The teams in Group C were playing for places 7-12, with the winner of Group C playing the team that finished fourth in Group A or B with the better record for seventh place and the Group C runner-up playing the team which came last in Group A or B with the worse record for ninth place. The third and fourth-placed teams in Group C played for eleventh place.


2009 Algarve Cup, Format
Points awarded in the group stage follow the standard formula of three points for a win, one point for a draw and zero points for a loss. In the case of two teams being tied on the same number of points in a group, their head-to-head result determined the higher place.


2009 Algarve GP2 Series round
The 2009 Portuguese GP2 round was the tenth and final round of the 2009 GP2 Series season. It was held on September 19 and 20, 2009 at Autódromo Internacional do Algarve at Portimão, Portugal. This race was the only race in the 2009 GP2 Series season that was not acting as a support race for Formula One, instead supporting an FIA GT Championship event. As Nico Hülkenberg claimed the drivers title at the previous round in Monza, only the battle for the Teams championship could be fought in the Algarve. This was the final GP2 race for Hülkenberg, as he will step up to Formula One in 2010. Durango again decided to miss a round after not starting in Italy either.


2009 Algarve GP2 Series round
Vitaly Petrov started on pole for the feature race, with Dani Clos qualifying a career best second. GP2 Champion Hülkenberg started from third on the grid, but got a good start down into turn 1, where he slotted in behind Petrov. After a few laps behind the Russian, Hülkenberg made the decision to pit first. His gamble eventually paid off as after Petrov stopped, Hülkenberg gained the lead and never looked back, winning by 10 seconds.


2009 Algarve GP2 Series round
Petrov faded afterwards, by finishing in fourth, with Luca Filippi battling his way through the field to finish second ahead of a surging Lucas di Grassi. Roldán Rodríguez was fifth behind Petrov, with Michael Herck earning his first points in GP2 in sixth, before stewards disqualified him. Kamui Kobayashi finished seventh, while Davide Valsecchi finished eighth, both moved up one place after Herck's disqualification, with Valsecchi scoring his first points for Barwa Addax Team. Andreas Zuber finished ninth but was promoted to the reverse-grid pole. With Hülkenberg winning, both championship battles finished, as he earned enough points for ART Grand Prix to win the teams championship.


2009 Algarve GP2 Series round
The Sprint Race was equally thrilling, with a large collision at the start. Vitaly Petrov struggled to get away in his Barwa Addax car, with the car's anti-stall system kicking in race was red flagged. Most drivers passed him, but Michael Herck was not so lucky and crashed into the back of him, hitting the pit wall afterwards. It ended a miserable weekend for the Romanian, who lost what would have been his first GP2 points finish in Race 1 due to a technical infringement.


2009 Algarve GP2 Series round
The crash left the main straight covered with debris and prompted a suspension while the mess was cleaned up. After nearly half an hour the field was led back out behind the safety car, with Coloni's Andreas Zuber leading from Davide Valsecchi, Kamui Kobayashi, Lucas di Grassi, Luca Filippi, Nico Hülkenberg and Pastor Maldonado. Zuber backed the field up at the final corner in preparation for the green flag on lap six, but timed his charge too early and shot past the safety car as it was still entering the pit lane.


2009 Algarve GP2 Series round
The top seven, with the exception of Filippi, passed the safety car and were all duly given drive-through penalties. After the penalties were issued, Filippi was in the lead. He never looked back and won by over 4 seconds to claim his first win since 2007, and his team's first win of the season. Sergio Pérez was second on the road ahead of Filippi's team-mate Javier Villa. Dani Clos scored his first points of the season in fourth, with Álvaro Parente and Diego Nunes completing the top six. Pérez lost his second place due to a post-race time penalty for overtaking under the safety car. He slipped to eleventh, giving Super Nova a 1-2 and third place in the teams championship on countback.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches
There were disturbances before and after two international association football matches between Egypt and Algeria in November 2009, leading to diplomatic tensions between Egypt, Algeria, and Sudan. The matches were in Group C in the CAF section of the qualifying competition for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches
The first match, the final scheduled match in Group C, took place in Cairo on 14 November, with Egypt winning 2–0. The result left Egypt and Algeria tied for first place in Group C, necessitating a playoff match in a neutral country. This took place in Omdurman, Sudan on 18 November, with Algeria winning 1–0 and thus qualifying for the World Cup final tournament in South Africa in June 2010.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Rivalry
The countries are both in North Africa, only separated by Libya, and football matches between them are fiercely contested local derbies. Although both have long been among Africa's stronger sides, each had experienced a long drought without World Cup qualification: Algeria since 1986 and Egypt since 1990.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Rivalry
In 1989, Egypt beat Algeria in a decisive qualifying match for the 1990 World Cup. Player Ayman Younes later said, "It was a battle, not a football match." Algerians felt the Tunisian referee was biased; fans rioted in the stands. An Algerian player attacked an Egyptian fan. Algeria's Lakhdar Belloumi was convicted in absentia for a glass attack which blinded Egypt's team doctor in one eye. He remained subject to an Interpol arrest warrant, although he claimed goalkeeper Kamel Kadri had been the true perpetrator.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Rivalry
For political analyst Ziad Majed, the tension dates from Gamal Abdel Nasser days when he sent Egyptian teachers to help arabize Algeria after its independence. These teachers contributed to the rise of political Islam in Algeria, ultimately leading to the Algerian civil war.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Rivalry
On the other hand, Khaled Diab suggests the 1989 match was the key moment for Egypt–Algeria rivalry, and that it is mainly confined to football rather than a reflection of deeper enmity; he notes Gamal Abdel Nasser supported Algeria's independence war against France, and suggests memory has faded in Algeria of Anwar El Sadat's unpopular Camp David Accords with Israel. On the other hand, Brian Oliver and James Montague point to other football controversies before 1989. In the 1950s, an Algerian National Liberation Front football team toured Africa to publicise its independence campaign, but were forbidden from playing in Egypt. At the 1978 All-Africa Games, Algerian police attacked Egyptian players and fans during their match against Libya. There were brawls at a qualifier for the 1984 Olympics.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Blida match
Algeria's home match against Egypt in the 2010 qualifiers took place in June 2009 without any incident being reported. Rather, to cool down animosity between the two countries, the Egyptian team was received with flowers at the airport. Diplomatic agreement, with personal intervention from Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika, included lifting the Interpol warrant on Belloumi and compensating the Egyptian team doctor. Both teams prepared for the match away from the pressure of intense local fans; Egypt in Oman, Algeria in France. Algeria coach Rabah Saadane wept at a press conference, expressing fear for his family's safety in the event of defeat. 5,000 security personnel turned Blida into a "virtual military base". Minors were barred from the stadium unless they had a ticket. Algeria won 3–1.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
The lead-up to the crucial match was hyped. In October, insults were traded on internet sites, and Egyptian hackers made a denial-of-service attack on the website of Algerian newspaper Ech-Chorouk El-Youmi; an Algerian hacker retaliated by crashing the websites of the President of Egypt and Egyptian newspaper Al Ahram. Both countries' governments appealed for calm. Media in both countries alluded to the 1989 match. Editorialist Mohamed El Dahshan reported, "In the two days preceding the game, Egyptians celebrated as if they had already won." Ahmed Shobair stated that rumours started on the internet were being propagated by the mainstream media.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
When the Algerian team arrived in Cairo on Thursday 12 November, the bus carrying the team to its hotel was stoned, breaking windows and injuring three players and one official. Egyptian media alleged that the attack had been staged by the Algerians to have the match moved to a neutral venue. The police escort of one van and several motorcycle outriders was criticised as insufficient.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
Egypt's leading state-owned daily Al-Ahram charged on Friday that it was the Algerian players, not stonethrowers, who had caused the damage to the bus. "The bus carrying the team from the airport to the hotel was at the centre of a strange incident in which some of the players started to smash the vehicle's windows claiming that they were the target of stonethrowing", the paper reported. The independent daily Al-Shuruq went further, saying the whole episode was a "complete fabrication."


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
Citing a "senior security source", the paper said the windows of the bus were smashed "from the inside not the outside as claimed by Algerian team members." It accused the players of a "complete fabrication intended to serve as an excuse in the event that they lose" Saturday's key decider for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
The independent Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper acknowledged that some "kids" had thrown stones but charged that the Algerian players had then put on a "display of histrionics pretending to be scared and injured, and smashing up the bus's windows and seats." The state-owned Al Gomhuria said the players had even assaulted the bus driver.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
Counterclaims included footage shot by Canal+ for its documentary about the Algerian team and cellphone footage shot by Rafik Saïfi. FIFA observer Walter Gagg said, "We saw that three players had been injured — Khaled Lemmouchia on the head, Rafik Halliche above the eye and Rafik Saïfi on the arm."


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
The initial reporting following the incident likely led to further poisoning the build-up to Saturday's game. The pre-match atmosphere in Egypt had already surged to feverish heights amid an unprecedented level of tension between the North African rivals.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
Egyptian foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki had specifically called for responsible coverage by both countries' media as the two governments issued joint appeals for calm. Egyptian and Algerian media "hold a responsibility in this regard and must work to maintain the strong ties between both countries and should not fuel disagreements that are unrelated to sports and sportsmanship", Zaki said.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
That same evening just outside Cairo, Algeria's "king of raï" Cheb Khaled performed alongside Egyptian star Mohamed Mounir to a packed audience of nearly 45,000 people, according to organisers. "Long live Egypt, Arab country, long live Algeria, Arab country", Cheb Khaled shouted to the crowd, with little apparent impact on home fan passions ahead of the game.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
Egyptian Football Association board member Mahmoud Taher later indicated that "all Algeria players are safe. They were not hurt. Algeria is trying to blow things out of proportion. The bus is damaged from inside, so it is obvious that they were the ones who did that to escalate the matter. FIFA has not contacted Egypt as recently reported, and there aren't any intentions to call off the game."


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
Khairi Morsi, the Egyptian driver who drove the Algerian delegation's bus, said the Algerian team had assaulted him. He indicated to Modern Sport TV that "they also shattered the windows from inside when they saw some Egyptian people around the bus."


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
On Friday 13 November, FIFA declared the match would go ahead as scheduled, but "asked the Egyptian Football Association and the highest national authorities through the relevant ministries to provide written guarantees that confirm the implementation of the necessary additional safety and security measures at any time for the Algerian delegation."


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
Ech-Chorouk reported that six Algerian fans were killed in the chaos that followed the match. This was denied by Algeria's ambassador in Cairo, Abdel Qader Hadjar, who said only eleven people had been injured. Egypt's Health Ministry reported 20 Algerians and 12 Egyptians injured. Reda City 16, a well-known Algerian rapper, claimed his brother had died in the Cairo incidents. His claims, made on a YouTube video posting, were disseminated by the Ech-Chorouk newspaper's internet site.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
There were attacks on Egyptian interests in Algeria after the match. EgyptAir's Algiers bureau was broken into and a "serious" amount of damage done and the office was closed due to health and safety concerns. Stones were hurled at other buildings. The headquarters of Djezzy, an Algerian subsidiary of the Egyptian Orascom group, was vandalised and looted. Allegedly related was the Algerian government's demand from Orascom for US$596m in back taxes. An Egyptian plane sent to Algeria to "rescue" citizens was refused permission to land.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
In Marseille, 500 police were deployed to quell disturbances by Algerian youths, making eight arrests.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Cairo match
As a result of these events, on 18 May 2010, the FIFA Disciplinary Committee sanctioned and fined the Egyptian Football Association for not adopting the necessary measures to prevent the assault on the bus of the Algerian delegation on the way from the airport to the hotel on 12 November 2009. The report would also admonish the Egyptian Football Association for failures in maintaining security and order in the Cairo International Stadium for the game between Egypt and Algeria held on 14 November 2009. This would result in a two-game ban for the Egyptian national football team whereby the first two home matches of the preliminary competition for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil would be played at a location at least 100 kilometres away from Cairo.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Omdurman match
The teams finished level on 13 points and level on all tiebreakers: goal difference in all group matches (+5); goals scored in all group matches (9); points in all Algeria–Egypt matches (3); and goal difference in all Algeria–Egypt matches (0). (The away goals rule was not used as a group-stage tiebreaker). The teams met in a one-game play-off to decide the qualifier. To determine the match venue, each team selected a country other than their own (Algeria selected Tunisia and Egypt selected Sudan).


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Omdurman match
After Sudan was drawn in a lottery on 11 November, the Al Merreikh Stadium in Omdurman was selected by FIFA as the venue for the play-off. The decision to play a tie-breaking playoff game to determine who qualifies to the 2010 FIFA World Cup was controversial because despite the fact that Algeria and Egypt were level on points and goal difference, Egypt should have qualified based on the away goals rule, which was used to determine the winner of a tie in the case of a tiebreaker in both previous and subsequent qualifiers.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Omdurman match
Reuters reported that 15,000 police were mobilised for the match. Embassies advised their nationals to avoid the stadium area; government offices and schools closed early. Scuffles leading to minor injuries were reported.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Omdurman match
On Monday 16 November, Al Jazeera reported that Algerian fans had stoned a bus carrying the Egyptian players from a training session, without causing injury. The following day, Sudan President Omar al-Bashir hosted a function in the Presidential Palace in Khartoum, in which Algerian Football Federation head Mohamed Raouraoua snubbed his Egyptian counterpart Samir Zaher.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Omdurman match
Each team's fans were allocated 9,000 tickets, with the stadium capacity reduced from 41,000 to 36,000; there were fears of ticketless fans congregating outside. Although the countries' own blocks were strictly segregated, many Algerian and Egyptian fans purchased tickets allocated to the home Sudanese. Locals estimated the actual attendance at up to 50,000.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Omdurman match, Details
Egyptian news media ran many stories about attacks that allegedly happened in Sudan. Al-Ahram, a state-owned Egyptian newspaper, reported that buses designated for Egyptian fans to be taken to the airport had been destroyed, forcing them to walk there under escort of the Sudanese army. Egypt's foreign ministry spoke of "Egypt's extreme displeasure with the assaults on Egyptian citizens who went to Khartoum to support the Egyptian team". Algerian diplomats said later that a widely broadcast video showing hundreds of Algerian fans brandishing knives had in fact been taken at an Algerian club match several years earlier. According to Al-Ahram, Sudanese diplomats suggested "scores" of Egyptians had been attacked and "a few" hurt. Egypt's health ministry later said there had been 20 death this day. The New York Times reported "no widespread rioting. ".


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Omdurman match, Details
After the loss of the match, the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) filed a complaint with FIFA against the Algerian football delegation. The EFA indicated that "Egyptian fans, officials and players put their lives at risk before and after the game, under threat from weapons, knives, swords and flares." The statement also threatened with the Egyptian football team's withdrawal for two years from all international competitions as a sign of protest. On 18 May 2010, FIFA announced that the conditions for opening disciplinary proceedings had not been met and closed the complaint.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Omdurman match, Details
About 12,000 Algerian fans celebrated on the Champs-Élysées in Paris and a lot more across France. However, among the numerous celebrating crowd, some offenders made the most of the situation to loot one supermarket and torch cars. There were 150 arrests across France.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Omdurman match, Details
Egypt's ambassador to the UK claimed thousands of fans had to flee to the airport for safety. Sudan summoned the Egyptian ambassador to protest at the media coverage of the Sudanese hosting of the match. That evening, over 1,000 Egyptians protested near the Algerian embassy in Zamalek, Cairo, burning flags, shouting anti-Algerian slogans and damaging cars and shops. The Interior Ministry said 11 police and 24 protesters were injured, and 20 people arrested.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Subsequent events
On Friday, Alaa Mubarak telephoned a talk show, saying "We are Egyptian and we hold our head high, and whoever insults us should be smacked on his head." Hosni Mubarak said on national television that he would not condone the "humiliation" of Egyptians abroad. However, the Foreign Ministry said the government would not "tolerate violations against Algerian interests", suggesting a clampdown on protests.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Subsequent events
Diplomats meeting to repair relations the next week reportedly characterised the dispute as "ultimately a fight among soccer fans" that "was picked up and inflamed by some elements in the media". An article in al-Ahram suggested that the Egyptians attending the match were mainly wealthy people who could afford to travel, rather than "the really tough fans" who could have defended themselves against assaults.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Subsequent events
The two sides met again in Angola in January, for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals. Egypt cruised to a 4–0 victory, en route to an unprecedented 7th tournament win, in a hotly tempered match where Algeria had three players red carded. Match referee Coffi Codjia was indefinitely suspended by the Confederation of African Football for failing to send off Algerian goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi for headbutting the match official, only awarding the player a yellow card for the incident. Chaouchi was later one of the players to be dismissed, for a second bookable offence. He received a three match ban by CAF for the headbutt.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Subsequent events
A meeting of Egyptian sports organisations agreed to be "prudent" when hosting events at which Algerians were competing, and not to travel to competitions in Algeria. The Egyptian Handball Federation was due to host the African Championships in February 2010; after a request for postponement was denied by the African Handball Confederation, it withdrew as host, but said it would still field a team. The CAHB canvassed for a new host, with only Algeria volunteering. The Egyptian federation announced it would host the tournament after all.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Subsequent events
FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings against the Egyptian FA for its handling of the Algerian team's security in Cairo. On 23 November FIFA announced that its Executive Committee would hold an extraordinary general meeting on 2 December in Cape Town, where members were already due to meet to discuss the seedings for the World Cup, to discuss recent controversies. The Egypt–Algeria match was expected to figure, along with the dispute over France's handball goal against Ireland, and the investigation into a major match-fixing scam. FIFA's disciplinary committee was asked to launch an investigation; it was expected that the Algerian member of the committee would be recused. A report was expected by February 2010; Algeria's place at the World Cup finals was not in jeopardy.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Subsequent events
On 25 November 200 Egyptian intellectuals signed a statement condemning the media hype and political manipulation of the dispute. Bouthaina Shaaban, an advisor to Syrian President Bashar Assad, condemned the dispute as distracting Arabs from the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Subsequent events
There were reports that Muammar al-Gaddafi and Israel had each offered to mediate in the dispute. On 26 November, Reuters reported that a Sudanese mediation plan was nearing agreement.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Subsequent events
On 1 December, al-Ahram reported that a village in New Valley Governorate had applied to change its name from al-Jaza'ir ("Algeria") to Mubarak al-misriyin ("Mubarak for Egyptians").


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Subsequent events
A joint venture oil company announced on 6 December was seen as heralding a recovery in relations between the two countries. It was reported that Egypt would not return its ambassador to Algiers unless compensation was paid for damage to Egyptian property in Algeria. Al-Ahram reported on 10 December that inflammatory media reports in both countries had been ended by order of the respective Presidents, following mediation by Gaddafi and al-Bashir.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Subsequent events
Efforts by the UAE FA to broker an accord between the Egyptian and Algerian FAs were endorsed by Sepp Blatter.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Analyses
Algeria claimed there was an orchestrated media campaign to damage its reputation and to create a fictitious enemy to Egypt, to rally the masses behind Gamal Mubarak and give him some legitimacy in his bid to inherit the presidency from his father. Foreign analysts suggested both governments encouraged protests about football to channel public discontent away from political issues. Jack Shenker suggests the anger was fomented primarily by the sensationalist media, with belated political endorsement. Others saw the violence as an expression of a general public malaise. On 22 November 2009, The Observer suggested an opposition backlash was building in Egypt to President Mubarak's stoking of the dispute. On 10 December, The New York Times made similar observations.


2009 Algeria v Egypt football matches, Analyses
An Arab League spokesperson proposed that, in the future, celebrities and political leaders should not attend sensitive matches, lest they feed into public passions. Official planes had carried 200 Algerian MPs to the Cairo match, and 133 Egyptian celebrities to the Khartoum match.


2009 Algerian Cup Final
The 2009 Algerian Cup Final was the 45th final of the Algerian Cup. The final took place on May 21, 2009, at Stade Mustapha Tchaker in Blida with kick-off at 16:00. CR Belouizdad beat CA Bordj Bou Arreridj 2–1 on penalties to win their six Algerian Cup. The competition winners are awarded a berth in the 2010 CAF Confederation Cup.


2009 Algerian military ambush
An ambush on the Algerian paramilitary took place on June 17, 2009 at 8:00 pm (19:00 GMT), when Algerian paramilitary escorting Chinese construction workers to a motorway project came under attack from Islamist rebels. Early reports suggested 18 soldiers were killed; some news outlets are reporting that 24 soldiers were killed.


2009 Algerian military ambush
Attacks such as these had been thought to be decreasing prior to the incident, but suddenly began to increase again. The attack was the deadliest aimed at Algeria's government forces for six months.


2009 Algerian military ambush, The ambush
Islamist rebels first attacked the convoy on a highway in the province of Bourdj Bou Arréridj, 180 kilometres (110 mi) east of the capital Algiers by detonating two home-made bombs. The gendarmes were then sprayed with bullets. Attackers then reportedly stole the soldiers' uniforms and weapons. Total rebel casualties are unknown. The injured soldiers were taken to nearby hospitals. They stole weapons and several police vehicles.


2009 Algerian military ambush, The ambush
Algerian security forces  launched an operation using helicopters to track and apprehend the militants.


2009 Algerian military ambush, Similar incident
This ambush followed a similar incident on 3 June 2009. Two teachers and eight police escorts died near Algiers whilst in the act of transporting examinations from an examination centre. The teachers' car was bombed and two police cars were fired on.


2009 Algerian military ambush, Similar incident
On 20 April 2014, a similar ambush lead to death of 14 Soldiers in the Tizi Ouzou province of Algeria.


2009 Algerian presidential election
Member State of the African Union Member State of the Arab League


2009 Algerian presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Algeria on 9 April 2009. The result was a victory for incumbent President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who was re-elected with 90% of the vote.