Carbon Monoxide the Silent Killer

With the cold weather hitting this winter we are all running to turn the furnace on. Before you do make sure your furnace has been checked by a professional. The dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) are greater in the winter when you have the furnace on all the time. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause sudden illness and death.

Also be aware of gas powered stoves, ovens and water heaters. If they are not properly ventilated, they too can release harmful amounts of CO into your home. CO is a toxic gas that enters the bloodstream and replaces the oxygen molecules found in the critical blood component hemoglobin, depriving the heart and brain of the oxygen necessary to function.

Symptoms are often related to flu-like symptoms including nausea, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, confusion and breathing difficulty. Because CO poisoning often causes a victim’s blood pressure to rise, the victim’s skin may take on a pink or red cast.

Most CO detectors will sound at 1,000 parts per million (ppm), for the safety of you and your family you will want to invest in a detector that will sound at, at least 400 ppm. Below is a list of concentrations and Symptoms

35 ppm (0.0035%) Headache and dizziness within six to eight hours of constant exposure

100 ppm (0.01%) Slight headache in two to three hours

200 ppm (0.02%) Slight headache within two to three hours; loss of judgment

400 ppm (0.04%) Frontal headache within one to two hours

800 ppm (0.08%) Dizziness, nausea, and convulsions within 45 min; insensible within 2 hours

1,600 ppm (0.16%) Headache, tachycardia, dizziness, and nausea within 20 min; death in less than 2 hours

3,200 ppm (0.32%) Headache, dizziness and nausea in five to ten minutes. Death within 30 minutes. 6,400 ppm (0.64%) Headache and dizziness in one to two minutes. Convulsions, respiratory arrest, and death in less than 20 minutes.

12,800 ppm (1.28%) Unconsciousness after 2-3 breaths. Death in less than three minutes.

(chart taken from Wikipedia)

For more information check out:

http://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/coftsht.html

http://safetyathome.com/home-safety/home-safety-articles/test-your-carbon-monoxide-iq-and-protect-your-loved-ones/?fbid=N2uyOTPGshe

Dangerous Drywall

You wouldn't expect your brand new home to make you sick but, according some Florida homeowners that is exactly what happened. The CPSC has received about 2,091 reports from residents in 32 states. Homeowners in Florida, Louisiana, Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi as well as many other states and U.S. territories that had homes built between 2006 - 2007 have complained of several health problems, itchy eyes and skin, asthma attacks, persistent cough and bloody noses. They have also complained of a "rotten egg" smell in their home, electrical wire failure, and metal fixtures and copper tubing turning black.

Drywall made in China is believed to be the source of the problem. High levels of hydrogen sulfide have been found in homes built with this particular drywall. If you believe you have contaminated drywall you should contact your state and local health department. The CPSC has not advised whether or not to take certain steps to test and remove the contaminated drywall. But warn homeowners to be cautious of persons or businesses advertising testing and remediation services. There may be unqualified or dishonest individuals seeking to take advantage of consumers struggling to address this issue. You should consult your State and local authorities if you have any questions or concerns about contractors or testing companies promising solutions to these drywall matters.

According to the CDC you should watch for potential electrical hazards in you home

Power outages - a circuit breaker which needs resetting frequently without any apparent cause; especially if a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) or arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) trips frequently. Arc-fault circuit interrupters are a special kind of circuit breaker that is designed to detect arcing conditions in the electrical wiring.

Dim/flickering lights - lights dim often without any specific cause, such as the air conditioner or the refrigerator turning on.

Arcs/sparks - bright flashes or showers of sparks anywhere in your electrical system.

Sizzles/buzzes - unusual sounds from electrical system devices.

Overheating - parts of your electrical system, such as switch plates, dimmer switches, receptacle outlet covers, cords and plugs may be warm as a normal consequence of their operation but should not be discolored from heat or painful to touch.

Odors - pungent smells such as strong fumes from overheating plastic or electrical insulation materials.

Electrical shocks - any shock, even a mild tingle.

Multiple symptoms would be a stronger indication of problems.

For more information please go to http://www.cpsc.gov/info/drywall/index.html

Pictures are from the CPSC Report

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Recycling is the act of taking something that isn't useful anymore and making it into something new. Everyone has at some-point has taken something old in their home they were just planning to throw out and transformed it into a new and viable, like a old shoe box into a keepsake box or an old window into a picture frame.

Most people are familiar with large scale recycling that takes used consumer goods and turns them back into raw materials to be made into something else. The most common things we recycle are paper, plastic, glass and aluminum. Don't forget that composing is a form of recycling too. Taking organic waist like food scraps and yard clippings and breaking them down to put back into the earth will save a lot of energy and free up space in our landfills. For information on how to start your own compost check out http://www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/rrr/composting/basic.htm for some easy tips.

large scale recycling is important to the environment and economy. When we can reuse materials to make other goods it cuts back on the amount of garbage going to our landfills, the United States is home to approximately 7,000 landfills. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds of garbage a day, 29 pounds a week and 1,600 pounds a year. Only about 20% of the garbage produced in the US is recycled, 70% of the garbage thrown out could have been recycled.

Remember those three easy words Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Just following these three words can save our precious resources and energy. Reduce what you use, buy reusable grocery totes, and choose products that come in the least amount of packaging. Reuse what you can and buy products made from recycled materials. And last of all recycle, These three word are in a certain order for a reason. Although recycling is important, it is also expensive and we need to do our part in making sure we get everything out of what we use.

Like all things there is a down side to recycling, it is expensive to run recycling programs. Most areas have curb side pick ups of recyclable goods, they then need to be sorted and cleaned, then transformed into new consumer products. Recycling causes its fair share of pollution as well. When recycling paper it needs to be bleached which brings different chemicals into the process.

Even though there are still energy costs and pollution that come with recycling, it is important to be aware of all the good it can create. Recycling teaches us to be aware of the products we use and to be more responsible with how we use them.

Utah has many recycling programs. below are links to the different county programs. Check out what is recyclable in your area and pick up schedules for your neighborhood.

"people feel that it's OK to purchase and use environmentally harmful products like bottled water or plastic diapers because they make up for it by recycling. These views point to the ultimate solution: buy less stuff. Purchasing reusable goods or simply buying fewer things we don't need is the best way to stop the garbage stream at the source." Ed Grabianowski

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/10/06/recycling.refresher/index.html (fun facts)

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/recycling-symbols-plastics-460321 (what recycle symbols and numbers mean)

http://www.slcgov.com/publicservices/Streets/recyclables.htm

http://www.co.summit.ut.us/publicworks/recycle.html

http://www.co.utah.ut.us/Dept2/Health/Environmental%20Health/Hazardous%20Waste/curbsiderecyling.asp

http://www.daviscountyutah.gov/health/environmental/waste_management/solid_waste.cfm

http://www.co.weber.ut.us/

http://www.sanitation.slco.org/html/recycle.html

New EPA lead regulations

Common restoration activities like sanding, cutting and demolition work can kick up hazardous dust into the air containing lead particles that can be harmful to you and your family. As of April 22, 2010 all restoration companies will need to be in compliance with the EPA's new Renovation, Repair and Painting rule when dealing with lead-based paints. The new rule will apply to any housing and child occupied facility that was built before 1978. The EPA's Renovation, Repair and Paining rule states that all restores be certified by the EPA to handle projects involving "renovations preformed for compensation in target housing and child occupied facilities" (40 CFR, 745.80). Each project will also be required to have a certified renovator supervising the job.

Restoration firms should already be in compliance with phase one of the EPA's new regulations, restorers should handing out a pamphlet called Renovate Right! to home owners or occupants, it teaches homeowners about the dangers of lead and how to protect their families, http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovaterightbrochure.pdf . Phase two needs to be complete by April 22, 2010, by then any project manager/ supervisor should be certified to handle the renovation or removal of an area greater than six square feet covered with lead based paints in a home or child occupied facility.

The new regulations for dealing with lead based paints will require stricter practices in treating an affected area. Signs will need to be posted warning occupants of the dangers of lead and to stay out of work areas, better containing work areas so not to let dust and debris move to far from the source. The use of certain high speed paint removers will be limited.

Advanced Restoration is in the process of having all our estimators certified, we are committed to stay up to date with all current laws and regulations set by the EPA. We also hold ourselves to the high standards set by the Restoration Industry Association (RIA). Our goal is to keep home owners safe while restoring their home to its original beauty. It's just another way of "building you up" . For more information on the EPA new lead regulations visit http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm or call Advanced Restoration 888.886.1740

5 things to remember for winter driving

1. Be prepared, make sure your car is fully equipped to handle all the snow and ice on the roads. Change to snow tires. Have an emergency kit in your car in case you get stranded in a snow storm. Your kit should include water, non perishable food, a flash light, a small shovel in case you have to dig snow out from under your wheels. If you get stuck in the snow, don't spin your wheels, you'll just be getting yourself deeper and deeper. Move your wheels back and forth to clear out snow and then rock your car back and forth to get the momentum to get out of the snow pack.

2. Slow down, black ice can form anywhere and once you hit it there is no stopping. Make sure you keep your distance from other cars. In the event that you start to slide depending on what type of breaks you have you will want to break slowly. If you have ABS brakes slowly ease into the break and you'll feel a pulse, which means they are working. If you have standard breaks pump your breaks, if you put full pressure on your breaks your chances of sliding out of control are greater.

3. Look ahead, if you are heading for a light be prepared that you might need to stop break sooner if you need to make a stop. During the winter months in Utah deer and other wild life come down from the mountains in search for food. Keep a look out for movement on the side of the road, if you see a deer crossing the street chances are they are not alone. Deer travel in packs.

4. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions, just because you have a SUV with 4wheel drive doesn't mean you can go full speed down the road. Know the limits of your car by reading the drivers manual.

5. Avoid driving in snow storms if you can. The best way to stay out of danger is to stay off the roads during a storm.

Fresh Air, Fresh Veggies, Fresh Life

I was recently visiting Melissa Felis's State Farm office in Salt Lake City and discovered that the back yard of their office, which is a converted home, is a wonderful vegetable garden. Melissa has donated the space behind her office to the residents of The Canyon Creek Assisted Living Center, and every week they come to work in the garden and take home some of the wonderful vegetables.

Melissa had the idea for a co-op garden, but said she doesn't have gardening skills. Eventually, one of her clients, offered to help her do the gardening. His wife works for the center and suggested the idea to have the residents garden as a weekly activity. Melissa wanted to give something back to the community, providing seniors and others who need food to have it provided. She believes in paying it forward. If you take something from the garden, she just asks you to do a little work in it! This is the garden's first year and will be continued next year.Seeing the garden in its peak got me thinking about the benefits of such gardens.

I have never been into gardening but the idea of a vegetable garden just seems marvelous. Having been a long-time beneficiary of my aunt’s garden, I recognize great- tasting fresh garden peas and heirloom tomatoes. I decided to see what it takes to manage a great garden, and with what I learned, I will be ready to plant at the first signs of spring.

I have a small yard and not much room for a big garden, but the amount of land devoted to a vegetable garden will return more than you could ever imagine. If you don't have a lot of space to devote to a vegetable garden, make a three foot by three foot grid and plant a different crop in each square foot. If space is limited you can grow some crops in large pots on a deck or patio.

A garden should be well planned in advance. Choose the sunniest spot in your yard, avoiding any areas that are too shady. Decide if you are going to plant in open soil or in raised beds. If planting in raised beds, they should be three to four feet wide and eight to 12 inches high and however long your space will allow. You can either pile the soil or enclose the beds in wood or stone frames. You can either pile the soil or enclose them in wood or stone frames. Open soil is perfectly fine for planting. Raised beds often allow the soil to warm quicker, therefore planting can begin sooner.

Get your soil ready with all the right nutrients. Mix in compost or well rotted manure, even if you are adding new top soil. Utah soil tends to lack nitrogen and phosphorous elements, apply three pounds for every 100 square feet of 10-20-0 fertilizer to supplement this deficiency.

Utah gardens can grow all sorts of vegetables. Broccoli, cauliflower, corn, eggplant, kale, asparagus, beans, tomatoes and all sorts of herbs are all grown in gardens across Utah. For information on planting and harvesting different crops, here is a chart from Utah State’s extension services:

Planting and Harvesting various crops

If you have an existing garden, fall is the time to do some early maintenance before the freeze. Remove dead and spent plants. If you want to get an early start on next season’s harvest, you can plant some vegetables now so they mature sooner in the spring. Timing is everything September is a good month to plant onions, carrots and spinach for next summer's harvest. Add some nutrients and cross your fingers.
For more information on gardening or joining a local community garden, check out the following site:

Wasatch Community Gardens

American Community Garden Association-Find your own community garden

Trees are the bee's knees

Trees have many purposes. they provide us with oxygen, homes for wild life, shade on hot summer days, and add aesthetic pleasure to our surrounding. Sometimes trees can cause more problems then not. Trees can become sick and die creating an eyesore, they can disrupt the ground and push up any patio or structure the root may be under, they can they can block views and cause structural damage or they can interfere with electrical line or sewer lines creating disgusting and costly back ups in your home.

The life of a tree can very anywhere from 75 years to centuries old. If you are unsure if your tree is sick, there are a few signs that will help you determine your next step.fungus, disease or even old age can cause a tree to die. If your tree stops growing new leaves or if they are sporadic you should have your tree tested, other signs of a dying tree is brittle and pealing bark, loss of tree limbs or if the trunk is spongy. some diseases and fungi can be cured by an arborist.

if you need to remove a tree whether it is sick or just getting in the way, you should have a professional take it out. A tree needs to be taken out in sections so not to cause any structural damage to nearby homes, building or power lines. Advanced Restoration with any tree removal and have specialist that can repair any property damage as a result of a fallen tree.

If you want to get creative and add a unique quality to your garden, you can leave the stump and incorporate it as part of the landscape. Carve the remaining tree stump into a sculpture then treat it with a wood preservative. You can also have it hollowed out and use it as a planter. If you are into keeping a compost pile incorporate the stump, the pile will help the stump decompose faster.

Keeping it Solar

All we here about these days is how to be more “green”. What does that really mean? And how does it all work? There are several different types of alternative energy including solar, wind and water. We can harness and use these energy sources to our advantage.

Solar energy is the easiest of all the renewable energies; it’s something that you can use right at home. Solar energy has been used since the beginning of time by plants and animals. The sun is the fuel behind phenomenal events in nature such as the summer-plankton boom along the coast of British Columbia and Alaska turning a lackluster stretch of water into a vivacious feeding ground for herring, whales, sea lions, birds and many others. Humans have learned to use the sun to distil water and use glass to magnify it

Photovoltaic panels are the most commonly used technology to capture the sun’s energy. Photovoltaic cells cause photons from sunlight to knock electrons into a higher state of energy, creating electricity. Though solar energy is a great alternative and can surely be used to provide us enough power to light, heat and adjust the temperatures in our homes, you need the sun and that’s not always possible. Solar technologies are really only beneficial for areas that receive a lot of sun year round. Pollution, cloud cover and nighttime, all greatly alter the effectiveness of the solar panels.

Storing the power that the panels generate is another problem. The methods we have now are not efficient or cost-effective. There are methods of saving the heat that panels absorb in salt and releasing the heat later when the sun isn’t available to create power. But this thermal method is only used by larger solar farms and has not yet been available for everyday use in your home.

DID YOU KNOW...

It’s easy to spruce up your home and make it look like it just had a million-dollar makeover. All you need are a few key design elements and some elbow grease.

If you have a favorite chair but its fabric/pattern is out of date, take it over to your favorite upholsterer and update your chair with your favorite fabric. Add a unique and vibrant throw for those cozy stay at home nights, and you have a new focal point of your room. Adding a new area rug can really change the dynamics of your room. Wool and Persian rugs are timeless and, with proper care, can last a lifetime.

Update your wall paint; 2009 is all about bold combinations. Mix soft floral colors with a bright or dark color to enhance the architectural design of your room. Art says a lot about you and adds a personal feel to your home. If your budget is tight, look at your local galleries and the up and coming artist. New artists are usually the most affordable. If nothing catches your eye, have your vacation and family photos transferred to canvas and mount them on your wall unframed.

The easiest way to change the style of a room is adding a bold crystal vase left alone or filled with your favorite flower. This makes a statement and everyone will admire it. Add some life into your living space by including fresh flowers or a unique topiary on your table to add color and softness. Lighten up the area with a table or standing lamp. Lighting is essential to your space. The best lighting is natural light, so keep your blinds open and your windows clean.

Keep organized! Don’t feel bad throwing away anything you don’t like even if it was a gift. Don’t keep old newspapers or magazines around, they just create clutter. If it’s broken and too expensive to fix, chuck it! Keeping your home clutter free will make every day living enjoyable.

Now is the time for your personal style to show. Don’t hold back - make your home the place you want it to be.

Summer cash savers!!

It is now easier than ever to save some COLD hard cash this summer. Cooling your home in the summer can be pretty expensive and a major energy sucker. Here are some ways to cut back but still cool off.

1. Set your air conditioner thermostat as high as is comfortable (78 degrees or higher is recommended for the summer and 65 degrees in the winter) the higher the setting in the summer and the lower the setting in the winter, the more energy you will save.

2. Don’t cool the outdoors. Keep your windows and window coverings closed during the day when the sun is shining. Make sure if you have a fire place you keep the damper closed. If allowed, it will let out eight percent of you air.

3. Switch to fluorescent light bulbs in fixtures that are used the most. They use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last 10 times longer. If you’re not going to be in a room for more than five minutes turn off the lights.

4. Run only full loads in the dishwasher and run it at night on hot days.

5. Wash clothes in cold water. Clean the lint filter in the clothes dryer after every use.

6. Set the temperature of your refrigerator between 37 degrees and 40 degrees.

7. Use a microwave, toaster oven or outdoor grill instead of the oven.

8. Unplug small appliances like coffee makers, toasters and TVs when not in use.

Check out rockymountainpower.net/saves for more energy saving tips.
http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/saving_energy/index.html

Kite Fastival Review

On the beautiful and slightly breezy day of April 18, 2009 in southern Utah, Advanced Restoration was part of the 10^th Annual Dixie Escalante Kite Festival. In the early morning hours the tents for food, vendors and information went up along with the stage and many bounce houses and toys for the whole family to enjoy. The 28,000 people were planned to arrive starting at 10am. They had four school buses to shuttle the people from parking to the grass. All day long people came to enjoy the sun, entertainment and most of all the wind (when it decided to blow). Several times throughout the day we got some big gusts and kites scattered the air. Every picture I took did not do it justice, but it was beautiful to see all the kites in the sky.

There were many from the insurance industry volunteering and attending the event. Our friends from Main Street Insurance, Lenee Clark organized the entertainment and Jaron Hunt from Hunt Leavitt Insurance is the Chairman elect. We had many past customers come by and thank us for the wonderful work we did for them during their disaster. Overall the day was a big success. There was entertainment, food and kites all day. When the evening came The Cadillacs sang on stage and it ended with a beautiful display of fireworks. This is an event you won’t want to miss next year.

Hurricane Business Expo

Saturday, April 25, 2009, Advanced Restoration had a booth at the Hurricane Business Expo. They had several hundred people show up to see businesses in the area. Mark Drawe from the Hurricane State Farm office had a wonderful display. Gene Gallia from Allstate is one of Hurricane’s Chamber Twisters and came to visit us at our booth. We also saw Tracy Lessar from Bringhurst-Leavitt. We had a great opportunity to meet many of the residents and show off the FLIR camera. All were impressed with the technology. Several of our past clients came to our booth and said they would be glad to recommend us but hope we don’t have to see them again unless it is a party like the Hurricane Expo.

Swamp Cooler Faux Pas!

It is that time of year when the weather is starting to warm up and most of us will be turning on our swamp coolers soon. Before doing so we have a few tips for you.

To get your swamp cooler running properly, clean out any dust and debris that may have settled in your unit and change out your evaporation pads.

As the weather started to get cold last fall, you should have disconnected the water line to your swamp cooler from both the unit and the water supply. The water line should have been blown out and kept disconnected until the spring.

If you didn’t disconnect your water line, there is a good chance that there could be a crack in it. If water gets trapped in the pipe, during the winter it will freeze and the water that remained in the piping expands which could leave cracks in it. When you turn on the water supply, water escapes from the cracks and can leave you with a big mess to clean up. If not caught soon, you could end up with major water damage and even mold.

When re-attaching the water line, make sure the ferrule is all the way onto the pipe. If not, when you tighten the compression nut to the water supply it has a tendency to move the ferrule off the pipe and creates a very unstable connection and the pressure of the water can blow out the waterline. Tighten the lines to both the swamp cooler and the water supply, make sure the connections are secure and you are set to turn on your water, and enjoy the nice cool air!

If you need to replace a water line we recommend that you get a copper supply piping, It the strongest and if properly cared for it will last the longest. The next best thing is a Pex line; it is a thick durable opaque plastic. If you are looking for the cheapest solution you can get a polypropylene line that is thinner and less durable plastic piping. If you have any questions or experience a leak, call Advanced Restoration!

Ethics Count!

Ethics in today’s business world is hard to find. With some of the largest corporations failing across the nation, as well as worldwide, it’s not hard to see why. CEOs have been getting increasingly larger salaries and bonuses while the companies they were supposed to be running started crumbling right underneath them. We all heard about Merrill Lynch’s CEO John Thain who, as the company was barely afloat, paid more than one million dollars to refurnish his office.

Advanced Restoration isn’t close to being a multi-billion dollar business, but we do understand the power of ethics. We are not 100% perfect all the time, but we always promise to be honest and correct our mistakes. As Certified Restorers and members of RIA, Advanced Restoration is held to a high standard and ethical code which states:

• We will do our work right and at a fair and reasonable price.
• We deal competently and fairly with homeowners and insurance companies alike.
• We only scope the damage involved, as we perceive it.
• We do not enter into any agreements with homeowners, insurance adjusters or subcontractors to give or receive rebates or compensation not specified in the estimate.
• We do not discuss our prices with competitors while bidding is still open
• We will not enter into any secret agreements to do more work for less, as well as charging less for work done that the rate quoted in our estimate.
• We are always in search of new research and developments in fire, water, vandalism and related disaster restoration to give our customers the benefit and most effective techniques available.
• We keep excellent job records and administer our company’s affairs in accordance with business and accounting procedures.
• Our estimates and opinions reflect our best professional judgment and nothing else.

For more information about RIA visit www.restorationindustry.org .

13-0 BCS Busters!

Nobody thought it would happen but the Utes have done it again! An amazing win by the University of Utah in the Sugar Bowl has shown the world the Mountain West Conference is a force to be reckoned with. Utah beat Alabama's Crimson Tide 31-17 for their second BCS bowl game win.

Utah dominated the Crimson Tide with three touchdowns in the first quarter alone. Alabama got their name in the game in the second quarter with a field goal right off the start, but just couldn't keep it going.

After Utah's win many tried to blame the loss on the fact that Alabama didn't have Andre Smith on the offensive line to protect John Parker Wilson, who was sacked eight times in the game. But in reality, Utah played an awesome game. They held off Alabama's running game and blew past their defense. Utah definitely proved they were there to play and make a name for themselves.

Utah wanted to be there and they were excited to have the opportunity where Alabama was still brooding over their lose to Florida and the fact they didn't make it to the championship game.

Utah was the only team that had an undefeated season and should have been ranked number one but with all the National Championship bureaucracy, Utah landed at second on the AP poll with Florida at number one. Utah's head coach Kyle Whittingham was awarded the National Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.

UTAH VS. ALABAMA

Jasen Ah You, our production manager and John Hunter, one of our estimator were both involved in coaching the University of Utah football team to a 12-0 season in 2008, and are helping to keep the winning streak going all the way to New Orleans. The Running Utes (ranked 7th in BCS standings) are set to face off against Alabama’s Crimson Tide (ranked 4th in BCS standings) on January 2nd. This will be a tough game for Utah and everyone (yah, even our BYU alum) are rooting for Utah and a perfect 13-0 season

This is the second BCS bowl game the University of Utah has been invited to in the last four years. In 2005 Utah beat Pittsburg 35-7. It was an amazing win for Utah, especially because they were the first non BCS team to make it to a BCS bowl game, and now the first team to do so twice.

Alabama is making their thirteenth trip to the sugar bowl. The last of which was in 1993 when they beat Miami for the BCS championship title. Alabama is favored to win, with a ten point lead over Utah. Utah will not go down so easily, however, they are in this game to win. Currently Utah holds the longest winning streak in the nation with 13 wins and has won the last six of their bowl games.

Just this week Andre Smith, Alabama’s offensive tackle was suspended and will not be playing against Utah. This is good news for The Utes; Smith is a superstar for Alabama’s offensive line. Smith was suspended from the team due to a violation of team rules.

GO UTES!