David Cutcliffe had studied Alabama's tendencies and had his call in mind.

On the first snap of the game that October night 10 years ago at Legion Field, the Crimson Tide secondary indeed reacted as expected.

Peyton Manning made a perfect pass. Joey Kent made the catch in the perfect spot and was off to the races.

By the time Kent hit the end zone 80 yards later, the shackles of Alabama's rule over Tennessee were already rattling loose.

"We gave a three-step drop, they flew to the flats and we hit Joey in the seam between the safety and corner,'' Cutcliffe, UT's offensive coordinator from 1993-98, recalled this week. "Peyton hit him on the dead run.

"That was a big way to start a game. You're on the road. They had been our nemesis. From that point on, you saw Peyton get extremely confident.''

The year was 1995. The score was 7-0 after just a few seconds. It was 21-0 before the first quarter was out.

It was 41-14 at the final horn, a turning point in Tennessee's annual football passion play with Alabama.

A decade of Alabama domination ended that night in Birmingham. A decade of Tennessee domination began.

It wasn't just Manning who would grow confident. It was a parade of Vols, as UT went on to become the first program to beat the proud Crimson Tide six consecutive years.

The streak hit seven before Alabama prevailed in 2002. UT has since tacked on two more wins to make it nine of 10.

When Alabama moved its home games in the series to campus, UT became the first foe to win on three consecutive trips to Tuscaloosa.

And it's off to Tuscaloosa again on Saturday for the Vols.

You'd think it would be a happy procession down I-59.

Given the years of living under Alabama's thumb, an era when "Rocky Top" is the post-game soundtrack ought to cause Big Orange hearts to swell with pride.

And Big Orange tongues to talk a little smack.

However, that's not exactly the mood I sense around town this week.

The funk is so deep I'll be surprised to hear a single talk-radio caller salute Phillip Fulmer for parting the Crimson Tide and leading the Vols out of their years of bondage.

Remember that 11-year Alabama streak from 1971-81? After a Tennessee uprising (1982-85), the Crimson Curtain fell again with another nine-year reign, from 1986-94.

The Vols did manage a 17-17 tie in '93, but even that felt like a loss since Alabama scored in the final seconds.

That was the first Alabama game on Fulmer's watch. After a 17-13 loss in '94, it's been virtually all Vols. His record against the Tide is 9-2-1.

Fulmer's predecessor, Johnny Majors, was 4-12 against Alabama, UT's biggest rival before the SEC split into divisions. Some would say Alabama was Majors' chief undoing.

Majors would say - has said, in fact - that Fulmer has experienced a diminished Alabama.

It's an interesting point.

Saturday will be the first time since 1994 Fulmer has faced an Alabama team ranked higher than the Vols.

In six of the past eight Fulmer-Alabama meetings, the Crimson Tide was unranked.

Majors faced an unranked Alabama only three times in 16 years. Ironically, one was 1990, a 9-6 Tide upset of No. 3 UT still bemoaned from Bristol to Beale Street.

Seven times Majors ran into Alabama teams ranked in the top four. Fulmer did so only in 1992.

Of course it's not Fulmer's fault Alabama sank into decline (conspiracy theorists notwithstanding).

While the Tide was bouncing from coach to coach, Fulmer was entrenched, recruiting playmakers such as Manning, Jay Graham, Travis Henry, Peerless Price, John Henderson and Leonard Little.

Manning vs. Freddie Kitchens just wasn't going to go Alabama's way. The Tide, by the way, should have also cheered Casey Clausen's graduation.

Back in August, Saturday's game figured to shape up as status quo, with Tennessee holding more cards and more confidence.

It's quite a different story now.

If Fulmer wins this one, if a Tennessee quarterback (which one is another story) leads the band in "Rocky Top" Saturday, no one can say it was in any way diminished.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276 or strange2@knews.com.