Tide hears plenty of Rocky Top

Alabama coach Mike Shula said the spirit of the rivalry has been invading his team.

"We took a lot of older guys into the game last year, but now you're seeing a whole new group of guys figuring it out," he said. "You're seeing a little more leadership taking effect this week. Guys who don't normally say things are speaking up in practice."

Shula sensed some fatigue in Tuesday's practice, as the Tide (5-2, 2-2 SEC) began preparations for its eighth consecutive game week, but he detected "really good energy" on Wednesday.

"We had a lot to cover. We're having to play catch-up a little because they've had a little more time to prepare than us," Shula said.

The Vols (5-1, 1-1) had an open date last weekend after outslugging Georgia 51-33 in their last outing.

Injury Report: The status has not changed for Alabama's injured trio -- receivers Keith Brown and DJ Hall and running back Jimmy Johns.

Brown has not run this week as he recovers from strained knee ligaments he suffered in the fourth quarter of last week's 26-23 overtime win against Ole Miss. Hall continues to receive treatment for the nagging shoulder injury he suffered at Florida in week five.

Johns appears to be recovering nicely from a twisted left ankle. He went through his special-teams work on Wednesday.

Conservative Quip: Asked about whether Alabama was bucking its image of having a conservative offense, offensive coordinator David Rader pointed out how the Tide offense tries hard to buck tendencies. That is, the Bama braintrust tries to throw deep and short, left and right, and to mix the run and pass.

Then he dropped another one of his dry-wit lines.

"In about a month I'll enter a polling booth and vote conservative," Rader said. "No doubt about that."

Wilson Wings It: Sophomore John Parker Wilson owns the Alabama record for consecutive 200-yard passing games at seven, and he can tie the single-season mark held by Gary Hollingsworth with another 200-yard effort at Tennessee on Saturday.

The significance of Wilson's pursuit is that the 200-yard games have come in the first seven starts of his career.

The Crimson Tide's record for career 200-yard passing games is 14 by Brodie Croyle (2002-05) and Andrew Zow (1998-2001).

Big Hit I: Ole Miss receiver Marshay Green made a key 21-yard catch on the first play of the Rebels' first-half ending field goal drive last Saturday, but he paid the price.

After taking about two steps with the rifle shot slant pass from Brent Schaeffer, Green's midsection greeted the shoulder pads of Alabama safety Marcus Carter, who immediately planted the slightly built receiver. Green got up woozy and wobbled to the Ole Miss sidelines.

Big Hit II: Alabama tailback Ken Darby had a huge first down in his sights as he rumbled toward right end on a fourth-and-2 snap from the Ole Miss 27 with about four minutes left in a 20-20 game. Just as Darby hit the edge, something hit him -- and dropped him in his tracks.

Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis had streaked through the Tide line and slammed Darby on the spot, a yard short of the first down.

"That was a nice lick," Darby said. "He just came out of nowhere. When I cut up, I really saw the end zone, (but) by the time I was ready to kick it into another gear I was on the ground."