Photo by Michael Patrick
Tennessee defensive end Robert Ayers (91) stops Alabama running back Glen Coffee (38) in his tracks during second half actdion Saturday in Neyland Stadium. The Crimson Tide of Alabama beat the Tennessee Volunteers 29-9.
Tennessee Stat Book
Robert Ayers and Ellix Wilson were dancing around, waving their arms, trying to get a capacity crowd pumped up as the loudspeakers played "We Ready."
It was early in the second quarter and the Tennessee defense was about to hold No. 2-ranked Alabama without a first down for the third time of the half.
They looked "ready" - at least early - but nothing mattered.
The Vols' offense sputtered, the UT defense tired and the Crimson Tide rolled to a 29-9 victory Saturday night at Neyland Stadium.
"The only place we can go is up," Wilson said. "It was a tough loss tonight and Alabama played great. We tried to do our best to stop them."
UT (3-5, 1-4 SEC) held Alabama to 32 yards rushing and 1-of-7 on third-down conversions in the first half.
It didn't matter.
The Vols still trailed 13-3 going into the break. That's when things really started to get ugly.
Alabama (8-0, 5-0) got its running game going, the clock kept ticking and Tennessee defenders starting dropping like flies.
"There was obviously a difference," said defensive coordinator John Chavis, comparing the first half and second half. "I can't put my finger on the reasons for that, but Alabama's a good football team.
"They ran the ball at us extremely well in the second half. We just didn't get it done."
Alabama finished with 178 yards rushing, 23 first downs and 366 total yards.
It added up to a familiar refrain from Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer.
"We left our defense on the field way too long and the offense struggled," he said.
The spot where UT can least afford attrition - defensive tackle - got a scare with 1:49 remaining in the third quarter as defensive tackle Dan Williams went down with a right ankle injury.
"That was an ugly looking block from my standpoint," Fulmer said. "I'm not saying it was intentional or anything like that, but it was a bad looking deal."
A matter of minutes later, backup defensive tackle Andre Mathis went out with a wrist injury and sat next to already banged up leading tackler Wilson.
Next to go down was defensive end Wes Brown, who left the field on crutches with ice on his left knee.
Ayers spent much of the second half moved inside to tackle from his usual defensive end spot.
"I feel like we gave a pretty good team effort," Ayers said. "We played our butts off. You've got to give (Alabama) credit. They came out ready.
"I don't want to say we wore down. This is a physical game and injuries are going to occur. When injuries occur, people step up."
Linebacker Rico McCoy was one, credited with a season-high 13 tackles.
Eric Berry's 11 tackles eclipsed a season-high 10 he set last week against Mississippi State.
None of it mattered in the end.
"We're just not doing the things we need to do to get the wins," Wilson said.
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Comments » 24
TNVolsFan writes:
TN Stinks!!!!!!
FedUpVolFan writes:
2nd that!
jack_2222#231746 writes:
Don't you feel a sense of pride when the offense lines up with exactly 7 men on the line of scrimmage?
UrbanCryer writes:
this just in.... foolmore said they need to work like heck, eliminate the penalties, get better special teams play and look at the film!!
blitzshoot writes:
No offense.
volnmdtn writes:
The defense did as well as expected and I believe most vols fans don't have a problem with them, Berry is GREAT!!! Lets go on and get this over with and fire Fulmer today, why wait?
bobbarbilly writes:
This defense is the only part of the team that does their job. I doubt if the offense can tie their own shoes. The defense probably does it for them.
rusty_shackleford writes:
Defense played well until the lack of depth exposed a big problem -- recruiting DTs.
Alabubba beat UT the Tennessee way: control the clock; play great D; run, run, run; wear down the opponent and score in the 4th quarter.
rockytop47 writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
TommyJack writes:
You're just kidding, right?
pdhuff#552644 writes:
I didn't see Phil getting a Mikey man-hug adder the game.
volsoutwest writes:
No time. He had to get to fhe film room to study. It is time to get back to working like heck, gosh darn it.
HollySpringsVOL writes:
The D did a fine job and once again Chavis is the only one who even comes close to looking like a football coach. This "product" that Fulmer has put on the field is horrible. I would have been pleased if we had shown a modicum of respectability on the offensive side of the ball. We never came close. One play a quarter isn't going to get it. Stephens is going to be a good QB once he gets some decent coaching and more game experience. I really feel sorry for the players. It really has to suck to be a player on this year's team. Bite the bullet and start the rebuilding soon. Phil, don't make it nasty. Just take your retirement like a man and do what is best for the university you and all of us love so dearly. As the chant this year goes...."You know, it HURTS, to be, a Tennessee Vol..you know, it HURTS, to be, a Tennessee Vol..."
richvol writes:
Where is the 6'4" 250lb linebacker Gerald Williams? Would it kill the coaching staff to let a linebacker this size,who can run sideline to sideline,play? I mean,what do they think we have to lose? Does it not occur to them that we have already burned his redshirt and could be getting him some valuable experience for next year? It's not like he is going to cost us the game.
Tennessee will most likely lose another two games. We need to start getting the less experienced and younger players on the field to see if anyone can step up. The season is already ruined. Get B J Coleman some playing time...let Poole play...put Berry at receiver for 10 to 12 plays...not one. If we don't do something smart with him his twin brothers will go to Georgia and I don't blame them.
olozbal#646632 writes:
- Does this offense ever audible? No I mean that as a serious question. I have never seen Stephens see something then call a different play at the line of scrimmage. The blitz down on the goal line was obvious, plus I've seen a couple of plays where a QB sneak was the right call but he never checked to it. Has Clawson even taught them that yet?
- It's not the losses that tell me we need a new coach. It's the punk players not showing any respect for the coaches. Today it was a smiling and laughing Briscoe but if you watch there's one of these every week. Every time a coach gets in their face they're laughing and smiling about it. THAT's my indicator this program is lost more than the stats.
The right thing to do for Hamilton is to QUIETLY line up one of these hot coaches by putting feelers out now and secure him. Then at the end of the year tell Fulmer he's gone and pay him whatever he wants to make him leave by "retiring" and coincidentally having a new coach already lined up. I feel bad (kind of) for Clawson because he's probably toast.
TheMagician writes:
"Chavis has been saving his job for 10 years" - JM
Well, the mean ol weferwies took this one away, huh?
tngilmer writes:
As a Bama fan, I agree. Also keep Tuberville, Petrino, and Crooms. However, you can fire Richt, Meyer. Miles, and Nutt today.
glenncandrews#217154 writes:
"It was like a home game out there for us," Alabama offensive tackle Andre Smith said of the 25,000 or more Crimson Tide fans in attendance.
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/sec/0-1-71...
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/sec/0-1-71...
givehim6 writes:
If the offence played like our defence we would have beat bama, maybe even UGA. I have a new respect for Chavis. How come he can fire his group up, but nomatter who talks to the offence all thay can do is give you blank stares?
utmdm writes:
The O specializes in the other team's shoe laces.
TIDE29viles9 writes:
ROLL TIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hilltopper writes:
Douglas Shults rockytop47 do you really think you are better and smarter than everyone else? What an arrogant former marine or boot polisher you are
goodbye Phil
TidalWave75 writes:
Bama physically and mentally beat the snot out of UT.
bigorangeslice writes:
"They can't consistently drive the football. They're lacking in offensive playmakers. They kill themselves with bone-headed penalties, and they generally look like a second-tier SEC team -- the likes of which Fulmer once beat up on with relative ease...."
Chris Low, ESPN
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