Reflections on the Tennessee Loss Against Alabama

After 2 hours to cool off, here are some thoughts and nuggets on the game:

• Tennessee (3-4) outplayed the #1 team in the country and it took two field goal blocks to beat us.  They were good blocks no doubt.
• Tennessee has without a doubt THE BEST all-around coaching staff in the nation. To do what they have done to some of the best teams in the nation and to do it with far inferior talent (for this year anyway) points directly to coaching, game planning and scheme.
• The #1 team in the nation did not score a touchdown... And Tennessee did.
• Alabama is deserving of their number one ranking. They are solid in most aspects of the game. However, the play calling on that last drive in the first half was horrendous. They had pounded us for 60-65 yards on the ground with the Wildcat package to get the ball down inside the 10 yard line. Then, amazingly, they try to throw the ball on us. Not good.
• The much maligned Jonathan Crompton outplayed Alabama’s McElroy. Many, including myself, probably judged too harshly when there were many factors that contributed to the early season woes.
• Ingram is a “beast” of a back. He ran for 246 yards last week against South Carolina. He ran for 94 tonight.
• Tennessee’s on-sides kick was the first successful on-sides kick execution by any SEC team this year.
• The best thing to come from the game was the sight of Nick Saban on the sidelines pinching button holes in his britches trying to eek out a victory and realizing how many recruits were on hand to watch. Go Vols!

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