Rocky Top Talk: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
New Blog: World Soccer Digest for Soccer Fans!

Tennessee-Alabama: post-game awards

Worst pre-game study: Bernie Lundquist and Harry Daniels, who called Tennessee wide receiver Josh Briscoe "Biscoe," fullback Cory Anderson "Corbin," and James Wilhoit "Jamie" during the telecast.

Best role reversal: Ainge in Orange (my new favorite nickname for him), who as QB on offense threw a terrible interception to Alabama's Simeon Castille and then instantly morphed into a defensive free safety speedster, taking the angle and racing Castille to the corner of the end zone in hopes of beating him there and keeping him out.  Ainge ended up chasing him out of bounds at the eight yard line and saving a touchdown.  The defense held the damage to a three-point field goal.

Best sight for sore eyes, I: The end zone.  Neither team scored a touchdown in last year's contest.  The Vols had not scored a touchdown against Alabama since the second quarter of the game two years ago.  By the time running back Arian Foster leapt over a pile and fell into the checkerboard in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, it had been nine quarters, or 153 minutes and 12 seconds of game time, since the Vols had found the end zone against the Tide.

Best sight for sore eyes, II: A punt returner.  Jonathan Hefney brought some life to a facet of the game long dead for UT, returning six punts for 104 yards, including an electrifying 40-yarder that would have gone for six had Lucas Taylor not whiffed on his block on the punter.

Best memory: The Tennessee defense.  Last year, the game was tied when Alabama hit a huge play with time winding down that enabled them to get into field goal range to kick the game-winner.  This year, with the Tide down by three and the clock ticking away, the Volunteer defense responded to defensive coordinator John Chavis' not so gentle reminder of last year's game-losing defensive lapse.  With Alabama threatening to move into field goal range, defensive end Antonio Reynolds made a sweet spin move to shake loose from his blocker and sacked Tide QB John Parker Wilson.  Two plays later, linebacker Jerod Mayo sealed the deal with another sack.

Best impression of fingernails on chalkboard: Gary Danielson, who said not once but twice that the Vols got favorable rulings from the officials primarily because the play occurred on the Tennessee sideline instead of the Alabama sideline.

Worst second-guess: The official who properly threw a flag for pass interference against an Alabama defender in the second half and then picked it up, saying he'd thought better of it.  Must have been standing next to the Alabama bench.

Worst Math and Grammar, all rolled into one:  Three interceptions + approximately 50 yards passing in the first half + five penalties for 30 valuable yards, + 57 total yards rushing + 53 minutes of bewilderment + game winning drive = Beat 'Bama.

Best execution of game plan: The Tennessee defensive front seven, whose goal was to shut down Tide feature running back Ken Darby.  Darby finished with 14 carries for 26 yards, an average of 1.9 yards per carry.  You get three if you stand on the scrimmage line and simply fall forward.

Best dramatic quote: Tennessee wide receiver Robert Meachem:

When you walked in the huddle and you saw those o-linemen's eyes . . . and then you see those tight ends' and running backs' eyes . . . you see Bret Smith and Lucas Taylor and Josh Briscoe.  When you looked at those eyes, everyone was ready.  Then the captain came and controlled the game.  Erik came in the huddle and said, "Here's what we're going to do.  We're going to score."

That's a great quote, despite the fact that there were apparently 14 men in the huddle at the time.

Most emotional image: Wide receiver and game captain Jayson Swain walking out to the coin toss, his arm draped over the torn shoulder of honorary game captain Inky Johnson.  Inky, we love you, man.  Stay strong.

0 recs  |  Comment 0 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about the Tennessee Volunteers.
Start posting about the Volunteers »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recent FanPosts

Oregon_ducks_small
Lil Wayne is at the Tennessee-Vanderbilt Game?
Small
Bobo's Playoff System (Week 12)
Small
Alright guys chill out, we played a bad game
Fiddler_on_the_roof_fiddler_1__small
RTT Pick 'Em: four tie this week, marmot_man_111 still in front overall
Fiddler_on_the_roof_fiddler_1__small
RTT Guessing Game standings after Week 10
Small
Nice journalism from the Miami Herald.
Small
Bobo's Playoff System:
Associated_20press_clayliston_1965_l_small
Lane and Wayne: A Brief History of Two Gangsters
Phil_s_pic_small
Just to update Ian
28922_1__small
Your RCR Guide to Oxford

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Video Highlights

Animated Drive Charts

RTT Classics

RTT Classics 2008 Animated BlogPoll2007 Animated BlogPollLOL! Your logo is so scary! Welcome to Rocky Top Talk Tradition! Fiddlin' on the Roof2008 Animated BlogPoll The Season of Which We Do Not Speak Pearlfection Case Study: 2QB Systems and the 2005 Tennessee Volunteers The 2007 College Football Blogger Awards The 2006 College Football Blogger Awards The 20 coolest college football logos The 10 worst college football logos The 29 most boring college football logos 2006 Animated BCS Race 2005 Animated Race to the Rose Bowl

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recent FanShots

SEC Fan Poll
Tebow Tebow Tebow
THE BERRY BEST Monte Kiffin has just one request: he'd like to keep...
The graduation rate of Fulmer's last few teams...
A Diplomatic Introduction | Gate 21
Jayvaughn Pinkston wating until spring to make decision
Security Cam Footage - Shoplifting Incident
Tommy West is a class act | Mr. College Football
Um, wow.
Nysher Oliver caught shoplifting on Gameday

+ New FanShot All FanShots >

YouTube


Editor-in-Chief

Fiddler_on_the_roof_fiddler_1__small Joel

Senior Editor

Gromit_small Hooper

Tennessee_logo_small Will

Official Partner of CBS Sports