The Vols had this week of practice, the bye week last week and the week before where they watched film of Georgia, whose previous opponent was – you guessed it – Alabama.
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And I think of the number of guys I’ve covered who’ve crossed state lines to go to the “other” place. Later I learned it was because the game was so pivotal, this before the SEC had an East and West Division. The Volunteers (3-3, 1-2 SEC) play at No. 8 Alabama (6-1, 3-1) on Saturday. Jaw-to-jaw, glory-for-glory, pound for-pound, I know this to be the truth. “I think he’s had a great year so far”.
Has Alabama figured out Josh Dobbs? That’s why these two play so much alike. “Being able to work with him in the summer and spring and just feeling his presence and what kind of leader he is, he really did show me he’s a great guy”. Most years he saved the old hymn for “Tennessee week”. He has scored on one punt return and had two other touchdowns on punt returns nullified by penalties. Entitled “Bear: The Hard Life and Good Times of Alabama’s Bear Bryant”, it was a million seller back in the day. They lost to Arkansas who just lined up and ran over the Vols. Alabama is built similarly to Arkansas.
That game was six years ago today. “Any time that he needed someone when he was here he came to me, and if I could help him out, I helped him out because I needed someone to know if I could always call on him for something”. I’ve seen the players responding positively to him. “I can’t stand these things but it is important right now”, after he took a swallow.
I asked for one for myself and one for my admiring grandfather. Joshua Dobbs will get hot early and make the Crimson Tide press, but like a steady drip, Henry and the running game will be effective enough to take control as the game goes on.
“When you’re a threat to pass and threat to run, it keeps defenses on their heels”, he said. Coach looked over at me, muffled a light laugh, and replied, “Roy, if you are going to be a whore, be All-Whore”.
It was a remark I have never forgotten and if you think that’s amusing now, imagine how if sounded four decades ago when it was a disgusting curse word. There were over a thousand people wanting to get his autograph and the explicit instructions were: “Do not stop”.
It’s Dobbs’ ability to make plays with his feet that has many around Alabama – and Tennessee for that matter – both nervous and excited for what’s to come on Saturday. “Once you get a game into the fourth quarter, as we all know, anything can happen”. And recent history tells us Tennessee hasn’t been holding up its end of the bargain. Saban commented on the noise the sellout crowd at Kyle Field created during last week’s 41-23 victory over Texas A&M and how he wished the crowd at Bryant-Denny Stadium would get that loud during home games. However, with the game coming closer to its conclusion, Jonathan Crompton led an improbable comeback with a touchdown pass with just over a minute left to bring the score to 12-10. Before that, the Crimson Tide had either tied or won nine straight, dating back to 1986.
How do I see tomorrow’s game? Tennessee’s offensive line is better this season than last and I expect Tennessee to put up a few points as long as turnovers aren’t a major factor. Early in the fourth quarter, Alabama lead 12-3 and had already blocked one Daniel Lincoln field goal attempt.
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Now it’s about doing the little things against Alabama, Sutton said, whether that’s “putting our eyes where they need to be” or “tackle in space” or “limit explosive plays”.
