Arenas sets SEC standard

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Javier Arenas raced into the Southeastern Conference record books Saturday when his 66-yard punt return for a touchdown gave Alabama a 28-0 lead over the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga 18 seconds into the second quarter.

It was the seventh career punt-return score for Arenas, breaking the previous SEC mark of six he had shared with Kentucky's Derek Abney (2000-03). The 5-foot-9, 195-pound senior from Tampa fielded a 37-yard punt by Mike Hammons, shook one tackle and raced down the right sideline.

"He was kicking the ball really awkward, and on top of that the sun caught me, too," Arenas said. "I saw the ball at the last minute, and I was like, 'What the (heck), just catch it and go.' So I caught it and went.

"The blocking was spectacular. A lot of times I have to make a decision, like should I cut back, but they blocked the guys and made it that much easier."

Arenas has 1,658 career yards on punt returns, which ranks second in SEC history behind Vanderbilt's Lee Nalley, who had 1,695 from 1947 to '49. The NCAA record is held by Texas Tech's Wes Welker, who gained 1,751 from 2000 to '03.

"They kept punting the ball to the single gunner, where they had three on the other side, so we returned it to the single gunner and he broke it out," Tide coach Nick Saban said. "He's done a great job for us and made a lot of great plays, and it was great for him to make a great play today."

Arenas also had an interception with 4:34 before halftime after UTC had driven to Alabama's 22-yard line.

Tiffin keeps scoring

Leigh Tiffin's 41-yard field goal at the 11:43 mark of the third quarter put Alabama up 38-0 and moved Tiffin up in the Tide record books. The senior now has 78 career field goals, equaling the 78 Philip Doyle compiled from 1987 to '90, and has 25 this season in 28 attempts, matching the mark he set last year in 34 tries.

Tiffin's 109 points this season are two shy of the single-season mark he set last year.

Final time out

There were 27 seniors honored before their final game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Three of them -- left guard Mike Johnson, punter P.J. Fitzgerald and backup strong safety Ali Sharrief -- played in their 51st career games, with Fitzgerald having started all 51.

Sharrief signed in 2005 out of North Jackson High as a running back, redshirted that season and had six carries for 38 yards in '06. He switched to defensive back before the '07 season and in '08 made a couple of starts in Alabama's dime package and was an SEC academic honor roll selection.

"It's a little emotional," Sharrief said after recording one tackle and two quarterback hurries Saturday. "I'm not really a big emotional crier type of guy. I'm just going to miss all the guys I came in with and the younger guys I've become real close to."

Tide tidbits

Alabama has not allowed a first-quarter touchdown in seven straight games. ... Saturday's officiating crew, headed by referee Marc Curles, was suspended earlier this year after missing calls in the LSU-Georgia and Florida-Arkansas games and returned for last week's Kentucky-Vanderbilt game. ... The Tide tallied three interceptions Saturday and now have 72 forced turnovers in 39 games under Saban (1.9 a game). ... Alabama came away from Saturday with no injuries of note.