Tide, take three
1. Tennessee is one of seven Associated Press preseason Top 25 teams that Alabama is facing on its 12-game schedule.2. Nick Saban’s six road wins over top-10 teams are more than Bear Bryant had in his 25 seasons in Tuscaloosa.3. In its last four games, Alabama’s defense has forced three-and-outs 55.4 percent of the time (36 of 65).
Tennessee linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (34) is tackled by Florida offensive lineman Trenton Brown (74) during the second half of an NCAA college football game at Neyland Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, in Knoxville.
Alabama senior linebacker Reggie Ragland was credited with 95 tackles last season, including 10.5 for lost yardage.Streaky series
The longest winning streaks in Alabama-Tennessee football history:11: Alabama (1971-81)8: Alabama (2007-present)7: Tennessee (1995-2001)7: Alabama (1986-92)7: Alabama (1905-13)
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* Tennessee’s defense set for progress test against Derrick Henry, Alabama * Wiedmer: UT’s Mike DeBord confident in Vols offense * Coach Nick Saban concerned with Tide’s play at home * Alabama-Tennessee rivalry still special to both sides * Tennessee needs Josh Dobbs to be special against Alabama * Wiedmer: Unlike 2009, UT may edge Bama at the finish
Alabama football coach Nick Saban and Tennessee counterpart Butch Jones are viewing Saturday’s rivalry from two very different perches.
Saban has guided the Crimson Tide to eight victories over the Volunteers in eight tries since arriving in Tuscaloosa, seven of those by double digits. Alabama’s 34-20 win in Knoxville last season ended a streak of four consecutive years in which the Tide rolled by at least 31 points.
Overlooking Tennessee is not part of the process Saban has instilled in Tuscaloosa.
“The Tennessee game is a special game to a lot of people in the state of Alabama because of the tradition and the rivalry that has existed here for a long, long time,” Saban said Monday in his news conference. “The game brings a lot of history, and it’s most certainly a special game to us and our team.”
Alabama holds a 52-38-7 series edge, which includes advantages of 7-4 in Tuscaloosa, 21-14-6 in Birmingham and 24-20-1 in Knoxville. The Crimson Tide’s current streak of eight straight wins trails only the 11 in a row Alabama won under Paul “Bear” Bryant from 1971 to ’81.
Jones has coached in only two Alabama-Tennessee games. He lost 45-10 two years ago in Bryant-Denny Stadium.
“I understand the importance of the rivalry,” Jones said in his weekly news conference. “This game means a lot to both institutions, both universities, our fan bases and our players. It means a lot. I have spoken about getting the rivalry back to making it relevant again and being in these football games for us.
“We are going to have to play great, mistake-free football to get the game into the fourth quarter. Once you get a game into the fourth quarter, as we all know, anything can happen.”
There was no shortage of praising the opponent Monday, with Jones describing Tennessee as a program working to be elite and Alabama as a program that has been elite for quite some time. Saban complimented Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs and the tailback tandem of Jalen Hurd and Alvin Kamara, who began his career at Alabama.
Most of Saban’s praise was directed at the opposing coach.
“Butch Jones has done a really good job, and they’ve gotten better and better and better every year,” Saban said. “You could argue that they could be undefeated or a one-loss team very easily this year, and they came back against somebody when they were behind 24-3. They’re nationally ranked in a lot of categories.
“Controlling the ball is going to be a key for us in this game, because this is the best team they’ve had in a while.”
Alabama began preparations Monday with a 75-minute workout in helmets and shorts.
Tide senior tailback Kenyan Drake practiced after suffering a thigh bruise in Saturday’s 41-23 win at Texas A&M. Senior center Ryan Kelly was held out due to concussion protocol but could practice later in the week.
Players from both teams are aware of the rivalry, even though the series has been lopsided as of late.
“We always talk about rivalry games within our program,” Tennessee linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin told reporters Monday. “We want to get every one we can. We haven’t beat Bama in a while, and that’s what we’re going down there to do on Saturday.”
Said Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland: “We’ve got to get the job done for the past guys who played here and really don’t like UT. We’ve got to get the job done for the older guys.”
Texas A&M was coming off an off week before losing to the Crimson Tide. Tennessee had an open date this past weekend, and both Alabama and LSU will have off weeks before they meet Nov. 7 inside Bryant-Denny.
The only SEC schools going deeper than eight games before their open dates are Ole Miss and Missouri.
“We try to control the workload so that our players can get ready to play each and every week,” Saban said. “We gave the players two days off a few weeks ago, so that they could get some rest and recovery. If you can stay locked in and do what you want to do, then it’s not an issue and it’s not a problem, because most of that stuff is in your head.
“We put those catapult things on guys in practice, and they run just as fast now as they did two months ago.”
Tide tidbits
Alabama kicker Adam Griffith to Michigan punter Blake O’Neill via Twitter: “Keep your head up. Trust me. It’s just a game.” Former Alabama tailback Altee Tenpenny was arrested this past weekend in Louisiana for possessing a firearm and discharging a weapon. Tenpenny transferred to UNLV earlier this year but is now at Nicholls State.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.