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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
University of Alabama officials have not requested a change in venue for Saturday’s football game against Tennessee, but the desire to switch sites would be understandable.
Through seven games this season, the eighth-ranked Crimson Tide (6-1, 3-1 SEC) have been noticeably better away from Bryant-Denny Stadium than inside it.
“The three best games we’ve played this year have all been on the road, whether it was Wisconsin, Georgia or this past game with Texas A&M,” Tide coach Nick Saban said in a news conference. “I think it’s a matter of being able to stay focused on what you need to do to do your job play in and play out.”
The Crimson Tide opened their season with a thorough 35-17 whipping of No. 20 Wisconsin in the Dallas suburb of Arlington. They opened this month with a 38-10 demolishing of No. 8 Georgia in Sanford Stadium, the program’s largest margin of victory ever over a top-10 foe at an opposition site.
Texas A&M was ranked No. 9 entering last Saturday’s game in College Station, but Alabama returned three interceptions for touchdowns and pulled away for a 41-23 triumph.
Alabama has not been nearly as dominant at home, losing 43-37 to Ole Miss on Sept. 19 and rebounding from a 7-3 halftime deficit against Arkansas on Oct. 10 to win 27-14. The Crimson Tide committed three first-half turnovers and five in all against the Rebels, and they overcame two turnovers and a missed 25-yard field-goal kick in the second quarter alone against the Razorbacks.
Saban isn’t sure why this dynamic has developed since it hasn’t been an issue before.
“Just because you’re at home – whether it’s family, friends, the atmosphere, the distractions that it can create – as a mature competitor, you can’t be affected by external factors,” he said. “It’s something we’ve got to continue to address.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.