TIDE, TAKE THREE
1. Alabama and Tennessee have met annually since 1928 with the exception of the 1943 season, when neither school fielded a team due to World War II.2. The Crimson Tide lead the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 69.2 yards per game and 2.2 yards per carry.3. Alabama will be playing its 66th career game as the Associated Press No. 1 team, and it’s the 42nd time with Nick Saban as coach.
Although Alabama has raced out to a 6-0 start this football season with wins by the average score of 45-16, the top-ranked Crimson Tide haven’t always been at their best down the stretch.
This week, they travel to face the No. 9 Tennessee Volunteers, who have been sensational during the fourth quarter.
“They’re definitely a four-quarter team, so we’re definitely going to have to play for the full 60 minutes,” Alabama junior inside linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton said Monday in a news conference. “We’re going to be in for a dogfight. No matter what the score is, they’re going to keep on fighting.
“It just shows what kind of team they have.”