TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Tennessee didn’t collapse.
The Volunteers didn’t come close to winning, but they didn’t collapse.
Alabama made it 11 consecutive victories over the Vols in Bryant-Denny Stadium by prevailing 37-20 Saturday night. The latest chapter of this colorful rivalry will forever be remembered for the final play of the first half, when Crimson Tide cornerback Zabien Brown stepped in front of a Joey Aguilar pass intended for tight end Miles Kitselman at the goal line and raced 99 yards the other way for the touchdown and a stunning 23-7 lead at the break.
“We had nine seconds left and no timeouts,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said afterward. “You’re left with the decision of do you want two opportunities or one. We get a little play-action, and he leaves the ball inside a little bit and it goes back for six. It was a big play in the football game for sure.
“It’s a disappointing result, but the positive was the way we came out and competed in the second half. I said it was going to be a 12-round fight in this one. No matter how it starts or what happens next, you’ve got to continue to fight, and our guys did that.”