GAME PREVIEW
10/25 Alabama
In college football, a lot changes, but this bitter rivalry is one that doesn’t! Oh sure, the divisional format took some of the sting from it. Gone are the days of Bear Bryant pacing the sidelines, with Johnny Majors across the way trying to figure how to beat Bama. Still, many Crimson Tide fans point northward to Knoxville as the source of origin for the NCAA sanctions currently placed on the team. Does such carry from the fans in the stands to the field? You bet!
This will be Mike Shula’s first game against Tennessee as a head coach, having met the orange and white as the Tide’s QB previously. Much has happened since last year’s win in Knoxville, especially in the coaching merry-go-round. Still, being the son of a legendary coach, Don Shula, does have some advantages.
Coach Phil Fulmer knows the status of this game with the Big Orange faithful, having played in three of the matchups as an offensive lineman. You can expect him to heavily emphasize to Michael Munoz, Scott Wells, and the rest of the offensive line the need to hunker down and keep the Tide’s defense on its toes, opening holes of Cedric Houston and Jabari Davis to drive through.
Then it’s all said and done, this will be a claw and scratch game, and one the Vols will be fortunate to come away with a win.......maybe.
Alabama’s 2002 record 10-3 (6-2 in the SEC)
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