By Jimmy Hyams
When Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner scooped up a fumble exchange between Hendon Hooker and Jabari Small, you could almost hear a collective sigh at Neyland Stadium.
Oh no, not again!
No. 1 Alabama had just taken 49-42 lead over No. 6 Tennessee with 7:49 left in a thriller that would have made Michael Jackson proud.
The Vols had played brilliantly, surging to a 21-7 lead, slicing through the SEC’s No. 1 defense, making an occasional stop and going toe-to-toe with the perhaps the greatest dynasty college football has ever seen.
But just when the Vol Nation was euphoric at the thought of slaying the mighty Crimson Tide, Nick Saban’s team made a key play that would derail Tennessee’s efforts.
Or so it seemed.
Not so fast my friend, as Lee Corso might say.
This is a different Tennessee team with a different mindset and a different resolve and a different attitude.
Tennessee wasn’t going to let a potentially catastrophic game-winning play by Bama end its hopes.
The Vols marched 75 yards on 11 plays to tie the game with 3:26 left, then kicked a game-winning field as time expired after Alabama missed a 50-yarder with 15 seconds left.
Chase McGrath’s knuckle ball from 40 yards out barely cleared the crossbar, setting off the wildest celebration seen at Neyland Stadium since an epic win over Florida in 1998.
More than 100 security guards didn’t have a chance as fans stormed the field like a tidal wave.
They tore down the goal posts – pitching one set into the Tennessee River. Hugged each other like long lost relatives. Cried tears of joy. And smoked so many cigars, you couldn’t see the jumbotrons from the field, the smoke was so thick.
In arguably the greatest game in the greatest quarterback battle in Neyland history, Tennessee prevailed 52-49, ending a 15-year drought against Saban and the Tide.
The maestro behind this magical ride is Josh Heupel, hired from Central Florida in 2001 to turn around a program that was 3-7 in 2020 and in the midst of a serious NCAA investigation.
Heupel has made Tennessee relevant again with an up-tempo offense that destroyed the SEC’s top-ranked defense, an offense that leads the nation in total yards and averages 49 points per game.
And offense that is so good, Tennessee is now in the conversation for the College Football Playoff.
If this were the Academy Awards, UT’s win over Alabama would get best picture, Heupel best director, Hooker best actor and Jalin Hyatt best supporting actor.
Hooker, who has firmly planted himself near the top of the Heisman Trophy race, was 21 of 30 for 385 yards and five touchdowns.
Hyatt, who is looking more and more like a clone of Jerry Rice, caught six passes for 207 yards and a school-record five touchdowns.
Running back Jaylen Wright had 71 yards and Small 53 as the Vols rushed for 182 yards against the SEC’s top-ranked run defense.
Tennessee won this game by making plays usually reserved for Alabama.
The Vols racked up 567 total yards and seemed to have an answer for each Alabama run.
When Alabama tied the game at 28-28 all in the third quarter, Hooker hit Hyatt for a 60-yard score.
When Bama went ahead 35-34, Hooker hit Hyatt for a 78-yard score.
After Turner’s scoop and score, UT went 75 yards to knot it up.
And when Reichard missed a 50-yard field goal try near the end, Hooker had completions of 18 and 27 yards to set up McGrath’s game-winning kick.
Tennessee is now 6-0 for the first time since 1998.
It is the only team in the country with four wins over ranked opponents.
It will be ranked in the top four during the season (not preseason) for the first time since 2002.
And it is in position to challenge Georgia for East Division supremacy
This is indeed a different Tennessee team, one that has captured the imagination of the Vol Nation – and the nation at large.
Sponsored by Big Kahuna Wings: The wings that changed it all
