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Chris Low, ESPN Senior Writer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — A haze of cigar smoke filled the Tennessee interview room — all of Neyland Stadium, for that matter — and former Vols great Alvin Kamara peeked through the curtain as a hoarse Josh Heupel did his best to paint what was another memorable Third Saturday in October for the Vols.
Tennessee had suffered through 15 straight losses to bitter rival Alabama when Heupel arrived as Tennessee’s coach in 2021. Now, in his fourth season, the Vols have won two of their last three against the Crimson Tide, this latest a 24-17 conquest that saw Tennessee recover from its third straight scoreless first half, finally find some explosive plays in the passing game in the second half and lean on a defense that Heupel called both “elite” and “special” after watching that unit hold an opponent under 20 points for the seventh straight game this season.
“When we got here, I never talked about it because at the end of the day nobody cares. They care what the scoreboard looks like each week,” Heupel said. “There were obstacles as a program we had to navigate and overcome, and as coaching staff, administration and our players, we did it in a pretty special way. Not perfect … and as a program, we’ve got to improve this year.
“But I really do feel like we’re just getting started as a program.”
This game wasn’t a thriller in the same fashion as the 52-49 game two years ago in Knoxville that ended on a last-second field goal, but the aftermath was similar. Tennessee fans stormed the field, tore down the goal posts and puffed gleefully on victory cigars, a longstanding tradition in a rivalry that dates back to 1901.
Kamara joined countless former Tennessee players in the locker room afterward to celebrate, as the No. 11 Vols bounced back from a three-turnover first half and took advantage of a No. 7 Crimson Tide team that committed a season-high 15 penalties for 115 yards.
In an SEC race that gets crazier by the week, every win is precious. But even Heupel wasn’t about to downplay what beating Alabama means to everyone on Rocky Top.
“You’re a Vol for Life, that’s not just words,” Heupel said. “For it to be the second time (beating Alabama) … this program, when we walk onto the field, we feel like we’re good enough to go win every Saturday. Does this one matter? Yeah, absolutely. You know the historical nature of this game, what it means to the fan base and inside of our walls and in the new landscape of the league.
“The expectation was to go out and play great football tonight, and we did that defensively for 60 minutes. Offensively, we were on the right side enough and special teams enough.”
Tennessee (6-1, 3-1) has won two in a row since being upset by Arkansas on Oct. 5, including a 23-17 overtime escape last week at home against Florida.
And while the first-half offensive doldrums remain a problem, redshirt quarterback Nico Iamaleava showed his mettle in the second half after taking some big hits in the first half, leaving the game for a play and not being able to connect with open receivers on several of deep balls.
After a shaky first half, Iamaleava threw a 55-yard strike down the right sideline to Dont’e Thornton Jr., setting up a Dylan Sampson 3-yard touchdown run to put Tennessee ahead 14-10 late in the third quarter.
After Alabama retook the lead at 17-14, Iamaleava threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to a diving Chris Brazzell II in the back of the end zone on a third-and-5 play to give the Vols the lead for good.
Iamaleava, who had an interception in the first half, was also able to do some damage running the ball, including a key 27-yard rush in the third quarter leading to Tennessee’s first touchdown. He said he wasn’t going to let another lackluster first half by the Vols on offense beat him down.
“It’s next-play mentality,” Iamaleava said. “Like coach Heupel preaches, you gotta keep battling, keep going strong for our guys, and I’m glad we could get that done.”
It wasn’t over until Will Brooks, an Alabama native and walk-on, intercepted Jalen Milroe inside the final two minutes. Brooks also made what was likely a touchdown-saving tackle in the first quarter when he tripped up Milroe on a third-short play.
Brooks’ teammate, linebacker Arion Carter, said it was important to the defense to find a way and “give the offense something to stand on and be able to finish out the game.”
Carter then turned to Brooks and paid homage to the redshirt senior safety.
“Let me just say this: This guy is one of the most unselfish people you’ll ever meet for the team, does his job at an extremely high level and holds everybody accountable,” Carter said. “Just having him beside me and working with each other on the field … I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
Tennessee held Alabama (5-2, 2-2) to 75 rushing yards and kept Milroe bottled up all game. He was intercepted twice and finished with 11 rushing yards on 14 carries, including three sacks.
As the Vols’ defense continued to clamp down on the Tide in the second half, the crowd of 101,915 only grew more raucous.
“Oh yeah, it was rocking, especially on those last couple of drives,” Carter said. “It was so loud (Alabama) couldn’t get their pass protection set. Just being able to have a crowd like that screaming and behind you, it’s definitely a great feeling, especially having the confidence to go out there and dominate.”
Sampson, who now has 17 rushing touchdowns on the season, finished with 139 yards on 26 carries. He had 127 of those yards in the second half and punished a tiring Alabama defense.
But at halftime, with the Vols scoreless, Sampson said it was the defense that kept picked up everybody in the locker room.
“Obviously our defense is out there giving us confidence,” Sampson said. “We kind of made it hard on them in the first half, but they’re playing their tails off, no matter who’s in the game, and you respect that.
“That lights a fire, and if it doesn’t, something’s wrong.”