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Mattingly: UT-Alabama 2003 game unmatched
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It's been almost five years, but the 2003 Tennessee-Alabama game will go down in the history books for excitement and a number of ebbs and flows unmatched in this long-time rivalry.
A crowd of 83,018 was present for the festivities, not really knowing what to expect. The Vols came in after losses to Auburn and Georgia, as well as an open date, knowing that playing in Tuscaloosa was not exactly the place for the football weary to get well. But Tennessee plays its best while backed into a corner, and the Vols responded the way Tennessee teams have traditionally responded over the years.
It was played the fourth Saturday in October that season, Oct. 25, but all the excitement and pageantry that characterize the series were present, albeit a week late, even as the game stretched into the gloaming and beyond, toward four hours and through five overtimes.
CBS cameras caught all the action. Bob Kesling, Tim Priest, Eli Gold, Snake Stabler, and anybody else near a microphone found their vocabularies challenged as the game wore on. The final tally was Tennessee 51, Alabama 43, in five overtimes. It wasn't pretty at times, but the Big Orange ship of state somehow ended up safely at the port, and there was a "W" at the end.
The path to the result would have astounded Gen. Neyland, Wallace Wade, Bear Bryant, and Bowden Wyatt, not to mention all those uncounted fans who have watched the series develop over the years. Here's some perspective:
Thirteen times in history Tennessee didn't give up 43 points in an entire season (1907, 1908, 1914, 1916, 1921, 1926, 1927, 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1938, and 1939) and 17 times Alabama didn't give up 51 (1913, 1919, 1920, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1930, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1952, 1961, and 1966).
This was overtime football in the 21st century, and the points came in bunches, 31-23 Tennessee, in the overtime. The regulation score was a more traditional 20-20, but it took a while to finally establish the final tally.
The Vols grabbed the lead for the final time with a Casey Clausen sneak, a two-point conversion toss to James Banks, and some good work in the secondary that finally sealed the deal. Banks, an athlete with enormous talent, ran for a score from the shotgun formation, caught two TD passes, and grabbed the final two-pointer in an all-around impressive performance.
Clausen wasn't bad either. He was 23-of-47 for 283 yards, with four passing touchdowns and scoring the eventual game winner.
Just when one side thought it had the game in hand, here came the other to make the required play or plays needed to get back in the game. Alabama, leading 20-13, looked to be in the catbird's seat late in the game, but UT defenders refused to yield. The Tide had it second-and-2, but the Vols stopped Shaud Williams twice and forced a punt. It was a big stand for UT defenders, who had been on the field for 36:17 during the regulation 60 minutes.
There was just enough time for Clausen, who led three triumphs in four contests against Alabama, to lead a had-to-have-it, perhaps miraculous, drive - 86 yards in eight plays in 1:27 - to send the game into overtime. The touchdown toss was a 1-yarder to Troy Fleming, preceded by a screen pass to Mark Jones that had "Big Play" written all over it.
Not withstanding that, however, the Tide had a chance to win with a last-second field goal. From the 27, Brian Bostick lined up a 45-yard game-winning field goal, but his attempt was well short, perhaps partially blocked.
In overtime, there were the continuing momentum shifts much like the Wimbledon finals a couple of Sundays ago. In the fifth overtime, it was Tennessee having the ball first. Clausen and Banks led the way offensively, while Alabamian Jason Allen made the play on fourth down to break up a pass in the near corner of the end zone.
Happiness overflowed for those in Orange and White, wherever they were. Phillip Fulmer talked about grit, resiliency, character, not giving up and all those other attributes that seem to describe big victories. When you think about it, that's what the Tennessee-Alabama series is all about.
Gen. Robert R. Neyland once said you didn't know about a player until he had played in the fourth quarter against Alabama. He was right. When fans think about this game, those descriptions will come easily in the conversation.
For Vol fans, the drive home up I-59 Saturday night or Sunday morning was a thing of beauty. There wasn't a bed sheet on an overpass to be found. Perhaps there was an occasional "one-finger salute." The Tennessee border was a welcome sight.
Tom Mattingly is the author of "The Tennessee Football Vault: The Story of the Tennessee Volunteers, 1891-2006" (2006), to be published in second edition in 2009, and "Tennessee Football: The Peyton Manning Years" (1998). He hasn't missed a Tennessee-Alabama game since 1965. He may be reached at tjmshm@comcast.net. His News Sentinel blog is called "The Vol Historian."
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by IPOrange on July 19, 2008 at 4:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's a game I'll never forget - a thing of beauty.
Clausen was 3 for 4 against bama? He just moved up on my list of favorite UT QBs.
Posted by BigVolinCarolina on July 19, 2008 at 5:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This was one of the greatest UT-Alabama games ever--particularly, if you were a Vol fan.
Not only was it good to just Beat Bama, but it was even better to win on the road...and to break their heart in 5 OT's.
The biggest play in the game was Clausen's pass to CJ Fayton in overtime to keep us alive. It was 4th down & 19 yards to go...how we ever converted that is beyond me. But, I'll take it!
Posted by murrayvol on July 19, 2008 at 5:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
IPO: I might not call it "a thing of beauty" but it was a helluva game made even better by it's venue. 4th and 19. Oh man, that had to hurt.
Posted by Volfan1 on July 19, 2008 at 5:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Always remember....You can never beat Bama too often or by too many points. Every win over the Crimson Crud is sweet.
Posted by burntorangeVOLffle on July 19, 2008 at 6:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I remember watching it with my family. I got up to go to the restroom between overtimes (i don't remember which ones) and before I even got down the hall my grandmother yelled "TN just scored again!!!". In one play, kind of like the 4th OT in this past years UK game. That 4th and 19 conversion was just unreal. The biggest pass of Clausen's career.
IIRCC the half time score was something like 10-6 Bama. To end 51-43 was incedible.
Posted by workinlikehek on July 19, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Chris Hannon's catch in the tall trees on 4th and 17 was the play of the game.
A great night for the Vols.
Go Big Orange.
Posted by IPOrange on July 19, 2008 at 7:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
murray - good point on the beauty aspect. Still one of the all-time great games, though. What a marathon!
Posted by nicksjuzunk on July 19, 2008 at 8:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tribute to James Banks and what shoulda been.
This and the Florida Hail Mary catch are not forgotten!
Posted by volsoutwest on July 19, 2008 at 8:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
A great game. Sorta eases the pain of some of those tough losses to Bama over the years. One in particular comes to my mind. I think it was Peyton's first year when he was driving us down the field late. Looked like we were going in for the winning score and I believe it was Little Man Stewart who fumbled. This sure felt a lot better.
Posted by workinlikehek on July 19, 2008 at 9:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Little man didn't fumble in Peyton's freshman year. Peyton led a "shoulda been" legendary drive to bammer's goal line, but threw a sideline pattern on 4th down, when the TE was wide open over the middle in the checkerboards.
Doesn't matter. Peyton's the greatest and proved it 3 straight years hence.
Posted by Richmondvol on July 19, 2008 at 10:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It wasnt Hannon on the 4th and 17 or 19, whatever it was....it was CJ Fayton. What a pass and catch.
Posted by boonhower on July 19, 2008 at 10:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Had front row fifty yard line seats right in the middle of some high dollar Bama boosters for that one. Thank God we stuck out like sore thumbs and some Bama fans from up here who were guests of the UT athletic department saw the orange in a sea of crimson and offered a ticket exchange. We celebrated that victory right behind President Johnson, in front of Mr. and Mrs. Clausen and down the row from Mr. Munoz. What a memory. What a night.
Posted by volsoutwest on July 19, 2008 at 10:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Workin: I stand corrected and whole-heartedly agree, Peyton was the greatest.
Posted by volsoutwest on July 19, 2008 at 10:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
correction; was and IS
Posted by TurboFan on July 19, 2008 at 11:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Such redemption for Casey from the previous year when he was struck by fumblitis in the rain.
Workinlikehek, wrong, poser, Peyton threaded a laser beam to the back of the endzone on 4th down. Not a sideline pattern. I watched it from the opposite endzone a hand from nowhere reach out to knock it down. I wanted to die.
Posted by McMinnVol on July 19, 2008 at 11:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I went to this game with my 11 year old son and 10 year old daughter. We managed to get in for $20 each and had an awesome experience. I remember thinking on numerous occasions that we were about to lose, only to pull out victory. I also remember the Alabama fans being very classy to us after the game - some even congratulated us on the win. Definitely one of the greatest road victories I ever experienced in person.
Posted by zanebreeding on July 20, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Workin , right , it wasnt Hannon , it was Fayton on 4th and 19. He wasnt really in the "trees" either , pretty much he came wide open.
Posted by richvol on July 20, 2008 at 10:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Aah,"the thrill of victory...the agony of defeat". This sort of game is what makes observers into fans. This game had everything. Heroic plays were made by so many players on both teams that this game has to rank in the all-time classic greats.
Several times I felt we were out of it and the game was lost. The feeling you get when a game like this is over and you walk away with a victory is addictive. That's why college football is so passionately followed by it's fans.
Posted by jcvet on July 20, 2008 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Big yawn. Bama suked.
Posted by Bigger_Al on July 20, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Notice how no poser fans are posting on this one? Many of the Phil haters are Bama fans masquerading as angry Vols, and they can't stand to read this at all. (I was shocked to see Workin' post, but it was poser Workin'...)
This was, indeed, a great one. If you love the Vols, you had to love the grit they showed to keep fighting no matter what.
This also was a reminder of how much of a playmaker we lost when Phil had to kick Banks off the team.
Posted by gobigorange on July 21, 2008 at 12:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My favorite Bama game memory was the 1995 game. On the first play Peyton through a td bomb and the vols crushed Bama 41-14.
Posted by Madkels on July 21, 2008 at 7:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here is the catch by CJ on 4th and 19...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtlQqh...
Enjoy!
Posted by Bigger_Al on July 21, 2008 at 8:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Madkels - Thanks for the memories!
Casey was a warrior for us, and CJ getting it done in the clutch!
Posted by gnm53108 on July 21, 2008 at 11:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Tennessee-Alabama is the game.As long as I'm on the right side of the ground I will be at the Tn-Al game.They could play them in Bagdad,or birmingham(same thing),and I would still be there.The feeling after the 2003 game in Tuscaloosa was exaustion,and amasement.By both fans.
WOW!What a game.
Posted by volboy81 on July 22, 2008 at 5:06 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WHAT A GAME!!! More ups and downs than any other I ever remember! The best was when Alabama led in one of the overtimes and UT had it 4th and 19. Pick up a first down or lose! I believe we picked up about 20 yards on the play!!! Its always great to BEAT BAMA, but 03 was special!
Posted by txsvol on July 28, 2008 at 4:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This game is one I remember whenever James Banks errs. I hope he gets his life together. And Casey Clausen stands in the Volunteer pantheon of heroes for his performance that day! Go Vols! Beat Bama! SAVol
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