University of Tennessee Athletics
#FridayFlashback: Peyton Beats Bama Again
October 24, 2014 | Football
By Brian Rice
UTSports.com
As fans filed into Legion Field for the Third Saturday in October, there was a different feeling in the air. It would be the 41st meeting between Tennessee and Alabama in Birmingham, the site that had hosted the Crimson Tide home games in the rivalry since 1932.
But in the days before the Vols' previous trip to Legion Field in 1995, Alabama had announced that a new expansion to Bryant-Denney Stadium in Tuscaloosa would bring UA's biggest rivalry games to campus. But there would be one final clash between the two teams in the historic venue, and Peyton Manning had one more game against perhaps his favorite opponent.
It would not be the best start for Manning and Tennessee, however. UT went three-and-out on the opening series, leading to an Alabama field goal drive. Kicker Brian Cunningham hit another FG on the next Tide possession to take a 6-0 lead.
Then, there was Manning, and Manning was good.
Facing third-and-long deep in UT territory, Manning fired a short pass to Andy McCullough to avoid giving the ball back. From there, pass after pass moved UT downfield. Alabama dialed up a blitz to try and stop the show, so Manning checked into a run play, giving to fullback Shawn Bryson right up the gut for a 19-yard touchdown run.
UT's defense gave the offense the ball back just before the first quarter expired via a Terry Fair interception of Alabama QB Freddie Kitchens. Head coach Phillip Fulmer kept the offense on the field for a fourth down play at the UT 48, looking to keep the momentum going. Manning dove across the line for the needed yard and continued the rush. Short passes to McCullough and Marcus Nash and runs from Jamal Lewis moved UT inside the 5, before Bryson pounded forward from two yards out for his second score of the game.
Manning hit Jeremaine Copeland for touchdowns of 30 and 10 yards, one on each side of halftime to cap a run of 28 unanswered points, the second of those two passes set up by an Eric Brown punt block and recovery.
Kitchens threw a 33-yard TD pass in the third quarter and Alabama converted a 2-point try to draw within 14, but a 28-yard field goal from Jeff Hall provided some breathing room and a fourth quarter 52-yard bomb from Manning to Peerless Price proved to be the dagger.
The 38-21 win was Tennessee's third consecutive in the series, Manning became the first Volunteer quarterback to win three straight games against the Tide. The senior finished 23 of 37 through the air for 304 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. It was Manning's sixth 300-yard game in as many starts in 1997.
For his career, Manning was 3-1 against Alabama, throwing for 919 yards on 65 of 109 passing and seven touchdowns.
Tori Noel and Billy Ratliff led the way defensively for UT, with Noel coming up with 11 tackles and a sack. Ratliff had three tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles.
