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Wilson, Hall lead Alabama in rout of Tennessee

Oct 20, 2007 - 10:32 PM TUSCALOOSA, Alabama (Ticker) -- John Parker Wilson and D.J. Hall allowed Nick Saban to breathe easily in his first Tennessee game wearing Alabama crimson and white.

Wilson and Hall hooked up for a pair of second-quarter touchdowns Saturday to propel Alabama to a 41-17 Southeastern Conference triumph over the 20th-ranked Volunteers.

It was the third consecutive victory for the Crimson Tide (6-2, 4-1 SEC West), who won for just the third time in their last 13 meetings with the Volunteers (4-3, 2-2 East).

"This is the first time we've played a complete game," Saban said. "We challenge the players to play each play as if it has a history of its own and try to get them to focus on that play, believe in each other. They did a fantastic job of that today."

Coaching for the first time in the annual "Third Saturday in October" contest, Saban guided the Crimson Tide to their most lopsided win in this border rivalry since a 56-28 thrashing on October 18, 1986.

Alabama improved to 45-38-7 all-time against Tennessee on the same day that five Crimson Tide players were suspended for a violation of school policy involving the impermissible receipt of textbooks.

"Obviously we had some players who didn't use good judgment in what they did," Saban said. "We have a system in place that shouldn't allow this to happen and obviously that didn't work. It was poor judgment on the players' end, and we can't tolerate poor judgment."

With starting offensive linemen Antoine Caldwell and Marlon Davis and second-string running back Glen Coffee among the suspended players, Saban put the game in the hands of Wilson, who completed 32-of-46 passes for 363 yards and three touchdowns.

A junior, Wilson established career highs in completions and yards while tying Gary Hollingsworth for the school's single-game completion record.

"I felt pretty good," Wilson said. "We got in a good rhythm early and just stayed in it the whole game. Guys were getting open, the O-line blocked great and it makes it easy when guys are getting open."

Wilson's favorite target was the 6-2 Hall, who finished with career highs of 13 receptions and 185 yards. The junior also set a new school record for catches in a single game.

"I don't even know how many more records are out there, but I guess I'm going to try to get them all," Hall said. "I'm going to try to get them all, and then maybe somebody can come through and break mine."

"They put (Hall) in a lot of places, but they did that coming in," Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer said. "The under routes, the corner routes - they did a nice job."

Erik Ainge found tight end Luke Stocker for a three-yard TD pass to give Tennessee a 14-10 lead on the first play of the second quarter.

But Alabama rolled from there, outscoring the Vols by a 31-3 margin over the rest of the game. The Crimson Tide took the lead for good with 11:16 remaining in the first half when Wilson passed to Hall for a 16-yard score, capping an 11-play drive.

The duo hooked up again for a two-yard TD with 12 seconds left in the half, this time ending a 16-play drive which spanned 75 yards.

"Offensively we had a great plan," Saban said. "Everyone that was out there did an excellent job. ... We didn't do everything perfectly in the first half, but we are very happy at the way our entire team played in the second half."

Leigh Tiffin booted two third-quarter field goals to give Alabama a 30-17 cushion, and Terry Grant raced for an eight-yard score four minutes into the fourth quarter to make it 38-17.

Grant thrived in Coffee's absence, rushing for 104 yards on 26 carries. The freshman also hauled in six receptions for 31 yards and a TD.

Ainge had a solid game for Tennessee, completing 22-of-35 passes for 243 yards, one TD and a late interception.

"We moved the ball pretty well and we'd get the ball to 3rd-and-short - then we'd have a bad snap or miscue to the receiver or a bad throw," Ainge said. "It was one little stupid thing after another in the second half that kept us from completing drives."