Red october by Edwin Stanton

Football: West Alabama crushes West Georgia | 8C

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RED OCTOBER

No. 1 Alabama caps a dominating month with rout of Vols

STAFF PHOTO | DUSTY COMPTON

Alabama defensive lineman Jeoffrey Pagan (8) and defensive back Landon Collins, back, bring down Tennessee running back Rajion Neal in the first quarter of Saturday’s game at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Alabama rolled to a 45-10 win, its seventh straight over the Vols.

Tide’s margin of victory over Vols largest since 1963 By Cecil Hurt

Almost everyone stayed around, if only for the cigars. The No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide once again snuffed out any vestige of drama by halftime as it rolled to a 45-10 victory over Tennessee on Saturday, its seventh straight win in the series. The crowd stayed loud, even as Alabama was wrapping up the second half largely as a formality. The margin of victory was the largest in the SEC’s most historic se-

ries since Alabama posted a 35-0 victory over the Volunteers in 1963. “We felt disrespected that they called us the red team all week, like we didn’t deserve to be called Alabama,” Crimson Tide quarterback AJ McCarron said, hinting at the motivation that overcame head coach Nick Saban’s worries about a possible slow start. “We got off to a really good start,” Saban said. “We played physical football, played with a lot of toughness. “ This is a 110 -year old rivalry that means a lot to a lot of people SEE T IDE | 3C

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Sports Editor

The Alabama-Tennessee series isn’t much of a rivalry anymore

P STAFF PHOTO | ROBERT SUTTON

Alabama receiver Amari Cooper catches a pass in the third quarter. He caught five passes for 75 yards and one touchdown.

art of the mystique of the Alaadminist rat ive b a m a -Te n ne s s e e s e r ie s types in the Alathrough the years is that it bama-Tennessee served as a measuring stick, a barompress box seem to eter by which, in many seasons, one think the rivalry could determine which way the SEC as a permanent ﬁ xchampionship winds would blow. ture on the CrimThat mystique doesn’t exist any son Tide schedule more. In general terms, not in every may only survive CECIL season, but often, Alabama-LSU for two or three HURT has supplanted it, and it seems like more years. that will be so again this year. LSU One thing has probably regards Alabama as its cer tainly hap biggest rival anyway, and the series pened, and it continued Saturday. of games since Nick Saban arrived The rivalry has grown uninterestin Tuscaloosa has been compelling. ing. There have been streaks of In the meantime, more and more SEE HURT | 4C

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ONLINE

PASSING THE TEST:

QUITE A CATCH:

IN THE HOLE EARLY:

OFF AND RUNNING:

ANALYSIS:

NOTEBOOK:

BREAKDOWN:

FOUR DOWNS:

Alabama pass defense stands tall against Vols

Norwood comes up with big catches for Crimson Tide

Tennessee can’t overcome slow start, mistakes

Alabama puts Vols on its heels with fast start

UA’s defensive front wins the battle with UT’s big O-line

Alabama AD has a lot of respect for rivalry with Vols

How opponents have fared in the red zone against UA

Questions about the Tide’s performance answered

For video and a photo gallery of the game, go to www.tidesports.com

Wilder withstands early test, KO’s Firtha for 30th straight win By D.C. Reeves Sports Writer

ATL A NTIC CIT Y, N.J. | There wasn’t supposed to be any kind of test for massive favorite Deontay Wilder when he stepped in the ring against journeyman Nicolai Firtha. As it turned out, there was a test in patience. The Tuscaloosa native withstood a frenzied, desperate ﬂurry of wild punches from Firtha after the opening bell, then bided his time connect-

“Him coming to me, charging at me like he did, it deﬁnitely threw me off my game — surprised me.” Deontay Wilder ing jabs with the left hand, holstering his renowned, powerful right hand for a big opportunity. When that opportunity came, it was over. Wilder took down Firtha with a

powerful left-right combination to win by technical knockout 1:26 into the fourth round at Boardwalk Hall on Saturday night. Wilder moved to 30-0 with 30 knockouts and defended his W BC Continental A mericas

heavyweight title. Wilder, in ﬁ rm control of the bout, landed a short left hook, staggering Firtha, then a big right hand sent a dazed Firtha to the canvas. Referee Lindsey Page put his arms over a bloodied Firtha and stopped the bout. “Overall I feel great. I feel like I showed a lot of people what I could do, I showed a lot of people I’m not all about the right hand, I showed a lot of skill in this ﬁght,” Wilder said. “I was super patient and my jab was tre-

mendous. The setting of my feet was great, the right hand, you know I always have the power. But I wanted to go rounds and have fun in there.” The lightly regarded Firtha (2111-1, 8 KO) went on the offensive from the outset, the early aggression that caught Wilder by surprise. “Him coming to me, charging at me like he did, it deﬁ nitely threw me off my game — surprised me,” Wilder said. “I had in my mind something else for him to do. I didn’t have SEE WILDER | 8C