An oral history of the University of Alabama’s football season, as told by the people who lived it
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staff photo | michelle lepianka carter
Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin made his first trip to Knoxville, Tenn., since leaving as the Tennessee Volunteers’ head coach, on Oct. 25, 2014 for the Crimson Tide’s game with the Vols.
By D.C. Reeves Sports Writer
ception Kiffin would receive, Alabama head coach Nick Saban asked his team to not focus on the distraction. Turned out the Crimson Tide wouldn’t let a hostile environment fester. Kiffin’s offense scored on the first play from scrimmage as Amari Cooper took a short pass from quarterback Blake Sims and rumbled 80 yards for a touchdown, setting the tone for Alabama’s 34-20 win.
Mere hours after the University Alabama’s new offensive coordinator hire became public, the talk that surrounded the polarizing Lane Kiffin was his eventual return to Knoxville, Tenn. Kiffin coached one promising season as head coach at Tennessee, going 7-6 in 2009 before leaving abruptly to take the head coaching job at Southern Cal. Amari Cooper, junior receiver: On Oct. 25, 2014, he returned to face a fan We knew we were going to run that play base scorned. Kiffin stepped off the bus and entered Gate 7 of Neyland Stadium to much first. We always have a first 10 (scripted attention and fanfare. Knowing the kind of re- plays). I didn’t know it would be such a big
play, I thought we would get a first down or something like that. It was just the perfect play call. The play was designed to get Tennessee’s defense moving the wrong way. Two receivers lined up to each side of the line – Cooper was on the left – as quarterback Blake Sims took the snap from under center. He faked a toss left to running back T.J. Yeldon and rolled to his right. As the defense reacted to the fake toss, Cooper sprinted behind the line of scrimmage to his right with only a linebacker on his scent. Continued
staff photo | robert sutton
Alabama receiver Amari Cooper streaks down the sideline on the Crimson Tide’s first offensive play against Tennessee.
Blake Sims, senior quarterback: I believe the coaching staff had good preparation this game. That’s what Coach Kiffin kept saying (during the week), if we run this play right and they give us the right look, we’re going to be successful.
match up personnel. The box score will never tell the secret, but the play call wasn’t so perfect in its execution. Senior receiver Christion Jones practiced all week but injured his hamstring in pregame warmups, causing confusion about personnel.
Lane Kiffin, offensive coordinator: We figured Coop would get the ball in the flat and make a first down. Didn’t Kiffin: know he would go and score a touchdown. So we’re still trying to figure out if It was exciting to start the game that (Jones) is going to go, communicating with way. the trainers and everything. Well at the last minute, he can’t go. In the communiSims: cation process, I guess we didn’t get that We saw the look that we thought we to his backup, so there are actually 10 guys were going to get at the beginning of the on the field at the beginning of the play. game, I just had to give a good fake and get the ball to Coop. Jones: They ran a late substitution in, and this Butch Jones, Tennessee head coach: is a matching personnel game, and we felt They do a great job schematically of the play should have been held up a little moving (Cooper) around so you can’t bit.
Kiffin: We see the formation and I’m like, “Where’s the H (receiver)? Where’s the third receiver?” So we run Chris Black on, and actually, as he’s running on to go get set, (Tennessee) tries to make a coverage adjustment and then they are late in the coverage adjustment and it opens up for Coop. So I’d like to say it was the perfect play drawn up or that we threw the 11th guy in there late, but it really was by accident. Cam Sutton, Tennessee cornerback: Just poor communication. We didn’t line up right in the formation. We should have had guys in different spots than what they were. (Cooper) makes great plays with the ball in his hands, and he got loose. The key to the play going 80 yards instead of 15 or 20 was a pair of downfield blocks Continued
staff photo | robert sutton
Alabama quarterback Blake Sims was 14 of 24 passing for 286 yards and two touchdowns in the Crimson Tide’s 34-20 victory over Tennessee.
thrown by DeAndrew White and Black. Once he had a lot of anxiousness for the offense Cooper was in the clear, Kiffin began to sprint to play good, and for that to happen on the down the sideline behind Cooper with one arm first play I think that meant a lot to him. in the air. In the end, a quick strike, a big lead and a Cooper: comfortable win would do most of the talking. (Kiffin) told me after that he almost beat me to the touchdown. Nick Saban, head coach: I don’t think (the attention on Kiffin) afSims: fected any of us. I really don’t. I was running myself because I was so excited. It was just good to see the first play Ryan Kelly, junior center: happen like that. As an offense, we weren’t looking for redemption (for Kiffin) or whatever you Cooper: want to call it. We were looking to come I think it meant a lot to (Kiffin). I think out every play, play physical as an offense,
run the ball, pass the ball, make them quit in the fourth quarter. ... He was just regular Coach Kiffin honestly, it wasn’t like he was trying to come back and do something special. Saban: He’s a really a good coach. And I think all the people are Tennessee are pissed off at him is because he knows he’s a good coach and they were upset when we left. ... I can understand why they would get upset, I understood why they burnt me at the stake in Baton Rouge the first time I went back there after going to the Miami Dolphins and then coming back to Alabama. So I get it.
staff photos | robert sutton
above: Alabama linebacker Reggie Ragland (19) hits Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs, forcing a second-quarter fumble. Below: Alabama running back Derrick Henry rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown.