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Tennessee vs. Alabama: 10 Memorable Vols Wins in the Series

By Caleb Calhoun

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Sep 12, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide cheerleader flies high above the crowd prior to the game against Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

9. 1999: Tennessee Wins 21-7

At the time, the Vols were coming off of a national championship but had a 23-21 loss on the road to the Florida Gators earlier in the year. But, ironically, thanks to Alabama, the Gators had a loss two weeks later to the Tide at home.

And the Vols were back in contention for everything.

With the clear-cut two best teams in each division playing, No. 5 Tennessee traveled to No. 10 Alabama in Tuscaloosa with this year supposed to be the year that the Tide end the losing streak to the Vols.

Meanwhile, Tennessee was looking to get its first five-game winning streak against Alabama.

The Tide had been stunned by Louisiana Tech earlier in the year, but behind Shaun Alexander, Mike Dubose’s team was back in contention for the SEC title, which they would eventually win, and the national title.

Alabama took the early lead, 7-0, off a touchdown pass from Andrew Zow to Alexander. But in a weird game, both team’s starting quarterbacks got injured, so Tee Martin and Joey Matthews had to share time for Tennessee while Tyler Watts and Andrew Zow did the same thing for Alabama.

Still, this was Martin’s game to win in his home state, and despite getting hurt, he took over.

Martin tied it at 7 on a touchdown run, which was the halftime score. In a defensive struggle, Tennessee prevailed in the second half. They took a 14-7 lead thanks to a bomb from Martin to another Martin, tight end David Martin, that was a touchdown.

And in the fourth quarter, clinging to a 14-7 lead, Martin took another play action call and ran it 20 yards into the end zone for the clinching touchdown. The defense would not blow a 21-7 lead, and Alabama clearly quit after that.

But what made this one so memorable was after the game, Tennessee players mocked Leonard Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama” with “Who Owns Alabama,” singing it at their stadium in front of their fans.

Next: #7: Tennessee Wins 20-13 in 1996

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