Tennessee football vs. Alabama: Crimson Tide expert talks about the game

Tennessee football hosts the Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday. Here’s what Bama Hammer site expert Ronald Evans has to say about the game and the teams.

As Tennessee football get set to face the Alabama Crimson Tide, many are wondering if it will be a game. But here’s an interesting question: Is the hopefulness of Vols fans met with any concern for Tide fans?

What do people in Tuscaloosa think about the series that so many consider a rivalry? And what do they think of this game, which clearly shows a disparity in talent? Well, to get a bit of perspective, we spoke with Ronald Evans of Bama Hammer.

Evans covers Alabama for the FanSided site, and you can find more about it by clicking here. This is an interview we did with him about the game, and it also touched on numerous topics, including Jeremy Pruitt, the state of the programs, and Phillip Fulmer.

1. What are Alabama fans’ opinions of Jeremy Pruitt in Knoxville? He’s an Alabama guy through and through and seemed respected in Tuscaloosa. Do you guys expect him to do well as a head coach? Or does he seem like a guy who would flame out?  Basically, among Saban assistants at Alabama, is he more like Kirby Smart or Jim McElwain?

Pruitt is respected at multiple levels. Many of us see him as a better Tide DC than Kirby. There is also appreciation for him handling the transition to Tuscaloosa to Knoxville in a professional manner. I still do not understand why Mac faltered in Florida. But I expect Jeremy to become a better head coach than either Kirby or Mac. That does not mean Pruitt can overcome the massive recruiting advantage Kirby has because of Georgia being a hotbed for players.

2. Is there any bitterness that the guy who hired Pruitt away from Alabama to Tennessee football is Phillip Fulmer, the Vol that Tide fans hate the most?

There is no more bitterness toward Fulmer than before. The kindest comment I can make about Fulmer is that we Tide fans could not have a lower opinion of him. So the Pruitt hire is not a factor and that ill will does not transfer to Pruitt. Many of us believe Fulmer will damage Jeremy’s reputation sooner than later.

3. Butch Jones is now at Alabama as an analyst. What’s been his impact this year on Alabama, if any? What to Tide fans think of him overall?

I am not aware of any impact. Fairly or not, he is considered a joke.

4. What can Tennessee football do to try to avoid a blowout this weekend?

Pray for more or worsened injuries I guess. Unlike past seasons, no one expects Pruitt’s team to quit. The Tide will not either, whatever the score.

5. It seems like the Tide have been fighting the injury bug all year. They appear to be seriously banged up in their back seven on defense, and Tua Tagovailoa obviously got hurt against Missouri before coming back in. How injured are they, and where, if any, are the injuries a big concern?

The injuries are and have been a concern. The back seven does not have enough depth. The seven who play in the nickel are not seriously depleted, even after the loss of Trevon Diggs. The d-line stepped up big against Missouri. We don’t know about Tua but the guess is he is better than last week. He and Saban say he is.

6. Does Alabama still consider Tennessee football a rivalry? The series hasn’t been close ever since Saban arrived, with the Tide winning 11 straight. And only two of those games were even worth watching.

Answers to that question differ by generations. For older fans like me, UT is as much a rival as Auburn, maybe more. I think few fans under 40 have that opinion.

7. How are Alabama fans taking the complete dominance of their team? Are they sick of winning as well, does it never get old, or are they enjoying the new way they’re doing it…with a high-powered offense?

It never gets old and we love the offense that might become the Tide’s best-ever. Certainly should end up as Saban’s best. We do take a lot for granted in terms of the Tide’s dominance and it feeds an arrogance most of us consider a Crimson Tide birthright. We believe this Alabama-Saban era is the greatest ever in CFB. Of course it will end, nothing lasts for ever. But we see no end in sight.

8. Building off the last question, some of Alabama’s notable losses have come after their team clearly got complacent with their dominance, too good for their own good. I think of 2013 Auburn and 2016 Clemson. Is that a concern with this team? Is Nick Saban able to keep them on their heels?

If Saban can’t overcome such natural human complacency then no coach in the same circumstances could either. The foundation of his Process is to fight just that. Alabama can lose but with only rare exceptions, losses result from the Tide beating itself. 2013 Auburn was a fluke. 2016 Clemson, the Tide was beaten by a better team. So far, I don’t see any better teams this season.

9. Many are calling this Alabama team the best ever? Could they beat the 2001 Miami Hurricanes? What about the 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers?

Hard question to answer. I will not even try to compare the great teams that were the Canes and Huskers. All teams have weaknesses. The Tide is vulnerable because of inadequate defensive depth and poor kicking. So I am not prepared to consider the 2018 Tide as maybe the best Alabama team ever. With a healthy Tua and a healthy offensive line the rest of the way, it could become the Tide’s best offense ever. To the extent such comparisons have merit, the measurement is a full season.

10. What’s your prediction on the outcome of this game?

I think the Vols may provide some stiff opposition for a half, with the outcome still in doubt. I think the superior talent will wear down Tennessee in the second half for a Tide 17-24 point victory. But another first half, Tide offensive explosion will not surprise me either. Saban does not like to run up scores on his former guys and I think that might be even more true with Pruitt.

There you have it. Bama Hammer’s Ronald Evans has quite a few interesting takes on Tennessee football. He still considers the game a rivalry, and there is still bitterness towards Fulmer, but the encouraging part for Vols fans is that his perspective shows how much respect Alabama fans have for Pruitt. Putting him above Kirby Smart is a huge compliment, and that could be great for UT going forward.