The Birmingham News j Sunday, October 25, 2009 j 12B * ALABAMA 12, 10

Tide running Tide back Mark defensive Ingram is coordinator upended by Vols hugs nose defensive guard back Eric Terrence Berry. Cody after Ingram Cody blocked finished with the first of 99 yards on two fourth 18 carries. quarter attempts by the Vols.

NEWS STAFF/MARK ALMOND TIDE BLOCKS VOLS’ UPSET BID Top-ranked Alabama escapes after Cody blocks field goal on final play

By DON KAUSLER JR. News staff writer TUSCALOOSA — Get the paint brushes ready. But will a commemorative painting suf- fice for a monumental play by that preserved Alabama’s 12-10 vic- tory over Tennessee on Saturday and sent most fans in Bryant-Denny Stadium into delirium? Maybe they’ll build a monument of “Mount Cody” if the Crimson Tide goes on to win a national championship. The 6-foot-5, 354-pound senior nose guard blocked two field goals in the fourth quarter. The last one came as time expired after Tennessee had stunned a capacity crowd and a national television audience by recovering an onsides kick and driving into position for a 44-yard field goal attempt. The top-ranked Tide’s undefeated season was on the line. Its shot at a national cham- pionship was perhaps in danger. “I told myself when I lined down, I was going to block this field goal,” Cody said. “As soon as the ball was snapped, I got a good jump. I knocked the guard over and stuck my hand up.” And so ended an epic physical battle be- tween bitter rivals, one that was decided by field goals made and field goals swatted away. “I think great teams have great players that can make great plays in critical situa- tions in the game,” Alabama coach Nick Sa- ban said. “Don’t forget that Leigh Tiffin made two 50-yard field goals, which were huge plays.” Who can forget? Tiffin accounted for all of Alabama’s scoring on a day when Ala- bama’s offense was outgained by 85 yards. Tennessee threw for 265 yards and gained 341 yards total, 40 yards more than the na- tion’s top-ranked defense had yielded in NEWS STAFF/MARK ALMOND any of its first seven games. Tiffin made all four of his field-goal at- With Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin and holder P.J. Fitzgerald (7) celebrating in the background, the Tide’s Mike Johnson, left front, tempts, including line drives from 50 and 49 and Tennessee’s LaMarcus Thompson take opposite sides on Tiffin’s 49-yard field goal with 6:31 left in the game. yards that barely cleared the crossbar. Tennessee place-kicker Daniel Lincoln made one-of-four field-goal attempts. Be- sides the two that found Cody’s left fore- arm, Lincoln was short on a 47-yard at- tempt on the last play of the first half. Tiffin delivers Alabama, Alabama led 9-3 at halftime, and it led 12-3 after Tiffin’s last field goal with 6:31 left in the game. After the Tide forced a three- and-out, it took over on its 4-yard line with 5:21 to go. As it started to march up the field, the outcome appeared to be settled. with assist from Spurrier But at the end of a 5-yard run on a first- down play from Alabama’s 38-yard line, By DOUG SEGREST abama’s 20-6 victory last week, front-runner Mark Ingram News staff writer when Tiffin outscored the did something he had never done in 21 pre- Gamecocks 8-6 on his own, vious college games and 321 previous TUSCALOOSA — There’s no Spurrier accused the kicker of place like home for Leigh Tiffin. touches: He lost a fumble, with 3:29 to go. using tape to mark his kicks — Alabama’s defense then did something it That’s because he doesn’t like an NCAA no-no to which few it there. hadn’t done in 11 quarters: It allowed a teams and officials pay heed. . On a third-and-5 play, Gerald “Of all the stadiums we’ve “I need to thank Coach Spur- Jones caught an 11-yard touchdown pass played in, this is my least favor- rier for getting my focus and from Jonathan Crompton that cut Ala- ite,” Tiffin said about Bryant- concentration level back,” Tiffin bama’s lead to 12-10 with 1:19 left. Denny Stadium after top- deadpanned. “So much atten- The Vols recovered an onsides kick, and ranked Alabama’s 12-10 victory tion was paid to what was really 14- and 23-yard passes by Crompton moved against archrival Tennessee Sat- a non-story. them into position to crush Alabama’s urday afternoon. “It’s always “Sometimes we use tape, hearts and crumble their hopes. swirling. You can’t tell which grass — whatever we find (to With four seconds left, Crompton spiked way the wind is blowing.” mark the ball). It’s only used to the ball to stop the clock. Alabama called a Regardless, the record-setting help me line up. It doesn’t make timeout to make Lincoln think. Alabama kicker survived the el- one bit of difference.” What were the Tide’s thoughts during ements and added to his repu- So what did Tiffin use against that timeout? “Just give effort,” said senior tation when he accounted for Tennessee? A finger, marking cornerback Javier Arenas, who led Alabama Alabama’s lone points in the the spot until holder P.J. Fitzge- with 13 tackles, including 3.5 for 21 yards in win with four field goals despite rald settled into position. losses. “...They’re not going to fake it or run the wind. Leigh Tiffin the senior has it. They’re going to kick the ball. Push in- One field goal went 50 yards, come a long way from the ner- side, full speed on the outside.” the longest of the season for the vous freshman who missed It was a “max-block” situation, Saban senior legacy. Another was just three field goals in an overtime said. a few inches shy of covering half loss at Arkansas in 2006. “You say, ‘They’re going to kick it, that’s the distance of a football field. Tiffin admits he’s a different what they need, and we’re going to send all Don’t think he speaks the kicker now, thanks to maturity 11 guys to go get it. You ‘beach it.’ You have truth? Just ask Tennessee’s Dan- and confidence. three guys on two in the middle, which is iel Lincoln. And it took confidence, espe- what we call ‘beach,’ and a guy jumping be- cially on his final kick of the day hind him, and the front guys get as much a Tiffin’s counterpart missed NEWS STAFF/MARK ALMOND surge as they can get before the guy in the three field goals on the day — — a 49-yarder with 4:02 left in the game that seemed to put the Alabama place-kicker Leigh Tiffin watches his fourth field back goes vertical.” two courtesy of the paws of Ter- contest out of reach. from 49 yards barely clear the uprights. Tiffin was 4 for 4 Cody lined up against Cory Sullins, the rence Cody, who blocked both By then, the wind had picked same guard he beat on the previous blocked of Lincoln’s fourth-quarter ef- Saturday, making kicks of 38, 50, 22 and 49 yards. up and the pressure had inten- kick. forts, including the game-win- sified. And, as he did on his Consider this: Of the 21 field like Pop. “He’s probably thinking, ‘Oh, snap. Here ning attempt as time expired. 50-yarder in the first half, Tiffin goals of 50 yards or more kicked “Everyone wants that mo- we go again. Dang, that’s a big guy,’ ” Cody Another one, at the end of the just lifted a line drive that barely in Alabama history, Van and ment,” he said. “You think it said. “He was probably thinking a lot of first half, died in a jet stream got above the post. Leigh Tiffin are responsible for would be nerve-wracking, but things. I’d be scared of me, too.” just shy of the goalpost after a “They weren’t strong kicks. 11. it’s when you’re most relaxed. Then Cody had his Daniel Moore mo- 46-yard flight. But I felt they were good. I But one thing Van, an All- I’d like to get one before I ment. Surely Cody has heard of the artist But Tiffin was true every time. who is famous for immortalizing big plays didn’t get a lot of loft.” American in the 1980s has over leave.” “He negotiated both of those with paintings. Before the game, as he does his son, is a time-expiring kick (long ones),” Tide coach Nick “Who?” Cody said. before every one, Tiffin told Sa- to beat Auburn in the 1985 Iron Saban said. “It was the differ- ban what he thought his maxi- Join Doug Segrest for his weekly He was given a quick history lesson. Bowl. ence in the game.” mum range would be. In ideal SEC chat Thursday at 1 p.m. on “If it was that big.... Hey, if I get one, I get Leigh Tiffin has had his mo- Give Steve Spurrier at least situations, he said, it’s 60 yards. his blog: blog.al.com/segrest. one.” ments. But he still wants one some of the credit. Following Al- Saturday, it was 52. E-MAIL: [email protected] E-MAIL: [email protected]