Tennessee Radio Host Says, ‘Alabama Doesn’t Look Well Coached’
Alabama is set for one of the most anticipated "Third Saturday in October" in the Nick Saban tenure this weekend as the Crimson Tide heads up to Knoxville to take on Tennessee. Both programs are undefeated for the first time entering this matchup since 1989, and for the first time in what feels like forever the Tennessee Volunteers are expecting to come out on top.
Yes, the Las Vegas oddsmakers have the Crimson Tide pegged as a 7-point favorite but that doesn't put a damper on the Tennessee spirits.
"This place is as excited for a football game as I've seen since I've been here and I've only been here 35 years," said longtime Knoxville radio host Tony Basilio. "That includes the 1998 season, that includes anything. They are as excited for this game as any game I've ever seen, including the national championship game in 1998."
Alabama appears to be walking into a monumental task on Saturday as over 100,000 fans gather in Neyland Stadium to support the Volunteers. Tennessee welcomes the Tide with second-year head coach Josh Heupel and Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Hendon Hooker leading the No. 1 offense in the nation.
Hooker and company aren't the only reason for Volunteer hope. The Crimson Tide comes to Neyland Stadium looking vulnerable. The health of Bryce Young is in question after injuring his shoulder against Arkansas. The Tide has shown sloppy play in its biggest games of the year, struggling with penalties, turnovers and a third quarter defensive lapse against the Razorbacks.
"They don't look well coached. They don't look like Alabama. They don't look like an Alabama football team. They don't look sharp. They don't look consistent. They're giving me hope. They are giving me hope because they just don't look like them. Not even a little bit," said Basilio to Ryan Fowler on The Game.
"They look human, they don't look like Alabama under Nick Saban."
Can the Vols pull off the upset and end Alabama's longest winning streak in the series?