TWTW: Mount Cody Blocks Vols Win 12-10

((HT: WVLT-TV))

Daniel Lincoln's game-winning field goal attempt was blocked, and Tennessee lost to Alabama, 12-10, in front of a capacity crowd on the fourth Saturday in October.

Things looked bleak for the Vols, as they trailed 12-3 late in the fourth quarter.

But Gerald Jones caught a Jonathan Crompton pass and ran 11 yards into the end zone to get the Vols within 12-10 with 1:19 left in the game.

Denarius Moore recovered an onside kick, and Crompton found Luke Stocker at the Alabama 29-yard line, putting the Vols in position for a field goal.

But Alabama blocked its second Lincoln kick of the game, and the Crimson Tide escaped with the narrow victory.

All of Alabama's scoring came from the leg of kicker Leigh Tiffin, who had four field goals.

Here's WVLT's Daryl Hobby with your highlights...


Here's Rick Russo's post-game wrap from Tuscaloosa
And those of us at OSG HQ still "wonder" why Mount Cody wasn't called for a celebration penalty since he removed his helmet after the block...

While the ball was still in play...

Just axin'...

TWTW: UGA Off The Mark In Knoxville, Lose 45-19

Who impersonated a UT quarterback on Saturday...???

Both UT and UGA would like to know who exactly was in Jonathan Crompton's uni at Neyland Stadium...

Montario Hardesty ran for 93 yards, including a key 39 yard sprint for a score in the third quarter.

That gave Tennessee a 31-19 advantage, and they never looked back.

Crompton threw for a career high 310 yards on the afternoon. Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin was given a "Gatorade bath" after the game, but failed to crack a smile as he shook hands with Georgia head coach Mark Richt at midfield at Neyland Stadium.

Tennessee's defense was once again terrific, not allowing a touchdown while they were on the field. The Bulldogs stayed in the game for a while thanks to their own defense, and special teams. Georgia scored a touchdown off a kickoff return, and an interception return. They also blocked a punt for a safety.

The Vols (3-3, 1-2 SEC) now get a week off, before a trip to Tuscaloosa to face third-ranked Alabama on October 24.

Here's Kiffin's talking, supposedly after toweling off...
Thanks to our friends at WATE-TV in Knoxville...

Crompton Got Death Threats In Knoxville

((HT: GoVolsXtra/Dave Hooker))

Jonathan Crompton ((pictured, thanks GoVolsXtra/Amy Smotherman Burgess)) hesitates when asked the question.

Never one to look for pity, he's extremely uncomfortable during an interview over lunch discussing the persistent verbal attacks he received from Tennessee football fans who were disappointed by his performance last season.

Yet Crompton confirmed what the News Sentinel had been told months ago, that the cell phone calls and e-mails escalated to death threats as the Vols stumbled to a 5-7 season.

"I did have death threats," the senior quarterback reluctantly said.

Crompton said he received "a couple" of the threats, all via e-mail, as the Vols were struggling last fall.

For the most part, Crompton carried the weight of such extreme criticism alone. He chose not to go to his parents for fear they would worry.

Crompton's parents became aware of the severity of the situation when a package they had ordered had slanderous messages about their son written on the shipping box.

"That's when my parents started talking about it," Crompton said.

Crompton also received prank calls on his cell phone after the number was circulated on the Internet. Even when the correspondences weren't threatening, they were persistent.

He never told anyone in Tennessee's athletic department about the calls and e-mails. He wanted to focus on football.

"I really didn't talk about it that much," he said. "You don't say 'Poor me.' "

The criticism was tough to avoid in a football town in turmoil, even at school.

"It would get tough going to class," said Crompton, who graduated in May and is working on his master's degree. "You wouldn't hear what people were saying but you would hear people whispering."

Then there were those who were a bit bolder.

"I got confronted numerous amounts of times," Crompton said.

He's not complaining about what he heard from dismayed fans last season. Doing so would be hypocritical. Crompton chose UT, in part, because of its passionate fan base.

"It was tough, I'm not going to lie," he said. "When you're faced with adversity, your true character comes out - as a person, as a student, as a Christian.

"It tested me."