When it comes to statement touchdowns, he’s drawn up a few this season already, including what turned into an 87-yard touchdown. On Alabama’s first play from scrimmage, he did just that.
En route to a 34-20 win, quarterback Blake Sims faked a handoff left to junior running back T.J. Yeldon and passed to junior wide receiver Amari Cooper, positioned around the line of scrimmage. A timely block by senior wide receiver DeAndrew White cleared the way for an 80-yard touchdown and an easy 6-0 lead over the Vols.
“I knew that we was going to run that play the first play, and when I ran out, I kind of saw, I think, the linebacker – he blitzed – and I knew it was going to be a big gain, but I didn’t quite know I would score,” Cooper said.
Kiffin was so excited about the touchdown play call that he started running with Cooper from Alabama’s 30-yard line.
Cooper wasn’t aware at the time that Kiffin was running with him but said Kiffin told him later.
“He said he almost beat me to the touchdown,” Cooper said.
Kiffin quieted a rowdy Neyland Stadium crowd with the 80-yard touchdown after which the Crimson Tide pulled out to a 27-0 lead in the second quarter.
“He’s really a good coach and I think why all the people in Tennessee are pissed off at him is because they knew he was a good coach and they were upset when he left,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said. “I get that, I understand that, but I know that there’s a lot of really good fans here. We have a tremendous amount of respect for Tennessee, the people that support this program. It’s a great program. I can understand why they would get upset.”
Kiffin was greeted by jeers when he entered and when he left. On the field, his play calls helped Alabama to 469 yards of total offense.
Cooper finished the night with 224 yards receiving, a single-game school record. The previous record was 221 yards by Julio Jones, also against Tennessee. It was Cooper’s second 200-plus yard receiving game. The first was against Florida this year.
He got the ball early and often against Tennessee, notching 185 yards receiving and two touchdowns on five catches in the first quarter.
He has 1,132 yards receiving, 889 more than the next receiver on the team. Some question whether Alabama has become too dependent on the junior’s ability to get open.
“Well, you know that’s kind of like saying you get 26 outs in the game throwing fastballs, so you should throw a changeup and then the guy hits it out of the park,” Saban said. “I mean, should you play to your strengths or not? Now, we have other good players. [Senior wide receiver] Dee [DeAndrew] White did a good job in the game tonight. He had some big catches and did a nice job. We need to get some other guys involved, and I think that’d be great, but as long as nine [Cooper] is getting open and as long as we’re throwing him the ball, I don’t think we should tell the quarterback don’t throw it to him.”
