Saban: Bama’s defense ‘too soft’ late vs. Vols
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 3 Alabama coach Nick Saban said his defense played “too soft” late in the game when it allowed No. 6 Tennessee to drive the ball 45 yards in 13 seconds and set up a walk-off field goal to win 52-49.
Tennessee fans rushed the field and tore down both goalposts Saturday after Chase McGrath‘s 40-yard field goal, and Saban had to be escorted into the visitor’s locker room by multiple police officers.
Alabama allowed the most points and committed the most penalties (17) in a game during Saban’s tenure, which dates to 2007.
“Very disappointed in the loss,” Saban said. “We didn’t answer the bell today. Obviously, there’s a lot of work to be done. Way too many penalties. Gave up explosive plays. Had a major error on special teams that was totally unnecessary and led to a score on their part.
“You have to give them a lot of credit. They did a nice job with their offense. … But we didn’t execute well enough.”
Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, who missed last week’s game against Texas A&M with shoulder soreness, started and threw for 455 yards and two touchdowns. He said his arm felt “fine.”
“It was great to be out there with my teammates,” he said. “I love the game and I love them, so that was great. But at the end of the day, we lost.”
Alabama came back from down 28-10 early and held a seven-point lead with 7:49 left in the game. Tennessee then scored 10 unanswered points.
Saban said Young played “really well,” but “we didn’t get it done on defense when we had the chance.”
Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker completed 21 of 30 passes for 385 yards and five touchdowns — all to Jalin Hyatt, who set a school record for touchdown receptions in a game.
But no completions were bigger than Hooker’s 18- and 27-yard passes that set up the game-winning kick.
“The guy is playing at an unbelievable level,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said of Hooker. “Smart. Tough. Competitive. Decisive. Accurate with the football — short, medium, deep. He controlled the game for us and used his feet when he had to. He’s the key to the ignition that makes us go.”
Heupel said, “It wasn’t pretty in the second half” but “our kids continued to reset and go play and believe.”
Saban said he wished Alabama could have certain decisions back, including its defensive tactics during the final drive.
“We played way too soft at the end to let them go down the field and get in field goal range,” he said. “So I think that the big thing that our players need to do is learn from this experience, have more respect for playing with discipline so you don’t help the other team.”
Saban recalled his message to the team in the locker room.
“We can accomplish every goal that we had at the start of the season,” he said. “There’s no room for error in the West. We have to win out in the West … and we still have a chance to go to the SEC championship.
“But the key to the drill is you have to learn from these experiences. You have to learn from the mistakes you make.”
Saban said it was “obvious” the team has a lot of work to do.
“This is a tough lesson to learn,” Young said. “… But we’re going to watch the tape and we’re going to figure out what we can do better.”
By beating Alabama, Tennessee snapped a 15-game losing streak in the rivalry known as The Third Saturday in October. The 101 combined points were the most ever in the series and tied for the most in a top-10 matchup in SEC history.
Heupel acknowledged that he downplayed the Alabama game during the week but said he understands the enormity of the rivalry and the win.
“So excited we were able to come out with the win for everyone involved,” Heupel said. “It was a great night, and I think it just speaks to the mentality, the growth and the progress of the individuals inside our locker room and collectively as a team. It speaks to our coaching staff.”
But he warned that there is a lot of time left in the regular season. After hosting UT Martin next Saturday, Tennessee plays No. 22 Kentucky and No. 1 Georgia.
“This journey is just beginning,” Heupel said. “Good teams get better throughout the course of the season.”
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Dan Wetzel
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Dan Wetzel
ESPN
- Dan Wetzel is a senior writer focused on investigative reporting, news analysis and feature storytelling.
Sherrone Moore was in custody in the Washtenaw (Michigan) County Jail on Wednesday night as a suspect in an alleged assault, just hours after he was fired as Michigan’s football coach for having what the school said was an “inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”
Moore was initially detained by police in Saline, Michigan, on Wednesday and turned over to authorities in Pittsfield Township “for investigation into potential charges.”
Pittsfield police released a statement Wednesday night saying they responded at 4:10 p.m. to the 3000 block of Ann Arbor Saline Road “for the purposes of investigating an alleged assault. … A suspect in this case was taken into custody. This incident does not appear to be random in nature, and there appears to be no ongoing threat to the community.
“The suspect was lodged at the Washtenaw County Jail pending review of charges by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor,” the statement continued. “At this time, the investigation is ongoing. Given the nature of the allegations, the need to maintain the integrity of the investigation, and its current status at this time, we are prohibited from releasing additional details.”
Pittsfield police did not name the suspect in its statement.
Earlier, Saline police stated they “assisted in locating and detaining former University of Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore. Mr. Moore was turned over to the Pittsfield Township Police Department for investigation into potential charges.”
Michigan fired Moore on Wednesday following an investigation into his conduct with a staff member.
“U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore has been terminated, with cause, effective immediately,” the school said in a statement. “Following a University investigation, credible evidence was found that Coach Moore engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.”
Moore, 39, spent two seasons as Michigan’s coach, after serving as the team’s offensive coordinator.
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves signed veteran outfielder Mike Yastrzemski to a two-year deal Wednesday that includes a club option for 2028.
The 35-year-old Yastrzemski hit .233 with 17 home runs and 46 RBIs in 146 games last year between San Francisco and Kansas City.
Yastrzemski, who spent the first six-plus seasons of his career with the Giants before being sent to the Royals in July, will make $9 million in 2026 and $10 million in 2027. Atlanta holds a club option for 2028. Yastrzemski will make $7 million if the Braves pick up the option. He will receive a $4 million buyout if they do not.
The versatile Yastrzemski, the grandson of Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, can play all three outfield positions and is a career .238 hitter. His best season came in the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign, when he batted .297 with 10 homers in 54 games and finished in the top 10 in NL MVP voting.
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Jorge Castillo
ORLANDO, Fla. — The New York Yankees made their first selection in a Rule 5 draft since 2011 on Wednesday, taking right-hander Cade Winquest from the St. Louis Cardinals.
Winquest was one of 13 players — and 12 right-handed pitchers — chosen in the major league portion of the draft.
The Rockies took RJ Petit, a 6-foot-8 reliever, with the first pick from the Detroit Tigers. Petit, 26, had a 2.44 ERA in 45 relief appearances and two starts between Double A and Triple A last season. The Minnesota Twins chose the only position player, selecting catcher Daniel Susac from the Athletics.
Clubs pay $100,000 to select a player and must keep him on the active major league roster for the entire following season unless he lands on the injured list. Players taken off the roster must be offered back to the former club for $50,000.
The 25-year-old Winquest recorded a 4.58 ERA with a 48% groundball rate in 106 innings across 25 games, including 23 starts, between Single A and Double A last season. He features a fastball that sits in the mid-90s and touches 98 mph plus a curveball, cutter and sweeper. He is expected to compete for a spot in the Yankees’ bullpen next season.
Right-hander Brad Meyers was the last player the Yankees had chosen in a Rule 5 draft. He suffered a right shoulder injury in spring training and was on the injured list for the entire 2012 season before he was offered back to the Washington Nationals. He never appeared in a major league game.
Also picked were right-hander Jedixson Paez (Colorado from Boston), right-hander Griff McGarry (Washington from Philadelphia), catcher Carter Baumler (Pittsburgh from Baltimore), right-hander Ryan Watson (Athletics from San Francisco), right-hander Matthew Pushard (St. Louis from Miami), right-hander Roddery Munoz (Houston from Cincinnati), right-hander Peyton Pallette (Cleveland from Chicago White Sox), right-hander Spencer Miles (Toronto from San Francisco), right-hander Zach McCambley (Philadelphia from Miami) and right-hander Alexander Alberto (White Sox from Tampa Bay).
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