The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-27
Plucky AZabamianS M GYDelLing C0nteSt
 OHtcIaSS Tennessee

of one bright array of stars. On the de- fensive, it was invincible On the of fensive it measured up stoutly against the much heavier opponent. Countess played his usually brilliant game. and Captain Burks. especially on defensive taclSling was as an uncaged tiger. Spe- cial credit is due Watson and Hurd, Ala bama ends. In chasing punts. tackling the receiver in his tracks and often re- covering the ball on Douck's fumbles. they did more than their parts in achieving the victory. Peebles played his best game of the season. Austell was never going at a merrier clip than when he was laid out in a line plunge. Reidy, although handicapped by the bent rib sustained in the Georgia game. was a bulwarl of de- fensive strength. His reception of punts was without exception perfect. and his re- covery of fumbles phenomenal His inter ference was superb. and his taclSling was of that nature which stills the hit man.
 Tennessee's Spirltless Assault.
 Tennessee was distinct disappoint- ment While strong, exceptionally strong, in defense, Tennessee's offense was with out speed without spirit and therefore without effectiveness. The bunting of Leach was vastly inferior to that of Pratt and Loucks handling of punts was not only mserably amateurish, but aided materially in giving Alabama half a dozen chances to try for goal.
 But the placid temper of the Tennes- scans their demoralzation after the very beginning of play, their spiritless assault, and their apparent willingness to sur render the ball, was what caused the dis appointment that ranked. Levene's men lacked aggressiveness. They were either tired and worn out after a gruelling sea- son. or their perfect state of training having been reached they were on the declining path.
 And it is true that Alabama had Ten nessee outelassed at every point. Had the field been other than muddy and slow experts believe Alabama would have con- clusivey crushed it's opponents.
 The afternoon was a bit too warm. As a result of the rains of the morning the field was in bad condition. this handicap ping speed and practically rendering use less the attack through rapid formation and interference However the attend ance was the largest of the season. it be- ing estimated that about 40O0 witnessed the conflict
 It was an enthusiastic crowd too. Alabama. naturally. was the popular favorite but Tennessee had it's warm supporters Ribbons of crimson and
  spectator, and from carriages and au- tomobiles with which the field was surrounded.
 Between the halves a hundred stu dents of the University of Alabama. entering the field. performed the famous Yale snake dance, sung the patriotic songs of Alabama and yelled the yells which cause the blood to surge through Alabamians' veins at terrific speed.
 Fine Placement Kicks.
 Captain Leach won the toss chose the eastern goal and kicked to Ala bama. Reidy returned the ball 15 yards, then failed to gain around the left. Pratt kicked to Tennessees 30- yard line, and Loucks fumbled the ball, Watson becoming it's possessor. Pratt failed around the right and Austell made no appreciable gain through the line At that time. Pratt tried his first kick from placement. It was wide by small margin.
 Tennessee kicked to Reidy and the ball was returned 15 yards. Attempts to gain falling. Pratt tried his second kick from placement This also failed. On a fake kick Leach gained 10 yards around Alabama's left, but Tennessee being penalized for holding, a punt was necessary.
 Alabama fought the ball inch by inch to Tennessee's 40-yard line, where Pratt again failed to put the sphere between the posts. The fourth trial was made shortly after Tennessee's punt out, and the fourth failure was scored.
 Then Leach punted to Alaba ma s 40- yard line. and Peebles recovered the ball after it had struck the ground Ala bama, failing to gain, kicked and Loucks made a brilliant return of 50 yards. Behind a massed interference McCullom got through Alabamafs tackle and after sprinting 40 yards to- ward goal was forced out of bounds. Referee Hamilton, however, ruled this formation ineligible, there not being men enough left on Tennessee's line and the ball was returned to the point of original scrimmage. Alabama then held the Tennesseans for downs. Pratt kicked to Tennessee's fve-yard line, and Loucks was tackled in his tracks. With Tennessee holding the ball on it's fiVe-yard line, the half came to an end.
 AIabama's Split Formation.
 In the second half, Pratt kicked to Tennessee's 10-yard line, and Leach made fine return of 5 yards. Ten nessee, however, was unable to gain, and Reidy returned the punt five yards. Here Alabama attempted it's split for nation, in the execution of which the center faces his own team. Pratt cut around Tennessees right for nine yards and Burks over tackle, went the distance for first down. Four subse- quent attempts to use the split forma- tion drew penalties, and Alabama was forced to punt from the middle of the field. Loucks made a miserable effort to handle the punt however, and Hurd recovered the ball on Tennessee's 70 yard line. Here Pratt made his sixth attempt at goal from placement and scored another failure.
 Ala abama after receiving Tennessee's punt, fought the ball again within strik- ing distance os Tennessee's goal Pratt there made his seventh kick from place ment, and Franklln's clever block is all that saved the Tennessean goal
 Tennessee punted out of danger, and Pratt returned the punt to the 3O-yard line. Two attempts to circle Alabama s ends caused d loss of ground on the part of Tennessee. but an Alabama penalty for offside covered the loss. But Tennessee nevertheless was forced to yield the ball on downs.
 The Day Is Won.
 From the thirty-seventh yard Pratt made his eighth attempt al goal. When his foe touched the sphere it arose as a thing of life Onward and hieher if