Evening star., 1940-10-20
Tennessee Is Spdrked
By 160.Pound Butler
To 27.12 Victory
Fighting Tide First Foe
In Loop TO Score on
NeyIond Team Since '38
By ROMNEY WHEELER,
Associated Press Sports Writer

BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Oct. 19-
Dust of a shelf in footballs hall
of fame for little Johnny Butler
understudy TO Tennessee's great
tailback, Bob FoXX. who spanked the
Volunteers to a 27-l2 victory over
q fighting Alabama team today.
The black-haired mite. weighing
barely $50 pounds soaking wet
slashed off right tackle early in the
second period and raced So yards
up Legion Fields east Sideline to
Alabama's H. Then he faded back
and shot fiat pass to End AL Hust
for the tally Fred Newman, sub
stitute wingback, kicked the point.
Barely a dozen plays later. Butler
snatched an Alabama punt on
'Bamas 40 and raced under con-
voy of blockers to score standing
up. Newman again converted.
Butler Rubs Out 'Bama Lead.
Buffers brilliant play erased a
6-point advantage earned earlier in
the period by the Crimson Tide
when Quarterback Jimmy Nelson
tore through the Tennessee line on
spinner for IA yards and touch
down.
A sellout crowd of 24.53l fans
watched the bitter struggle. which
saw Alabama 60 down for its first
defeat of the year and Tennessee
yield its first touchdoWns against a
Southeastern Conference foe since
L. S. U. punched over lone g.
pointer in 1888
TenneSSee'S victory put the Vols
st the head OF the list among the
SOuth'S undefeated and united grid
iron powers and rated them as an
odds-on choice for a post-season
bowl invitation.
Alabama. led by Nelson, and two
great Sophomores. Dave Brown and
Russ Craft battled grimly all the
way. refusing to concede Tennessee
yard unearned. Early in the
second half, as the Volunteers
sought to play safe with booming
punts. Brown scooped up Buffers
spiral on his own 43 and roared up
tilC NlNltIIllC 4Oi SNNolIu Doiiiu
touchdown.
Vols Passes Hit Marks.
As in the first tally. however
DeeShane's place kick failed to cut
the uprights, and the Tides scoring
was ended.
But there was no admission of
defeat Again and again Nelson.
Craft, Brown and Fullback Paul
Spencer pounded out bone-crushing
gains. and harried the lighter Ten
nessee team with passes.
In the closing periods. however,
the Volunteers superior blocking
and determined protection of their
kickers and passers became the
margin of decision. Alabama had
great heart. but Tennessee had
an almost perfect machine.
Little Buist Warren, scarcely two
pounds heavier than Butler, whom
he relieved, opened up with shower
Of passes. Starting on the Alabama
40 after All exchange of punts, the
Vols swept up the field to the s,
where Warren whipped a fat pass
to End Mike Balitsaris for Ten
nessees third touchdown. New
man booted the point.
Great Punting Duel.
There was barely seven minutes
left to play. but Maj. Bob Ney-
lands team wasn't coasting. Open
ing up from Bamas rs after
weak Tide punt, Warren took the
ball to the % and then tipped the
ball to Balitsaris who stepped over
for the final touchdown. Warren's
place kick was wide, and it was all
over but the shouting.
The duel was featured by some
of the most brilliant kicking ever
seen on a Southern field Engaging
in a punting duel at the start Of
the second half. Butler booted 54,
rs. "a, Al and 43 yards from scrim-
mage on five successive tries
Nelson, sometimes standing be-
hind his own goal line. kicked SO,
AZ, and 81 yards before Brown broke
1t up with his touchdown gallop.