Alabama Football: A Tie Is Like Kissing Your Sister – 10 Crimson Tide Tie Games
By Ronald Evans
Alabama Football: Birmingham, AL Oct. 17, 1959
Alabama 7 – Tennessee 7
The Alabama football program Paul “Bear” Bryant came home to revive was at an all-time low. Prior to Bryant’s return in 1958, Ears Whitworth’s teams won eight games in three seasons. In those three years, Auburn had outscored Alabama football 100 – 7.
When Bryant met with his first team in 1958 he was as clear with his expectations as he was with his demands. From that day on there would be two ways at Alabama; the Bryant way or the highway.
In another talk to the incoming freshmen, Bryant said he expected that before they left Alabama, they would be champions.
Check out the speech here:
The 1958 season showed great promise. Alabama went 5-4-1 and played Auburn close in a 14-8 loss.
The 1959 team was 2-1-1 when Tennessee came to Birmingham in October. Tennessee was coached by Robert Neyland’s former star player Bowden Wyatt. Wyatt was an All-American at Tennessee in 1938.
Wyatt coached Arkansas to a SWC Championship in 1954. He returned to Knoxville in 1955 intent to lead the Vols to glory running Neyland’s old but powerful single-wing offense. Under Wyatt, Tennessee won the SEC Championship in 1956. The same season, Wyatt was SEC Coach of the Year and the National Coach of the Year.
Tennesse had slipped in 1958. The Vols beat the Tide but finished just 4-6 for the season.
Recent history was not in favor of the Tide. Alabama had beaten Tennessee only once in eleven years.In the 1959 game, Alabama’s defense was tremendous. The Tide held the powerful single-wing attack to just 49 yards rushing and 39 yards passing. Alabama scored its lone touchdown on a pass from Pat Trammell.
The Tide attacked late and drove to the Tennessee eight yard line. With twelve seconds left in the game, Alabama lined up for an expected game-winning field goal. The short field goal went wide leaving the two teams tied.