Parker: Nightmare is never-ending for UT

Ever have a day so bad you just knew you were bound to wake up any minute relieved that it was all just a dream? One of those 24-hour spells where things could not have possibly been scripted any worse?

That's the way Saturday, heck the whole darn season, has gone for the Tennessee Volunteers.

Despite the type of year they are having, beating Alabama always seems to make things look a little better in Knoxville though.

It's like being late for something important and being able to catch every green light on your way through downtown.

Gerald Riggs Jr. carries the ball for the final time in his college career. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Hanging a loss on the Crimson Tide makes your food taste better, your mornings come later and life in general just hits a higher note.

With the game tied at 3-all, the Vols had first-and-10 at the Bama 27 with just minutes to go.

Gerald Riggs Jr. checked back into the UT backfield after a breather to help put the final nails in the coffin.

The senior bounced outside and scampered up the left sideline 24 yards before being yanked down awkwardly by Tide defensive back Simeon Castille.

Somebody should have waken up Lady Luck. Let the string of bad occurrences begin.

That first down came with a price as Riggs pounded the ground in pain. His ankle and lower leg were injured and his career under the pads as a Volunteer were done.

The next play Tennessee went back 5 yards with a false start penalty.

Then Arian Foster was dropped for a loss.

Vol coaches requested a timeout with 5:26 remaining in hopes of righting the ship but fate had other ideas in mind.

Quarterback Rick Clausen rolled out to his right and tossed the ball out of the end zone with nowhere to throw. Problem was, he was across the line of scrimmage when he did it.

Back 'em up 5 more yards and charge 'em for a down.

Rick Clausen's pass not only didn't find a man in the end zone, it cost his team 5 yards and a down. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge]

Enough's enough. Offensive coordinator Randy Sanders called the play every coach pulls out when things just can't get any worse and you're just ready for fourth down to get here -- a screen.

That would have been fine. A 32-yard field goal for the lead would have looked as good as gold given how well the UT defense has been this season.

So Clausen backpedalled a bit to sell things before dumping off to fullback Cory Anderson. The 6-foot-3, 275-pound beast rumbled upfield to seemingly morph the field goal attempt into an extra point try.

Nothing could have been further from the truth as Tide safety Roman Harper applied his helmet to the ball and Anderson gave birth to Alabama hope with a fumble out of the back of the end zone.

"It's almost hard to believe," Tennessee linebacker Omar Gaither said. "Sometimes you wonder whether you are dreaming or not. I just couldn't believe it."

Somewhere Freddy Krueger was going, "Good grief, what a nightmare!"

Four plays, all for a loss, no points and a change of possession that the Tide turned into the game-winning field goal.

Anybody else got a headache?

Three losses, with each coming to schools that could be considered UT's three biggest rivals, for a team that was supposed to be clawing at the backs of Southern Cal for a spot at No. 1 by now.

And, we haven't even made the flight up to South Bend yet.

"I believe we should be undefeated right now," Vol defensive tackle Jesse Mahelona said. "But hey, shoulda, woulda coulda."

Whoever said defense wins championships never saw a season like this.

Typically when you keep your opponent out of the end zone you win.

"The defense has played outstanding really all year," UT coach Phil Fulmer said. "We have a good defensive front. We have a good group of linebackers. Our secondary continues to make progress."

But, the other side of the ball has just fell on hard times this year.

Tennessee hasn't had a touchdown-scoring drive of 80 yards or more since the early part of the second quarter of the Florida game.

Perhaps Rocky Top needs to turn this nightmarish nap into hibernation for the winter.

If Steve Spurrier and South Carolina come out of Knoxville on Saturday night with a win, Halloween will have come early.

Even Freddy wants UT to wake up before that happens.

Danny Parker is sports editor of the Times-Gazette.