UT coach Lane Kiffin said a blocked 44-yard field goal as time expired in a 12-10 loss to then-No. 1 Alabama on Saturday was a combination of a low kick and protection issues on the left side of the line.
That's where Crimson Tide nose guard Terrence Cody broke through for his second blocked kick of the game.
Another issue could have been that Lincoln reinjured a quadriceps muscle that had bothered him earlier in the year during pregame warm-ups.
Lincoln didn't tell Kiffin he tweaked his quad, although that likely wouldn't have changed Kiffin's plans to run clock once they were inside field goal territory.
"Then again he kicks the one at the end of the first half, and it's a yard short (on a 47-yard attempt)," Kiffin said. "It's not like he was 10 yards short on it. Just judging off how he kicked that one, that's good from where we kicked the last one."
What did give Kiffin pause was the penalty disparity between the two teams.
UT was penalized eight times for 68 yards, while the Crimson Tide had just one penalty for 10 yards. Asked Sunday if he reconsidered his strategy to run just one play in the final 40 or so seconds, Kiffin said he will always re-evaluate his decisions.
"I just had a feeling at that point in the game, to run another play... We had a yard line we wanted to get to, and we were five yards inside of where we can kick from," Kiffin said. "You run another play and (maybe) throw an interception or they throw another flag on us.
"I wasn't going to let the refs lose the game for us there and some magical flag appear. We put ourselves in a position to win. At that point, we're nine penalties to one. We're the second-least penalized team in the country going in. They're 60th in the country, and you go down there and it's very disappointing to have nine flags thrown at you and one at them. That's very hard to deal with."
So was a call Kiffin felt like the officials missed on the final play.
After breaking through the line and blocking the kick, Cody celebrated by tossing his helmet in the air.
According to NCAA Rule 9-2, a player who takes off his helmet while on the field except during a stoppage in play (ie: timeout, measurement) or to adjust his equipment should be flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct.
"To me, the rule is this: If a play's still going, you can't take your helmet off. I've left a message for (SEC coordinator of officiating) Rogers (Redding). He hasn't returned my call," Kiffin said. "I talked to the commissioner today. The play's still going. The ball's still sitting there. It's live. If Luke (Stocker) sees the ball, he can pick it up and go score a touchdown to win the game.
"The guy throws his helmet as the ball's still live. He throws his helmet and then two of their guys go and recover the ball. It's a 15-yard penalty and you kick again. I'm sure we'll get one of those letters that really means nothing, as (Arkansas coach) Bobby (Petrino) got last week. But Florida and Alabama live on."
More notes from Sunday's practice:
Linebacker Rico McCoy (knee) didn't practice Monday. He also missed time late in Saturday's loss to Alabama. His status is uncertain for Saturday's game against South Carolina, linebackers coach Lance Thompson said Sunday.
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Receiver Quintin Hancock (ankle) should be back against South Carolina, according to Kiffin.
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The Vols will continue to practice on Sunday evening on a permanent basis. Kiffin said he made the decision during UT's bye week.
"I wanted to look at both ways, having been around both," he said. "I think that at (Southern California), we did it the way we were doing it the first six games, but we also won every game. It was a lot better because you're rehashing a win. It's a little bit different when you have to wait 24 hours to rehash a loss. We'll start winning, but we'll also move it up."
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Kiffin was mum when asked if the Vols had any uniform changes planned for Saturday's game. Fans have speculated about possibilities throughout the offseason, in large part because this week's game will be played on Halloween.
"You have to ask (athletic director) Mike Hamilton on that," Kiffin said. "I'll leave it at that."
After a pause, Kiffin smiled and added, "That's all you guys really wanted to know today."
Hats off to Tenn ,you guys played etremely well made a huge jump in my mind as the team to beat, Bama and Fla played a great team they both won but the vols were there to win and jusy barely lost, Im a bama fan ,but I just wanted to say I think you win the rest of the games`this year and win a bowl game which would give you 9 wins for a first yr coach, to be truth ful I didnt like Fulmer at all and Some Tenn fans are already griping about you but I think the SEC east has Tenn back in the hunt very soon
Great game guys, keep your head up, the fans are with you. Now lets run the table and go to a bowl.
I couldn't be prouder of the effort given by the UT football team and staff. I love how this team never gives up. If you give 100% all the time, that's all fans could ask for. The lost to Alabama was crushing in the sense I know the Vols could have won, but things happen and all the Vol fans I know are proud of the Big Orange team. Now go crush SC next week.
Great job vols, I was wondering how this season would turn out. I think I will be ok with it.You guys played your hearts out and we should have won at bama. That give us something to build on for next year. I also wanted to comment on the elusive "black and orange" jerseys. I keep wondering if it is a myth because I hear about it but never see it. Although they said it would be a couple years before they would wear them, I think it would be awesome to see it. Maybe not against South Carolina but still would be cool. I look forward to seeing how the rest of the season plays out. I hope we get to a bowl game this year and keep the tradition alive. I'll even take the Music City bowl. Only because it's close. I hope we play well enough to get to a better one though. Keep up the passion and you will see changes. I was sad to see Fulmer go, but I think he had lost his drive. Granted he is a vol through and through, you have got to have that desire and drive to make it these days. Especially in the SEC, where you never know what will happen. Unless your playing Vandy or Kentucky. Good luck and god bless.
I believe the vols played well on Saturday. Despite the missed field goal and the blocked field goal tries. But Kiffin does bring a great point when discussing that last play. The play still shouldve been live. Im still behind on what Kiffin is doing and i believe that he is really on to something here in Knoxville. Keep it up. Go Vols.
Great game guys. One of the best college football games in a long time. I think the best game in all of college football this season ! I think you out played the Number 1 team in the nation, just some tough breaks or the "W" would have been in your column. Just keep playing as hard as you did Saturday and you will win the rest of your games and represent Tennessee in a major bowl game. Couldn't be any prouder of you guys.
My hat is off to the entire team and coaching staff this season. I was sad to see Coach Fulmer and company go, but I'm really excited with what I've seen Coach Kiffin bring to the table. Perhaps it was time for a change and a new perspective.
You guys have played good this year and you definitely outplayed Bama this past weekend. I was so stoked to be a Vol. Keep bringing the heat and things will keep improving. Go Vols!!!!
PS - I live in Wilmington, NC ... big ups to Montario Hardesty from up the road in New Bern!
Stop being so soured, you know that if the situation was the other way around yo would not complain. Why do you hate Florida and Bama so much? I am not a fan of either.
Well, Janice, my take is "sour" at all. It's one thing when a player on the field gets lucky as when Cody just stuck his right arm up and the ball hit it on the last FG attmept. Or when the ball bounces just right for one team or another. That's part of the game. But it's something all together different when the officials on the field "CREATE" luck as when Cody didn't get a penalty for removing his head gear WHILE THE PLAY WAS STILL ALIVE!!! Now do you understand?
Wow - like UT has NEVER had calls that SEEMED to go THEIR way???? Quit jumping on the SEC bad officials bandwagon. Why don't you take a look and see where those guys went to college!!!! None from the U of A. Can't! You would be surprised to find out that they gain nothing by "helping" the Tide or "hurting" the Vols. Sour grapes. Bama and others have been there, too. It was a loss and the only way to get over it is to win.
Well the team is taking giant steps in getting the program back to where we want it. Crompton is playing good even against the top defenses of the S.E.C. I think that they want to see a 1vs.2 match up in the S.E.C. Championship Game. Well I hope we run the table and go to the Chi-fil-a Bowl.
9 penalties against the Vols and 1 against Bama. Enough said.
I completely agree with you about the bad officiating. Not only was there a not a balance of penalties, but also both line judges were not at all even close on most of there spots when we were on offense. On one play, the two seperate line judges spots' were almost 3 yards apart. that is completely unacceptable. at most the officials should be no more than a few apart. from experience officiating, i know that it is not an easy job, but there is no reason why those spots should be that far apart on several if not most plays.
Low kicks and bad protection equals blocked kick. No problem. Vols need to work on that aspect of the game. But, there should have been a 15 yard penalty on Bama for Cody removing his helmet. Rules are rules, if you're not going to enforce them, then get rid of them or find officials who will enforce them and/or keep their eyes open.
I can honestly say that I have never been so proud to be a Volunteer after losing a game. You all outplayed Bama in every aspect of the game except the kicking game. I know Lincoln missed the field goal before halftime, but I loved how Coach Kiffin had the the guts to try to get into field goal range before the half. Fulmer would have knee'd it. I love Fulmer to death, but I'm behind Coach Kiffin 100 percent. I really like what is going on with our football program, and I hope we continue to improve each week and not lose another game this year. The officials were horrible with 9 penalties on us, 1 on them, and the Cody thing at the end was ridiculous. I am just so proud of the guys and how they never gave up. We outplayed the best team in the nation on their home field. Keep your heads up guys
Just look back at the game reply. Bama played a penalty free game, and also look at the game clock, time RAN out. Game over -- 12 -10 BAMA
The game is not over until the play is over, if a pass went halfway to the moon the game would not be over until it came down. On a blocked kick it could have been picked up and ran for a TD, clock is not a factor ball must be covered or out of bounds to end game. Codie's infraction was on the field of play while the ball was live just like a hold or personal foul.
I did not expect this game to go this way. I am a die hard Vols fan, but also a realist. And I am damn proud of the Tennessee Volunteers after the past few weeks. Kiffin, you're the man. Vols 9 win season as Lane's first year, awesome! next year...UT is a top 10 team...watch and see.
I also believe that Tennessee is a Top 15 team in the country. The way we are playing, UCLA would NOT want to line up and play us this week, same goes for Auburn, and in my opinion, I wouldn't doubt it if Florida would be a little nervous. Alabama is the best team in the country, the gators are a number 5 spot. Tennessee will win out this season but they will have a scare against vandy. they always give us a fight. The volunteers should be happy with their season so far, and i have to say, Jonathan Crompton is a very good quarterback, more than we Vol fans give him credit for. Rolling out of the pocket and making very good passes against Alabama. Tennessee is better than OKSU and better than Georgia Tech, also Mentally and physically better than Florida. the ONLY two reasons we lost to florida, 1. Speed 2. Quarterback
Soured? Go cheer for your Virginia Tech team Janice. Lol, ACC fans guys, what are you going to do?
HELL of a game guys!!! I can tell you this Bama knows they played the Vols, the sec officiating sure is getting some deep pockets this year, Bama will watch their season end when Tebow takes it to them in the Sec Championship, I will give my all today for TN, GO Vols
Classic Bama-UT game. I'm a Bama fan and will not argue that officiating has been bad this year. But there was calls missed against Bama also. Julio was interfered with in the end zone and was hit before the ball got to him on the on-side kick. Those calls are just part of the game though. I really think Tennessee has made a great hire in Kiffin and with him at the helm I foresee many more great BAMA-UT games.
Even if they had penalized Cody 15 yds, Bama recoverd the ball. The penalty would have done nothing to the outcome, except give Bama the ball on their 25 yd line, with the clock expired. The Vols played a great game, but didn't finish. Game over, so quit detracting from the great effort with all the sour grapes. The O line didn't do the job at the end.
The infraction (removing the helmet) came BEFORE the recovery. If the flag had been thrown when it should have been, it wouldn't matter if bama ran it back for a TD, it would have been called back. Tennessee ball!
There is a picture (Google it) that shows the clock at 0:00 and Cody still has his helmet on.