There were about four minutes on the clock when we left to go out for dinner with family. We were already late and I thought the game was probably over. Then I heard cheering from the bar in the restaurant, and thought a miracle had occurred. I asked our server if Tennessee had scored, and she said yes, but they had just lost the game in the final seconds.

When we got home I watched the last four minutes to see what happened. The score, then the onside kick recovery, then Crompton confidently moving the ball. I wish I hadn't known the outcome. I kept asking the Mrs. "how in the world did they lose this game?"

Then the penalty. Then the miraculous (second) blocked field goal attempt. And that was that. The only team to score a touchdown in the game had lost.

At any rate, it was an epic battle between monster defenses and a pretty great performance by UT against the top ranked team with an exciting finish even if you knew the outcome. It was almost one of the greatest upsets in UT football or even SEC history, but alas it was Alabama's day. Nick Saban looked shellshocked as he walked off the field, so there's that.

This guy sums it up in comments at the KNS:

I am overly pessimistic when watching Tennessee football. If i allow optimism to creep in i am left heartbroken if the results are not satisfactory. So when Bama kicked the field goal to make it 12-3 I resigned myself to defeat. When Ingram fumbled i chuckled and said "to little to late" and then when Gerald Jones scored, i thought well alright...12-10 looks better than 12-3. AND THEN WE RECOVERED THE ONSIDE KICK, at that point all of the contained pessimism was released in exuberant, obnoxious yelling and screaming. I hugged my friends like we had all just won a million dollars. And then, THE PASS TO STOCKER!!! at this point it was over, we were gonna win i knew it, all the pessimism was gone and that is very rare for me. Me and my friends (who are inferior in fanhood to me) belted amazing grace and prayed thankfully on our knees. As he came out for the kick I recalled my trip to knoxville in 2004 when i saw James Wilhoit redeem himself from a crucial mixed extra point and boot a 53 yarder to win against Florida, this fond memory only boosted my unusual confidence. And then he kicked it, i looked up expectingly to the top of the tv screen but was dumbfounded as i realized a 365 pound linemen had knocked over our line, then raised his hand to ask a question and accidentally blocked my hopes and expectations that were riding on the football. I layed on the floor for 20 minutes in pure shock and agony...