Bama's losses to Vols still sting

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) They were the kind of defeats that gnaw at any team, a five-overtime loss and a near-upset that slipped away.<br> <br> But for No. 5 Alabama, the past two meetings with Tennessee were even worse because the losses came against one of the Crimson Tide&#39;s most bitter rivals.<br> <br> ``It kind of sticks with you,&#39;&#39; safety Charlie Peprah said. ``We feel like we should have walked away with the victory the last two years.<br> <br> ``We&#39;re going to do everything we can make to sure that doesn&#39;t happen three years in a row.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> The 17th-ranked Volunteers (3-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) have dealt two of the most painful blows to the Tide (6-0, 4-0) amid two difficult seasons.<br> <br> Two years ago, the Vols rallied for a late touchdown in regulation. Then they faced a fourth-and-19 play in the third overtime.<br> <br> ``I&#39;m thinking the game&#39;s over and there&#39;s no way they&#39;re going to make this first down,&#39;&#39; Peprah said. ``They haven&#39;t been making them all game. And then all of a sudden, he gets the first down and you&#39;re just like, &#39;Oh my God. Here we go.&#39;&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Casey Clausen&#39;s 29-yard pass to C.J. Fayton kept the Vols alive and two overtimes later they left Tuscaloosa with a 51-43 victory.<br> <br> Last season, the Tide drove the ball to the Tennessee 37 in the final minute, converting a fourth down play thanks to a penalty. But any hopes of a big upset evaporated when Corey Campbell iced the 11th-ranked Vols&#39; 17-13 victory with an interception with 46 seconds remaining.<br> <br> ``They keep escaping our grasp,&#39;&#39; Peprah said.<br> <br> To Wallace Gilberry, those losses left a sour taste in his mouth. ``Like sucking a lemon,&#39;&#39; he said.<br> <br> ``It&#39;s one of those things that you carry in the back of your mind as you go to sleep,&#39;&#39; Gilberry said. ``No matter what you do during the day, when that time comes you&#39;re going to remember it. It&#39;s like when you&#39;re little and one guy keeps picking on you, you&#39;re still going to remember him.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> When it comes to this rivalry, Tennessee has been the neighborhood bully in recent seasons, winning nine of the last 10 meetings.<br> <br> The recent meetings had a different feel. Now, Alabama is the team that&#39;s been on a roll and Tennessee has already dropped two games, including a 27-14 loss to Georgia in its last game two weeks ago.<br> <br> The Tide is seeking its first 7-0 start since the 1996 season. Tennessee ended that streak with a 20-13 victory, yet another stinging blow to Alabama.<br> <br> Alabama did win in Knoxville three years ago to end a seven-game losing streak in the series, but the game has brought nothing but heartache to the Tide since then.<br> <br> ``We had our fair opportunities but we didn&#39;t capitalize on them and they did,&#39;&#39; quarterback Brodie Croyle said. ``Therefore, we&#39;re answering questions about why we can&#39;t beat them as opposed to them answering the same questions.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Coach Mike Shula&#39;s biggest memory of that five-overtime game in his debut season was the sheer exhaustion afterward.<br> <br> ``I just remember moreso there was nothing left in anybody&#39;s tank just after the game, just with the emotions, the energy,&#39;&#39; Shula said. ``I think everybody in that stadium was spent because they watched all our players lay it on the line and leave everything on the field.<br> <br> ``It was disappointing to watch your guys play as hard as they did that day and come up short.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> TIDE TALK: Linebacker DeMeco Ryans is one of 12 semifinalists for the Lombardi Award ... Shula declined to comment on the status of backup quarterback John Parker Wilson, who was charged with a DUI early Sunday morning. Wilson participated in practice Tuesday ... Receiver DJ Hall is listed as probable for Saturday&#39;s game with bruised ribs.<br> <br> (Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)