The Red and Black

Not since the monumental ruling against inter-family marriage have this many Tennessee fans been so up in arms.

The Volunteers put up 343 yards of offense Saturday, only to watch Florida score a controversial winning touchdown in the closing seconds of the game and win 27-23.

Trailing 23-20, quarterback Jesse Palmer led the Gators on a 91-yard march that resulted in a Jabar Gaffney touchdown catch. Gaffney appeared to drop the 3-yard pass in the end zone, but line judge Al Matthews, standing only feet away from the action, ruled that Gaffney had possession.

'I had it long enough for a touchdown,' Gaffney said after the game.

Vol fans weren't so sure, bombarding the Gators' post-game celebration with boos and projectiles.

Volunteer head coach Phillip Fulmer, who has now lost to Florida seven times in the last eight meetings, chose not to dwell on the disputed play.

'We can bounce that ping-pong ball back and forth all day,' Fulmer said. 'We aren't going to hang anything on one play or one official. It's done.'

Fulmer's nemesis, Florida head coach Steve Spurrier, was gracious in victory, acknowledging Tennessee's dominance for the majority of the game.

'No question, God was smiling on us because the other team outplayed us,' Spurrier said. 'And somehow we got more points.'

Alabama

Bear Bryant must be rolling over in his grave.

Alabama is off to its worst start in 10 years after taking a beating at the hands of Southern Miss Saturday night 21-0.

The Tide, which no longer resides in the top-25, didn't have a play go longer than 11 yards until the fourth quarter. Starting quarterback Tyler Watts was 11 of 16 for only 57 yards.

Alabama head coach Mike DuBose took responsibility for the loss after the game.

'One of two things is going to happen,' DuBose said. 'Either we're going to separate and fall or we're going to come together. I simply have to do a better job. I love this group of guys. They deserve better than what they're getting from me.'

It was the capitalization of DuBose and company's mistakes that gave the Golden Eagles the edge. Raymond Wall returned an interception 54 yards for a score followed by an 18-yard fumble return by Joe Henley to cap off a rough first half for 'Bama.

In all, the Southern Miss defense forced four turnovers, making coach Jeff Bower a happy man.

'We beat a good football team,' Bower said. 'This is a step for our program to come over here, when it's very, very loud out there, and beat a good football team.'

LSU vs. Auburn

Auburn proved it's more than a one-man team Saturday, using a barrage of weapons to bury the LSU Tigers 34-17 before a record crowd of 85,612 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Rudi Johnson had another strong showing with 139 yards on 36 carries, but it was quarterback Ben Leard and the War Eagle special teams that put the nail in LSU's coffin.

Leard was 21 of 30 for 225 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.

'It got to the point where they didn't know who was going to get the football,' Leard said after the game.

Perhaps the most thrilling moment of the game came after LSU pulled within three points at 20-17. Kickoff return man Tim Carter lit up the LSU coverage team with a 100-yard return.

'I thought that was the deciding blow,' Tuberville said. 'He's been getting closer for two years and he finally broke one.'

LSU coach Nick Saban attributed the Tigers' problems to an inability to hold up the Auburn defensive pressure, specifically against quarterback Josh Booty. Booty, who entered the game with the top passing efficiency in the SEC, was 13 of 29 for 214 yards and an interception.

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