Four months before making a decision that could change his life, a 17-year-old Tamaurice Nigel Martin sat under the lights at Legion Field in Birmingham, Ala., for a prime-time matchup between Alabama and Tennessee. The then-senior quarterback at Mobile (Ala.) Williamson had offers from both schools. But he attended the game to watch the Tide.
On the first play from scrimmage, Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning hit Joey Kent over the middle and the receiver went the distance. The 80-yard touchdown pass put the Vols up 7-0 early and set the tone for what was a 41-14 rout.
That 1995 win was Tennessee’s first over Alabama in 10 years, and David Cutcliffe’s call on the opening play was a beauty.