Bill Battle couldn’t remember what he said.

The 28-year-old Tennessee head coach, delirious after his Vols team had just toppled his former school and boss in a 24-0 romp at Neyland Stadium, said he was “incoherent” in his midfield rendezvous with Alabama’s Bear Bryant.

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Who could blame him?

Opportunities to rout a Bryant-coached team didn’t come around often. Shutting out the Crimson Tide was even rarer.

But Battle, who played end for Bryant at Alabama from 1960-62, stood on the Tartan Turf the victor in a classic tale of student besting teacher.

Battle had a been a part of wins over the Crimson Tide before as a young assistant coach on Doug Dickey’s staff. But now Dickey was at Florida and Battle was the face of the Tennessee football program and a signature win on his short head coaching resume.

“We needed this one bad,” Battle told reporters after the game. “We just had to have it. The boys played a great game. I was tremendously proud of them. We heard a lot all week about Coach Bryant and me, but he didn’t run with the ball a single time and I didn’t make a tackle.”

Tim Preist ran with the ball, though. The Vols’ defensive back put on a masterclass, snagging three interceptions to headline a defense that picked Alabama quarterbacks off a school-record eight times.

Preist grabbed this first on a deflected pass and scampered all the way down to the the Crimson Tide 6 to set up Tennessee’s first score.

Linebacker Jackie Walker had two interceptions, including one for a 22-yard touchdown return to land the knockout blow in the fourth quarter.

“All I could see was the red flag in the corner and I ran for it,” Walker said.

Bobby Majors, Jamie Rotella and Conrad Graham each robbed Alabama of the ball to complete the record outing.

The Vols’ offense wasn’t overly impressive. Curt Watson accounted for much of the yardage on the ground, but Tennessee didn’t need to be prolific with the way its defense played.

That defense totaled 57 takeaways that season, including 36 interceptions—still college football records.

The Vols won 11 games in Battle’s first season, their lone defeat against Auburn on their way to their first Sugar Bowl in 14 years.

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