Wilson takes Tennessee loss personally

KNOXVILLE, Tenn . | University of Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson pronounced himself "frustrated" after the Crimson Tide’s 16-13 loss against Tennessee on Saturday – but directed that frustration at himself.

On the other hand, Wilson – who was peppered with questions about head coach Mike Shula’s decision to kick a first-half field goal with a fourth-and-goal at the Tennessee 1-yard line – said that decision was not the source of his frustration.

"I thought going in with the lead at halftime was the way to go," Wilson said. "It put us ahead 6-3. What if we go for it and don’t make it?

"Kicking the field goal was exactly what we needed to do."

Instead, Wilson blamed the loss on Alabama’s inability to make plays in the clutch.

"We had our chances," he said. "We failed to make enough plays tonight."

Wilson finished the game with less-than-spectacular statistics, going for 13-for-29 for just 158 yards, the first time this season he has been held to less than 200 yards passing. The running game production was worse; even after adjusting for 27 yards in sacks, the Tide ran for just 80 yards and averaged less than three yards per carry.

"It was tough," Wilson said. "They gave us a couple of looks that we hadn’t seen before. They really threw the kitchen sink at us defensively."

Wilson also said that the absence of wide receiver Keith Brown, who did not play because of a knee injury, limited the Crimson Tide.

"It hurt us more than I thought it would," Wilson said. "He would have given us one more big-play guy to extend their defense. I thought Will Oakley stepped up and made some big catches, but we missed Keith.

"But that’s not an excuse. We have to play better. I don’t think we ever really got going (because) we just weren’t executing on offense.

"Personally, I’m frustrated. We can win these close games. I know this team can do it, but we have to go out and prove it."

Wilson also struggled in the Tide’s two-minute offense. On its first possession after UT took the lead with 3:12 to play, Alabama failed to move the ball at all and was forced to punt. The Tide got a last-gasp chance to drive for a winning touchdown or a tying field goal with 1:19 to go, but couldn’t get past its own 40-yard line and saw Wilson sacked twice in its final three plays.

"Even on that last drive, we had a couple of completions, and I thought we were going to do something," Shula said. "But when you get sacked and don’t have any time outs, it’s a tough deal. Plus, give them credit. They are a good defense."

(Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil.hurt@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0225.)