TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama had mixed a little bit of everything intothe season, from fast starts and strong finishes to blown leads and loads ofdrama.

But Nick Saban’s first Crimson Tide team hadn’t done this: Fashion adominant, drama-free victory like Saturday’s 41-17 win over rival Tennessee. Infact, it was the first time No. 22 ‘Bama had managed such an impressive win overa Southeastern Conference power since a 31-3 upset of Florida in 2005.

It vaulted the Tide back into the national rankings heading into an opendate and set the stage for a showdown with Saban’s former team, No. 3 LSU, intwo weeks.

“I wanted to win for our players,” he said. “I wanted to win for ourfans. I wanted them to see them do what we knew they were capable of.”

That means a passing game that produced big plays along with an effectiveshort game that helped John Parker Wilson and receiver DJ Hall have careergames. It meant shutting out the league’s top passing team in the second halfand withstanding the Volunteers’ best rallies.

The win left the Tide — which won just two league games last season — tiedwith LSU for the SEC Western Division lead and was a welcome relief for a teamwhose last six games were decided by a combined 22 points. A week earlier,Alabama needed an instant replay reversal negating a late pass to secure a 27-24win at Mississippi.

“We played good in the beginning against Arkansas and good at the endagainst Florida State,” said Wilson, who passed for three touchdowns and acareer-high 363 yards. “We hadn’t put 60 minutes together, though.”

The Volunteers (4-3, 2-2), meanwhile, had a three-game winning streaksnapped and missed a chance to take control of the SEC East following SouthCarolina’s loss to Vanderbilt. They fell from the rankings after coming in atNo. 20 but now get to face the Gamecocks.

Tennessee scored two touchdowns to take a 14-10 lead early in the secondquarter, stealing away some of the momentum Alabama gained with a successfulonside kick to open the game. Vols coach Phillip Fulmer dismissed any impactfrom that play.

“That little thing didn’t have anything to do with it except it did take apossession away from us,” Fulmer said.

The outcome had more to do with Wilson and Hall, who had a school-record 13catches for 185 yards and caught two TD passes and often matched up with Volsfreshman defensive back Eric Berry.

“I don’t want to say we were picking on him, but we saw he was out ofposition a lot and we were just trying to take advantage of it,” Hall said.

Saban said it was a product of a passing game that has gained confidence.Wilson had perhaps his best game of the season against Ole Miss and easilytopped that performance by going 32-of-46 with no interceptions against theVols.

He connected with six receivers for multiple catches. Plus, Terry Grantrushed for 104 yards and Alabama dominated the second half 17-0. The Tide’s 510yards was the most in an SEC game since 2002.

Defensively, freshman Kareem Jackson had two second-half interceptions,including one that ended Tennessee’s best scoring threat with the Vols down just24-17 in the third quarter.

“We had the fewest mental errors that we have had all year long, and Ithink that is why we executed well,” Saban said. “They believe in each otherand themselves, and they did what we asked them to do, to play 60 minutes in thegame.

“When you challenged somebody to do something and they do it and you seehow happy it makes, them, I’m really pleased about that,” he added.

Linebacker Darren Mustin, a Nashville native, was just glad to have a chanceto spend his free weekend at home “wearing Alabama everything” and celebratingonly the Tide’s third win in the past 13 meetings.

Then, attention turns to an even bigger game with LSU that now has highstakes beyond the Tigers fans’ desire to beat their former coach.

“LSU’s got a great team,” Mustin said. “If we can play another completegame, who knows what can happen?”

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