The Alabama Crimson Tide were able to come away with a bounce-back win in a dramatic Week 7 matchup against the South Carolina Gamecocks. And on the call of the game, ESPN play-by-play man Joe Tessitore and color analyst Jesse Palmer did their very best to match the intensity of this incredibly entertaining matchup.
It was anything but an easy win for the Crimson Tide. South Carolina gave them a run for their money in every facet of the game.
Things really began to heat up when South Carolina took a 19-14 midway through the third quarter when star running back Rocket Sanders found the endzone on a one-yard rush.
“Rocket Sanders takes it in! And South Carolina takes the lead,” said Tessitore.
“And Rocket Sanders just ran through 245-pound Jihaad Campbell right at the line of scrimmage,” added Palmer. “I said it earlier, Rocket Sanders, one of the best short-yardage goal-line running backs I’ve seen this year. Runs with a great pad level. Campbell has a chance to make this tackle at the line of scrimmage. But low man wins and that is Sanders.”
Alabama would later respond with a touchdown on a Jalen Milroe rush at the beginning of the fourth quarter to retake the lead.
Tessitore was largely complimentary of both teams in this game. But he also didn’t shy away from a more pessimistic approach when it was warranted.
South Carolina had a chance to retake the lead on a 51-yard field goal attempt from Gamecocks kicker Alex Herrera. The attempt was nowhere close, going way wide to the right. And Tessitore made it a point to make sure viewers knew that the attempt wasn’t close.
“Alex Herrera, does he have it? No way, not close! Bama maintains the lead,” said Tessitore.
With two minutes left in the fourth quarter, the game was up for grabs with Alabama clinging to a 20-19 lead. But that all changed when Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe found Germie Bernard on a 34-yard touchdown pass to take a 27-19 lead.
Trailing by eight points, South Carolina had to respond quickly. And they did just that with 50 seconds left in the fourth quarter when South Carolina quarterback Lanoris Sellers was able to find Nick Harbor by the front pylon of the endzone on a deep pass.
Initially, the pass was ruled incomplete. But thanks to a great look from the pylon camera, Tessitore and Palmer were quickly on top of the fact that the play should be looked at again by officials.
“Here is the strike they want! To the endzone, incomplete! They were looking for the six-foot-five Nick Harbor,” said Tessitore.
“They got to look at that again,” said Palmer. “Because his right foot was really close to being in bounds. Nick Harbor, one of the fastest player in college football on the go-route working against Jackson. Watch this! Catch, right foot down. Did he has possession when that right foot came down.
“I think we’re gonna have an overturn and a touchdown and a potential two-point opportunity for South Carolina,” added Tessitore.
Tessitore and Palmer would be proven right by replay officials, as the play was ultimately overturned resulting in a touchdown for South Carolina.
After an unsuccessful two-point conversion, South Carolina’s only chance was to recover an onside kick to keep their hopes alive. And miraculously, they did just that, with a great call coming from Tessitore on the recovery.
“Here it is, it’s a wobbler! Gotta go ten yards! It’s loose! It’s loose! South Carolina’s got it! South Carolina’s got it! We’re not done yet folks! We’re not even close!”
South Carolina had new life at potentially winning this game. But in the end, Alabama cornerback Domani Jackson would seal what was a crazy game with an interception on the goal line. On the call of the final play, Tessitore conveyed what everyone at home was thinking.
“Sellers, is there some magic in his arm? Intercepted, Domani Jackson, who left the game injured, came back and is gonna put an end to it right here. That was awesome stuff. Just awesome. How great is the SEC on a day like this? And Alabama, a much-needed bounceback, taken fully to the limit.”
Overall, many around the sports media landscape believe that both Tessitore and Palmer were on top of every big play and brought adequate energy from the booth to match the action on the field.
“The Bama/South Carolina broadcast call by Joe Tessitore/Jess Palmer should be used to teach,” wrote ESPN’s Marty Smith on X. They were ahead of every penalty, situation and play call. They captured the energy of the moment. They’re my friends and I love them, so there’s some bias, but that was a master class.”
“Alabama wins! Joe Tessitore was awesome,” wrote Zach Gelb of The Zach Gelb Show on SiriusXM.
“Joe Tessitore & Jesse Palmer need to call every 11:00am SEC football game from here on out,” wrote Chris Hudgison of K8 News in Arkansas.
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