A pivotal game for both squads, Alabama had to travel this Sunday to Knoxville to play the favored Tennessee Volunteers. With both teams jockeying for position in the NCAA tournament, better known as March Madness, it was destined to be a close fought game all the way. This proved to be true as Alabama upset Tennessee on the Volunteer's home floor 70-67 in a game decided in the closing seconds.
But the reason this story is more than simply a closely fought college basketball conference game are the events which led up to wild finish. Anthony Brock, a junior guard for Alabama, came off the bench to score 11 points in 15 minutes, including the desperation 3 to win it for the Crimson Tide at the end of regulation. However, Brock nearly never made it to the game.
You see, Anthony Brock happened to be in Little Rock, Ark. on Saturday for his grandmother's funeral. Amidst this heartbreak however, Brock still planned to fly to Knoxville, Tenn. for the aforementioned game. Great story right? But the story gets all the more unbelievable as Brock missed his flight from Little Rock to Tennessee. Not only that, but the game was scheduled for the next afternoon. This potential debacle was avoided by an act which defied conventional wisdom, and in the midst of family tragedy showcased a pure example of family love.
“We had a flight for him … and he missed it so he drove all night to get here,” Alabama coach Philip Pearson said. “The first time I saw him was about 8:30 this morning and he said, ‘Hey, what’s up coach?’ His cousin drove him all the way to Knoxville.
"I’ve got to meet this cousin.”
The distance from Little Rock, Ark. to Knoxville, Tenn. is about 481 miles.
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