Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, hired as Tennessee’s coach in December, discusses the challenge of juggling two jobs.
Blake Toppmeyer/News Sentinel
Jeremy Pruitt's bid for a fifth national championship ring is off to a rocky start.
Georgia leads Alabama 13-0 at halftime of the national championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
More: Toughest part of juggling Tennessee Vols, Alabama football jobs? Guilt, Jeremy Pruitt says
Pruitt's defense forced a turnover on Georgia's opening drive, giving Alabama good field position, but the Crimson Tide failed to convert a field-goal attempt.
As the half progressed, Georgia started to move the ball more effectively.
In particular, Alabama struggled on third down. Georgia moved the chains on six of 11 third-down plays, including a 26-yard run by Sony Michel on third-and-20 that kept alive a drive that ended in a field goal.
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Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt discusses Nick Saban’s approach to pickup basketball.
Blake Toppmeyer/News Sentinel
Michel has been Georgia's engine, with 61 yards on eight carries.
Georgia has 223 yards at halftime compared to Alabama's 94 yards.
"Defensively, we’re making too many mistakes on third down," Alabama coach Nick Saban said in a halftime interview with ESPN.
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Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt, named Tennessee’s coach in December, discusses the challenge of facing Georgia in Monday’s national championship game.
Blake Toppmeyer/News Sentinel
Georgia threw the ball on its first seven plays, and Bulldogs freshman Jake Fromm is 11-of-23 passing in the first half. He entered the game averaging just 18.5 pass attempts.
Tennessee hired Pruitt, who is Alabama's defensive coordinator, as its coach on Dec. 7. For the past month, he's juggled duties of the two jobs.
Pruitt previously won three national championship rings with Alabama and one with Florida State.
More: Vols: Kevin Sherrer followed a lot of same steps as Jeremy Pruitt to Tennessee
Regardless of the result of Monday's game, the Vols' 2018 coaching staff will feature someone who earned a ring Monday. Pruitt tapped Georgia's outside linebackers coach, Kevin Sherrer, to be his defensive coordinator at Tennessee.
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UT VOLS FOOTBALL OFFSEASON 2017-18
Early signing day: Breaking down Tennessee's current class | 5:43
Tennessee reporters Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson discuss the Vols' recruiting class heading into the early signing period
Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson/News Sentinel
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Alontae Taylor signs with Tennessee football | 0:54
Coffee County senior Alontae Taylor signed with Tennessee on the last day of the early signing period.
Tom Kreager
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VIDEO: Ollie Lane: I can't wait to be a part of Tennessee football | 0:50
Gibbs' Ollie Lane signed with the Vols on Early Signing Day Dec. 20, 2017
Diana Nearhos/News Sentinel
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Tanner Antonutti is ready to join the Vols | 0:29
Ensworth's Tanner Antonutti talks about why he signed with Tennessee.
Tom Kreager / USA Today Network - Tennessee
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Brant Lawless signs with Tennessee | 0:37
See why Nashville Christian's Brant Lawless is signing with Tennessee.
Tom Kreager
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Jerome Carvin to Tennessee | 1:12
Jerome Carvin to Tennessee
By John Varlas/The Commercial Appeal
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Keaton Jones visits UT | 1:57
Keaton Jones, whose bullying video has gone viral, visited with UT Athletics Director Phil Fulmer and members of the Vols football team on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2017.
Submitted/ University of Tennessee.
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Jeremy Pruitt introduced at Vols basketball game | 1:14
Tennessee football coach Jeremy Pruitt was introduced during a timeout at the Vols basketball game on Saturday
Mike Wilson/News Sentinel
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UT VOLS FOOTBALL OFFSEASON 2017-18
Watch a time lapse of The Rock being painted to welcome UT Vols new coach Jeremy Pruitt | 2:17
Watch a time lapse of University of Tennessee sophomore Kate Luffman painting The Rock to welcome UT Vols new coach Jeremy Pruitt.
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel
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Who Pruitt sees as Vols' opponents | 0:41
University of Tennessee head coach Jeremy Pruitt speaks about who he sees as the Vols' opponents during his introduction ceremony in the Neyland Stadium Peyton Manning Locker Room Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.
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A timeline of Tennessee's coaching search | 1:51
The Tennessee coaching search has gone through a tumultuous week.
Angela Gosnell/News Sentinel
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Phil Fulmer named Vols athletics director | 0:56
Tennessee has named former head football coach Phil Fulmer as the athletics director.
Wochit
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John Currie out as Tennessee athletic director | 0:43
John Currie is out as the Tennessee athletic director after eight months on the job and one chaotic week of a football coaching search, according to media reports.
Angela Gosnell/News Sentinel
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UT Vols: 5 things to know about Jeremy Pruitt | 0:57
Alabama defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt has been hired as the next coach at Tennessee.
Wochit
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Crowd speaks out against Greg Schiano, calls for John Currie's firing | 8:47
More than 100 people gathered outside Neyland Stadium on Nov. 26, then marched on Anderson Training Center to express outrage after reports surfaced that Tennessee is finalizing a deal to hire Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano.
Calvin Mattheis
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Jauan Jennings drives by Sunday's protest of Greg Schiano | 0:10
Jauan Jennings on Sunday drove by a crowd who, minutes earlier, had chanted "Free Jauan." The UT Vols released Jennings after he posted a profanity-laced rant to Instagram. He has since apologized.
Submitted / Twitter user @witness781