TUSCALOOSA, Ala. − Josh Heupel was silent for approximately 15 seconds when asked about the officiating in Tennessee football's 34-20 loss to Alabama on Saturday.

“Next question, yeah? Was that a long enough silence?" Heupel said after breaking his silence.

The question that prompted Heupel's silence asked if officiating was one-sided and suggested that Tennessee had to play two-hand touch while Alabama was allowed to play "Mortal Kombat." The Vols coach tapped his hands on the lectern multiple times and put his head down during his silence before raising his head and looking around the room.

Tennessee was flagged for eight penalties for 55 yards, while Alabama was called for one penalty that cost the Crimson Tide five yards. Alabama's lone penalty was an illegal snap in the third quarter, which followed back-to-back penalties on Tennessee's defense for jumping offsides.

Tennessee was the SEC's most-penalized team entering Saturday, averaging 8.0 penalties for 69.2 yards per game. Both totals rank as the highest in the SEC.

Alabama averaged 6.9 penalties and 55.4 penalty yards per game entering Saturday. The Crimson Tide was flagged 14 times for 99 yards at Texas A&M on Oct. 7.

UT had a significant holding penalty called on defensive back Gabe Jeudy-Lally on a third-and-9 from the Tennessee 36. Alabama ended the drive with a field goal to take a 27-20 lead.

The Vols led 20-7 at halftime against the Crimson Tide before allowing 27 unanswered second-half points, including a scoop-and-score in the fourth quarter that ended any hopes of a Vols comeback.

"Me, our coaches to our players, gotta be able to play for 60 minutes against good football teams on the road," Heupel said. "So extremely disappointed with the outcome."

Tennessee linebacker Elijah Herring appeared to clip Alabama running back Roydell Williams in the third quarter with a forearm to the head after Williams was tackled by a pair of Vols. The play did not draw a penalty.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Josh Heupel responds with silence about Tennessee-Alabama officiating