3rd Saturday in October is quickly approaching the college football world. This specific Saturday is proven to be like no other. The Alabama Crimson Tide of Tuscaloosa verses the Volunteers of Knoxville. Both teams head into this weekend as a top 25 team only suffering one loss a piece. Fans of both teams are ready for a show down in Tuscaloosa this year for the long-awaited rivalry.
Rematch in T-Town
Tennessee is looking for a second straight win while Alabama is looking to bounce back from the previous year against the Vols. Last October, the contest was played in Knoxville with Tennessee prevailing over the Tide 52-49. The win was a big one for the Vols as they snapped a 14-year drought against the Tide. As Vol fans were screaming and crying tears of joy while rushing the field last year, Alabama fans were defeated and sent back to Tuscaloosa counting down the days until the rematch.
Obstacles Ahead
Although this game is looking like a promising one, Tennessee has many obstacles to overcome especially being at Bryant Denny this season. Joe Milton will need to continuously make smart reads and passes. Alabama also has challenges to work through this year as they confide in their experienced yet controversial quarterback Jalen Milroe. Although Milroe has proven he’s the guy in previous contests, Tennessee is no easy contest. Milroe will need to be at his best this Saturday to overcome the mid-season hump of the Vols.
Vols On The Road
Tennessee has looked promising this year as they are 5-1 on the season. Although they have a great mid-season record, all of these wins have come with homefield advantage. The only two games that were not at home was the season opener against Virginia which was played in Nashville and their loss suffered against Florida in the swamp. This leaves many college football fans questioning if Tennessee can play in a tough environment on the road. Josh Heupel has proven to overcome these challenges in his previous seasons which makes this rivalry even better.
It Just Means More
Alabama has also had a successful and promising season so far. Their only loss being at home to a top 10 Texas team. The rivalry runs deep in the SEC because football just means more. It is essentially a way of life for those in the South. College Gameday is on at all hours of the day while families are spending time together at tailgates. This rivalry specifically between these two teams is one of the best.
Rivalry Tradition
Winners of the rivalry celebrate by smoking a cigar which dates back to 1961. When Jim Goostree, a Tennessee alum who later became the trainer at Alabama, passed out cigars after a 34-3 Crimson Tide victory. Smoking the cigar is a special tradition upheld by this rivalry and the tradition is sure to live on decades down the road. Another big argument and debate between the rivalry is the song, “Dixieland Delight” by the band Alabama.
Dixieland Delight
The controversy behind this song is based on the fact of who the song is about. Alabama fans think it’s about them while Tennessee fans think otherwise. The song has two references about Tennessee while the band who made the song is named, “Alabama.” If you go to an Alabama or Tennessee football game, then this song will be played somewhere around the 3rd or 4th quarter. Although the argument may seem pointless to outsiders, it is a big deal between both fanbases.
Historic Statistics
Since there’s so much history and “bad blood” between the two teams, let’s look at statistics through the years. Throughout the years, Alabama has led the series 58-39 with 7 ties. Both teams have gone on long streaks against the other, but Alabama has the upper hand. Both teams statistically speaking are more favored to win at home than away. If Tennessee wants to continue their dominance against the Crimson Tide like last year, then they have to be able to prove themselves on the road. Since Saban has been coach at the University of Alabama, we have seen his pure dominance against the Vols only suffering a loss against them last season in 2022.
Statement Win
The game for both teams will be a big deal to win for the SEC standings. Alabama being in the SEC West and Tennessee being in the SEC East, this game could be successful or detrimental. Tennessee needs to secure a big win in Tuscaloosa if they want a chance to secure a spot in the SEC championship. Already suffering a loss to Florida will make it worse for the Vols if they lose this one. For Alabama, they just need to stay focused and remain at the top of the polls in the SEC West to secure their spot in the conference championship.
Productive Saturday
Tuscaloosa will be filled with crimson and black this Saturday while also having a hint of orange. The city will be busy with opposing fans heading down south for the big rivalry. Although we may not know what the future holds, we do know that this is looking to be an exciting one. The rivalry kicks off at 3:30 EST for fans watching at home. This game will be a prime-time one to watch for all.
Tide or Vols’ Funeral?
Dixieland Delight will be sung at this game whether you’re a fan of the Tide or the Vols. Both teams are in need of a big SEC win, and this can be a huge step for the rest of the season. Coach Saban and Coach Heupel are eager for a rematch in Tuscaloosa. Will Alabama bury Tennessee this year or will Tennessee bury the Crimson Tide for the second year in a row? Cigar smoke will flood the city of Tuscaloosa regardless of the outcome. A classic SEC West verses SEC East rivalry that is presented as a big challenge for both teams regardless of their records. Whether you will be screaming “Roll Tide” or “Go Vols” this weekend, tune into one of the best rivalries in college football.
Live Stream Information
For more information on this long awaited and bitter rivalry, tune into our stream Thursday @6:30 CST https://www.twitch.tv/universityofalabama
