Tennessee vs. Alabama: 10 things every fan should know about the rivalry

#1
dduncan4163

dduncan4163

Have at it Hoss
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#1
Tennessee vs. Alabama: 10 things every fan should know about the rivalry



1. Don’t underestimate the pure hatred
OK, from a Bama perspective, Tennessee isn’t Auburn.
And from a Tennessee perspective, Alabama isn’t, say, Florida.
But while Vols vs. Tide isn’t quite the signature rivalry of the SEC, it’s right near the top, for the sheer history, insane talent on both sides, quirkiness and … hatred.
Just ask anyone in T-Town or Knoxville, or the surrounding areas. These programs aren’t located in the same state or even in the same division of the SEC.
Doesn’t matter.
Or just ask ESPN’s Rece Davis, an Alabama alum who is the host of the College Gameday pregame show that will be coming to Knoxville on Saturday for the latest titanic showdown between the Tide and Vols.
“You think you’ve heard loud? You haven’t heard loud until you hear what it’s going to be like when they run through the ‘T’ on Saturday,” Davis said earlier this week.
“They think they’re back,” Davis said of Tennessee. “They are starving to be back because it’s not just beating the juggernaut. There’s a generation of fans who don’t understand the vitriol and the disdain and the hatred that Tennessee has for Alabama and, in many cases, vice versa.”


We've been waiting on a game like this for over a decade. Damn I'm hyped. GBO
 
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#2
#2
Alabama is a generational rival for Tennessee. Florida joined the rivalry fracas in the 90’s. For me, there is no other school I want to beat more than Alabama. This rivalry has had some amazing streaks by both teams, but it’s time we start our own. Here’s hoping that by 7pm Saturday, we’re all smoking our celebratory cigars.
 
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#3
#3
Before the SEC included USC and Arkansas (1992) there were no divisions. Most years the winner of TN Bama was in the drivers seat to be the SEC champion. It is as simple as that. There have been streaks by each team in the series but this 15 win streak is the longest in the history of TN/Bama. Now for most younger fans TN/FL is probably more of a rivalry because we are both SEC-East teams and in the 1990's and early 2000's we were the dominant two teams in the east.
 
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#4
#4
They left out numbers 11 and 12
11) Bama cheats and plays dirty (remember when Bama messed up Kiff’s headphones in Bryant Denny or Hendon getting four teeth knocked out)
12) Bama OWNS the officials every time we play. 100% guarantee no call goes against Bama at a critical juncture
 
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#6
#6
Ma
stevenrich2003 said:
Unfortunately, our cigars are moldy, however I expect we will burn the mold off of them Saturday.
Click to expand...
Maybe Butch can send us the rest of his. He won’t need them where he’s at.
Or maybe some Volnation member can take a high speed “cigarette boat” from Miami down to Havana and pick up a load before Saturday . Appropriate name for the task, n’est pas? 😂
 
#8
#8
If I am honest, I hated Florida mostly because of Spurrier. The fact that we were such a headcase with them till this year didnt help either. Now that he is gone, I still want to plow them but eh, its just lost some of its zing.

Bama, though, I cannot sufficiently express the depths of my disdain, the reservoirs of my rage, the apogee of my anger toward the entire program. It goes beyond merely Saban. Granted, there is grudging respect there too for the toothless bubba gumps but it is great to be fully in rival mode again.
 
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#10
#10
Gandalf said:
Screw that, I have a BEHIKE that will burn if we win this Saturday! I will gladly sacrifice it on the altar of our rivalry and burn its form in the quad torched flaming fires of our mutual hatred. :D
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Behike? New to me. Gandalf is wise,so I salute. :)
 
#11
#11
The issue I have with Bama is their BANDWAGON fans. Same idiots that name their dog “Bear” or “Bryant” knowing damn good and well they probably won’t even watch the game Sat cause their kid has soccer lessons. Most are converted Ohio State and Texas fans. Carney folks-small hands
 
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#12
#12
"They Think They're Back" exactly what a Gump Homer would say. The fact that it is an ESPN main dude says a lot about the level of bias and %$$-kissing that goes on for the Gumps and the Itty Bitty Little Feller that coaches them.
 
#14
#14
CPVOL said:
The issue I have with Bama is their BANDWAGON fans. Same idiots that name their dog “Bear” or “Bryant” knowing damn good and well they probably won’t even watch the game Sat cause their kid has soccer lessons. Most are converted Ohio State and Texas fans. Carney folks-small hands
Click to expand...



:cool:
 
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#15
#15
Manning, Martin, Scott and others have led Tennessee to victories over the Red Elephants and Hooker has a very good chance to cage the current team.
 
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#16
#16
Gandalf said:
If I am honest, I hated Florida mostly because of Spurrier. The fact that we were such a headcase with them till this year didnt help either. Now that he is gone, I still want to plow them but eh, its just lost some of its zing.

Bama, though, I cannot sufficiently express the depths of my disdain, the reservoirs of my rage, the apogee of my anger toward the entire program. It goes beyond merely Saban. Granted, there is grudging respect there too for the toothless bubba gumps but it is great to be fully in rival mode again.
Click to expand...

I have enough hate in the athletic part of my heart to go around for both Alabama and Florida.
 
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#19
#19
As a kid there were only 1 maybe 2 games in each week. I listened to a lot of this rivalry on the radio, the first game I went to in Birmingham I was amazed at the colors, hadn’t the game on tv yet!

Yes the fans of UT from the 90’s thinks Florida is the biggest rival game, but for us older ones, it’s the Vols vs Bama.
 
#20
#20
dduncan4163 said:
1. Don’t underestimate the pure hatred
And from a Tennessee perspective, Alabama isn’t, say, Florida.
Click to expand...

It's interesting how the intense hatred has changed since I went to UT in the early '80's. At that time, there were plenty of people I knew who routinely said "if we go 1-10 and beat Alabama it's a good season". Florida and Georgia were minor rivals in comparison at that time.
 
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