It seems like such a strange number. What about 66,936 or 4,016,160? The first number listed is the days, the second is the hours and the last is the seconds since a football team from Knoxville has had the honor of having a victory cigar after a win over the Crimson Tide.
That’s a long time. Gas was around $2.88 the last time you had a win. Weird coincidence: The way you just received this article (probably Twitter) was introduced in 2006. Remember Paris Hilton? Yeah, her and friend Nicole Richie was getting the phrase “That’s Hot” trending the same year that you last beat us. Our President was George W. Bush and that iPhone that you may very well be reading this with wasn’t invented until the very next year. To put it in even more perspective; If you have a child born after Oct 2006, that child has not experienced a Tennessee win over Alabama.
The last victory Tennessee got to enjoy was the last season before Coach Saban arrived. After his arrival, the most Tennessee has scored on Alabama is 17 points, which came the first season of Saban’s tenure at Tuscaloosa. In fact since Saban has arrived at Bama, you have been outscored 249-75. The closest game during this time frame was the 12-10 victory Bama had over Tennessee in Bryant Denny on the way to their 2009 BCS Title. I’m sure you remember that one. A blocked field goal kept Lane Kiffin and company from stopping the bleeding. In a weird turn of events, Kiffin will be on our sidelines this year to help extend the streak on our side. Just in case you need a reminder, here is a clip from Youtube.
I live in Tennessee so this series is enjoyable for me. It was even enjoyable for me when we were on the opposite end of the streak, because it made me want to play you that much more to get the win. I can say my time here in Tennessee over the past few years has been a blast. I still get to hear about “Brick By Brick” during the off season and Erik Ainge usually crawls out of his Wild Irish Rose induced coma to make a statement about taking out our QB’s legs for the game but that’s about the only fight I see out of Tennessee now days. Truthfully, my cousin puts up more of a fight over not eating her broccoli. Tennessee fans are a defeated bunch. Auburn fans have some room to talk smack. LSU’s room is starting to dwindle away though as their wins against us get farther away from the present time. However in this rivalry, it may be a good idea Tennessee fans to curtail the excitement and talk until you at least score 17 points on a Saban defense. The totals for the last 4 years for Tennessee: 10, 13, 6, 10. Tennessee fans better hope those bricks are cinder blocks.
Coach Butch Jones is attracting talent to Knoxville. That is no question. But can he coach them up and win? Just a reminder: Jones does have a loss on his resume from a Derek Dooley led Tennessee team.
Photoshop Credit:
The “Brick by Brick” campaign is there now to save everyone. Bricks are strong and a great material to use when constructing a house. However if the brick mason doesn’t know what he is doing or if the mortar is not strong, you won’t have a desired result. Would you want Butch Jones or Nick Saban building it for you? I know my answer. Jones may turn into a great “brick mason” before it is all said and done but for the time being, I think he is still learning the craft at trade school. I’d let him accomplish something before giving him a building permit. Of course, he always has Saban there in October prepared for the bricks that have been finished.
The Tide’s winning streak vs the Vols is currently at 7 with 9 wins going back to 2000. We had our down years and you are currently in yours. None of my Tennessee fans felt a bit sorry for us and the feeling is mutual. The orange flags here close to home start to dwindle down in numbers but they will return. As soon as Tennessee gets back to their winning ways, they’ll start waving proudly.. The Vols will get their trash talk back slowly but surely. For now, everything is quiet. How do you say anything to a team that has dominated you for 7 straight seasons? You just can’t and my friends are intelligent and know that. We still get together for the game but the cheering is all one sided. While Tennessee football is struggling, Alabama continues to dominate winning 3 BCS Titles since the current streak started while the Volunteers’ 1998 title gets further and further into the rear view mirror. I just left high school the year before that and Celine Dion had a hit with the song “My Heart Will Go On” from the movie Titanic.
Things may change this year and the rivalry finally go the way of the Vols but I just don’t see it yet. Jones has done an exceptional job on the recruiting trail but we have yet to see those results show on the field. I think it’s still a season or so before it does so I can smile until it happens. Tennessee hate is year round. As a musician, I always turn down requests to play Rocky Top. It’s nice to not hear it much in October as well. Another plus side to the streak is that I am getting good at picking out victory cigars to smoke to celebrate the win while on the other hand, the Home Depot in Knoxville is probably getting used to seeing Butch Jones come in and get a few pointers concerning brick laying. Roll Tide, y’all. Football season is getting closer and I can not wait.