5 Reasons LSU Has Replaced Tennessee as Alabama’s Second-Biggest Rival

Auburn is Alabama’s biggest rivalry. It’s the Iron Bowl. It’s the game that divides the state. If your brother, father, mother or sister likes Auburn, you don’t talk to them that weekend. And depending on the outcome, you may not talk to them the rest of the season.

But who holds the second place in our rivalry?

Historically, it’s an easy answer: the Tennessee Volunteers. Over the years, we’ve grown quite accustomed to hating the orange and white. The continued existence of Philip Fulmer brings hatred to the hearts of Bama fans everywhere. We will never forget the sanctions brought upon us by the NCAA at the hands of ‘The Big Orange Pumpkin.’

Few of us root for the Denver Broncos, just like we didn’t root for the Indianapolis Colts. Seeing every UT fan adorn the No. 16 jersey causes nausea throughout our fan base. As the Vols point out, Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant will never leave the hearts of Alabama fans. Well, clearly, a QB who couldn’t win a national title will never leave theirs. Nevertheless, we never beat Peyton Manning, and we will never forget him leading Rocky Top in Bryant-Denny after our defeat.

It’s a wound that will not heal.

But here lately, Tennessee hasn’t been much of a threat to Bama nation, especially not during the Saban era. The game doesn’t have the implications it used to. And while the Vols hold a very special hatred in their hearts for the Crimson Tide, it’s slowly looking like we may have moved on.

Perhaps it’s because their program has taken a nose-dive, or the fact that since 2009, beating Tennessee hasn’t been much of a challenge. Don’t get me wrong; no Alabama fan will name their kid Peyton, own a blue tick hound named Smokey or wear a coon-skinned hat for the fun of it.

But we have a bigger threat in Louisiana.

Here are five reasons LSU may have taken the place of Tennessee as Alabama’s second biggest rival:

5. Defense

Alabama and LSU are primarily known for their defense. Kirby Smart and John Chavis are two of the greatest defensive minds in the game. Strongly admired for their strategies and their outstanding recruiting techniques, both of these coordinators are skilled in transforming five-star high school players into NFL talent.

Tennessee may be just the opposite. Since ridding themselves of the very coach that helped bring the Tigers to greatness, Tennessee has lacked a strong defensive mind to guide them. With the exception of Monte Kiffin (who’s worth is debatable at best), there has been  a string of less-than-noteworthy coordinators in that crucial position.

4. The Battle for the SEC West

Every game in the SEC matters. However, a loss to UT cannot single-handedly knock Alabama out of the SEC Championship. The game against LSU has bigger implications, which results in far greater consequences.

Losing a game to an eastern opponent would be unfortunate for the Crimson Tide. However, losing a game to a western opponent like LSU is detrimental to the outcome of the season.

The SEC West is a dominant force in college football, and the Tigers have never been anything less than a challenge. Even in 2011, the regular season game between the teams in Bryant-Denny was deemed “The Game of the Century.” Needless to say, there is more on the line than just bragging rights. Either team’s season can be ended by one play.

3. The Atmosphere

Whether in Death Valley or Bryant-Denny, there’s not an empty seat in the house. It’s one of the most passionate games in college football.

With so much on the line, fans can’t help emotionally investing in every second. And according to AJ McCarron’s persona in 2012 and 2013, players feel just as much emotion, if not more.  As any Bama fan will tell you, there’s little that compares to the joy of beating LSU. And based on the actions of Tiger fans out there, I’d say they feel exactly the same about beating the Crimson Tide.

2. The Ill-Mannered Behavior of the Present Day

The feeling of victory or defeat tends to overwhelm quite a few fans, especially those during this match-up. Unfortunately, embarrassment is the product of these emotionally overwhelmed (and in all likelihood, drunk) fanatics. The passion quickly turns into hatred, and produces deviant acts from individuals in each fan base.

Its college football. Stupidity is nothing new to the sport. The rivalry between Alabama and LSU seems to bring about some of the ugliest and most disgusting actions in the game. Ten thousand classy fans can’t escape the reputation brought upon by one idiot. And that’s all it takes to make the front page.

There have been some nasty exchanges between fans of Rocky Top and those of the Crimson Tide. But lately, with the hiring of Lane Kiffin and the dominance of Alabama’s football program, the disgust is primarily coming from the home of the Orange and White checkerboards rather than from UA.

1.  Nick Saban

It’s obvious that Coach Saban is Alabama’s saving grace. However, he was once that for LSU. He brought the Tigers to national relevance as their head coach from 2000-2004. Some even credit Les Miles’ success to Nick Saban.

LSU fans are still sore about his departure. And they’re even more upset about his decision to leave the Dolphins to return to college football and coach a team also in the SEC West. Upon Saban’s arrival at Alabama, many LSU fans claimed that the Tide “stole their coach,” thus increasing the friction between the two schools. Today, Saban is 4-3 versus his old team, and the rivalry couldn’t be more heated.

Tennessee has always been Alabama’s second biggest rival historically.

But is it now, or has LSU taken Tennessee’s place?