The Tennessee Vols claim they don’t fear Alabama football and want an every season rivalry. Unlike Auburn, the Vols appear to respect tradition.
Last week we reported that Tennessee was cleverly floating an idea that would end the “Third Saturday in October” as an every season rivalry, Vols join ‘we don’t have to play Bama every year chorus’. Admittedly, creating some distance from Alabama football would be in the short term best interest of Tennessee football.
Unlike the Auburn Tigers, the Vols now appear to understand that short-term goals can suffer from lack of vision. This week, the Knoxville News Sentinel reported on Athletic Director’s John Currie’s position.
"Currie has no desire to see the Tennessee-Alabama football series be reduced from an annual basis, “It’s one of the most sacred rivalries in all of college sports. There has been a swing, certainly. But I was here for that incredible run coach (Phillip) Fulmer had (9-1 from 1995-2004). … I can’t imagine why anyone would not want to keep that tradition intact.”"
Thinking back on the history of the rivalry, even outsiders have appreciated its excellence. In 2001, college football historian Beano Cook explained to all of college football,
"This is one of the greatest rivalries in college football, mostly because of the great coaches and players who have taken part in it. Of course, the two coaches that come to mind are Paul “Bear” Bryant and General Robert Neyland."
Phil Fulmer came fairly close to living up to General Neyland’s legacy. Nick Saban has arguably matched, some say surpassed Paul Bryant. What this rivalry currently needs is a Tennessee coach up to the task. Butch Jones is not that coach.
The most often repeated storyline of the Alabama – Tennessee rivalry is that the series is defined by streaks. There have been quite a few streaks, almost all of them in favor of Alabama football. Let’s review via a shorthand list.
- The two teams have played 99 times (the Tide has only played Mississippi State more, 101 games)
- Alabama leads the series 54-37-8
- The Vols only winning streak (more than five games) is seven wins from 1995-2001
- The Tide has won seven straight twice: 1905-1913 and 1986-1992
- The Tide won 11 straight from 1971-1981
- The current Tide win streak is 10 games
In fairness to the Vols, while the streaks clearly favor Alabama football, the Vols have had great runs as well. From 1946-1960, Tennessee won 10 of 15 games. From 1995-2006, the Vols won 10 of 12 games.
Beano Cook made the point in 2001 that for Tennessee, Alabama is the biggest game every season. No doubt that is correct. He also said Auburn is the Tide’s biggest game. Again true, but it was not always so.
The biggest game each season for Coach Paul Bryant was Tennessee. Bryant never wanted to lose to the ‘Cow College’ but he measured himself more against the Vols. And well he should have, given the fact Bryant once battled Tennessee on a broken leg.
For those of us of a certain age, no college football season would be complete without a ‘Third Saturday in October’ whatever week the game is in a given season.
Next: 30 Great Crimson Tiders who were 3-Star recruits
It is never a good idea to get too far ahead of anything. But win in T-Town in 2017 and a 2018 win in Knoxville would set a new win streak record against the Vols.