Alabama Football: Why Crimson Tide vs. Vols rivalry still means something
By Ronald Evans
To Alabama football fans the ‘Third Saturday in October’ once meant much. There are good reasons why it should still matter.
The streakiest series in Alabama football history was a big rivalry for decades. Going back to the early Bryant years, beating the Vols was so important, to some, it eclipsed the Iron Bowl.
Bear Bryant drove that perspective. As a player, the Bear was so fired up about beating the Vols, he played one game on a fractured leg. As a Kentucky head coach, Bryant was never able to beat the legendary Vols coach, General Robert Neyland. So when Bryant returned to Tuscaloosa as head coach, beating Tennessee was arguably his highest priority.
The unique aspect of the series is the cycle of outcomes flipping back and forth between the two schools. From 1946-1960, Tennessee won 10 games to the Tide’s two, with three games ending in a tie. From 1961-1981, the Crimson Tide won 16 of the games, one was tied and the Vols won four, back-to-back in 1967-1970.
After 1981, the Vols won four straight, followed by eight Crimson Tide wins and a tie. In the next 12 games, 1995-2006, the Vols won 10 games, including a seven-game streak, 1995-2001. Alabama football is on a current 12-game winning streak. It will become 13 on Saturday. The series is 56-37-8.
It is difficult for younger Alabama football fans to understand the hate, more seasoned fans feel toward the Vols. That is understandable. Some of them were either not born or blissfully young when Phil Fulmer tried his best to destroy Alabama football. They know nothing of Roy ‘Tenn-Stud’ Adams, the Vols booster who openly admitted he broke NCAA rules. While the Vols were cheating through Adams and others, Fulmer challenged the NCAA to levy punishment on Alabama football for recruiting violations.
The NCAA sanctioned the Crimson Tide in 2002 and Phil Fulmer was later disclosed to have been a ‘secret witness’ for the NCAA.
How dirty was Tennessee football under Fulmer? There was strong evidence quarterback Tee Martin was paid throughout his college career. The SEC investigated and cleared UT and the NCAA did nothing.
Until Fulmer’s shenanigans, the rivalry was heated but not disrespectful. Today, some Alabama football fans, in deference to Jeremy Pruitt, do not want to see a lopsided score. They will probably get their wish. Nick Saban does not care to run up scores – especially against a former assistant.
On Saturday, it will be 4,745 days since the Vols won. Tua Tagovailoa was eight years old back then.
dark. Next. No one thought these Tide greats were special
Some us, despite respecting Pruitt for the great job he did in Tuscaloosa, would love to see a 70-0 beatdown. Don’t tell us there is no rivalry.