When the Alabama Crimson Tide hits the field at Neyland Stadium in October the team will not be in its classic road whites. Instead, Alabama will be in crimson and the Vols will be in their home orange.
According to Pete Thamel, the teams have not worn that jersey combination since a 1970 game. Until then, it was the norm most Alabama fans preferred, though a few claimed the two colors clashed.
Be advised, this is an opinion post. And for any Tennessee fans joining in for the read, it will be an unpleasant experience.
Alabama's hate against the Vols can't be understood unless you have lived it. For seasoned fans of a certain age (in my case, that means old), hate for the Vols is entrenched for reasons that occurred on and off the field.
A few exceptions are possible. Tennessee coach Robert Neyland was an all-time great coach. Alabama players during Neyland's era, before and after WWII, considered it an honor to compete against him. Bear Bryant relished playing and coaching against Tennessee. The games meant so much to Bryant that in 1935, he played with a fractured leg.
Condredge Holloway was a star Tennessee quarterback in the 1970s. Holloway grew up in Huntsville, AL, but passed on an opportunity to play for Alabama. Bryant said he expected Holloway to forgo college and accept a professional baseball contract. An exceptional athlete, Holloway could have played multiple positions, but he was only interested in playing quarterback. Privately, Bryant told him that Alabama was not yet ready for a black quarterback. Many years later, Condredge told me how much he respected Bryant for his honesty. Sadly, it took another decade for Alabama to have a black man starting at quarterback.
Though it was grudging respect, how good Tennessee's Ernie and Bernie show was in basketball could not be ignored.
Enough of meandering done memory lane. On Oct. 17, Alabama will be in crimson. The Vols will be in their mainstay puke orange. If Tennessee was in their other jersey options, white, or gray, or black, I wouldn't hate them any less.
For some of us, the Third Saturday in October is so special that how the teams are attired matters little. However, many Alabama fans will love the change to crimson in Knoxville.
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