Birmingham..... it's because of Birmingham.
Rant incoming:
Gumps hate us and we hate gumps. If I was a referee and officiated one of TENNESSEE's rivals or a game I knew would help my beloved VOLS, I'd have a hard time calling it straight down the line, especially after years of watching the VOLS get screwed over. We have proof there are alabama and florida alumni, that officiate games that TN is involved in and you know they hate the VOLS. They're part time refs, so what's it to them if they call it one-sided. There's no consequences and they have a regular job to go back to. They're "heroes" to their alma mater.
Now here's the real conspiracy........ Fulmer's part in turning alabama for recruiting violations and their cheating, poured enough fuel on flame to keep it stoked up to the point that the fire will burn hot forever. Bama will do whatever it has to do to keep TENNESSEE down. That's why Pruitt cheated so recklessly and openly while he was here. He didn't care if we lost our football program or not. We had an athletic department full of gumps for years, and that was the worst years we've had. Danny White got our AD cleaned out and we're healthier now, across all sports, than we've ever been. The rivalry between UT and UA is real and the hatred is real. Don't ever underestimate people that hate your guts and are willing do anything to keep you down. GET THE SEC OFFICE AWAY FROM BIRMINGHAM, AL.
End rant
tl;dr
I HATE ALABAMA