What does the Tennessee Alabama Rivalry mean to you? (Long)

#1
DaphneVol

DaphneVol

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#1
I've lived in South Alabama for almost 7 years. During this time, my passion for Tennessee Football has increased; in spite of our recent struggles! Maybe the reason is due to raising kids of my own, or being removed from my Tennessee Family & brethren; or simply seeing what I believe is our biggest rival click off some of the most successful years in their (also storied) program. Or maybe it’s bolstered by their ever expanding fan base utter that god awful phrase.

Ladies & Gentlemen, what does the Tennessee Alabama rivalry mean to you? Being born into and raised on Tennessee Football, the rivalry is more than a game to me.

•Its memories with your friends and families that defined your childhood, a sense of pride when you’re winning, and being humbled upon defeat (Although Bama Fans tend to say, “The boys played their worst game and X played their best.” Ole Saban’s gotta straighten them out)

•It’s playing football with your friends and flipping a coin to see who gets to be Tennessee. The loser of the coin toss is Alabama with no choice be any other team. It’s playing two-hand touch when mom poked her head out, but tackle when dad was around. It’s tackling the Alabama friend a little harder and pushing off of him when you get up. It’s the sheer determination and will to win while imagining yourself high stepping into the checkerboards.


•It’s being gathered around a 20” TV at my Papaw’s house in 1990 and enduring a heartbreaking 9-6 loss

•It’s being pissed that David Palmer waltzed in on a 2 pt conversion to tie in ’93. From this point on, I always considered a tie – a loss

•It’s Manning to Kent in ’95. It’s the Manning bootleg to put a nail in the coffin and let Alabama know their streak was over

•It’s being in Tuscaloosa in 2003 and witnessing 4th & 19! It’s parading an 8ft UT Flag down the strip with my buddies after the game!

•It’s taking my daughter (3 at the time) into Walmart on Gameday in her cheerleader outfit only to be in line behind a 3 year old Alabama Girl in her outfit. Course my daughter says, “Look daddy, an Alabama Fan. We don’t like Alabama Fans do we?” Smile, look at the Alabama mother and say, “You’re right baby.”

•It’s hating fat men named after mountains after 2009. I see that picture on someone’s desk or wall on every sales call I make down here. “The Block” Damnit...

I hate hounds tooth, the cursive letter A, the color crimson, fat girls with tattoos dressed in crimson, and the words Roll & Tide used in any sentence (together or separate). I hate the jackassery and how their fans act in general, but especially when they are winning. Course, one could argue they are worse when they lose. You see, there’s nothing I would like to see more than for Alabama Fans to be humbled.

This rivalry is something to hold on to, something to remind us of our youth. Remind us of our roots, and give hope for future glory days! While this rivalry is a series of streaks in my life time, history says the Tide will turn. I hope I’m still living down here when it does.
Ladies & Gentlemen, what does the Tennessee-Alabama Rivalry mean to you?

GO VOLS! Get fired up!
 
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#2
#2
Tradition. Rivalry. Streaks ending. Streaks beginning. Memories, both good and bad.
 
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#4
#4
It is a special game played each year....so much so that in a time where we are down and getting beat down by them we fight to keep the series alive while others want to end it! It is chrimson and orange on the 3rd sat in Oct. It's hating the red 2 jersey! It's hating Saban! It's loving Manning! It's loving Clausen! It's loving Fulmer!
 
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#5
#5
First time post. Graduated from UT 1990. Grew up in Birmingham. This is THE game for me every year. The ONLY game that matters. I HATE Bama. Most memorable win for me was at Legion field 1985. My seats were on the goal line, watching that last second field goal attempt by Bama fall short and TENNESSEE VOLS win 16-14 was amazing.
 
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#6
#6
Orange&whitelover said:
First time post. Graduated from UT 1990. Grew up in Birmingham. This is THE game for me every year. The ONLY game that matters. I HATE Bama. Most memorable win for me was at Legion field 1985. My seats were on the goal line, watching that last second field goal attempt by Bama fall short and TENNESSEE VOLS win 16-14 was amazing.
Click to expand...

I was there, as well, with an 8 mo pregnant wife. Good times. Welcome to the Board.
 
#7
#7
It's my favorite game of the year. Grew up hearing from my parents about the 1982 game when they were students, and fondly remember the 2004 and 2006 games from when I was a student.

My first UT/Bama memory is from the 1995 game. I was really young but distinctively remember my dad yelling for the UT defense to stick it to Alabama, and trying to figure out why my otherwise nice normal dad seemed to hate this Alabama team so much.
 
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#11
#11
Orange&whitelover said:
First time post. Graduated from UT 1990. Grew up in Birmingham. This is THE game for me every year. The ONLY game that matters. I HATE Bama. Most memorable win for me was at Legion field 1985. My seats were on the goal line, watching that last second field goal attempt by Bama fall short and TENNESSEE VOLS win 16-14 was amazing.
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Welcome to the board! My favorite sat of the year! Go Vols! Please end the maddening streak!!!
 
#13
#13
Nothing anymore. I'm sick of being Bama's cupcake.

You know TSIO has lost its luster when the MSU-UK game is a bigger draw.
 
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#14
#14
LA Vol said:
Nothing anymore. I'm sick of being Bama's cupcake.

You know TSIO has lost its luster when the MSU-UK game is a bigger draw.
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I thought the same thing this morning while checking the start times for all the games. Crazy
 
#15
#15
:yess:
IluvdoubleD's said:
For the last decade it's meant getting my ass kicked by my little brother. ugh.
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My wife and I, along with a dear Tennessee friend, were at the last victory... 2006 16-13 Tennessee!

Those writing the Death of Tennessee football are very mistaken. May not be this year. But, this program, filled with honor and tradition will return!

BTW... I think I found why Finebaum has turned his back on his alma mater. His wife graduated from the University of Alabama school of medicine. Guess we know who wears the pants in that family ; )

Go Volunteers!
 
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#17
#17
Its the 2 programs that established college football in the south and carried that through to the modern era.
 
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#18
#18
TheManFromTenn said:
:yess:

My wife and I, along with a dear Tennessee friend, were at the last victory... 2006 16-13 Tennessee!

Those writing the Death of Tennessee football are very mistaken. May not be this year. But, this program, filled with honor and tradition will return!

BTW... I think I found why Finebaum has turned his back on his alma mater. His wife graduated from the University of Alabama school of medicine. Guess we know who wears the pants in that family ; )

Go Volunteers!
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You may be on to something. She wears the pants and he wears turtlenecks
 
#19
#19
TheManFromTenn said:
:yess:

My wife and I, along with a dear Tennessee friend, were at the last victory... 2006 16-13 Tennessee!

Those writing the Death of Tennessee football are very mistaken. May not be this year. But, this program, filled with honor and tradition will return!

BTW... I think I found why Finebaum has turned his back on his alma mater. His wife graduated from the University of Alabama school of medicine. Guess we know who wears the pants in that family ; )

Go Volunteers!
Click to expand...

She's a Vandy undergrad so she just sucks all around.
 
#21
#21
Knowing that bama football is all they have to look foward to and that when we beat them, they have nothing left in their life! Go vols!
 
#22
#22
To me its summed up in one word...Tradition.

Bama vs UT is the epitome of SEC football and southern football in general.

It's victory cigars, singing "We're from TN...", hatred rooted in respect, families pitted against families (like my north AL and east TN family) and a game that needs no mention of teams, the 3rd Saturday in October is all that needs saying.
 
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#23
#23
Quite a bit. I hate bama... had them rubbed in my face as a child. A bama loss is as good as a Big Orange win in my book every day.

There's two main things I pay attention to on game day. Who we play and if we win and who bama plays and if they lose. I've been miserable the last several years
 
#24
#24
BigOrangeFanatic said:
Quite a bit. I hate bama... had them rubbed in my face as a child. A bama loss is as good as a Big Orange win in my book every day.

There's two main things I pay attention to on game day. Who we play and if we win and who bama plays and if they lose. I've been miserable the last several years
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I agree.
The 2 teams I cheer for each week are playing in tonight's game,Tennessee and the team playing against Alabama. I will never be for Bama, no matter who they play. I will cheer for the Vols always and forever!!

Never give up!! Go Big Orange!!
 
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