It’s the third Saturday in October and for college football fans that means one thing: Tennessee vs. Alabama. The longstanding rivalry between the two SEC programs spans decades and includes some twists, turns, and coaching connections that make for great game day trivia. The third Saturday in October is an important game no matter the teams’ records but this year the stakes are higher than they’ve been in a long time. Whether you’re tailgating at Neyland Stadium or watching from home, here are five fun facts about the annual Tennessee vs. Alabama rivalry match!
The Third Saturday in October
The annual grudge match between Tennessee and Alabama began in the early twentieth century, the first recorded meeting between the two occurring in 1903. But, the match has not always been played on the Third Saturday in October. In fact, it hasn’t even always been played in the month of October. In fact, the first nine games between the Vols and the Crimson Tide were played in November, sometimes even on Thanksgiving Day.
But all that changed on October 20, 1928 when the Vols beat the Tide 15-13 at Denny Field in Tuscaloosa. Matches began to be played regularly in mid-to-late October after that win and 11 years later, the legendary rivalry took on its “Third Saturday in October” nickname.
Dark Beginnings
The very first meeting between Tennessee and Alabama took place in Birmingham, AL in 1901. However, this game is not recorded in school history and that may be because the game was never actually completed. The teams were tied at a score of 6-6 but the game was called because of darkness; back in 1901, field lights didn’t exist and the game couldn’t continue.
This game was held in Birmingham and many angry fans rushed the field to protest the final outcome: a tie between the Vols and the Crimson Tide. And yes, I said Birmingham. For more than 70 years, Alabama’s matchups with Tennessee were played in Birmingham instead of Tuscaloosa.
Related Article: 5 Facts about the Tennessee vs. Florida Rivalry
Coaching Connections
Alabama’s and Tennessee’s fans may share a common hatred for each other but personnel from the two schools’ football programs and athletic departments don’t necessarily share in that sentiment. Since the 1970s, Tennessee and Alabama have had ties to at least five of the same coaches or senior level members of a given university’s department of athletics.
First, Bill Battle. Battle served as Tennessee’s head football coach from 1970 until 1976. In 1970 Battle led the Vols to a victory over the Tide but he lost every meeting after that from 1971-1976. Battle went on to serve as the Athletics Director for the University of Alabama from 2013-2017.
Next up, Derek Dooley. From 2010-2012, Dooley was at the helm of the Volunteers’ football program. He went 0-3 against Alabama, but is currently serving as senior offensive analyst for the Crimson Tide.
2013 brought the beginning of the Butch Jones era to the Tennessee Vols and from 2013-2017, Jones went 0-5 against the Crimson Tide. Jones served as an analyst and assistant to Nick Saban at Alabama from 2018-2020.
Jeremy Pruitt’s journey began at Alabama where he was a player and then an assistant coach. In 2018, Pruitt was named head coach for the Vols, a position he held until 2020. During Pruitt’s tenure as Tennessee’s head coach the Vols went 0-3 against the Tide.
Last but not least, the most hated man in all of Knoxville, the infamous Lane Kiffin. Kiffin served as the head coach at Tennessee in 2009, where he too lost to the Crimson Tide. From 2014-2016 Kiffin served as Alabama’s Offensive Coordinator under head coach Nick Saban.
Got a light?
Light ’em up, Jim. Goosetree, that is.
In the 1950s, Alabama’s head athletic trainer Jim Goosetree handed out cigars after a victory over the Vols and a new tradition was born.
Both programs kept the post-game victory cigar tradition burning for several years but they had to keep the cigs and the smells under wraps thank to NCAA rules regarding extra benefits and tobacco products.
In 2005, Alabama publicly restarted the tradition and preserved it by self-reporting the violation to the NCAA. In each of the past 15 years the Tide have lit ’em up after beating the Vols, knowingly violating the NCAA’s rules in the name of tradition. And, in each of the past 15 years the Tide have finished off their Third Saturday in October victory celebration by self-reporting the violation once the ashes and confetti have been cleaned up.
Third Saturday in October: Winning Streaks
Although the Third Saturday in October tradition wasn’t established until 1928, Tennessee and Alabama began regularly playing (and hating) one another long before. Part of the intense reaction to this match comes from its streaky nature; both teams have held onto winning streaks at various points throughout the rivalry.
While Alabama won eight of the first nine games against Tennessee, Tennessee stepped in to win five of the next six matchups.
On the Third Saturday in October from 1950-1960, the Vols dominated the series with an 8-1-2 run. But, the 1970s were a time of change on the football field.
From 1971-1981, the Crimson Tide won 11 consecutive matchups on the Third Saturday in October. Then, from 1986-1994, Alabama went on another 8-0 run against Tennessee in the series. In 1995 the tide turned orange as Tennessee bested Alabama in seven consecutive games from 1995-2001.
Fast forward to 2006, the last year the Vols beat the Crimson Tide, the last time Tennessee celebrated victory on the Third Saturday in October. In 2007 the Tide welcomed Nick Saban as head coach and they’ve defeated the Vols in every game since then. Coincidence? Who knows; Saban is a legend and the last decade or so has seen more turnover on Tennessee’s coaching staff than your local Wal-Mart.
On Saturday, Bama heads to an Orange Out in Neyland where 100,000 of Tennessee’s biggest fans will gather in a collective effort to will Alabama to lose this year, to this team, with this coach. And for Tennessee vs. Alabama 2022 edition, they may just have a shot.
It’s the Third Saturday in October, y’all. GBO!