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Why is UT Bama's Biggest Rival?
Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:32 am
Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:32 am
I like to think that I know a lot about college football, especially SEC college football. I also know a good bit of Auburn fans and know for a fact that beating Bama means the most to them. The AU fans I know, for instance, would have preferred an unbeaten Florida/Fighting Tebow team to win a title than Bama.
Many Bama fans on here have said that the game against UT is more important. I haven't seen the reasons. I know about Fulmer turning in Bama and Bama trying to serve Phil at SEC Media Days and a lot of the modern stuff.
The question is two-fold: 1) Is UT truly Bama's biggest rival; and 2) what are the high points of the rivalry for someone trying to round out his knowledge?
Many Bama fans on here have said that the game against UT is more important. I haven't seen the reasons. I know about Fulmer turning in Bama and Bama trying to serve Phil at SEC Media Days and a lot of the modern stuff.
The question is two-fold: 1) Is UT truly Bama's biggest rival; and 2) what are the high points of the rivalry for someone trying to round out his knowledge?
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Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:35 am to therick711
quote:
Many Bama fans on here have said that the game against UT is more important.
It's more a dig at Auburn, They try not to acknowledge it as being important, but it is. Just a different type of Rivalry
Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:36 am to therick711
Roll Ducks
Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:36 am to therick711
I always have and always will see Auburn as our biggest rival and the Iron Bowl as the biggest rivalry in football. I don't hate UT. I hate Auburn.
UT, LSU (yes, some do), and Auburn fans all see Bama as their biggest rival, Bama (most) only see Auburn, whereas some see UT (mostly REALLY old fans), and a select few see LSU as our biggest rival.
UT, LSU (yes, some do), and Auburn fans all see Bama as their biggest rival, Bama (most) only see Auburn, whereas some see UT (mostly REALLY old fans), and a select few see LSU as our biggest rival.
Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:36 am to therick711
A lot of the bama fans that consider UT their biggest rival are from North Alabama. Phat Phil turned them into the NCAA.
This post was edited on 6/1/12 at 11:37 am
Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:37 am to therick711
Because historically Bama and UT were the best two teams in the conference, border states, and have played since the beginning of time.
AU was still some Polytechnic institute, and besides that, there were FORTY YEARS where Bama and AU didn't even play each other.
AU was still some Polytechnic institute, and besides that, there were FORTY YEARS where Bama and AU didn't even play each other.
This post was edited on 6/1/12 at 11:38 am
Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:37 am to therick711
Two reasons they say that:
1.
2.
The role that Fulmer played in exposing their SOP.
1.
quote:
It's more a dig at Auburn, They try not to acknowledge it as being important, but it is. Just a different type of Rivalry
2.
The role that Fulmer played in exposing their SOP.
Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:38 am to therick711
quote:
Why is UT Bama's Biggest Rival?
This is similar to OM fans saying LSU is their "real" rival and trying to pretend like the other school in state is not important to them.
Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:38 am to therick711
The first meeting (year escapes me) there was a brawl between fans at midfield during and/or after the game. I think that's a good start.
This post was edited on 6/1/12 at 11:44 am
Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:40 am to therick711
For most Bama fans it's definitely Auburn. Some do say UT, especially older fans who remember when Auburn and Alabama didn't even play. Those people are getting old as shite though.
Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:40 am to therick711
I live in Nashville which is very close to the TN/AL border. People hate each other over that shite. There are also a ton of UT fans in Huntsville and other parts of North Alabama. And vice versa.
Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:45 am to therick711
What's a rival?
Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:50 am to therick711
Not clicking on this thread
No wait I mean I didn't mean nooooooooooooooooo
No wait I mean I didn't mean nooooooooooooooooo
Posted on 6/1/12 at 11:54 am to therick711
because they are focused on the past.
Posted on 6/1/12 at 12:00 pm to therick711
Posted on 6/1/12 at 12:01 pm to therick711
quote:
Why is UT Bama's Biggest Rival?
Neyland, Bryant helped shape rivalry and the SEC
quote:
First came the General, later came the Bear.
From the mid-1920s through the early 1980s, Tennessee’s Gen. Robert Neyland and the University of Alabama’s Paul W. “Bear” Bryant put their respective stamps on college football in the Deep South, shaping the game with discipline and defense. They won a combined 21 conference championships and 10 national titles.
Long before Steve Spurrier’s decade of dominance at Florida or Nick Saban’s current reign as king of the Southeastern Conference, Bryant and Neyland carved their reputations and the league’s by building championship teams and contenders. Trace the roots of the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry, which resumes today, and you will find them planted in soil tilled by the two coaching legends.
“I suppose you could say that Neyland helped shape the old SEC, ‘Bear’ the new SEC,” said Dan Jenkins, historian at the College Football Hall of Fame. “They both became larger than life. I can’t think who else you’d rank with them.”
quote:
“Wallace Wade and Neyland were responsible for the series between Tennessee and Alabama,” said Bob Gilbert, author of the book “Neyland: The Gridiron General” and a retired Associated Press reporter. “Neyland was obviously aware of the success Wade had at Alabama in the 1920s. Neyland respected him and they had become friends and decided to play.
“They started playing in 1928 and it has survived every year since, except the one year in World War II (1943) that neither school fielded a team.”
quote:
“It’s hard to find a moment that is more telling of the intensity of the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry than a young Paul Bryant wanting to beat Tennessee so badly that he would play despite having a broken leg,” said Keith Dunnavant, author of “Coach: The Life of Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant” and editor in chief of Crimsonreplay.com, a website devoted to UA football history. “It became part of the legend of both Coach Bryant and the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry, a guy who both hated Tennessee and respected them that much.”
Posted on 6/1/12 at 12:05 pm to therick711
There's just more history between TN and AL, for one. Those two schools are also, historically, the pinnacle of the SEC. Auburn doesn't even compare in that regard. They'll be chasing that level for a long time.
I have an intense dislike for Tennessee and Tennessee fans. Some of my best friends are Auburn fans, but I won't be hanging around a TN fan if I can help it.
I have an intense dislike for Tennessee and Tennessee fans. Some of my best friends are Auburn fans, but I won't be hanging around a TN fan if I can help it.
Posted on 6/1/12 at 12:19 pm to therick711
The majority of Vols/Tide fans would probably say that each respective school is their second-most hated team (AU for them, Florida for us)...But the hate is still strong for both fanbases (*cough* NBamaAlum *cough*).
I'd say that Kentucky would be our biggest rival if they could manage to beat us more than once in every 28 years.
I'd say that Kentucky would be our biggest rival if they could manage to beat us more than once in every 28 years.
Posted on 6/1/12 at 12:23 pm to therick711
You must be pretty young.
Tennessee a top ten football program that shares a border with another top ten football program,Alabama. Duh.
Tennessee a top ten football program that shares a border with another top ten football program,Alabama. Duh.
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