re: Who is Alabama's biggest rival?

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not really, they have had several periods of mediocrity, like everyone.

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With more consistent success than almost anyone. UT hasn't failed to win at least 4 games in a year since 1924.

Not many teams can say that. Bammer, Auburn, Florida have all had seasons where they won no games at all in that period.

Walt

UT '81

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UT is the game where Bama sees how tough they really are. It is a mid season match up between two conference traditional powers

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Since Bryant came to Bama, only 18 times in 58 years was Tennessee the highest rated team Bama played that season at the time they were playing. Nearly 70% of the time, Bama has aleady played a team ranked higher than Tennessee by the third Saturday in October.

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It is often a slobberknocker.

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Of Bama's three biggest rivals, here are the percentage of meetings that have been decided by a Touchdown or less since Bryant came to Alabama:

44.8% of games against Auburn decided by 7 points or less
42.6% of games against LSU decided by 7 points or less
37.9% of games gainst Tennessee decided by 7 points or less

Of Bama's 3 toughest rivals going all the way back to 1958, the Tennessee game is the least likely to be a close one.

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The way it is now, is the way it is supposed to be.(UT has had a rough decade, I know, but I go back several decades).

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Tennessee's dismal decade is the most exaggerated time period in SEC history. Tennessee's worst decade of football from 2005-2014 saw a winning percentage -15.3% compared to their overall program winning percentage since 1958. Their best decade of football which immediately preceded it was from 1995-2004. In this period, they were +13.8% better than their overall program winning percentage since 1958.

Their strong period in the 1990s was nearly as much of a departure from the norm as their miserable decade has been, only in a different direction. They simply cancel each other out.

Further more, nearly all of the "Big 6" has a decade-long period that was just as bad. If you look at the "Big 6" since Bryant came to Bama in 1958, here are the worst 10-year periods for each "Big 6" member based on how bad of a departure from their overall winning percentage during the entire period:

-21.5%: Alabama (1997-2006). Bama won 54.9% of its games during this stretch compared to 76.4% of its games since 1958

-20.5%: LSU (1990-1997). LSU won 47.0% of its games during this stretch compared to 67.5% of its games since 1958

-17.4%: Florida (1970-1979). Florida won 50.9% of its games during this stretch compared to 68.3% of its games since 1958

-15.1%: Tennessee (2005-2014). Tennessee won 51.2% of its games during this stretch compared to 66.3% of its games since 1958

-14.5%: Auburn (1973-1982). Auburn won 52.3% of its games during this stretch compared to 67.1% of its games since 1958

-8.7%: Georgia (1987-1996). Georgia won 59.9% of its games during this stretch compared to 68.6% of its games since 1958

Save Georgia, every other Big 6 member has had a decade as rough at Tennessee experienced. This is not unique to the Vols... its just that its more recent.

Since Bear Bryant came to Alabama, Tennessee has been the 6th best program in the SEC. Their recent down decade simply cancels out their very strong decade that occurred with Peyton Manning, Tee Martin, etc.

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You are really pushing this thing with all of your number crunching and I fail to understand why a UGA fan is so obviously bothered with the UA/UT or UA/AU rivalry?

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Not bothered by it one bit. But its an obvious observation I've formed over several years of living in the state of Alabama. Bama fans like to pretend Tennessee is their biggest rival. And occasionally Auburn fans like to pretend Georgia is their biggest rival in an attempt to throw it back at Bama fans.

I've lived in this state for too long watching Alabama and Auburn fans obsess over each other 365 days per year only to watch Bama fans pretend for one week each October that their true rival is Tennessee. After the game, they never once talk about Tennessee or even pay them any attention. Hardly the markings of an intense rivalry.

I just think its ridiculous that most don't want to be honest about it.

The mental gymnastics that occur every year because of TSiO are spectacular.

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Save Georgia, every other Big 6 member has had a decade as rough at Tennessee experienced. This is not unique to the Vols... its just that its more recent.

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You had stats and logical arguments and were winning me over. Then you hit me with the "Big 6 crap."
The term "slobberknocker" means a hard hitting affair. This game gets them banged and bruised. It is not something you can put stats on. I normally like stats in an argument, but they simply don't apply in this one. Unless you have stats that account for mid season injuries and how much adversity a team has, then you have no case. I will tell you this about the Iron Bowl. I hear a lot of people say "you can throw the records out for this one", but actually over the last 30 years, the team that is favored, usually wins. Not so much with the UT/Bama game.I remember a time during this streaky series, that UT clearly had a better team, but Bama always seemed to pull it out. I am sure a lot of older UT fans can name games like this during their win streaks.

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Historically it is UT. AU's is Tech.

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If you're a WW2 vet maybe.

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The term "slobberknocker" means a hard hitting affair. This game gets them banged and bruised.

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When I hear, "slobberknocker" I think of a good, strong defensive battle. Alabama vs. LSU Round 1 in 2011 comes to mind. I certainly don't think of Alabama vs. Tennessee.

As I said, of Alabama's three big rivals since Bryant came to Tuscaloosa, the Tennessee game is the least likely to be decided by a touchdown or less. It's the most frequent one to end more lopsidedly.

It's also the highest scoring of the 3 rivalry games. Since 1958, Alabama-LSU games average 35.5 points total... Alabama-Auburn games average 38.7 points total... and Alabama-Tennessee games average 41.3 points total. Typically high scoring games are not "hard hitting affairs." I guess it could be, but usually more scoring equals less tackling/hitting.

So it's the highest scoring and the most lopsided. I'd say that's the opposite of being a "slobberkocker" relative to those other rivalries.

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I normally like stats in an argument, but they simply don't apply in this one.

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I disagree. By definition, a rivalry has to be competitive. That's why Tennessee-Kentucky and Alabama-Mississippi State are not rivalries. They may combine for a bunch of meetings, but there has to be competition.

Not saying UT-AL hasn't been competitive. It's certainly a big rivalry. But if competition is a component of a rivalry, then certainly increased competition is also an increasing factor for a rivalry.

For 60 years+ the Iron Bowl has been more competitive. It's been more meaningful. And it's in-state vs. out-of-state. There is simply nothing that can be pointed to that would show the UT game being a bigger rivalry for Alabama.

I'd also like to echo the earlier sentiments of an Alabama fan re:UT. Context: I grew up in Auburn, went to undergrad at Auburn, still live in Auburn, and go to grad school in Atlanta. Spent all five years of undergrad in the marching band and have made it to every stadium but UF and Mizzou.

There's no team I want to beat than UGA.
There's no team I want to not lose to more than UA.

99% of Georgia fans are trash.
Sanford Stadium is the worst place to watch a football game in the conference.
I don't mind going to Tuscaloosa. I'll only step foot in Athens once every two years.
Grown men barking is embarrassing.
Grown men barking following the AUMB all the way back to their buses after a game is pathetic.

Athens is the only place where we would march out of the stadium, wearing our hats as helmets and keeping all the girls on the inside of the block. Majorettes and flag/danceline had to be protected by tubas. We've been spit on, threatened, stuff thrown at us, everything.

No program deserves to lose every single one of their football games more than the University of Georgia.