Tuesday, October 16, 2007

The Third Saturday in October - GO VOLS!

Just another fall day for many, but to college football aficionados and particularly to fans of the University of Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide, this day is a holy day. A day by which your season and thus the rest of the year is measured. Sure there are bigger games for both teams, but none that possesses the history and fanfare. This is the game that legends are made of. The series began in 1901 in Birmingham, a game that ended in a 6-6 tie, and has marked over the last 30 years by long winning streaks by one team or the other. Currently Alabama holds the edge in the series with 44 victories to Tennessee's 38, with 7 ties. Legendary Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant held a commanding 16-7-2 record against Tennessee
while storied Tennessee coach General Robert Neyland held an equally impressive 12-5-2 record against Alabama. Current Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer owns an even more impressive 11-3 all-time mark against the Crimson Tide including a 3-1 record at Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium.

A few interesting quotes

"You never know what a football player is made of until he plays against Alabama.", Legendary Tennessee Coach Bob Neyland.

"He literally knocked the door down. I mean right off its hinges. A policeman came in and asked who knocked the door down, and Coach Bryant said, "I did". The policeman just said "Okay" and walked off." Jerry Duncan describing an irate Bryant after a 7-7 tie with Tennessee.

Music Please Maestro

Rocky Top (Osborne Brothers)
Can't Shake Knoxville (Scott Miller)
Alabama Bound (Scott Miller)
Diggin' Up Bear (Unknown)

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