Tennessee Vols' 17-year nightmare just ended with latest news
Fans of schools across the SEC are dancing in the streets on Wednesday evening. That especially includes Knoxville, Tennessee. Or at least they should be after the latest breaking news coming out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. According to ESPN's Chris Low, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has announced his retirement. There couldn't possibly be any news […]
Fans of schools across the SEC are dancing in the streets on Wednesday evening. That especially includes Knoxville, Tennessee. Or at least they should be after the latest breaking news coming out of Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
According to ESPN's Chris Low, Alabama head coach Nick Saban has announced his retirement.
There couldn't possibly be any news more earth-shattering for Tennessee fans than seeing the man who's caused so much misery for Vol fans to finally be stepping aside. It doesn't matter who Alabama hires next. It can't be as bad as what Vol fans have experienced since Nick Saban took over as the Alabama head coach in January 2007.
Saban made an impression in his first appearance in the Third Saturday in October, defeating Phillip Fulmer's Volunteers 41-17 in Tuscaloosa. That unfortunately began one of the ugliest streaks in the history of what had been a competitive rivalry.
Saban and the Crimson Tide rolled over the Vols for the next 14 seasons, with most of the contests being completely uncompetitive. Tennessee had a couple of heartbreakers in 2009 and 2015, falling late in the fourth quarter with a chance to steal a win. Otherwise, the Vols never could stand up to the juggernaut that Saban built.
That is, until Josh Heupel came to town and delivered an 11-win season in 2022 that was like an oasis in the desert for success-starved Tennessee fans. And the apex of that excitement came the evening of October 15, 2022, as Tennessee edged Saban and the Crimson Tide 52-49 to end a 15-year streak of futility at the hands of their chief rival.
As much success as Saban had against Tennessee, it turns out his last game ever at Neyland Stadium as head coach of the Tide will be a loss. It adds even more of a glow to a win that will go down as one of the best in program history.
For Tennessee, it doesn't matter who Alabama brings in. The man that's made their lives a living hell for almost two decades is gone.
Let the party begin.
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