The Tennessee Vols have officially taken back what already belonged to them
The Tennessee Vols basketball team got back on track on Wednesday night thanks to a 68-59 win against No. 1 Alabama. Tennessee badly needed to get a win against the Crimson Tide after suffering back-to-back losses at the buzzer to inferior teams. The win against Alabama, which was Tennessee's first against a No. 1 team since […]
The Tennessee Vols basketball team got back on track on Wednesday night thanks to a 68-59 win against No. 1 Alabama.
Tennessee badly needed to get a win against the Crimson Tide after suffering back-to-back losses at the buzzer to inferior teams.
The win against Alabama, which was Tennessee's first against a No. 1 team since 2018 against Gonzaga, shows fans that the Vols still have what it takes to make a deep NCAA tournament run later this spring.
As Tennessee's players and fans celebrated the big against the Crimson Tide, the PA at Thompson-Boling Arena started playing Dixieland Delight — just like at Neyland Stadium after the UT football team beat Alabama back in October.
Check it out:
It wasn't quite the same as the scene after beating Alabama in Neyland, but it was still a pretty special moment for the Vols. Beating the No. 1 team in the nation is always worth celebrating. But it's a little more special when it's Alabama.
And playing Dixieland Delight was a perfect way to cap the celebration.
For years, the Crimson Tide have weirdly played the song, which was written about Tennessee, at home football games.
It's never made much sense and Vols fans have consistently wanted Tennessee to take the song back.
And over the last several months, they have.
My only complaint is that I wish Tennessee would break the song out more. So far, it's only been used in wins against Alabama. But really, the song shouldn't be just associated with Alabama. The Vols should play it going into the fourth quarter at Neyland. They should play it after wins in football, basketball, and baseball — specifically on Saturdays (you know, a "Tennessee Saturday night").
Regardless of how it's used, I think we can all agree on one thing — Alabama can never play it again. There's just no way that song can echo through Bryant-Denny Stadium again after the way the Vols have taken it back in recent months.
Sorry, Bama. Dixieland Delight is back where it belongs — on Rocky Top.
Featured image via USA TODAY Sports
