Alabama player comments on rivalry with Tennessee Vols
The rivalry between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Vols is one of the best in college sports, but it hasn't been much of rivalry since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2007. From 2007 to 2021, the Crimson Tide dominated the series with Tennessee, rarely winning by less than double digits. Everything changed, […]
The rivalry between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Vols is one of the best in college sports, but it hasn't been much of rivalry since Nick Saban arrived in Tuscaloosa in 2007.
From 2007 to 2021, the Crimson Tide dominated the series with Tennessee, rarely winning by less than double digits.
Everything changed, however, in 2022 with Tennessee's thrilling 52-49 win against Alabama in Knoxville. Not only did the Vols' win against Bama snap a losing streak that spanned 15 years, but it announced to the college football world that the Third Saturday in October is once again relevant.
Alabama linebacker Dallas Turner was asked this week at SEC Media Days about the rivalry with Tennessee and he admitted that the rivalry is important again.
“The game, it came out how it was,” said Turner. “Tennessee had a very good team last year, you know, the rivalry is very deep between Alabama and Tennessee now.”
Turner doesn't view the Vols' win last season as a fluke. Instead, he's expecting this year's matchup between the two programs in Tuscaloosa to be another exciting game.
“It’s gonna be a good one,” said Turner.
For years, Tennessee watched from the sidelines while other SEC programs were relevant in the national title picture. But that's no longer the case thanks to Josh Heupel and his staff (and let's give some credit to UT athletic director Danny White, too). The Vols are one of the very few teams that legitimately has a chance to win it all in 2023.
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
