Beating Alabama in 2022 is paying dividends for Tennessee over a year later
It's been over a year since the Tennessee Vols' win against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Neyland Stadium in 2022, but that win is still paying dividends for UT's football program. On Monday morning, 2025 five-star quarterback George MacIntyre announced his commitment to Tennessee, choosing the Vols over Alabama. MacIntyre said on Monday, after he […]
It's been over a year since the Tennessee Vols' win against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Neyland Stadium in 2022, but that win is still paying dividends for UT's football program.
On Monday morning, 2025 five-star quarterback George MacIntyre announced his commitment to Tennessee, choosing the Vols over Alabama.
MacIntyre said on Monday, after he announced his commitment, that the Alabama game in 2022 was a big reason why he had interest in the Vols early during his recruitment.
“You know, I think that (Alabama) game definitely mattered a lot,” said MacIntyre (via KnoxNews). “That was probably the best game I’ve ever been to. I’ve been on some pretty good visits, but I think that one topped it off just seeing that locker room.”
MacIntyre ran into Vols legend Peyton Manning in the locker room after the win against Bama. The relationship between Manning and MacIntyre also helped Tennessee secure a commitment from the coveted five-star recruit.
“I’m very grateful for me and Peyton’s relationship,” said MacIntyre. “He’s said a lot of good things and helped me out a lot in my recruiting process for sure.”
That night in Neyland was special. And it was something that we won't see in college football again for a long time. That night — the wild celebration — was the result of 15 years of frustration. Nothing about that night can be recreated. It was organic. Those types of moments in sports are rare, but incredibly special.
Kids that were 10 years old and saw that game plastered all over highlights shows and social media that weekend will remember that wild scene for years to come. And when it comes time for them to be recruited, that will be the image of Tennessee that they see, not the dysfunction of the previous 15 years. That's why that win against Alabama is going to continue to pay dividends for the Vols in the coming years.
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