The rivalry between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Vols has been lopsided at times (in favor of UT), but it’s never lacked in intensity.

Regardless of what either fan base thinks, or what either team’s record is, this rivalry is always bitter on both sides.

And it’s been that way for a long, long time.

Former Vols QB tells wild story about Vanderbilt stealing Tennessee’s jerseys the night before the game

Former Volunteers quarterback Sterling Henton shared a story on The Sports Source this week that perfectly illustrates how bitter this rivalry has been over the years.

Henton, who played at Tennessee from 1987 to 1990, said that during one trip to Nashville, the Vols’ jerseys were stolen from the locker room the night before they played the Commodores.

“We have legendary equipment men in Roger Frazier and Max Parrott,” said Henton. “When I was playing with Tennessee, we played at Vandy. And they line our jerseys up in our lockers the night before. They came down in the morning — fortunately it was a night game — and no jerseys. So they had to come back to Knoxville and get them shipped back to Nashville. I don’t know how they did it, but Max made it happen. And let me tell you something, there was no way we were going to lose that game. Max was so juiced up that Coach (Johnny) Majors let Max give the motivational speech (before the game).”

It’s unclear what year Henton was talking about, but Tennessee played at Vanderbilt in 1988 and 1990 during his time with the Volunteers.

Tennessee and Vanderbilt will face off on Saturday in Neyland Stadium in the latest installment of this interstate rivalry.

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