Former NFL defensive back Roman Harper spends his post-player career as an analyst for SEC Network.

Harper, who went to two Pro Bowls during his 11-year NFL career, does a good job of being an objective analyst, but he bleeds Crimson after a standout career at Alabama.

The former First-team All-SEC safety made it clear this week that he still passionately hates Tennessee all these years later.

Harper, in fact, says he hates Tennessee more than Auburn.

“Tennessee, it’s not even close,” said Harper when asked who Alabama’s most hated rival is. “Auburn’s like family. … That’s how I feel about Auburn, especially for me. I grew up in Prattville, which is closer to Auburn. A lot of my friends went to Auburn. I had some great times on Auburn’s campus.

“So I don’t hate Auburn. … But Tennessee is a hatred. Nobody likes Tennessee. It was one of the best moments I’ve had in Bryant-Denny Stadium was last year when, as the game’s wrapping up, I’m smoking a cigar in a suite at Bryant-Denny Stadium with my wife, who doesn’t even smoke cigars. And you’re not even supposed to smoke in the stadium and nobody cared because you’re beating Tennessee. And the other thing that’s special about it is that [the rivalry] lost a little bit of that luster when Alabama was rolling off like 15 straight wins. It’s like, ‘It’s just Tennessee.’ All of a sudden they beat [Alabama] a couple times, and it’s like, you know what? I do hate that effing T. I do hate them.”

Harper went on to talk about how Alabama’s new coaching staff now feels the same after initially not fully grasping how much hatred there is on both sides of the rivalry.

“The coaching staff at Alabama, when they were in Knoxville two years ago, I was at the game,” said Harper. “They’re like, ‘Man, it’s nice in Knoxville. It’s a nice stadium.’ They were very complimentary of Tennessee. Then [Tennessee] beat them. Then last year I was on the sideline at the same game, and they’re like, ‘I hate these effing guys.’ I’m like, ‘Okay, I like this. This is good.’ This is a good place to be if you’re an Alabama coach or a fan — anytime you’re hating Tennessee because they hate us too. I know (ESPN’s) Ryan McGee. He doesn’t sugarcoat it. He’s like, ‘Oh, we hate Alabama, no question.’ You learn to hate Alabama and you learn to hate Tennessee, and so it’s fun. It makes the rivalry and the cigar is just the sugar on top.”

Whether you’re an Alabama fan or a Tennessee fan, that has to make you smile. That passion on both sides is what makes the rivalry so great, and it’s what makes college football different. There are rivalries in the NFL, but it’s not the same hate that you get in college football.

As for Harper, just know that the next time you see him giving Tennessee a compliment on SEC Network, he’s dying a little bit on the inside.