Nick Saban doesn't even take part in one of the best parts of the Tennessee/Alabama rivalry
Last season was the first time that Nick Saban has lost to the Tennessee Vols as the Alabama Crimson Tide's head coach. Which means that Saban, for the first time since arriving in Tuscaloosa, didn't have a cigar in his hand on the Third Saturday in October. Though even if Alabama had won last season, […]
Last season was the first time that Nick Saban has lost to the Tennessee Vols as the Alabama Crimson Tide's head coach.
Which means that Saban, for the first time since arriving in Tuscaloosa, didn't have a cigar in his hand on the Third Saturday in October.
Though even if Alabama had won last season, Saban wouldn't have been smoking a cigar.
The longtime Crimson Tide head coach told reporters on Wednesday during the SEC coaches teleconference that he doesn't smoke the cigar if Alabama beats Tennessee. Instead, he just chews on it.
“I guess it’s fun when you get the opportunity to smoke a cigar,” said Saban. “I don’t smoke. I kind of just chew on one for a little bit.”
I completely understand not being a smoker. I'm not a fan either. But if I'm on the winning side of one of the best rivalries in college football, regardless of whether it's the first win in 16 years or the 16th straight win, I'm gonna puff on a victory cigar.
Vols head coach Josh Heupel, on the flip side, had no problem smoking a cigar last year after Tennessee's win against Alabama.
In fact, Heupel told reporters in the post-game press conference that he "smoked it slow" and it was "dang good".
One cigar a year probably doesn't take too much of a toll on lungs (though that's not medical advice for anyone reading), so I'm not sure what the aversion to the tradition is for Saban.
Tennessee, however, is hoping that the reason Saban doesn't smoke a cigar this season is because he's on the losing side of this rivalry for the second straight year.
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