The Tennessee Volunteers are one of the Crimson Tide’s most hated rivals. For many people, beating Tennessee is more important than beating in-state rival Auburn.
I am one of those people. I can’t help but be reminded of former Tennessee head coach, and later athletics director Philip Fulmer diverting an NCAA investigation into his own program toward Alabama.
This lead to the uncovering of violations by the Crimson Tide, which the Vols were likely just as guilty of, that put the program on probation for five years and a two-year postseason ban for providing impermissible benefits to recruits.
But, I’m not here to dwell on the past. I’m here to give you five things we should know before the Crimson Tide takes the field against the Volunteers on Saturday.