Nick Saban explained that motivating Alabama players for the Iron Bowl against Auburn was more challenging than for the annual game against Tennessee. According to Saban, the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry was more significant to his players than the Auburn matchup.
During his appearance on College Gameday, Saban said, “For our players, this was a bigger rivalry than any other game we played. Even bigger than Auburn. It was difficult for me to get our players up for the Auburn game, but never for the Tennessee game.”
Saban’s Alabama teams dominated Tennessee, with a record of 16-1 during his tenure, while they went 12-5 against Auburn in the Iron Bowl. He emphasized the importance of the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry, stating that many people outside of the region might not understand its significance. The rivalry, born from legendary coaches like Bear Bryant at Alabama and Robert Neyland at Tennessee, holds deep tradition. Saban noted that both schools’ stadiums are named after these iconic coaches, further highlighting the long-standing history.
He also mentioned the “Third Saturday in October,” the traditional date for the Alabama-Tennessee game, describing it as a holiday in both states. The post-game cigar tradition, where the winning team celebrates with cigars, is a notable part of this rivalry.
Alabama and Tennessee were set to face off in Knoxville, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT.
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