Why the Third Saturday in October is Still Special.

A whole lotta hittin' happens in this rivalry.

If you're a Tennessee or Alabama fan there are two rules to live by: don't get married on the Third Saturday in October, and try not to die. Because in either case, the preacher might not show.

 The Aabama-Tennessee series began in 1901 and beginning in 1928 the game has been played on the third Saturday in October (with a few exceptions). Each team has won its share of games, with Alabama leading the series 48-38-7 which has seen both teams putting together impressive winning streaks. The Vols have had three streaks of three wins, two four-win streaks, and a seven-win streak. The Tide have won seven in a row twice with their longest streak being eleven wins.

This is one of the greatest rivalries in college football, mostly because of the great coaches and players that have taken part in it. Wallace Wade, Paul "Bear" Bryant, General Robert Neyland, Doug Dickey, and dozens of All-Americans - - such as Namath, Musso, Bennett, Humphrey, Hannah, Manning, Holloway, Kiner, Gault, Cafego, Majors and Dodd - - have contributed to the greatness of the game, several with national title ramifications.

A whole lotta memories.

This rivalry has special meaning to me. My first personal exposure to big time Southern football dates back to 1973 and Legion Field where the Vols were taking on another top ranked Bama team. The game was back and forth with UT's Condredge Holloway scrambling for yards and Bama's Wilbur Jackson slamming for first downs and touchdowns. He's still one of the largest running backs I've ever seen; no wonder he wore #80. Since then I've witnessed some great wins along with some agonizing losses in Knoxville, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa. But the magic of this series has never been lost.

Through the years, Kenny Clyde "Bear" Yarbrough (Birmingham native and Tide alum) has been at my side (and throat) at several of these affairs. Our Third Saturday in October road trips typically kick off on Fridays with a round of contact-golf, followed by Friday night entertainment in either KnoxVegas or B'Ham. Saturday mornings are welcomed with the General's Hooch, a special bloody mary concoction that has been perfected through the years. Each game is followed by a traditional cigar, some brown whisky, a Saturday night banquet with the loser picking up the tab, and a Sunday morning round of golf before returning home. Needless to say I've paid a fair price through the years (including the bus rides out of Legion Field surrounded by 349 sloppy drunk crimson-necks reminding you of the score) but the memories and laughs are priceless.

This Saturday the magic returns to Neyland Stadium. You can throw out the records because this game takes on a totally different demeanor and never fails to disappoint (okay, when the Vols lose, it does sting a little). The #1 ranked Crimson Tide arrives in Big Orange Country with the best defense in America but Tennessee's passing offense will certainly make some big plays against an untested Alabama secondary. And it always seems that some little known player on either team steps up to make a winning difference so I'm anxious to see what Vol becomes the next hero in this great rivalry.

Given our history, it's only fitting that Kenny Clyde returns this week to give his unbiased and unvarnished take on the game.

Let Kenny Clyde 'Bear' Yarbrough speak... 

Kenny Clyde looks for another Tide win

Whoa Nellie! It's the Third Saddity in October! 
Alabama's coming to town and it’s really Football Time in Tennessee.  
Somethings gotta give. 

 Bama leads the nation in 7 defensive categories, including points allowed (7.5) and yards allowed (181).  The Tick Hounds offense is ranked 3^rd in the SEC and in the top 25 nationally with 38 points and 482 yards per game. 
 

They gave UGA and the Starkvillians a run for their money.  They played tough with the Lizards early.  But my Bama team isn't UGA.  We'll hit the Road Cone Orange Warriors in the mouth in the first quarter AND the last one.  After Lacy creates a few deep thigh bruises, Yeldon will demonstrate just how fast someone can run checkerboard to checkerboard.
 

So what am I worried about? 

• Overlooking the VoleWeevils:  We face three ranked teams - No. 15 Mississippi State, No. 6 LSU and No. 20 Texas A&M - after traveling to Knoxville. 

• Tyler Bray:  the skinny kid's thrown an SEC best 16 touchdowns in his 1,730 yards so far. 

• History:  Alabama's win streak in the series is its longest (5) since a seven-game run Oct. 18, 1986-Oct. 17, 1992. I remember them well, as Mr. Weekend Winners and our wives traveled to all but one (imagine getting pregnant with the chance of delivering in mid October!  What were they thinking?! Hello Sarah!).

Yessiree, this storied contest has had its moments.  The General.  The Bear.  Fat Phil.  Hell, CBS even bought a permanent condo for K'ville weekends.

 
But now we're stuck in a 7:00 pm time slot on a cable station; the Vomiteers have a lawyer coaching from the pressbox; and the damn NCAA ruled against Victory Cigars.

Making the road trip to the Great State of Tennessee used to be exciting.  Now?  Might as well be playing the Dores.