3rd Saturday in October
On Saturday, Oct. 19, more than 100,000 fans will pile up on top of each other in Neyland Stadium to (hopefully) watch the Tennessee Vols get their sixth win of the season. The visiting team? The Crimson Tide.
Growing up in the ‘90s, I always wondered at my father’s (and grandfather’s) anticipation and anxiety over the game. From the time I turned six (in 1995), I watched the Vols pummel the Tide seven years in a row, and they were never close games. So from my young frame of reference, I didn’t see what the big deal was.
Then, in 2002, they came and beat us in Knoxville 34-14. I was in shock. They did it again in 2005, this time in Tuscaloosa. Then came the end of Phil Fulmer’s coaching career and a decade-long drought for the Vols. The era of Kiffin, Dooley, Chaney Jones, and Pruitt. The Crimson Tide would eventually win 15 straight games over the Vols before our home win 2 years ago.
Last year, we fell at Tuscaloosa 34-20 but now we’re back on our turf. Last week’s narrow win over Florida was not pretty, but at least it was a win. And dropping the game at Arkansas… we won’t even go there. But at least it wasn’t Vanderbilt. Alabama has a good program and they’ve still got some great athletes but I don’t think they’re better than Tennessee, and the homefield advantage that Neyland offers is second to none.
I’m very happy that after so many failed experiments with promising coaches, I think we’ve got a good one now. Josh Heupel, after 26 games, has already won more games than Jeremy Pruitt did in 35 games. Perhaps more important are the specific games he has won. He’s the first UT coach since Phil Fulmer to beat Florida twice, and the first since Fulmer to beat Alabama at all.
So now, like my father and grandfather did, I eagerly await the third Saturday in October every year. My hope is that in a few years my son Ben (now 2 years old), wonder what the fuss is all about.
