Coach Saban just settled the “Biggest Bama Rivalry” debate (Spoiler said it’s Tennessee)

[81usaf92]

On Gameday he said Tennessee was bama’s biggest rival. Sorry Auburn… you don’t mean as much to us.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1847647522644177053

 

[tusks_n_raider]

I feel like internally our fan base knows Tenn is our number 1 rival.

AU fans and Casual CFB fans only think AU is number 1

CNS’s number 1 was LSU and that felt obvious too. Those early games from ‘07 to at ‘13 were extremely heated between the fanbases.

But yeah I was born in the late 70’s and my Dad made sure I knew that Tennessee is who we wanted to beat the most.

 

[DzynKingRTR]

" I dislike auburn, I hate tennessee"

 

[Windsortide]

I feel like internally our fan base knows Tenn is our number 1 rival.

AU fans and Casual CFB fans only think AU is number 1

CNS’s number 1 was LSU and that felt obvious too. Those early games from ‘07 to at ‘13 were extremely heated between the fanbases.

But yeah I was born in the late 70’s and my Dad made sure I knew that Tennessee is who we wanted to beat the most.

LSU made for TV rivalry. SMH
Those people in the Bayou went 30 years without seeing an LSU win in the state of Louisiana against Alabama.

 

[Elefantman]

But Pawl, When it comes to the Iron Bowl... Throw out the record book!!!

 

[Windsortide]

This is the biggest rivalry for me as a fan. But I understand every time Alabama runs on the field it is that teams Super Bowl.

 

[TideMan09]

I can see the argument & kinda agree, buttttt, danggggggg I honestly just hate The Barn more after growing up in Alabama all my life..

Dealing with Barner's in my family & many of my friends..

That's just me though..

 

[sanjosecrimson]

As expected, little brother is upset about Saban's comments. They're such an insecure bunch is just comical reading their posts.

Saban BS

Saban BS

247sports.com

 

[bamamc1]

Love CNS and agree that he’s the best to ever do it. That being said he needs to think about what he’s saying on CGD or any other time he’s on camera. What would he have said to an assistant coach that finally got to be interviewed at the SEC championship game, college football playoff, etc. if they’d lobbed out the Vandy or comment he made today about the players “not getting up for the Auburn game like the Tennessee game?” His head would’ve exploded.

 

[day-day]

Saban's teams at Bama consisted more and more of out-of-state players which probably dampened the level of rivalry with Auburn amongst the players. I don't know why the players under Saban would feel stronger about the Tennessee game though. The players are in constant contact with Alabama fans and boosters so I guess that's where the players from out of state get some of their feelings on rivalries.

 

[TideEngineer08]

The Alabama/Tennessee rivalry is historically the number 1 rivalry in the SEC. That began to change in the 90s, as Alabama faded in competitiveness and then really fell off the radar once we re-ascended and Tennessee imploded after 2007.

But it’s always been Alabama’s top rivalry game. It’s a regional game which often had national implications. Auburn is an in state rivalry which rarely mattered in the SEC race, much less national race. There has been the rare exception such as 2010 and 2013. Even the 2017 game ended up not mattering in the national race. But it makes for great TV at the end of the year when both teams are good. That’s just rarely been the case for Auburn.

As someone said, LSU is a total made for TV rivalry because of the Nick Saban factor. Both in making LSU a respectable program, and then the revenge factor that became a thing when he came to Alabama. For a time the game was a lot like the FSU/Miami game during the late 80s through the 90s. NFL talent everywhere and extremely competitive games.

 

[utjughead]

I agree that the rivalry faded, but will add a different take. I thought the divisional approach impacted the rivalry (from 1992 through 2023), but others may disagree.

Although UT and UA retained their annual matchup, the reality was each was competing for its respective division championship in order to advance to the SECCG.

It would be natural then for UA, that their games against LSU, Auburn and other West teams would be elevated. Ditto that for UT with respect to UF, UGA and other East teams. Perhaps this diluted the UT/UA rivalry.

Interesting that in 30+ years of divisional play, UT and UA never advanced to the SECCG in the same year. Probably not a coincidence given that the loser of the 3rd Saturday in October would have an even tougher path towards winning its division.

So, for this year (and I assume for next year), I like that UT and UA are not in separate divisions, which is a return to the pre-1992 era of the rivalry.

 

[TraskiTideFan]

I grew up in the 70's and attended many a 3rd Saturday Game throughout the 80s and 90s. Tennessee has always been the game marked on the calendar as must win. Maybe all that really started with Coach Bryant's tenure because of his history as a player and coach when it came to that game in particular. The rivalry has always been better when both squads were competitive. The '93 game that ended in a TIE mind you, if you were at that game in Legion Field, you would have thought when we scored to steal the win away from the Vol's, that we had just won the SEC Championship the way we the fans reacted. Tennessee is the bigger rivalry over the Barn.

When the 3rd Saturday in October game is played, it is really an issue of State Pride.

When we play the Iron Bowl, that's a Thanksgiving family arguement and we are going to play a little ball to settle it and go home afterwards and see each other at church on Sunday, and work on Monday.

 

[spidermayin]

I started watching in 96, so I really experienced us losing to Tennessee a good bit in my early years of watching. But, it's not even close for me. I enjoy us beating Auburn more than anybody else. The "camback" and the "kick six" game losses will stay for me a while. I can't say the same about any Tennessee losses. Auburn fans also have this arrogance about them like they're Auburn fans because they love Auburn and they went there, but we love Alabama because we went to Walmart and bought a T-shirt. To me, Tennessee is my third most hated rival.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

Now watch the Barn start playing this to get up for the Iron Bowl.