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Tennessee aiming to buck trends in Alabama-dominated series

Alabama receiver Amari Cooper eludes the diving tackle attempt of Tennessee safety Brian Randolph on his way to the end zone during last year's game in Knoxville. While the Crimson Tide no longer have Cooper, who has moved on to the NFL, they have plenty of talent that will make it a challenge for the Volunteers to end Alabama's winning streak in the series.
Alabama receiver Amari Cooper eludes the diving tackle attempt of Tennessee safety Brian Randolph on his way to the end zone during last year's game in Knoxville. While the Crimson Tide no longer have Cooper, who has moved on to the NFL, they have plenty of talent that will make it a challenge for the Volunteers to end Alabama's winning streak in the series. Alabama receiver Amari Cooper eludes the diving tackle attempt of Tennessee safety Brian Randolph on his way to the end zone during last year's game in Knoxville. While the Crimson Tide no longer have Cooper, who has moved on to the NFL, they have plenty of talent that will make it a challenge for the Volunteers to end Alabama's winning streak in the series.

By Patrick Brown 5 min read

KNOXVILLE – One of Tennessee’s two long losing streaks to a bitter rival is not like the other.

An 11-year run of futility against Florida has been supremely frustrating for the Volunteers, particularly after the Gators scored the game-winning touchdown on fourth-and-14 late in last month’s game in Gainesville.

The current eight-year skid against Alabama, Tennessee’s biggest traditional rival, isn’t even the longest in the series – the Crimson Tide won 11 in a row from 1971 to 1981.

What it has been, however, is a brutal reality check for the Vols, who have endured one of the worst stretches in program history in the same span Alabama has won three national championships and three Southeastern Conference titles in nine seasons under coach Nick Saban.

“Everyone talks about the Florida rivalry or the Vandy rivalry, but there’s just a little bit different feeling about Alabama,” said Vols left tackle Kyler Kerbyson, who’s from Knoxville. “There’s more tradition to it. There’s a lot of stuff that goes into it more than just the game. People really feel for this game. They wait for it all year.