no bigger game.....

When I think of THE rivalry game for Tennessee, I think of Alabama. Yes, Florida's big, but it doesn't quite have the history that Alabama does. The Florida rivalry didn't really come along until everybody's favorite coach, Steve Spurrier, arrived in Gainesville back in the early 90's. But Alabama goes way back.

Legendary Coach Bear Bryant was quoted in the book "The Third Saturday in October", "You found out what kind of person you were when you played against Tennessee."

And you'd better believe the players know how much this game means to Phillip Fulmer. QB Erik Ainge recently said, "My freshman year, coach Fulmer said that we get cigars if we win," Ainge said. "I was kind of like, 'We don't get cigars after any other game.' (The NCAA and SEC rules against extra benefits and tobacco products in a team setting, so that won't be happening this year. At least, we won't hear about it if it does happen.) You can tell there's certain things that make this game a little more special than some of the other ones. Does it mean more? It doesn't mean any more than any of the other wins. There's just that little something extra that goes along with it."

"Alabama is the game for him," senior offensive tackle Arron Sears said. "Alabama and Florida are the two biggest games. But with Alabama, there's some hate blood around that."

I've been to several Tennessee games in my life, but Saturday will be my first Alabama game (thanks to Chris and Landon!). Last year was my first Georgia game with Meg. Sara and I will be leaving very early Saturday morning for this one. We have to be there in time for lunch and the Vol Walk. Last year Meg actually TOUCHED Erik Ainge (yeah, that had didn't get washed for a week or so), so that's Sara's goal this year. Either that or she's going to chest-bump Trooper Taylor.

Look for us on television tomorrow. We'll be the ones wearing orange and waving at the camera. Wait, Sara's got something pink to wear that has the UT logo on it. Very girly. I'll be the one in the Ainge jersey. We look just alike, except I've got 21 years on him and he's about 10 inches taller. Other than that, we're brothers from another mother.

Go get 'em, Vols.....