Tennessee football fans felt like it was their first time beating Alabama

The sequel is rarely as good as the original, so you'd forgive Tennessee football if there weren't so many fireworks in this fast-paced, goalpost-throwing, cigar-smoking victory over Alabama.

The Vols (6-1, 3-1 SEC) turned things around (5-2, 2-2) and won 24-17 on Saturday.

A familiar tune of “Dixieland Delight” echoed through Neyland Stadium, but it barely had time to taunt the Alabama players as they ran off the field with about 20 seconds left in the game.

As the final seconds ticked away, UT players stormed the front row of the student section as fans lit their victory cigars. Then the students jumped past the players and the cheers spilled onto the lawn.

The game wasn't an instant classic in this rivalry on the third Saturday in October like the 2022 game, which UT won 52-49. But no one wearing orange cared what it looked like as they flooded Shields-Watkins Field.

“It wasn't very early. (A crowd of almost) 102,000 saw it. Everyone on TV saw it. We saw it too,” UT coach Josh Heupel said. “(But there is) nothing better than walking off the field with the crowd around you and a cigar in your mouth.”

“I will tell my grandchildren and children about this piece”

It didn't have to be a work of art.

The highlights and memories should last as long as any Tennessee win against Alabama because they are so hard to come by — or at least they used to be.

Will Brooks, the walk-on safety from Birmingham, Alabama, beamed with pride after intercepting the ball that sealed the win.

“I will definitely tell my grandchildren and children about this piece,” Brooks said. “It’s such a great feeling.”

Wide receiver Chris Brazzell caught Nico Iamaleava's 16-yard pass for the go-ahead score with 1:30 left.

“That was definitely my No. 1 (catch of a lifetime) because that was my first time playing against Bama,” Brazzell said.

Iamaleava recovered from a poor start and scored with two crucial passes. He had a 55-yard throw to Dont'e Thornton to set up a touchdown that gave UT its first lead. And then he threw the TD pass to Brazzell to take the lead for good.

“It didn't go the way we wanted, but we had to come back strong for our guys,” said Iamaleava, who was still wearing his uniform at the postgame news conference because the celebration was so long.

Linebacker Arion Carter said he will never forget how loud it was at Neyland Stadium in the fourth quarter. At that point, Alabama's offense was stalled, gaining just 3 yards on four failed drives over the final 11 plays.

“It’s been rocking, especially the last few rides,” Carter said. “It was so loud they couldn’t adjust their pass protection. It was a great feeling to have such an audience that screamed and had your back.”

Tennessee fans are the main reason the playoff picture is better

Tennessee's orange-out crowd certainly played its part, as the Vols improved their record at Neyland Stadium to 22-4 during Heupel's tenure.

This home-field advantage is notable in a season in which the Vols have once again been criticized for away losses. Two weeks ago, they suffered a disappointing loss at Arkansas that threatened their College Football Playoff hopes.

This win over Alabama put the Vols back on track for a possible playoff bid. And after a well-deserved opening week, they will play their next two home games against Kentucky (November 2) and Mississippi State (November 9).

But Heupel knows that his team has weaknesses, especially on offense. And he knows this was a very imperfect victory that the Vols won't be able to celebrate for too long.

Perhaps that's why his reaction to that win was more muted than it was to UT's win over Alabama two years ago. And maybe that's why he looked tired and spoke in a hoarse voice after the game.

OVERREACTIONS: Tennessee has evened out the Alabama rivalry and more

Or maybe there is another reason.

“It’s the cigar, of course,” said Heupel.

Adam Sparks is Tennessee's football beat reporter. e-mail [email protected]. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing knoxnews.com/subscribe.

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Tennessee football fans felt like it was their first time beating Alabama

ByVanessa

“I will tell my grandchildren and children about this piece”

Tennessee fans are the main reason the playoff picture is better

By Vanessa

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