Third Saturday in October

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The Third Saturday in October is the name of a college football game played each year between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Alabama Crimson Tide. The name refers to its traditional calendar date, but it is no longer exact. From 1995 to 2007, it has only been scheduled for that date five times. The game will not be played on the traditional date in 2008.

Contents

[edit] History

Like most notable rivalries, it has a history characterized by wildly improbable upsets, high-stakes games, and intense passion. The rivalry dates back to the 1920s The state schools of the border states have faced off many times with the winner often going on to win the SEC.

[edit] Victory cigars

In the 1950's, Bear Bryant started the tradition of passing out victory cigars after a victory over Tennessee. Both teams continued the tradition with a win for awhile, keeping it under wraps due to the NCAA rules concerning extra benefits and tobacco products. The practice has been continued by the fans of both schools. However, the teams have stopped the tradition (at least publicly). Alabama broke out the cigars after their win in 2005, and as a result, self reported an NCAA violation.[1] When asked about the tradition before the 2006 game Tennessee head coach Phillip Fulmer stated "Cigars? Next question."[1]

[edit] Streaks

There have been several long winning streaks in the series. Alabama had an 11 game winning streak from 1971 to 1981. It was broken in 1982 when Johnny Majors led the Vols to an upset victory over Bear Bryant and the Tide.

Alabama had a 9 game unbeaten streak from 1986 to 1994, including a tie in 1993 which was later counted as a win for Tennessee due to NCAA violations by Alabama. The streak was broken by Tennessee in 1995 when the Vols beat the Tide 41-14. Tennessee began their own 7 game win streak that night, which was broken when Alabama defeated the Vols 34-14 in 2002.

[edit] Results

YEAR ALABAMA TENNESSEE LOCATION
1901 6 6 Birmingham
1903 24 0 Birmingham
1904 0 5 Birmingham
1905 29 0 Birmingham
1906 51 0 Birmingham
1907 5 0 Birmingham
1908 4 0 Birmingham
1909 10 0 Knoxville
1912 7 0 Birmingham
1913 6 0 Tuscaloosa
1914 7 17 Knoxville
1928 13 15 Tuscaloosa
1929 0 6 Knoxville
1930 18 6 Tuscaloosa
1931 0 25 Knoxville
1932 3 7 Birmingham
1933 12 6 Knoxville
1934 13 6 Birmingham
1935 25 0 Knoxville
1936 0 0 Birmingham
1937 14 7 Knoxville
1938 0 13 Birmingham
1939 0 21 Knoxville
1940 12 27 Birmingham
1941 9 2 Knoxville
1942 8 0 Birmingham
1944 0 0 Knoxville
1945 25 7 Birmingham
1946 0 12 Knoxville
1947 10 0 Birmingham
1948 6 21 Knoxville
1949 7 7 Birmingham
1950 9 14 Knoxville
1951 13 27 Birmingham
1952 0 20 Knoxville
1953 0 0 Birmingham
1954 27 0 Knoxville
1955 0 20 Birmingham
1956 0 24 Knoxville
1957 0 14 Birmingham
1958 7 14 Knoxville
1959 7 7 Birmingham
1960 7 20 Knoxville
1961 34 3 Birmingham
1962 27 7 Knoxville
1963 35 0 Birmingham
1964 19 8 Knoxville
1965 7 7 Birmingham
1966 11 10 Knoxville
1967 13 24 Birmingham
1968 9 10 Knoxville
1969 14 41 Birmingham
1970 0 24 Knoxville
1971 32 15 Birmingham
1972 17 10 Knoxville
1973 42 21 Birmingham
1974 28 6 Knoxville
1975 30 7 Birmingham
1976 20 13 Knoxville
1977 24 10 Birmingham
1978 30 17 Knoxville
1979 27 17 Birmingham
1980 27 0 Knoxville
1981 38 19 Birmingham
1982 28 35 Knoxville
1983 34 41 Birmingham
1984 27 28 Knoxville
1985 14 16 Birmingham
1986 56 28 Knoxville
1987 41 22 Birmingham
1988 28 20 Knoxville
1989 47 30 Birmingham
1990 9 6 Knoxville
1991 24 19 Birmingham
1992 17 10 Knoxville
1993 17* 17* Birmingham
1994 17 13 Knoxville
1995 14 41 Birmingham
1996 13 20 Knoxville
1997 21 38 Birmingham
1998 18 35 Knoxville
1999 7 21 Tuscaloosa
2000 10 20 Knoxville
2001 24 35 Tuscaloosa
2002 34 14 Knoxville
2003 43 51(5 OT) Tuscaloosa
2004 13 17 Knoxville
2005 6 3 Tuscaloosa
2006 13 16 Knoxville
2007 41 17 Tuscaloosa
Total 45 (Alabama) 38 (Tennessee) 90 Games (7 Ties)

* - Game forfeited to Tennessee as a result of NCAA ruling on Antonio Langham.

[edit] All time

Alabama leads the all-time series 45-38-7 (with the 1993 game counted as a win for Tennessee). Alabama won the last game played on October 20, 2007, 41-17. The game has been played in 3 different cities. Alabama leads the series when played in Birmingham, Alabama (21-14-6). The series is tied in Knoxville, Tennessee (20-20-1) and Tuscaloosa, Alabama (4-4-0).

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b AP. "'The Third Saturday in October'", OnlineAthens.com, 21 October 2006. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.