Third Saturday in October

Third Saturday in October
Alabama Crimson Tide Tennessee Volunteers
Sport(s) Football
Total meetings 96
Series record Alabama leads 51–38–7
First meeting November 28, 1901
Tennessee 6, Alabama 6
Last meeting October 25, 2014
Alabama 34, Tennessee 20
Next meeting October 24, 2015 (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Largest win Alabama 51-0 (1906)
Tennessee 41-14 (1969, 1995)
Longest win streak Alabama 11 (1971–1981)
Tennessee 7 (1995-2001)
Current win streak Alabama 8 (2007–present)

The Third Saturday in October, also known as the Alabama–Tennessee football rivalry, is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Alabama Crimson Tide football team of the University of Alabama and Tennessee Volunteers football team of the University of Tennessee, approximately 315 miles (507 km) apart. It is known as the Third Saturday in October because the game was traditionally played on it prior to the 1992 football season, when the Southeastern Conference split into its Eastern and Western divisions.[1] From 1995 to 2014, it has only been scheduled for that date six times.

Overall, Alabama leads the series with an official 51–38–7 record.

Series history

The first game between the two sides was played in 1901 in Birmingham, ending in a 6–6 tie. From 1902 to 1913, Alabama dominated the series, only losing once, and never allowing a touchdown by the Volunteers. Beginning in 1928, the rivalry was first played on its traditional date and began to be a challenge for the Tide as Robert Neyland began challenging Alabama for their perennial spot on top of the conference standings.[2]

Between 1971 and 1981, Alabama held an eleven-game winning streak over the Volunteers and between 1986 and 1994, a nine-game unbeaten streak. However, following Alabama's streak, Tennessee responded with a seven-game winning streak from 1995 to 2001. Alabama won the most recent game 34-20 in 2014, and leads the series 51–38–7, 52-37-8 on the field.[3]

Victory cigars

In the 1950s, Jim Goostree, the head trainer for Alabama, began another tradition as he began handing out cigars following a victory over the Volunteers.[4] Both teams continued the tradition for some time, though kept it secret due to NCAA rules concerning extra benefits and tobacco products. Alabama publicly restarted the tradition in 2005, though as a result, self-reported an NCAA violation.[5] Every year since 2005, the winning team knowingly violates the NCAA rule and reports the violation in honor of tradition.[6]

Streaks

There have been several long winning streaks in the series. In the first major streak of the series, Bama won 5 straight over the Vols from 1907 to 1913 (the two teams did not play in 1910 and 1911), outscoring the Vols 112–0 in the process.

Alabama has the longest winning streak of the series, 11 games, 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 forfeited due to NCAA sanctions. 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. To-date, no team (other than Tennessee) owns 7-consecutive victories over the Tide. Alabama currently enjoys a 8-game winning streak in the series from 2007 to 2014 with an average margin of victory during this stretch of nearly 21 points.

All time

Alabama leads the all–time series 51–38–7 (with the 1993 tie forfeited to Tennessee by Bama due to NCAA penalties, and the 2005 Bama victory vacated due to NCAA penalty). Due to this technicality, Tennessee actually has one more "official" contest in the series (the 2005 loss, which is officially not removed by the NCAA ruling), giving the Vols 38 wins to 51 losses in the series. Alabama has no official result (Win or Loss) for 2005, giving the Tide 51 wins to 38 losses in the series.

The game has been played in 3 different cities. Alabama leads the series in all three venues: for games played in Birmingham, Alabama, by a record of 21–14–6 (21–13–7 "on the field"), for those contested in Knoxville, Tennessee, by a record of 23–20–1, and for games in the series played in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, by a record of 7–4 (8-4 "on the field"). Alabama won the last game, played on October 25, 2014, 34-20.

Tennessee and Alabama have both won 12 shutouts in the series.

Game results

Rankings are from the AP Poll

Alabama victoriesTennessee victoriesTie games
#DateLocationWinning teamLosing teamSeries
1 1901 Birmingham, AL Alabama 6 Tennessee 6Tied 0–0–1
2 1903 Birmingham, AL Alabama 24 Tennessee 0Alabama 1–0–1
3 1904 Birmingham, AL Alabama 0 Tennessee 5Tied 1–1–1
4 1905 Birmingham, AL Alabama 29 Tennessee 0Alabama 2–1–1
5 1906 Birmingham, AL Alabama 51 Tennessee 0Alabama 3–1–1
6 1907 Birmingham, AL Alabama 5 Tennessee 0Alabama 4–1–1
7 1908 Birmingham, AL Alabama 4 Tennessee 0Alabama 5–1–1
8 1909 Knoxville, TN Alabama 10 Tennessee 0Alabama 6–1–1
9 1912 Birmingham, AL Alabama 7 Tennessee 0Alabama 7–1–1
10 1913 Tuscaloosa, AL Alabama 6 Tennessee 0Alabama 8–1–1
11 1914 Knoxville, TN Alabama 7 Tennessee 17Alabama 8–2–1
12 1928 Tuscaloosa, AL Alabama 13 Tennessee 15Alabama 8–3–1
13 1929 Knoxville, TN Alabama 0 Tennessee 6Alabama 8–4–1
14 1930 Tuscaloosa, AL Alabama 18 Tennessee 6Alabama 9–4–1
15 1931 Knoxville, TN Alabama 0 Tennessee 25Alabama 9–5–1
16 1932 Birmingham, AL Alabama 3 Tennessee 7Alabama 9–6–1
17 1933 Knoxville, TN Alabama 12 Tennessee 6Alabama 10–6–1
18 1934 Birmingham, AL Alabama 13 Tennessee 6Alabama 11–6–1
19 1935 Knoxville, TN Alabama 25 Tennessee 0Alabama 12–6–1
20 1936 Birmingham, AL Alabama 0 Tennessee 0Alabama 12–6–2
21 1937 Knoxville, TN Alabama 14 Tennessee 7Alabama 13–6–2
22 1938 Birmingham, AL Alabama 0 Tennessee 13Alabama 13–7–2
23 1939 Knoxville, TN #8 Alabama 0 #5 Tennessee 21Alabama 13–8–2
24 1940 Birmingham, AL Alabama 13 #5 Tennessee 27Alabama 13–9–2
25 1941 Knoxville, TN Alabama 9 Tennessee 2Alabama 14–9–2
26 1942 Birmingham, AL #4 Alabama 8 #15 Tennessee 0Alabama 15–9–2
27 1944 Knoxville, TN Alabama 0 #17 Tennessee 0Alabama 15–9–3
28 1945 Birmingham, AL #6 Alabama 25 Tennessee 7Alabama 16–9–3
29 1946 Knoxville, TN #7 Alabama 0 #9 Tennessee 12Alabama 16–10–3
30 1947 Birmingham, AL Alabama 10 Tennessee 0Alabama 17–10–3
31 1948 Knoxville, TN Alabama 6 Tennessee 21Alabama 17–11–3
32 1949 Birmingham, AL Alabama 7 Tennessee 7Alabama 17–11–4
33 1950 Knoxville, TN Alabama 9 #18 Tennessee 14Alabama 17–12–4
34 1951 Birmingham, AL Alabama 13 #2 Tennessee 27Alabama 17–13–4
35 1952 Knoxville, TN #18 Alabama 0 Tennessee 15Alabama 17–14–4
36 1953 Birmingham, AL Alabama 0 Tennessee 0Alabama 17–14–5
37 1954 Knoxville, TN Alabama 27 Tennessee 0Alabama 18–14–5
38 1955 Birmingham, AL Alabama 0 Tennessee 20Alabama 18–15–5
39 1956 Knoxville, TN Alabama 0 #7 Tennessee 24Alabama 18–16–5
40 1957 Birmingham, AL Alabama 0 Tennessee 14Alabama 18–17–5
41 1958 Knoxville, TN Alabama 7 Tennessee 14Tied 18–18–5
42 1959 Birmingham, AL Alabama 7 #14 Tennessee 7Tied 18–18–6
43 1960 Knoxville, TN #15 Alabama 7 Tennessee 20Tennessee 19–18–6
44 1961 Birmingham, AL #5 Alabama 34 Tennessee 3Tied 19–19–6
45 1962 Knoxville, TN #2 Alabama 27 Tennessee 7Alabama 20–19–6
46 1963 Birmingham, AL #9 Alabama 35 Tennessee 0Alabama 21–19–6
47 1964 Knoxville, TN #3 Alabama 19 Tennessee 8Alabama 22–19–6
48 1965 Birmingham, AL Alabama 7 Tennessee 7Alabama 22–19–7
49 1966 Knoxville, TN #3 Alabama 11 Tennessee 10Alabama 23–19–7
50 1967 Birmingham, AL #6 Alabama 13 #7 Tennessee 24Alabama 23–20–7
51 1968 Knoxville, TN Alabama 9 #8 Tennessee 10Alabama 23–21–7
52 1969 Birmingham, AL #20 Alabama 14 #13 Tennessee 41Alabama 23–22–7
53 1970 Knoxville, TN Alabama 0 #14 Tennessee 24Tied 23–23–7
54 1971 Birmingham, AL #4 Alabama 32 #14 Tennessee 15Alabama 24–23–7
55 1972 Knoxville, TN #3 Alabama 17 #10 Tennessee 10Alabama 25–23–7
56 1973 Birmingham, AL #2 Alabama 42 #10 Tennessee 21Alabama 26–23–7
57 1974 Knoxville, TN #4 Alabama 28 Tennessee 6Alabama 27–23–7
58 1975 Birmingham, AL #6 Alabama 30 #16 Tennessee 7Alabama 28–23–7
59 1976 Knoxville, TN #20 Alabama 20 Tennessee 13Alabama 29–23–7
60 1977 Birmingham, AL #4 Alabama 24 Tennessee 10Alabama 30–23–7
61 1978 Knoxville, TN #4 Alabama 30 Tennessee 17Alabama 31–23–7
62 1979 Birmingham, AL #1 Alabama 27 #18 Tennessee 17Alabama 32–23–7
63 1980 Knoxville, TN #1 Alabama 27 Tennessee 0Alabama 33–23–7
64 1981 Birmingham, AL #15 Alabama 38 Tennessee 19Alabama 34–23–7
65 1982 Knoxville, TN #2 Alabama 28 Tennessee 35Alabama 34–24–7
66 1983 Birmingham, AL #11 Alabama 34 Tennessee 41Alabama 34–25–7
67 1984 Knoxville, TN Alabama 27 Tennessee 28Alabama 34–26–7
68 1985 Birmingham, AL #15 Alabama 14 #20 Tennessee 16Alabama 34–27–7
69 1986 Knoxville, TN #2 Alabama 56 Tennessee 28Alabama 35–27–7
70 1987 Birmingham, AL Alabama 41 #8 Tennessee 22Alabama 36–27–7
71 1988 Knoxville, TN Alabama 28 Tennessee 20Alabama 37–27–7
72 1989 Birmingham, AL #10 Alabama 47 #6 Tennessee 30Alabama 38–27–7
73 1990 Knoxville, TN Alabama 9 #3 Tennessee 6Alabama 39–27–7
74 1991 Birmingham, AL #14 Alabama 24 #8 Tennessee 19Alabama 40–27–7
75 1992 Knoxville, TN #4 Alabama 17 #13 Tennessee 10Alabama 41–27–7
76 1993† Birmingham, AL #2 Alabama 17 #10 Tennessee 17Alabama 41–28–7
77 1994 Knoxville, TN #10 Alabama 17 Tennessee 13Alabama 42–28–7
78 1995 Birmingham, AL #11 Alabama 14 #6 Tennessee 41Alabama 42–29–7
79 1996 Knoxville, TN #7 Alabama 13 #6 Tennessee 20Alabama 42–30–7
80 1997 Birmingham, AL Alabama 21 #9 Tennessee 38Alabama 42–31–7
81 1998 Knoxville, TN Alabama 18 #3 Tennessee 35Alabama 42–32–7
82 1999 Tuscaloosa, AL #10 Alabama 7 #5 Tennessee 21Alabama 42–33–7
83 2000 Knoxville, TN Alabama 10 Tennessee 20Alabama 42–34–7
84 2001 Tuscaloosa, AL Alabama 24 #11 Tennessee 35Alabama 42–35–7
85 2002 Knoxville, TN #19 Alabama 34 #16 Tennessee 14Alabama 43–35–7
86 2003‡ Tuscaloosa, AL Alabama 43 #22 Tennessee 51Alabama 43–36–7
87 2004 Knoxville, TN Alabama 13 #11 Tennessee 17Alabama 43–37–7
88 2005† Tuscaloosa, AL #5 Alabama 6 #17 Tennessee 3Alabama 43–37–7
89 2006 Knoxville, TN Alabama 13 #7 Tennessee 16Alabama 43–38–7
90 2007 Tuscaloosa, AL Alabama 41 #20 Tennessee 17Alabama 44–38–7
91 2008 Knoxville, TN #2 Alabama 29 Tennessee 9Alabama 45–38–7
92 2009 Tuscaloosa, AL #1 Alabama 12 Tennessee 10Alabama 46–38–7
93 2010 Knoxville, TN #7 Alabama 41 Tennessee 10Alabama 47–38–7
94 2011 Tuscaloosa, AL #2 Alabama 37 Tennessee 6Alabama 48–38–7
95 2012 Knoxville, TN #1 Alabama 44 Tennessee 13Alabama 49–38–7
96 2013 Tuscaloosa, AL #1 Alabama 45 Tennessee 10Alabama 50–38–7
97 2014 Knoxville, TN #4 Alabama 34 Tennessee 20Alabama 51–38–7
† Alabama would later forfeit the 1993 tie and vacate their 2005 win.
‡ Five overtime game.

References

  1. ↑ Cook, Beano (2001-10-17). "The third Saturday in October". ESPN Classic. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  2. ↑ Browning, Al (2001). Third Saturday in October: The Game-By-Game Story of the South's Most Intense Football Rivalry. Cumberland House. ISBN 978-1-58182-217-5.
  3. ↑ "The Record Book" (PDF). University of Alabama Athletics. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  4. ↑ Dunnavant, Keith (2006). "The Missing Ring". The Missing Ring: How Bear Bryant and the 1966 Alabama Crimson Tide Were Denied College Football's Most Elusive Prize. Macmillan. p. 170. ISBN 978-0-312-33683-7.
  5. ↑ "The Third Saturday in October". Associated Press. 2006-10-21. Retrieved 2008-10-25.
  6. ↑ {cite web| http://bleacherreport.com/articles/70697-alabamatennessee-to-commit-ncaa-violation-this-saturday}

Further reading