The Crimson Tide And Vols Go Head-To-Head Beyond The Football Field
Alabama and Tennessee have been battling on the football field for generations, but the Third Saturday in October rivalry goes well beyond touchdowns and tackles. For this School Spirit(s) Rivalry Edition, PubClub puts the Crimson Tide and Vols head-to-head in another competition: signature drinks, food, tailgating, marching bands, mascots, stadium atmosphere and game-day traditions.
By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Editor & Publisher
Alabama-Tennessee, the Third Saturday of October, a college football rivalry that is up there with any of them, including Ohio State-Michigan, Georgia-Florida and yes, even Alabama-Auburn.
Don’t think so? This game meant so much to former Alabama coach Paul “Bear” Byrant that he and his players lit up cigars in the locker room after beating Tennessee, a tradition that still exists to this day. And now when UT beats Bama, the Vols light up cigars. In Tuscaloosa, the entire city goes into “Beat Tennessee Week”, part of which involves pulling all Jack Daniel’s whiskey bottles off the shelves for the entire week. Name another rivalry that goes to that extent. So yes, it’s a big deal.
In 2026, another part of the rivalry is being revived: for this first time since 1970, both teams will be wearing therr home jerseys, crimson for the Crimson Tide and bright orange for Tennessee.
To take it beyond the field, here’s special PubClub.com rivalry edition of the School Spirit(s) series. This is a comparison of the two schools in a head-to-head matchup that has nothing to do with which team has the best quarterback or defensive line. It involves the culture and tradition of the rivalry.
So let’s kick off this rivalry with key differences in the schools, starting with the each one’s signature drink.
Signature Drink: Yellow Hammer vs. Jack Daniel’s
Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey has long been associated with Vols football among the fans but Alabama fans have an actual drink. It’s the Yellow Hammer, a rum-and-vodka drink created by Gallettes in Tuscaloosa. It’s ingredients are a closely-guarded secret by the bar but go in there and nearly everyone is drinking one out of the signature yellow cups.
Winner: Alabama. The creativity and mystery of the Yellow Hammer give it the edge.
Barbecue: Dreamland vs. Calhoun’s
In Knoxville, Calhoun’s and Buddy’s Barbecue are the two most prominent BBQ joints but the former’s location on the Tennessee River by the Volunteer Navy make it a very popular game-day destination. In Tuscaloosa, there’s Dreamland and its legendary ribs. They are sooo good that even my sister, a huge Tennessee fan, orders them for our family’s Christmas dinner every year.
Winner: Alabama. Dreamland’s over-the-top ribs take this one in a landslide.
Marching Band: Million Dollar Band vs. Pride of the Southland
Both schools take great pride in thier marching bands and these are the two best in the SEC. Alabama’s got its nickhame back in the 1950s when the football team was bad but the band was good. “At least the band looks like a million dollars,” a reporter said while watching its halftime show in the press box. Tennessee’s band was also named by a sportwriter, Ed Harris, in the Knoxville Journal.
Winner: Alabama. Hey, it’s all in the name!
Mascot
Big Al vs. Smokey. The latter has has been around longer and it even has a statue in front of Neyland Stadium. The dog, a Bluetick Coonhound, is also native to Tennessee and is the official state dog of Tennessee.
Winner: Tennessee
Tailgaiting
UT has more long-standing tradtions than Alabama and more of them, including the Volunteer Navy, the band’s Salute to the Hiill and then its “splitting of the T” on the field.
Winner: Tennessee
Game-Day Songs
Rammer Jammer is a victory cheer song played by the band and sang by fans after Alabama wins. Rocky Top, which is not actually Tennessee’s actual fight song (click the link for the real fight song and other college football trivia) is played almost continuously throughout the game, as well as before and after it.
Winner: Alabama
Stadium Atmosphere
The renovations to Bryant-Denny Stadium blow away anything UT has done to Neyland Stadium. It even has a premium place called The Zone that is so luxurious it has carving stations for food and it’s like being in an upscale Las Vegas VIP room. For the common fans, the seating is good and not as narrow and tight as Neyland.
Winner: Alabama
Kevin Wilkerson is the founder of PubClub.com, an award-winning journalist and nightlife expert who has covered destinations, events and nightlife for more than two decades. He is a native of Knoxville, TN and went to school at the University of Alabama where he played in the Million Dollar Band. While working as a newspaper reporter, he received an Associated Press award for investigative journalism.
Next Stops On The School Spirit(s) Party Bus
• School Spirit(s): The University of Alabama
• School Spirit(s): The University of Tennessee
• School Spirit(s): The University of Washington
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