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'The ground was shaking the entire game' —Alabama football players give the ultimate kudos to Tennessee Vol fans

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Craig Smith | Last updated May 16, 2025 3:05 PM ET

The annual matchup between the Tennessee Vols and the Alabama Crimson Tide is one of the most storied and bitter matchups in college football history. The Third Saturday in October has seen legendary coaches walk the sidelines and unforgettable moments shape the course of the series across the years.

However, the competitive nature of the rivalry took a decade and a half disappearance with Nick Saban turning the Crimson Tide into a juggernaut, while the Vols fell into disarray in the post-Phillip Fulmer era. From 2007 to 2021, Alabama swept each matchup, with only two of those being one score games.

Then, Josh Heupel managed to bring the playing field back to level over the last three seasons, with Tennessee winning in 2022 and 2024 in Knoxville to start to bring some balance back to the series.

And how desperate have Tennessee fans been to beat the Crimson Tide? Well, one could say it's been measured in the madhouse that Vol fans have turned Neyland Stadium into over the last two third Saturdays of October.

Elite College Football reached out to a number of players to gauge what they consider to be the most challenging environment they've played in, and a handful of Alabama players named Tennessee as their choice.

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Former Alabama/Ohio State center Seth McLaughlin: "Tennessee when they beat us in that 52-49 game".

Current Alabama cornerback Domani Jackson: "Yo I couldn't hear anyone on the bench and they was right next to me. The ground was shaking the entire game...gotta top my hat off to them. But always roll tide, BDS DIFFERENT!"

Current Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard: "Tennessee for sure".

As Jackson noted, it's been almost impossible to hear the person next to you when Neyland Stadium has gotten cranked up against Alabama the last couple of years. It even drew a comment from Alabama radio play-by-play announcer regarding Tennessee "piping in crowd noise" through their speakers - something he walked back the week after the game.

Alabama players weren't the only ones giving Tennessee fans and Neyland Stadium's electric night setting some respect. Florida linebacker Myles Graham also gave Tennessee some love, saying: "Tennessee fasho!" The Vols defeated Florida 23-17 in overtime back on October 12.

The Vols under Heupel are getting back to a place where they should be in the college football world - a title contender and one playing in big games on a big stage. And with that success has brought another gear of intensity to games at Neyland Stadium.

And that can only be a good thing for Tennessee and bad for opponents in the years to come.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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