Auburn, Alabama, Tennessee a Contrast In Rivalry

This week has brought to mind the difference between school Rivalries. I chose to contrast the difference in Auburn's rivalry with Tennessee and Alabama's rivalry with Tennessee. I chose these particular rivalries for their extreme differences and the timeliness of the article.

I wrote a preview article about the Auburn Vs. Tennessee this Saturday. In this article I outlined what I considered to be the strengths and weaknesses of the two teams. As always I visited web locations dedicated to Tennessee football and read the Volunteer point of view for this game. I posted my views and each one was received well and answered courteously. I also answered all the post to my article the same way. I predicted a victory for Auburn at 38 to 14 over Tennessee. I posted this prediction in my comments to each and every article I read. There was not one unkind word written to me and not one Tennessee fan ever called me a homer or said I was crazy. Most were of the view that their stiff defense would hold Auburn to many less points than that and that Auburn's suspect defense would not be able to stop Tennessee's running attack. These were both valid points and might turn out to be the case. I just happen to not think so.

The point is that every one of my comments were received with thought and courtesy and opposing points presented in a courteous fashion. Every post ended with a "looking forward to it", "see you Saturday", and other such phrases. Each and every one was coherent and courteous.

I have looked back to postings between Alabama and Tennessee fans. I did no preview of the Alabama Vs. Tennessee game last year as I find myself either traveling or occupied with business to much to write at times. I read approximately three hundred post from the last two match ups between Alabama and Tennessee. I will use some of the descriptions these fans had for each other, but just enough to sample the karma.

Tennessee fans describing Alabama fans:

Bammer Blaspheme, Trailer Trash, Capstone Communist, Elephant Dung, Crimson Nut

Alabama Fans describing Tennessee Fans:

Toothless Hillbilly, Inbred Idiot, Drunken Do Nothing, Orange Peel, Astro Butt

I got the distinct feeling these two schools do not like each other. I set out to attempt to find out why that might be.

1. Alabama and Tennessee play each other every year.

2. Tennessee beats Alabama at inconvenient times.

3. Alabama beats Tennessee at inconvenient times.

4. The two schools are intense recruiting rivalries.

I looked into each of these reasons and found some similarities. Alabama has a hateful rivalry with Tennessee, Auburn, Ole Miss, LSU, Florida and to some extent Georgia. Every one of these rivalries are full of hate filled post and the fans from each school seem to loath each other.

Contrast that with Auburn that has rivalries with all of these schools and they are all quite civil with the exception of Alabama.

Tennessee has a rivalry with all of these schools and they are also quite civil compared to the rivalry with Alabama.

It is much the same with every other school I checked. I was unable to find out what caused this hatred between Alabama and most of their rivals. I checked when Alabama was winning and loosing as well as when the rival was winning and loosing. The rivalry hatred picked up when things were not going well for Alabama.

The reader can form their own opinion on this. I could come to no conclusion as to the why of this hatred. I come away with only one bit of information that I found interesting. Auburn is not the most hated school for Alabama fans, Tennessee gets that nod by a noticeable margin.

I will say I have been to every one of these schools as a fan and on business. I was treated well in each and every one. The oldest rivalry in the SEC is Auburn Vs. Georgia and it is quite civil until the whistle blows.

I have found fans from each of these schools I now call friend. I did not write this article to embarrass or imply anything. I set out to find out what causes the huge difference in the way fans are perceived by opposing schools. I will say that it is not likely the faint of heart would post a prediction of an Alabama 38-14 win on a Tennessee article and get a courteous response.  And a Volunteer that posted such a thing on an Alabama article would likely not want to go back and look at the postings to their folly.

I respect the fans of Tennessee and have always been treated well by them. The same goes for Georgia, Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Arkansas, LSU. I respect Alabama fans but can not say they feel the same about myself or my school. I expect this is due to the legendary in state rivalry we have with them. I can not say that for sure though.

I do know I will never make the mistake of wearing an Alabama ball cap in Knoxville again. It will be Orange and Blue next time. Good Bye For Now!!!