Columnist calls for end to ‘stupid’ celebratory cigars after Alabama-Tennessee rivalry games
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Think back to any Alabama-Tennessee game you’ve seen, and one of the prevailing memories will probably be of the winning team smoking cigars after the final whistle.
If one columnist had his way, the tradition would be abolished going forward.
In a column published Thursday, Jack McElroy of The Knoxville News Sentinel called the celebratory cigars “stupid” and advocated for both teams to discontinue the practice. The tradition started in 1961 and has persisted throughout the years, but McElroy points to health concerns for the players and fans in attendance as reasons to put an end to the victory smokes.
Crimson Tide players have recently hogged the cigars to themselves with 12 straight wins. They don’t appear to be growing tired of it, so don’t hold your breath waiting for Alabama and Tennessee to suddenly outlaw the tradition.
Marcus covers SEC football for Saturday Down South.
