Alabama players, fans smoke cigars after blowout win over Tennessee
By Keith Farner
Published:
Of all the traditions for Alabama football, lighting up cigars after wins over Tennessee is among the most enjoyable for the Crimson Tide faithful.
The Tuscaloosa News reports that the background of the tradition most commonly traces to the late Jim Goostree, a longtime Alabama athletic trainer who graduated from Tennessee. Going into the 1961 game, Alabama hadn’t beaten Tennessee since 1954 (there was a 7-7 tie in 1959). Goostree told the team he’d dance naked in the locker room if Alabama won.
After a 34-3 win at Birmingham’s Legion Field, Goostree danced while smoking a cigar. Players wanted a cigar to celebrate, too. Longtime Alabama assistant Ken Donahue, another Tennessee alumnus, arrived in 1964 and further stoked the rivalry.
On Saturday, following a 45-7 victory over Tennessee, players and fans alike lit up the cigars.
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Light em up!!! 11 in a row and counting ??♂️ pic.twitter.com/DxDEmAjgJV
— Shaun Dion Hamilton (@iam_sdh20) October 22, 2017
There sure are a lot of happy cigar aficionados filling the Bryant-Denny Stadium stands after No. 1 #Alabama's 45-7 win over Tennessee … pic.twitter.com/vFDgVUrXdY
— Alex Byington (@_AlexByington) October 21, 2017
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
