I remember the first sign I saw when I went to a UT game at Neyland Stadium at age nine.

It read “BUCK FAMA.”

“What does that mean, dad? Mom, what does it mean?” I asked at least twenty times that afternoon with both my parents artfully dodging that question as if they were Keanu Reeves in the first Matrix film finally realizing he can dodge bullets.

I turn 45 this year. I’d like to think I’m older and wiser for my time on this planet. I’d also like to think I’ve become more positive and hopeful as I got older, mainly because I’d like to believe as you age you start to figure shit out on this planet and things get better.

There’s one or two things I’ve not really seen in my lifetime, and I’d like to change that this year.

One of those things is Tennessee beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

The Vols have done remarkably well this year. Believe it or not my guys decked out in Pantone 151 boast the number one scoring offense in the nation right now. That’s not too damn shabby for a program that lost basically all of its talent at running back or wide receiver to the NFL or the transfer portal in the last year.

And let’s not even get into the whole Nico drama. That story’s been told and the clear winners are Tennessee and Joey Aguilar. The new QB1 on Rocky Top’s emerged as a leader who can be the dual threat Josh Heupel’s wanted since Hendon Hooker left for Detroit. Comfortable in just about every situation, Aguilar’s earned those 102,000 fans screaming “JOEY” every Saturday.

Our receiver corps looks pretty damn solid these days too, with Chris Brazzell making catches that defy gravity every Saturday and DeSean Bishop mowing through defenses like a hot knife through butter. Star Thomas looks like he’s ready to upstage anyone at any given moment in the game and take his place in Volunteer history when he does it.

“But Chris,” the naysayers are telling me, “It’s Alabama at home. UT isn’t really known for doing well on the road. Do you honestly think they can walk into Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday night and hand the Tide their crimson and houndstooth clad asses?”

To the aforementioned haters: Yes. Yes I do.

This isn’t a Nick Saban team anymore. The Tide of the modern era are more concerned with painting their nails and carrying emotional support Labubus (look it up, I swear I’m not kidding) than actually playing college football. Scuttlebutt around the boosters is Kalen DeBoer can’t keep his kids from sneaking 3 am DoorDash orders to the team hotel!

And the results have been pretty damning for the Tide. Some of these games shouldn’t have been nearly as close for Alabama as they’ve been. Are you really going to have me believe fucking MIZZOU should’ve held the Tide to three points?

Okay, I’ll admit most of the Vols wins haven’t been that impressive either but we’re in the NIL era now so what do you expect? The only wins that exist now are good ones. Period. And Tennessee’s only lost to Georgia this year.

I don’t know what’s going to happen on Saturday. I don’t have a crystal ball and in the Presbyterian church we’re not big into portents and omens. I do know this Tennessee team’s been criminally slept on this year while they’ve played exciting football.

Saturday’s going to be fun. There’s a tradition where the winning team smokes cigars after the game and I’ve bought mine. I’m not going to say what it is just yet, but if you’re watching the game and notice Tennessee wins? Go check @clsesq on Twitter.

You’ll see it then.

See y’all next time!