After more than a decade of dominance, the Alabama Crimson Tide received an unfamiliar feeling of losing to the Tennessee Vols.
The streak ended at 15. Tennessee beat Alabama for the first time since the 2006 season, coming out on top of Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide for the first time. On Saturday, the Tennessee Volunteers earned a 52-49 victory over the Crimson Tide at Neyland Stadium.
However, it did not come without controversy.
There is a video going around seemingly showing a ref celebrating a touchdown by the Vols.
“Did the head referee during the Alabama/Tennessee game celebrate a Tennessee touchdown? You be the judge,” Touchdown Alabama tweeted.
Did the head referee during the Alabama/Tennessee game celebrate a Tennessee touchdown?
You be the judge ? pic.twitter.com/YDQcddV8uH
— Touchdown Alabama (@TDAlabamaMag) October 18, 2022
The CFB world was quick to react to the conspiracy theory:
at that moment he knew he had f**** up???? https://t.co/UMXahZVoqh
— Kavosiey Smoke (@_KS20_) October 18, 2022
I’m pretty sure the refs stuck around to tear me down! ???? https://t.co/sIWq09XZwq
— Tennessee Goalpost (@VolsGoalposts) October 18, 2022
Sources close to the program have confirmed that the PA announcer in the stadium overdubbed the ref on this call during the game. Here is the actual footage with correct audio of what the ref actually said https://t.co/ZFCibV5YYl pic.twitter.com/7mIF8o0GyU
— Landon W. (@landonkw) October 18, 2022
? he has a son that attends Tennessee. We also cheated at the LSU game by sending out EMPs to cause the opening fumble. We have also given out McDonald’s happy meals to the officials before every Tennessee game. https://t.co/MG7a946vFc pic.twitter.com/OWIFFUbZZd
— ?Classless_Reggie? (@Reggie_am_i) October 18, 2022
I’d like to apologize to any UGA fans who cheered for TN last Saturday. I’m sorry I doubted your logic. You were right. Seeing Alabama lose is the funniest thing ever. https://t.co/Qfm3VC0iz7
— Brandon Adams (@DawgNationDaily) October 18, 2022
I remember when Bama accused us of knowing their defensive plays even though we run fast pace offense. Excuses excuses https://t.co/rVHmN7pABH
— Rebels For You (@OleMissForYou) October 18, 2022
Now, that’s better. #GoDawgs https://t.co/AiOIYRIx7z pic.twitter.com/gfpfxop714
— Woody Camp (@woodyinpr) October 18, 2022
Bama complaining about refs.. https://t.co/NVnS0tgRfo pic.twitter.com/SpmFluHHk2
— TC (@Dawgfan) October 18, 2022
There is no position of “head referee”. https://t.co/nsREGduvUl
— Don Williams (@AJ_DonWilliams) October 18, 2022
Alabama fans any time the team loses one (1) football game https://t.co/7xfOx9eOCo pic.twitter.com/kFGoHFAKGh
— Evan Saacks (@evansaacks) October 18, 2022
Expect the Hendon Hooker hype machine to get more intense after his performance against Bama.
In the Alabama game, Hendon Hooker passed for 385 yards and five touchdowns with just an interception on 21-of-30 completions. He also rushed for 56 yards on 14 carries.
Those are outstanding numbers against one of the best football programs in the entire country.