Why did Alabama softball players smoke cigars after beating Tennessee? Explaining tradition

Eagle-eyed fans watching the moments immediately following Alabama softball's upset of Tennessee in the Knoxville Super Regional may have noticed Crimson Tide players handing out something peculiar.

In the immediate aftermath of 14-seed Alabama's upset of 3-seed Tennessee in Game 3 of the super regional, numerous Alabama players could be seen passing around and smoking cigars.

REQUIRED READING: Grand slam propels Alabama softball past Tennessee to Women's College World Series

As captured by Mike Rodak of 247Sports:

While the smoking of cigars is technically an NCAA violation, it is also a storied tradition in the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry — one whose origins began on the football field and whose punishments by the NCAA amount to little more than a slap on the wrist.

Here's all you need to know about why Alabama softball players were smoking cigars after beating Tennessee en route to the Women's College World Series:

Why was Alabama softball smoking cigars after Tennessee win?

It is a long-held tradition in the Alabama-Tennessee rivalry that the winner between the two teams smokes cigars. Considering the stakes in the Knoxville Super Regional, it made sense for Alabama to break them out, especially after the Crimson Tide lost its regular-season series 2-1 in Tuscaloosa earlier in the season.

With Alabama's 2-1 series victory in the super regional, the Crimson Tide and Lady Vols will finish with a 3-3 record against each other for the 2024 college softball season. That said, Alabama did get the last laugh — and the cigars — while keeping Tennessee from advancing to the WCWS:

Alabama fell to 0-1 in the super regional after giving up a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 in Game 1 in Knoxville. Patrick Murphy's Crimson Tide team managed to hang on for a 3-2 victory in a 14-inning Game 2 to tie the series 1-1. Alabama won the series with a 4-1 victory on Sunday by way of first-inning grand slam from Riley Valentine — but not before holding off a Tennessee comeback in the seventh inning.

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Alabama and Tennessee's cigar smoking tradition has become something of a spectacle, particularly in football, where numerous fans can be seen filling either Bryant-Denny Stadium or Neyland Stadium with smoke.

As mentioned by former Alabama coach Nick Saban, he doesn't smoke cigars — he chews them:

REQUIRED READING: Alabama smoking cigars again vs Tennessee, and why that's bigger than one game | Goodbread

Alabama-Tennessee cigar tradition, explained

As noted by Chase Goodbread of The Tuscaloosa News, the tradition of smoking cigars began in 1961 under the tenure of famed football coach Paul W. "Bear" Bryant. One of his assistants, Jim Goostree, handed out cigars after the Crimson Tide beat Tennessee 34-3 for the first time since 1954.

He later would hand out cigars after victories over the Vols and, after a time, Tennessee developed the practice on their side of the rivalry as well. As noted by Goodbread, Tuscaloosa-based cigar shop R&R Cigars supplies Alabama with its victory cigars — and was happy to celebrate the Crimson Tide's latest win vs. the Vols:

For another season, at least, it looks like Alabama softball will get the last taste of cigar smoke.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Why Alabama softball players smoked cigars after beating Tennessee