Jalen Milroe calls cigar-smoking tradition of Tennessee rivalry the cherry on top

Jalen Milroe is ready to embrace all of the traditions surrounding Alabama and Tennessee. The Crimson Tide quarterback’s cherry on top? The winning cigars.

After owning the rivalry throughout Nick Saban’s tenure, Tennessee stunned Alabama 52-49 last season. Now Milroe is in the starting quarterback spotlight and wants to make sure the Crimson Tide get this one back.

The game they call the Third Saturday in October is nearly here and Milroe wants his team celebrating with some stogies.

“The time I’ve been here … I’m learning more and more about the rivalry,” Milroe said. “And I say like to success that’s like the cherry on top … having that cigar at the end of the game. Ain’t no better feeling to have that. But it’s gonna be great for us. You know, we got to, you know, take care of some little things before the game starts. But yeah, that’s something to be excited for sure.”

Last year, No. 5 Alabama dropped the game on the road to No. 6 Tennessee. Bryce Young and Hendon Hooker dueled it out as the Crimson Tide nearly came back after trailing 21-7 after the first quarter.

“Yeah, it’s a historic rivalry that I’m just learning more and more about being in college,” Milroe said. “It’s very exciting to be a part of a rivalry. It’s gonna take a lot of preparation this week, just preparing how hard this opponent is. But it’s a great opportunity for us and we’re excited for the challenge. It’s gonna be great, it’s great to have this rivalry going on and it’s gonna be fun.”

The rivalry is great, but fans want payback. Do the players see that when they see Alabama and Tennessee on the schedule?

“I think the number one thing we got to do is look in the mirror,” Milroe said. “Look at some things that we need to improve on to help our team win, help our team be successful, and ultimately win. 

“But you know, a lot of things we can learn, a lot of takeaways we can have to approach this week. But the number one thing we got to do is just fix some things from last week and improve as much as possible today. And then that’s the focus point, just trying to improve, get 1% better each and every day that we have this week.”

Alabama and Tennessee square off Saturday in Tuscaloosa at 3:30 p.m. ET.