Greg McElroy makes surprising pre-NIL revelation of cigar tradition in Alabama vs Tennessee

Greg McElroy is back involved with the Third Saturday in October but this time as a broadcaster. The former Alabama quarterback has plenty of experience facing Tennessee during his playing days, never dropping one against the Vols when on the field. Plenty of cigars were smoked by McElroy to celebrate the victory.

Turns out, McElroy was the one purchasing cigars before becoming the starter. ESPN play-by-play commentator Sean McDonough revealed backup quarterbacks were the ones to buy cigars back in the day. McElroy confirmed, saying there were no NIL deals to support them either.

“Back in the pre-NIL days, that was the way things worked,” McElroy said on Saturday from Neyland Stadium. “So yeah, I had to buy them for a few years. But what a great game and special tradition.”

McElroy’s first season in Tuscaloosa was before the Saban era, arriving in 2006. While Tennessee did get a win then, he was going through a redshirt season. He became the starter in 2009, getting a famous win in Tuscaloosa before going to Knoxville in 2010 for a 31-point victory. At that point, somebody else was buying the cigars McElroy was buying.

But from three seasons, McElroy was the one buying victory stogies for his teammates. Not too bad of a trade-off if you are on Alabama, meaning a win was secured.

Controversial call goes against Alabama

Alabama wide receiver Kendrick Law was called for a critical 15-yard penalty late in Saturday’s game against Tennessee. The foul backed Kalen DeBoer‘s squad to a 4th and 22, making it a nearly impossible play to pick up when they needed it the most. But ESPN’s Matt Austin believes there should have been offsetting penalties on the call.

Law got into it with Tennessee defensive back Boo Carter, pushing him in the face. Austin, along with play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough and color commentator Greg McElroy, noticed Carter did swing back at Law but did not make too much contact. Even so, the trio believes a flag should have been called on Carter and canceled out the 15-yard call.

“I certainly think, in this case, offsetting fouls would have been appropriate,” Austin said. “He did get up, he did get right in his face. You don’t know what he was saying, you don’t know what if it was actually taunting or not. But in this situation, because there was a retaliation, I would have liked to see them offset.”