Former Alabama Star Roman Harper Says: “We Dislike Auburn But We Hate Tennessee”

Harper, who grew up in Prattville and became an All-SEC standout for Alabama in 2005, made his feelings crystal clear during Saturday’s SEC Nation broadcast. As the Tide prepares to host the Volunteers in Tuscaloosa, Harper didn’t mince words:

“We dislike Auburn but we hate Tennessee.”

It’s a sentiment that hits differently this week, as both teams enter the matchup with matching 5-1 records and plenty on the line. Alabama stands at (5-1, 3-0 SEC), while Tennessee isn’t far behind at (5-1, 2-1 SEC). The stakes are high, but Harper says the emotions are even higher.

The Rivalry That Burns Hotter Than the Iron Bowl

To outsiders, that declaration might sound blasphemous. After all, the Iron Bowl Alabama vs. Auburn is often painted as the defining Southern football rivalry. But for Harper, the annual showdown with Tennessee carries a different kind of venom.

He described feeling a “wave of hate” in the lead-up to this weekend’s game, an energy he rarely senses before facing Auburn.

And if you’ve ever been in Tuscaloosa the week before a Tennessee matchup, you’d understand. The air thickens with banter, with playful jabs, with reminders of last year’s heartbreak and last-minute miracles. It’s not just a game it’s a grudge match dressed in burnt orange and crimson.

Why Tennessee Still Gets Under Alabama’s Skin

Part of the tension comes from history. Before Nick Saban’s dynasty years, Tennessee was Alabama’s annual measuring stick, a fierce, physical battle that often defined SEC dominance. The tradition of “cigar celebrations” after a Tide win only added smoke (literally) to the fire.

For Harper, who lived through those bruising showdowns, the Volunteers represent something bigger: the kind of rivalry that shapes identity.

“It’s a different kind of hate,” Harper said with a grin that told the story better than words. “It’s personal.”

A Rivalry Renewed

This season, the storyline writes itself. Both teams are surging, both are flawed in fascinating ways, and both know that one loss could derail playoff hopes. Alabama fans haven’t forgotten Tennessee’s narrow victory last year, a 52-49 thriller that ended with Neyland Stadium swallowed in orange smoke and torn-down goalposts.

Now, the Tide have their shot at revenge and Roman Harper’s words have added just the right amount of spice.

Because in the South, football isn’t just a game. It’s a heartbeat, a tradition, a grudge carried proudly from one autumn to the next.

And as Harper so bluntly reminded us:

Auburn may be the neighbor you roll your eyes at

But Tennessee? That’s the one you can’t stand.