Cigars Cause Controversy in College Football as Joel Klatt Loses Cool in Alabama vs Tennessee Aftermath

Alabama Crimson Tide is going through its worst nightmares after losing to the Tennessee Volunteers with a difference of 7 points. This not only threw Kalen DeBoer under hot water but also solidified fans’ doubts about his coaching techniques after losing to Vanderbilt. However, in between all this mishap, Vols sparked controversy during the game, lighting up a stogie to celebrate their victory. But it looks like a famous sports analyst, Joel Klatt is not happy with their off-putting act. Let’s see what he has to say about the whole situation.

Today, the Joel Klatt Show shared a short clip addressing the whole cigar victory act in the Alabama vs Tennessee Volunteers game. Fox Sports analyst Joel Klatt shared his anger and frustration over kids smoking after the game thinking it might look cool saying, “Someone needs to teach the kids at Tennessee. By the way, kids, you shouldn’t smoke cigars, but if you’re going to, you don’t light them with matches. Like, there was so much wrong with that Tennessee like, come on… Vandy is kicking your b–t in celebration.” Joel Klatt not only took a shot at the Tennessee students, but he also mocked them by pointing out that the Vanderbilt goalpost celebration appeared more like a victory gesture than an attempt to fill the stadium with smoke.

The act was not only looked down upon because of the majority of college students appeared underaged, but it was also against NCAA norms. But who cares about that when you are too involved in the act to even realize what is going around? Even though the Tennessee Volunteers students perceived the whole act as very fulfilling and “buzzin” another sports analyst had a different view. Brandon Walker didn’t swallow that well as he took to X, sharing his dissatisfaction with the whole incident, saying, “None of these Tennessee fans have any idea how to smoke a cigar.”

However, the celebration is not the sole purpose of the whole cigar act; the Tennessee Volunteers’ way of enjoying team victory goes way back in time. Even Bama’s head coach, Kalen DeBoer, is no new to the fact, despite recently joining the program. Let’s see what he has to say about the whole mess.

Kalen DeBoer on Tennessee Volunteers’ cigar act

Well, don’t be surprised to know that the Tennessee Volunteers were not the ones who started this tradition. Even though the young students smoking cigars are giving a wrong message to the youth, they are more or less giving Bama the taste of their own medicine. The tradition of lighting up cigars to celebrate victory is something that was first done by Alabama to celebrate their first win against the Vols in 1961. After the team won their rivalry game, Bama’s athletic trainer Jim Goostree smoked a claro in their locker room, which ended up with players joining him in this clingy act. Now that Vols finally got the chance to give it back to the Crimson Tide, how can they miss it?

However, Kalen DeBoer was well aware of the rivalry celebration ahead of their showdown. Talking about the whole situation, DeBoer’s kept his straightforward approach towards the cigar thing, saying, “I know that what I’m trying to do is just make sure we do our part as a football program and prepare so that people can celebrate and enjoy the rivalry on our end.” Alabam’s head coach was mainly focused on their game, but we all know how that went, but even if the team didn’t win against Tennessee Volunteers, they also didn’t set the wrong example for the future players.