Rivalries make college football the most entertaining sport to consume.
The best one, arguably, is one where you are tasting a quality cigar with friends at the end of the “Third Saturday in October” matchup between Alabama and Tennessee. Paul W. “Bear” Bryant and Robert Neyland started the cigar tradition, but a former Crimson Tide player shared what gave him success each season he took on the Volunteers in a big game. Jesse Williams, a defensive lineman, played at the University of Alabama in 2011 and 2012. A native Australian, Williams transferred to the Tide from Western Arizona Community College. He went 2-0 against the Volunteers, helping Alabama’s defense allow 20 points.
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Williams won back-to-back BCS National Championships, but the Tennessee game carries a bittersweet memory for him.
Aaron Douglas, a native of Maryville, Tenn., was Williams’ closest teammate at Alabama. Douglas, like Williams, was a talented junior college prospect from Western Arizona. He came with Williams in the 2011 class after earning Freshman All-American honors at the University of Tennessee (2009) and National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American honors (2010). Douglas participated in spring practice and showed he could contribute to the team in the fall. All he wanted was to become a legendary lineman like his father. David Douglas was an offensive lineman for the Volunteers in the mid-1980s, but his son would not get the chance to follow that path. Aaron tragically died before the start of the 2011 season on May 12.
He passed away in Florida because of multiple drug toxicity in his system.
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Douglas’ death saddened the program because the coaches and players knew the person he was. Williams took it the hardest because they entered Alabama together as JUCO transfers who had something to prove in the Southeastern Conference.
His best friend hailed from Tennessee, so Williams was at his best when the “Third Saturday in October” came around.
Football is such an important part of my life, and I think the biggest reason it means a lot to myself and so many other guys is because of the people we get to share periods of our lives together with.
Aaron and I used to speak alot about going to Alabama, as we were the only… pic.twitter.com/uqRws8Btzb
— Jesse Williams (@ThaMonstar) October 17, 2023
He honored Douglas by stuffing running backs, taking double-teams, pressuring quarterbacks, and rendering the Volunteers’ offensive line helpless. Williams also had “AD77” on his wrist for both games against the Vols. It gave him comfort and strength that Douglas was playing through him. He wanted to make sure he paid homage to his guy by dominating the marquee school of his home state. Williams puffed a cigar twice and won two national championships in Douglas’ memory. He shared the moment on Twitter, reminding himself how he played for something more significant than him. Williams will now watch this year’s Crimson Tide team take on the Vols at Bryant-Denny Stadium. CBS will have the broadcast on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT.
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Stephen M. Smith is the managing editor and senior writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @CoachingMSmith.
