WATCH: Henry To'o To'o celebrates after beating former team
Alabama linebacker Henry To’o To’o celebrated the team’s 52-24 victory over Tennessee on Saturday with a victory cigar, celebrating with Alabama’s students. To’o To’o began his college career with Tennessee, before joining Alabama this season through the transfer portal.
Henry To’o To’o and Alabama win, smoke victory cigars
“Smoke ’em if you got ’em! Smoke ’em if you got ’em,” shouted To’o To’o to the camera filming their celebration postgame.
Henry To’o To’o and Alabama’s players celebrated their victory over Tennessee with their longstanding tradition on Saturday. The Crimson Tide players rushed out of the locker room and into the stands to take part after the game.
The smoking of the cigars is a tradition in the rivalry, dubbed “The Third Saturday in October,” that dates back to 1961. One of the players celebrating with fans in the stands was one of the newest additions to Alabama, linebacker Henry To’o To’o.
To’o To’o joined Alabama as a junior this year after leaving Tennessee through the transfer portal. His impact on the Alabama defense has been immediate, and To’o To’o was a factor in Alabama’s second-half defense that gave up just ten points after a slow start.
Nick Saban’s halftime problems
Alabama head coach Nick Saban hammered his team for mistakes they had made during the first half during his halftime interview as they left the field. The Crimson Tide led Tennessee 21-14 at the half, despite several key mistakes that were a cause for frustration for their coach.
“Well we busted two coverages for two touchdowns. We had them stopped and gave them an opportunity by roughing the kicker when it was third down and about 30. Turned the ball over on the nine-yard line — so we’ve done a lot of shooting ourselves in the foot which we need to get fixed, because these guys are capable of moving the ball and scoring points,” Saban told ESPN’s Katie George when asked about Alabama’s misalignment in coverage.
“Well, we gotta continue to do that. I think we need to run it a little better and have a little better balance too, but they’re mixing it up well on defense. Bryce [Young] has done a good job of taking advantage.”
The roughing the kicker penalty that Saban referred to was when Tennessee took the lead against Alabama with a 57-yard touchdown catch by JaVonta Payton after an Alabama penalty extended their drive. On a Tennessee punt attempt on 4th-and-23, Alabama received a roughing the kicker penalty that kept Tennessee’s drive alive.