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Yhonzae Pierre sent back to the locker after attempting to smoke victory cigar on field

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh10/19/25griffin_mcveigh
Alabama LB Yhonzae Pierre
Alabama LB Yhonzae Pierre (Gary Cosby Jr. / Imagn Images)

The elation of winning the Third Saturday in October comes for multiple reasons. None more so than getting to smoke a victory cigar, signifying a win in the rivalry. And after Alabama took down Tennessee on Saturday, players such as Yhonzae Pierre were ready to celebrate.

Pierre ran back onto the field from the locker room, cigar in hand, shortly after the clock hit zero. He was quickly stopped and told to turn back around. His facial reaction provided a hilarious moment too, being surprised that his celebration was sent back to the locker room.

Have no fear. Celebrations in Tuscaloosa will run rampant over the next few hours. Fans inside the stadium even got a little bit of a head start, firing up the cigars when the game was still on going. Smoke filled the air inside Bryant-Denny Stadium, becoming quite visible on the television broadcast.

At some point, Pierre will get right in the middle of it all. Everyone on Alabama’s sideline watched Tennessee partake in the celebrations a year ago after earning a win in Knoxville. Now, it’s the Crimson Tide’s turn to smoke ’em since they’ve got ’em.

Yhonzae Pierre provides breakout performance for Alabama vs. Tennessee

If anybody deserves to get a cigar lit, it’s Pierre. He put together an incredible performance vs. Tennessee, recording three sacks of quarterback Joey Aguilar. Disruptive from the start, the Vols’ offensive line did not have many answers for him at times.

Pass rush is something Alabama spent a few weeks searching for as well. Head coach Kalen DeBoer spoke to Pierre’s play during his postgame press conference, saying how proud he is of the player rising up at the right moment.

“He’s been right there,” DeBoer said via On3 | Rivals’ BOL‘s Blake Byler. “I’m really pleased with the last couple weeks, what he’s done. … We’re asking more out of him and he’s rising to the occasion.”

Alabama would certainly welcome Pierre’s presence becoming a regular thing. Next up on the schedule is South Carolina, a team struggling to protect quarterback LaNorris Sellers up front. Pierre likely has another great opportunity in front of him to put up some numbers.

Preparation for South Carolina will begin in around 24 hours, though. All Pierre wants to do at the moment is light up his cigar with some teammates. He just needs to do so in the locker room and not on the field.