Adams: Oller doesn't hide UT colors in Alabama

Eric Oller doesn't have to imagine. He's the incoming president of the Birmingham chapter of the University of Tennessee Alumni Association. He's also a financial planner in Birmingham, Ala.

I was curious about his secret life as a UT fan. At least, I assumed it was secret.

A Florida fan living in Knoxville once asked me not to identify him as a Gator in the newspaper. It might hurt his business, he said. Given the nature of the rivalry, the request seemed reasonable.

In the heat of competition, the hatred between UT and Florida is just as palpable as any rivalry in the SEC. But there's a balance and even rationality to it that has all but disappeared from UT vs. Alabama.

The UT-Florida rivalry, born of divisional competition, has swung back and forth. UT-Alabama is a one-way wrecking ball.

UT has won nine of the last 10 football games against Alabama. The NCAA has hammered Alabama and vindicated UT. The Tide has lost on the field and in court.

As Alabama football has plummeted to new depths, its loathing of an old rival has soared. After all, UT football coach Phillip Fulmer hasn't just beaten the Tide, he has testified against it to the NCAA. Some Alabama fans would like to hit him with more than a subpoena.

The coach can avoid Alabama. The president of UT's Birmingham alumni chapter can't.

So how does an orange man function in a red state? Does he hide his allegiance - with his orange clothing - in the closet? Is his only Power T reduced to dog-tag size and hidden beneath his shirt?

Oller told me the last thing I expected to hear. He told me about making a business presentation the other day in Birmingham. He was introduced as the "president of the Big Orange Club."

Imagine that. There's no secrecy, no dread and no glancing over your shoulder at a possible incoming Tide. Oller admits your "blood has to be pretty thick" to be a UT fan in Alabama but quickly adds, "I see more 'Tennessee' on cars than I ever have."

"It's a little easier (being a UT fan in Birmingham) now," Oller said. "Alabama fans are frustrated. This Phillip Fulmer thing If Alabama were winning, that wouldn't even exist."

Fulmer won't be in Birmingham for Thursday night's stop on the Big Orange Caravan, which makes you wonder if he were still trying to dodge a subpoena from Alabama attorney Thomas Gallion, who sought Fulmer's testimony in a pending lawsuit against the NCAA on behalf of two former Alabama assistant coaches.

"I don't think that's the case," said UT athletic director Mike Hamilton, who also pointed out that Fulmer wouldn't make two other stops on the caravan. "We changed the way we do the caravan. We've taken the divide-and-conquer mode. We send one main head coach into a particular alumni event and assistants from the other sports."

Even if UT hadn't changed its caravan plan, do you think Fulmer would have gone to Birmingham? He was fined $10,000 for not attending the SEC Media Days in Birmingham last July.

"As far as I know, he will be there (for this year's media days)," Hamilton said. "He has been to Birmingham (since last year's media days)."

But Oller can understand why Fulmer wouldn't want to attend this week's get-together in Birmingham.

"I don't blame him," Oller said. "We don't take it as a slight."

Instead, he and his fellow UT fans are looking forward to Thursday night's dinner at the Vestavia Lodge, where Lady Vols basketball coach Pat Summitt will be the featured speaker.

"We've been trying to get her down here for two years," Oller said. "We're expecting a crowd of 200."

That's what it's like being a UT fan in Alabama.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.