Alabama lights up traditional stogies after beating Tennessee (PHOTOS)

Call it close, but yes cigar.

It's a tradition, when Alabama beats Tennessee, cigars are smoked. And on Saturday, those stogies were lit after the Crimson Tide eked out a 19-14 win over the Volunteers in Tuscaloosa.

After two touchdowns from running back Derrick Henry, the Heisman candidate celebrated quite appropriately with his coach Nick Saban:

While the PC Police will find so much wrong with these pictures, you have to love that Alabama don't give a lick.

One last time to spark the cigars with lil bro #BPsiPhi #FlyHighMyGuy #HeyVols #WeJustBeatTheHellOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/FFBFf1OJng

— John Fulton (@_Elvis_Freshley) October 24, 2015

The host team preserved their lead after the Vols fumbled with little over a minute left in the contest:

This left Peyton Manning, who was watching the game on the sideline of his alma mater, with what looks like well ... smoke in his eyes.

Crimson Tide swimmer dies protecting girlfriend during tornado: Report

The word "hero" gets tossed around in sports (and life) way too often these days. But if anyone deserves the the title, it's John Servati.

And with a big H.

The University of Alabama dive and swim team member died after protecting his girlfriend from a collapsing wall during a tornado on Monday evening.

While deadly storms swept through the South, killing dozens of people and ripping apart whole towns, Servati ended up losing his own life protecting his girlfriend from a collapsing retaining wall in an off-campus home's basement, reported WSFA.

Anna Rae Gwarjanski, captain of the University's women's swimming and diving team, said the 21-year-old Servati managed to hold up the wall and save his girlfriend's life that night while sacrificing his own.

Servati was taken to DCH Regional Medical Center and later pronounced dead after being crushed under the wall.

His girlfriend survived.

"John Servati died a hero. Held up a concrete wall long enough for his girlfriend to get out from under it before it collapsed again on him," tweeted Gwarjanski.

John Servati died a hero. Held up a concrete wall long enough for his girlfriend to get out from under it before it collapsed again on him.
— Anna Rae Gwarjanski (@annaraeoflight) April 29, 2014

"John's mom told our team this morning he always wanted to be an Alabama swimmer, and he always wanted to be a hero. He accomplished both."

Servati was a business student from Tupelo, Mississippi, according to his bio page, and scored at the SEC Championships. A successful student, he was also listed as having a 3.55 GPA in 2013. 

"John Servati was an extraordinary young man of great character and warmth who had a tremendously giving spirit," UA head coach Dennis Pursley said in a statement. "During this incredibly difficult time, our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and to all who had the good fortune to know him. He will forever be in our hearts and a part of the Crimson Tide legacy."

It seems only fitting that servati in Italian means preserved.

Nick Saban got write-in votes for president

Come November every four years, Alabama fans might care more about a national championship than the national debt. But at least one person thinks Nick Saban could probably handle both the sidelines and the Oval Office.

That loyal 'Bama supporter cast their write-in vote for Saban and Alabama men's golf coach Jay Sewell for president Tuesday and posted a picture of it on Twitter.  There are reports that this wasn't the only vote the head coach of the current No. 1 college team in the country received either.

It probably wasn't the best way or time to show your loyalty to a team or coach but isn't that what the blank space is for?

Saban's accomplishments in Tuscaloosa are well known — two national titles for the Crimson Tide in six seasons — but Sewell's credentials as a running mate are solid if not as glorified.  Sort of a quieter version of Joe Biden.

The Alabama golf coach does have a couple of SEC Golf Coach of the Year awards on his mantle and his team was runner-up for the national championship last year.

If the head coach is ever swayed by a Tide movement for his candidacy in 2016, it would be hard to imagine Saban carrying the states of Florida or Louisiana or the intense coach kissing a lot of babies.

President Saban. Imagine our national defense.