Lee is enjoying Tennessee's run of success against Alabama teams

Lee is savoring what the Chattanooga Times Free Press playfully framed as an Alabama state championship for Tennessee, a nod to the Volunteers' success against teams from that state.

The phrase is not an official title, but it captures the satisfaction that comes with beating Alabama opposition. For Tennessee and its supporters, results against Alabama carry extra meaning because of the rivalry and the history involved, and stringing together success in those games gives the program a bragging point worth enjoying.

For the Volunteers, the value is in the moment as much as the standings. Lee's reaction, as reported by the paper, reflects how much those wins resonate inside the program and why Tennessee will want to protect that edge the next time it faces an Alabama team.