He Was Alabama's first All-American, and exhibited true tennessee hate, to the point of attempted self-mutilation...
https://www.seccountry.com/alabama/beat-third-saturday-october-rivalry-going-smoke
From a good Chris Walsh article about the series and upcoming gameThe initial Alabama-Tennessee game in 1901 featured fans rushing the field in Birmingham to protest, but was called due to darkness with the score tied 6-6.The 1913 game ended with a 6-0 score in favor of Alabama, but Tennessee never forgot the Crimson Tide’s first All-American, Bully Van de Graaff.
“His ear had a real nasty cut, and it was dangling from his head, bleeding badly,” Tennessee lineman Bull Bayer later recalled. “He grabbed his own ear and tried to yank it from his head. His teammates stopped him and the managers bandaged him.
“Man, was that guy a tough one. He wanted to tear off his own ear so he could keep playing.”
https://www.seccountry.com/alabama/beat-third-saturday-october-rivalry-going-smoke