Anyone interested in this

[justingroves]

Originally Posted by Bearsnecessity

Is Neyland the loudest in the SEC? I know it's the largest.


It's interesting. The SEC games definitely feel a thousand times more dramatic than other, but the gameplay itself can get downright sloppy. I watched a few games on TV last year--blocked punts, sloppy fumbles, botched snaps. It was ridiculous. No wonder you guys look much crisper playing OOC. It's just not as high-stakes.

The crowd really does have that much of an effect on a road team's psyche doesn't it? Or is the pressure of winning an SEC game so much that the players get caught up in it and struggle to perform at their best?

The loudest depends on what SEC fans you talk to. The Swamp and Death Valley are right up there if not past Neyland and from what I here Auburn gets really loud too.

If the team is used to playing in front of 75,000 to 100,000 fans then the crowd doesn't usually play a factor. But you've already admitted that no fans are more passionate about football than southern fans.

The SEC games you speak of is what happens when 2 evenly matched teams play. See the athletic difference when UT played Cal? That doesn't happen as much when 2 SEC teams come to play each other. It has nothing to do with pressure, it has to do with 22 of the best football players in the nation on the field at the same time.

[General_Neyland]

"I assume most of you were at Rocky Top last year. How much do you think the crowd contributed to the demolition of Cal? Or was the team that much better?"

To this question I would have to respond in this fashion:

I think the crowd could have played a role in the outcome of the game, However I find it odd that a team like CAL wasnt coached to be ready for a SEC type atmosphere and 107,000 fans. If the team diddnt know what they were walking into, and truly were caught off guard then I say blame the coaches for underpreparing the players. After all, in the SEC we play high intensity games every week. Typically you will find 3-5 SEC teams in the top 10 in the polls ,this is what we are used to. This is what level we are used to playing on week in and week out.

Now was CAL the better team last year? At 35-0 in the 3rd qtr I'd have to say no. CAL looked unprepared and out of their league. The films of the game say it all. Cal was beaten on both sides of the ball all the way around. That my friends was done by the players on the field, not the crowd.

[BACKDOC]

Funny story I thought Cal fans would enjoy. A couple of years ago our Center went on his official visit to SC. He resides from Miss., his name is Josh McNeil. He knew LA wasn't the place for him when he pulled out a can of snuff and took a big dip; the other players looked at him like he was crazy. He later signed with UT.

[Bearsnecessity]

Originally Posted by Lexvol

Depth on the defensive line is also a concern this year. The secondary, while very young, has made a few waves in fall practices, but the verdict is still out on that group as well. Our receiver issues may have contributed to some of their success.

Special teams have recently been less than special. The Sloppy play that you described has marginalized our efforts in this area. However, the infusion of speed from the 2007 class has fans excited about big play potential on the return teams.

The best kicker on the team, Dustin Colquitt, has a tweaked quad. His natural position is punter, but he was going to be counted on to kickoff, and for field goals as well. If niether offense is clicking and the UT/Cal game turns into a battle for field position, this could be a problem for UT.

Some, including myself, hope that UT will have more team speed this year than last, and also have some expectation the offensive line to show slight improvement (at the least). For that reason, Cal fans should look for a healthy dose of UT's rushing offense.

Heh, our issues on defense are similar (inexperienced D-line, unproven secondary). Looks like Cal's d-line might be the key to Saturday's game--if you can plow through our line without fail, we'll be in deep trouble. I'd rather have Tennessee passing than running, that's for sure.

[Bearsnecessity]

Originally Posted by jakez4ut

LSU will only be big if we see them in the SEC CG...which would be just fine with me.....

but the usuals are FL, Bama, GA...those three are always big. but you can throw SC in the mix as well now...having that Spurrier/Fulmer thing going on again instantly added some spice to that matchup.

ARK will be a big game this year, simply because of how they beat us last year. a lot of people are looking to that game as a pretty good benchmark...can we contain DMC at all? or will we get pushed around up front......again.

the reality, with the SEC the way it is today, just about every conf. game is big. hell, if you believe what you read, KY is going to be a HUGE game at the end of the year.....

and with the rotating schedule you can usually count on at least 5-6 "big"conf. games a year....then throw in one big OOC game...the schedule just is chock full of big games...in the not too distant future, we have ooc games against OK, NEB, ORE, UCLA, NCSU, UNC...and it won't be long before Auburn rotates back on the schedule from the West.

over the next 10 years or so, the schedule for us will not be considered weak, that much i can tell you.

I forget, who is Tennessee's biggest rival? It used to be Kentucky right? And I know it's just mean to consider Vanderbilt (although they beat you two years ago)...so, Florida?

[OrangeEmpire]

ALA FREAKIN' BAMA!

[Lexvol]

Originally Posted by Bearsnecessity

Heh, our issues on defense are similar (inexperienced D-line, unproven secondary). Looks like Cal's d-line might be the key to Saturday's game--if you can plow through our line without fail, we'll be in deep trouble. I'd rather have Tennessee passing than running, that's for sure.

You are correct....My gut feeling is that the UT staff thinks their are some weaknesses to be exploited. If we have to throw the ball around too much, that will be a bad sign for the folks on Rocky Top.

[utvolpj]

Originally Posted by Bearsnecessity

I forget, who is Tennessee's biggest rival? It used to be Kentucky right? And I know it's just mean to consider Vanderbilt (although they beat you two years ago)...so, Florida?

In the modern era UK and Vandy aren't even close.

For the under-30 crowd I would say UF and the over-30 crowd it's bama.

My vote:

[Lexvol]

Originally Posted by OrangeEmpire

ALA FREAKIN' BAMA!

There is NO CLOSE SECOND!!!!!!!

[OrangeEmpire]

Originally Posted by utvolpj

In the modern era UK and Vandy aren't even close.

For the under-30 crowd I would say UF and the over-30 crowd it's bama.

My vote:

Hey now, I am under 30!

Florida is a close second because of the mid to late 90's.

[utvolpj]

Originally Posted by OrangeEmpire

Hey now, I am under 30!

Florida is a close second because of the mid to late 90's.

My bad. Should have said "generally".

[Jmxvol]

Boy, talk about extending the olive branch!

I'd be embarrassed if I was a Cal fan.

[Bearsnecessity]

Originally Posted by Jmxvol

Boy, talk about extending the olive branch!

I'd be embarrassed if I was a Cal fan.

Heh, whatever bro. Do you want a discussion, or a homer standoff? I think the latter grew kind of lame. It's not as if we'll be facing off the next fifty years. Just getting to know others.

As for how I feel about Tennessee...I was born in Buffalo, raised a Bills fan, and I haven't forgotten about seven years ago. My grudges lie mainly with the Titans. I always felt the Bears were unprepared for last year, so painful as it was, I wasn't too surprised. This is the make or break year.

[hmanvolfan]

If anybody from Cal or anywhere else wishes to know the opinions concerning Tennessee rednecks or Berkeley tree hugging hippies, they can be gleaned from numerous threads on this board over the summer. A little research goes a long way. Personally, I prefer to have our differences settled on the football field Saturday. We can talk after that!!

[orangeblooded_2]

Originally Posted by Bearsnecessity

As for how I feel about Tennessee...I was born in Buffalo, raised a Bills fan, and I haven't forgotten about seven years ago. My grudges lie mainly with the Titans.

It was a lateral