Tennessee vs. GaTech 2017 Chick-Fil-A-Kickoff

[butchna]

For those of us old enough, we recall the Nebraska games following the '97 & '99 seasons...which were 2 of the better teams in UT history.

All too vividly. inch:

 

[butchna]

Good grief. Some of you are so afraid of UT losing that playing any decent team is considered dumb.

Not scared of their talent...worried about our DL's knees with their blocking scheme. We don't benefit from playing them. Since we play the Dawgs every year, we have exposure to their market and recruiting area. Never have had a problem playing quality OOC teams tho. So if it's a done deal so be it. :good!:

 

[Volsfaninva917]

For those of us old enough, we recall the Nebraska games following the '97 & '99 seasons...which were 2 of the better teams in UT history.

I was at that fiesta bowl in 99 the score doesnt tell just how bad of an A$$ whooping it really was

 

[VOLINVONORE]

I remember that nightmare very well....So does Florida...GT reminds me more of Air Force than Nebraska...Another triple option team that ran all over us and almost beat us...Tennessee traditionally doesn't do well against option style offenses.....By the way we owe Nebraska 2 beat downs for those losses.

Different coach, different team, different defense. It will be the first game of the season and we will have several month to prepare for the game and we will be loaded on defense. I welcome the game and it should be a sellout.

 

[walkenvol]

That's great that there are 2 months to prepare, but after GT that preperation will be of no use. I'd rather them prepare for offenses they will be seeing repeatedly throughout the season.

Either way, we have the athletes to contain the option and GT won't have the defense to stop UT.

 

[chattavol420]

I don't like adding this game. We already play in the best conference...we don't need anything else to help our strength of schedule. It's a no win situation Imo

 

[nashvol1]

We have spring and summer to prep. I would be more worried if it was game 5 with only a week to prep

 

[IPleadInsanity]

Ok, I get it. We are struggling to get the program back to prominence, the obvious move is to schedule an extra game with a top 20 team that plays an offense we have never seen before?

How much time will we waste in fall practice preparing for an offense we will see only once?

This was the best we could come up with?

 

[joe7514]

I say bring them on. It will be good for Tennessee to beat a decent, out of conference team in front of a national audience.

 

[KBVol]

Ok, I get it. We are struggling to get the program back to prominence, the obvious move is to schedule an extra game with a top 20 team that plays an offense we have never seen before?

How much time will we waste in fall practice preparing for an offense we will see only once?

This was the best we could come up with?

That was essentially my point. It's just an unorthodoxed offense that we'll spend an inordinate amount of time trying to prepare for...and won't see again. As a fan I appreciate the "take on all comers" mentality and I believe we'll likely win the game, certainly not scared to play them. But preparing for them is different than preparing for any other team and if we don't get it right, we'll be in for a very long day, even if we have the superior team.

 

[W1LKY]

whoop dey azz

 

[Rocky_Top_Vol13]

Why is Tennessee accepting to play this game? Teams should refuse to play Georgia Tech until they start playing legitimate offense. The cut blocking is just too dangerous for player safety.

A long as they are playing by the rules, they are using a legitimate offense. You sound like Saban crying about the hurry up cuz he couldn't stop it. That being said....I'm kinda weary bout playing GT... :ermm:

 

[VFL-82-JP]

We already play in the best conference...we don't need anything else to help our strength of schedule.

We play one regular-season, out-of-conference game every year against a Power 5 opponent. In 2015 it's Oklahoma. In 2016 it'll be Va Tech. In 2017, looks like it'll be Ga Tech. This game isn't to "help" our strength of schedule, it's to maintain what we already do.

We are struggling to get the program back to prominence, the obvious move is to schedule an extra game with a top 20 team....

It's not an "extra" game. It is one of the 12 we will play in the regular season. It just happens to be one of the opening weekend games that are hosted a little like a bowl, with extra hype, in a (fairly) neutral location.

...team that plays an offense we have never seen before?

How much time will we waste in fall practice preparing for an offense we will see only once?

This was the best we could come up with?

This is the better argument against putting Ga Tech on the schedule. More about this below...

It's just an unorthodoxed offense that we'll spend an inordinate amount of time trying to prepare for...and won't see again...preparing for them is different than preparing for any other team and if we don't get it right, we'll be in for a very long day, even if we have the superior team.

Yep, this is the main coherent argument against playing Ga Tech, this and concern about knee injuries from chop blocks.

On the other hand, consider this: there's already a lot of option football being played among our regular opponents ... it just happens to take place out of the shotgun, with spread formations, rather than under center with tight ends and two backs. As a result, many of the principles of defending the option are already being taught to our defenders. So it's not entirely wasted learning. I'm no coach, but I think that's right. Would love to see 8188 or another actual coach weigh in on this thought.

 

[Sin City Vol]

Are they going to show this on.ESPN 8 the Ocho? Surely their not going to snub Alabama out of a prime time game.

 

[joevol33]

I'd love to go watch this game, just an hour away!

 

[GLDunlap]

Except uh....we recruit the state of GA pretty heavily, the game's in Atlanta, and we'll be back to kicking the s**t outta GA before you know it. We beat GT...... (*not that they weren't already, but*) the doors to recruit GA get blown off the hinges.

I think the kids from Georgia already know who we are. Beating Georgia Tech does nothing for recruiting. We already play Georgia every year so its not like we dont already have exposure in the Atlanta area. Georgia Tech is a very tough team that gets overlooked nationally. Beat them and we are just doing what we are supposed to do but lose and your season starts off really bad. Not to mention we will likely have a new starting qb with limited experience in this game. We rarely as in almost never go head to head with Georgia Tech for recruits.

 

[GLDunlap]

Good grief. Some of you are so afraid of UT losing that playing any decent team is considered dumb.

Not true its just if we are going to play a very good team out of conference it should be a team that is a household name nationally. Who cares if we beat Georgia Tech nationally? No one but if they beat us our season starts horribly. I love games against teams like Oklahoma but I hate games against teams like Georgia Tech. As far as teams go they are surprisingly equal but lose to Oklahoma or a similar type team and you can recover but if you lose to Georgia Tech its a big up hill climb.

 

[Volngeorgia]

I don't like adding this game. We already play in the best conference...we don't need anything else to help our strength of schedule. It's a no win situation Imo

Since I live in Atlanta, I have a bias.
Even acknowledging that, this game is great for us.
It will be the first regular season game played in what will be an awesome new Falcons stadium.
But, most importantly, the state of Georgia is HUGE for us in recruiting. Recruits from Georgia will love this and we will get a lot of free publicity from Atlanta media.

The only downside is that Techs unique style of play and blocking can cause injuries.
However, we will have a lot of depth by then and all spring and summer to get ready for this game as a season opener.

Positives very much outweigh the negatives...imho.

 

[butchna]

Since I live in Atlanta, I have a bias.
Even acknowledging that, this game is great for us.
It will be the first regular season game played in what will be an awesome new Falcons stadium.
But, most importantly, the state of Georgia is HUGE for us in recruiting. Recruits from Georgia will love this and we will get a lot of free publicity from Atlanta media.

The only downside is that Techs unique style of play and blocking can cause injuries.
However, we will have a lot of depth by then and all spring and summer to get ready for this game as a season opener.

Positives very much outweigh the negatives...imho.

Georgia game gets us all that every year...and we keep our knees. :hi:

 

[Volngeorgia]

Georgia game gets us all that every year...and we keep our knees. :hi:

Georgia game is played in boring Athens.
Besides, in 2017, we play UGA in Knoxville.
So, playing this game would mean 3 straight years of us playing a game in the state of Georgia.
This game would be at the newest pro stadium in America.
Recruits love Sparkly new stuff and they love Atlanta.

 

[JC61]

this game appears to be an "invite" to kick off the season. More often than not, its SEC v ACC and one would think they'd invite the better teams to play. While the match-up may be difficult due to GT's offensive style - I think it's a sign that the guys scheduling this thing see the Vols as a great team for this spotlight game to begin the season.

 

[JohnMcA60]

Don't like this game. Trying to stop Ga Tech's unorthodox flexbone option offense is gonna be difficult imo

Well if it's the first game of the year we will have ample time to prepare for it. Now if it was a home and home and like the 3rd week of the season then I would be more worried.

 

[JC61]

Not true its just if we are going to play a very good team out of conference it should be a team that is a household name nationally. Who cares if we beat Georgia Tech nationally? No one but if they beat us our season starts horribly. I love games against teams like Oklahoma but I hate games against teams like Georgia Tech. As far as teams go they are surprisingly equal but lose to Oklahoma or a similar type team and you can recover but if you lose to Georgia Tech its a big up hill climb.

GT has shown it can hang with the big guys...just ask UGA and MSU, but they are beatable and will have a different team in 2 years.

I think they have national respect - on the level of OU?...maybe not, but since no one probably wants to play them for reasons stated throughout the thread and because they do frequently win big games...I'd say that makes them a "worthy" opponent and one that beating will be relevant.

 

[vik]

I can't believe how many people are skeerd. If ya skeerd, say ya skeerd. Hammy/Dooley already chickened out of playing one ACC team a couple of years ago, and that was very ... indecorous.

Ga Tech doesn't seem to give UGA too many problems, or the other teams in the ACC for that matter. And they usually have only one week to prepare. Show me all these knee injuries that GA Tech inflicts on its other opponents?

Whatever happened to the mindset of taking on anyone, anywhere, at any time?

 

[butchna]

Georgia game is played in boring Athens.
Besides, in 2017, we play UGA in Knoxville.
So, playing this game would mean 3 straight years of us playing a game in the state of Georgia.
This game would be at the newest pro stadium in America.
Recruits love Sparkly new stuff and they love Atlanta.

In my travails to Hotlanta I've noticed a few UGA tees and caps...AJC gives them a few (thousand) mentions also. Not an expert but my guess is that city (area...state) is vastly more Dawg than Jacket...not even close.