The Florida and Vanderbilt games MATTER

#52
#52
That's all you can say. You know that beating Florida this is year is not some sort of high accomplishment. It will be the worst florida team we will have ever played this century.

A win is a win. I don’t think Alabama cared that we sucked for nearly 16 years straight when they were beating us yearly, same for Florida. If we win in the Swamp I’ll enjoy every minute of getting that monkey off of our backs.
 
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#53
#53
This season is truly emblematic of how NIL and the portal, especially in light of the playoffs, continue to change the sport as we know it.

First, for all SEC teams and their equivalent elsewhere, making the playoffs is the floor, not the ceiling. If you have a regime that cannot get that done at least once in three years, the regime will be replaced.

Second, it is going to kill the bowl games. Look at what happens with half the players on a given team opting out to play a Citrus or Outback Bowl. They don't want to get hurt on the cusp of portal free agency. Don't blame them. Its just that such a bowl game is not worth risk of injury compared to minimal benefit to their careers. The non-playoff bowls are doomed.

Third, programs like UF, or Penn State, or LSU, have to fire their coaches mid-season now to ensure that interested alternatives see the open seat and overtures can be made now. Especially so that recruits and potential transfers can be told what to expect in terms of both NIL $ and NFL preparation.
Good points. Let’s take your second point a step further. I absolutely agree that bowl games outside of the playoffs mean nothing. As you said, many players are going to opt out. And that’s not only the draft eligible ones but also the underclassmen who are looking at the portal. (The portal adds a new wrinkle to this question.) Some players aren’t going to want to get hurt either and screw up their portal opportunities.

Here’s the question. Once eliminated from the playoffs, will players with the above thoughts bust their tails in the last few games? Never mind the bowls. Do they want to get hurt against Florida or Vandy? I will be really curious how the team responds against Florida. (Of course there are plenty of Florida players in the same boat so we may see players from both teams going through the motions.) It adds an interesting twist not just to bowls but also games at the end of the season. Put it another way. I’d be hesitant to bet on games at the end of the season not knowing who is going to show up to play.
 
#54
#54
Good points. Let’s take your second point a step further. I absolutely agree that bowl games outside of the playoffs mean nothing. As you said, many players are going to opt out. And that’s not only the draft eligible ones but also the underclassmen who are looking at the portal. (The portal adds a new wrinkle to this question.) Some players aren’t going to want to get hurt either and screw up their portal opportunities.

Here’s the question. Once eliminated from the playoffs, will players with the above thoughts bust their tails in the last few games? Never mind the bowls. Do they want to get hurt against Florida or Vandy? I will be really curious how the team responds against Florida. (Of course there are plenty of Florida players in the same boat so we may see players from both teams going through the motions.) It adds an interesting twist not just to bowls but also games at the end of the season. Put it another way. I’d be hesitant to bet on games at the end of the season not knowing who is going to show up to play.

Would you be surprised if someone like Brazzell shut it down the rest of the season? Like why would he risk any injury for nothing? Apparently, McCoy still wants to work his way back to playing before the season is over. Like why? There is zero reason.
 
#55
#55
Let's move on from Saturday. The thing that makes CFB the greatest sport in the land is the importance of regular season games. While an expanded playoff has impacted this some, games against your rivals are still the life blood of this sport.

You can't convince me winning a game in Gainesville isn't important. And in words I never thought I would say, the thought of Vanderbilt celebrating a win and potential playoff birth in Neyland disgusts me.

The coaching staff and leadership on this team needs to keep guys locked in. 9-3 is VASTLY different than 7-5. Let's stay focused. These last 2 games matter to most of us fans. Let's clean things up and do this. That Gainesville streak has to end. We BEAT Vanderbilt. It's our birthright. Let's do this, finish the year with a Florida bowl, and look forward to next year. Go Vols.
I’ll light a cigar and celebrate like hell if we beat Florida
 
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#56
#56
Let's move on from Saturday. The thing that makes CFB the greatest sport in the land is the importance of regular season games. While an expanded playoff has impacted this some, games against your rivals are still the life blood of this sport.

You can't convince me winning a game in Gainesville isn't important. And in words I never thought I would say, the thought of Vanderbilt celebrating a win and potential playoff birth in Neyland disgusts me.

The coaching staff and leadership on this team needs to keep guys locked in. 9-3 is VASTLY different than 7-5. Let's stay focused. These last 2 games matter to most of us fans. Let's clean things up and do this. That Gainesville streak has to end. We BEAT Vanderbilt. It's our birthright. Let's do this, finish the year with a Florida bowl, and look forward to next year. Go Vols.

The team could finish 10-3 or 7-6. Playoffs or not the end result looks vastly different on the national stage and also affects recruiting. The remainder of the season 100% still matters in more ways than one.
 
#57
#57
The team could finish 10-3 or 7-6. Playoffs or not the end result looks vastly different on the national stage and also affects recruiting. The remainder of the season 100% still matters in more ways than one.
It matters to fans and coaches. The real question is does it matter to the players after they get eliminated from the playoffs? We’re about to find out. Certainly the bowls don’t mean as much as evidenced by the opt outs and now I’m wondering about the rest of the regular season. We shall see.

Recruiting has changed. Players care about PT and $’s and not necessarily in that order.
 
#58
#58
It matters to fans and coaches. The real question is does it matter to the players after they get eliminated from the playoffs? We’re about to find out. Certainly the bowls don’t mean as much as evidenced by the opt outs and now I’m wondering about the rest of the regular season. We shall see.

Recruiting has changed. Players care about PT and $’s and not necessarily in that order.

Not saying you’re wrong, but even with money, if you were a recruit would you rather commit to a school that finished 10-3 or 7-6? Legend Bey just did an official to Ohio state and commented on their winning culture. Wins matter, and how you finish matters.
 
#59
#59
Not saying you’re wrong, but even with money, if you were a recruit would you rather commit to a school that finished 10-3 or 7-6? Legend Bey just did an official to Ohio state and commented on their winning culture. Wins matter, and how you finish matters.
Winning culture does matter but I think the opportunity for PT is bigger for players now. That’s what Saban said before he retired. Said the the first two things out of most recruits’ mouths were how much NIL and playing time they were going to get.
 
#61
#61
That's all you can say. You know that beating Florida this is year is not some sort of high accomplishment. It will be the worst florida team we will have ever played this century.
I don't believe that and I am not sure if you do, either.
 
#62
#62
They do matter a lot, especially Florida. However, with the way this team plays, I just don't know if I have to heart to watch because I am not confident in them winning both of the games.

If we do, and finish 9-3, I would be very happy with season and state that Heupel deserves a pay bump.
 
#63
#63
That's all you can say. You know that beating Florida this is year is not some sort of high accomplishment. It will be the worst florida team we will have ever played this century.
there have been plenty of years where it wouldn’t have been a great accomplishment, and we still lost. it’s not our fault their program is a mess. need to capitalize on the opportunity
 
#64
#64
That's all you can say. You know that beating Florida this is year is not some sort of high accomplishment. It will be the worst florida team we will have ever played this century.
Who lost to Georgia by 4 pts. Let’s not act like they don’t have a ton of players
 
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#67
#67
That's all you can say. You know that beating Florida this is year is not some sort of high accomplishment. It will be the worst florida team we will have ever played this century.
Are you reading what you actually wrote and considering the number of times in the past 15 years these words have been written almost verbatim before playing UF?
 
#69
#69
This season is truly emblematic of how NIL and the portal, especially in light of the playoffs, continue to change the sport as we know it.

First, for all SEC teams and their equivalent elsewhere, making the playoffs is the floor, not the ceiling. If you have a regime that cannot get that done at least once in three years, the regime will be replaced.

Second, it is going to kill the bowl games. Look at what happens with half the players on a given team opting out to play a Citrus or Outback Bowl. They don't want to get hurt on the cusp of portal free agency. Don't blame them. Its just that such a bowl game is not worth risk of injury compared to minimal benefit to their careers. The non-playoff bowls are doomed.

Third, programs like UF, or Penn State, or LSU, have to fire their coaches mid-season now to ensure that interested alternatives see the open seat and overtures can be made now. Especially so that recruits and potential transfers can be told what to expect in terms of both NIL $ and NFL preparation.
Whores…. Greedy f’ing whores
 
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#71
#71
there have been plenty of years where it wouldn’t have been a great accomplishment, and we still lost. it’s not our fault their program is a mess. need to capitalize on the opportunity

Exactly. Do you think Florida cared that we were down from 2010-2021? Nope. They beat our asses every year except one of them and rubbed it in after. I plan on doing the same if we win this year. No pity parties in college football.
 
#73
#73
And the players that played in that game are starting to opt out and are injured.

Good. If we go down there and beat them 45-0 I’d love every minute of it and not feel bad in the least. That being said, you and I both know that won’t happen because Florida could literally grab kids from the frat house two hours before the game and still compete against us for some reason.
 
#74
#74
I'll be honest, spoiling Vandy's season won't matter to anyone if we are in the same boat this time next year. We are Tennessee. The fact our season accomplishment comes down to spoiling Vandy's season is downright awful.
Shut up and be thankful.
 
#75
#75
And the players that played in that game are starting to opt out and are injured.
respectfully, after you called anyone who believed we may struggle against Arkansas and Miss State, or lose to OU “clowns and cowards”, I think you really need to take a step back and sit this one out.

Your track record isn’t exactly the best this year, lol. If anything, your confidence on this one makes me even more certain we’re in for a terrible night in the Swamp.
 
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