Changing the Nature of the Relationship

#1
VFL-82-JP

VFL-82-JP

Bleedin' Orange...
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#1
Today isn't about winning a ball game. It is about far more than that.

We're about to start the multi-year process of changing the very complexion of the rivalry.

You could divide Tennessee-Florida into two periods: 1916-1989, and 1990-today. In the first period, Tennessee was a championship program, while Florida was an after-thought in the SEC (and utterly unimportant at the national level). Then Steve Spurrier returned to Gainesville as head coach. The Vols continued to be a championship program for another decade, but the relationship was already changing. Losing to the Gators became an annual thing, and a significant element of what we call the Dark Ages.

But that is the past. Now Josh Heupel has arrived in Knoxville, and we might be on the edge of another tectonic shift in the relationship. It certainly feels like something fundamental is changing.

Win today. Absolutely. But this is just the start. We seem to have all the elements set in place for a series of wins over the next several years that can utterly redefine Tennessee-Florida.

Go Vols!
 
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#2
#2
I think Florida will be Tennessee's big SEC East Rivalry unless Tennessee breaks off a 5-6 game winning streak then it could switch to Georgia.
 
#4
#4
Jeff Clark said:
I think Florida will be Tennessee's big SEC East Rivalry unless Tennessee breaks off a 5-6 game winning streak then it could switch to Georgia.
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I think UGa's going to be a challenge for a while to come. Kirby Smart doesn't seem in any hurry to leave there, and knows what he's doing.

But I don't see Florida finding its way out of the wilderness any time soon. Napier seems a good guy, but not a championship coach. I think they'll fight with Kentucky for the 3rd spot in the East as long as he's there.

You know what the refrain from the ESPN talking heads will be next year the week we're getting ready to face Florida in the Swamp? "Florida has beaten Tennessee 16 of the last 18 games." And the year after that, the talking point will be, "Florida has beaten Tennessee 16 of the last 19 games."

That talking point isn't going away any time soon. It will take probably 4 Vols wins in a row before that's the new talking point: "The Volunteers have beaten the Gators 4 straight...."

So that's how patient we have to be. That's when we'll know the relationship has truly changed.

And all that time, I think we'll be challenging Georgia for the East. Florida won't be in the equation.

Go Vols!
 
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#5
#5
VFL-82-JP said:
I think UGa's going to be a challenge for a while to come. Kirby Smart doesn't seem in any hurry to leave there, and knows what he's doing.

But I don't see Florida finding its way out of the wilderness any time soon. Napier seems a good guy, but not a championship coach. I think they'll fight with Kentucky for the 3rd spot in the East as long as he's there.

You know what the refrain from the ESPN talking heads will be next year the week we're getting ready to face Florida in the Swamp? "Florida has beaten Tennessee 16 of the last 18 games." And the year after that, the talking point will be, "Florida has beaten Tennessee 16 of the last 19 games."

That talking point isn't going away any time soon. It will take probably 4 Vols wins in a row before that's the new talking point: "The Volunteers have beaten the Gators 4 straight...."

So that's how patient we have to be. That's when we'll know the relationship has truly changed.

And all that time, I think we'll be challenging Georgia for the East. Florida won't be in the equation.

Go Vols!
Click to expand...
That's true i think Florida will be limping along until they probably fire Butch Zook in December 2024 after Florida goes 8-4 after having 7-8 win seasons the previous 2 seasons.
 
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#8
#8
In the SEC’s big picture this rivalry has become less relevant given the ascension of UGA, who doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.

If UT runs off five consecutive wins against UF but UGA remains the big dog, all you’ve done is replace 1990s UF with 2020s UGA.
 
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#9
#9
Lawrence Wright said:
In the SEC’s big picture this rivalry has become less relevant given the ascension of UGA, who doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.

If UT runs of five consecutive wins against UF but UGA remains the big dog, all you’ve done is replace 1990s UF with 2020s UGA.
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Florida would be like Alabama was from 1995-2006
 
#10
#10
This is long overdue. Florida has been the beneficiary of unlimited stockpiles of talent in their own backyard and nothing will change with Florida's ever booming and growing population. Tennessee needs Miami and FSU to be cool again and consistently great football programs. This helps siphon some of the homegrown talent away from UF.

The Vols need to be cool again. How do they do this? Win. Beat UF and get down into Florida and recruit. Get talent out of there like Travis Henry and many others.

Another thing that may help swing the pendulum is NIL. Tennessee, with it's rabid fanbase, new admin (who appears to be dedicated to winning and not destroying the athletic department like the last few plants), huge donor base and brand has to really be on the cutting edge. Marketing and recruiting have to be the top priority like it was from the mid 1980s - early 2000s.

The new rules may help to curb some of the corrupt and highly unethical practices of programs like UF, who's goals were win at all costs no matter what rules must be broken to do so.
 
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#11
#11
With OU and Ut coming in, that will change the picture a great deal, depending on how they set the SEC conferences.
 
#12
#12
Lawrence Wright said:
In the SEC’s big picture this rivalry has become less relevant given the ascension of UGA, who doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.

If UT runs off five consecutive wins against UF but UGA remains the big dog, all you’ve done is replace 1990s UF with 2020s UGA.
Click to expand...
Us running off five consecutive wins against UF doesn't negate the possibility of us starting a string of wins against UGa as well.

Not this year, probably, but soon. Soon. We're coming for them, too.

Go Vols!
 
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#13
#13
Lawrence Wright said:
In the SEC’s big picture this rivalry has become less relevant given the ascension of UGA, who doesn’t appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.

If UT runs off five consecutive wins against UF but UGA remains the big dog, all you’ve done is replace 1990s UF with 2020s UGA.
Click to expand...
Conceding already?
 
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#15
#15
VFL-82-JP said:
I think UGa's going to be a challenge for a while to come. Kirby Smart doesn't seem in any hurry to leave there, and knows what he's doing.

But I don't see Florida finding its way out of the wilderness any time soon. Napier seems a good guy, but not a championship coach. I think they'll fight with Kentucky for the 3rd spot in the East as long as he's there.

You know what the refrain from the ESPN talking heads will be next year the week we're getting ready to face Florida in the Swamp? "Florida has beaten Tennessee 16 of the last 18 games." And the year after that, the talking point will be, "Florida has beaten Tennessee 16 of the last 19 games."

That talking point isn't going away any time soon. It will take probably 4 Vols wins in a row before that's the new talking point: "The Volunteers have beaten the Gators 4 straight...."

So that's how patient we have to be. That's when we'll know the relationship has truly changed.

And all that time, I think we'll be challenging Georgia for the East. Florida won't be in the equation.

Go Vols!
Click to expand...
You’re kind of like Paul Harvey on two bottles of Robotussin, except you throw in the word “lads” now and then. I get hypnotized, doze off, then am startled awake at “The rest of the story”. In conclusion, Go Vols. Beat the Gators.
 
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#20
#20
Clad in Big Orange said:
I truly hope all the positive-thinking for today's game comes to fruition. If not, there will be an epic meltdown in this fanbase unlike any other before it.
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I think Florida is going to bring a much better game than we've seen in the past few weeks, probably more like their UTAH game...and this makes me nervous. Two things give me a little comfort though...the crowd...AR should have issues w/ the noise I'd think, and even if he's able to endure the noise, I think ultimately my feeling is that I trust Hooker's steady senior maturity over AR's youthful and inconsistent talent. Win for the Vols, but may be closer than we'd like.
 
#21
#21
VFL-82-JP said:
Today isn't about winning a ball game. It is about far more than that.

We're about to start the multi-year process of changing the very complexion of the rivalry.

You could divide Tennessee-Florida into two periods: 1916-1989, and 1990-today. In the first period, Tennessee was a championship program, while Florida was an after-thought in the SEC (and utterly unimportant at the national level). Then Steve Spurrier returned to Gainesville as head coach. The Vols continued to be a championship program for another decade, but the relationship was already changing. Losing to the Gators became an annual thing, and a significant element of what we call the Dark Ages.

But that is the past. Now Josh Heupel has arrived in Knoxville, and we might be on the edge of another tectonic shift in the relationship. It certainly feels like something fundamental is changing.

Win today. Absolutely. But this is just the start. We seem to have all the elements set in place for a series of wins over the next several years that can utterly redefine Tennessee-Florida.

Go Vols!
Click to expand...
I would say that 1990-2006 were a different “period” than 2007-2021.
 
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#24
#24
Please just win this one and I'll be fine til next September.
 
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