Cupcake opener or a challenging opener?

#1
Griffmann

Griffmann

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#1
So which do you prefer? Would you rather play a team like Wyoming, UNLV, Fresno State, or UAB in the first game or a team like Cal? I've noticed it certainly does make the buildup for a season a lot more intense. We'll have to hit the ground running whereas you can sort of feel your way around with a weaker team.

I think one thing has been proven from last year, given several months our coaching staff is finally able to outcoach someone. :)
 
#2
#2
What makes you think Cal isn't in the same category as those other teams you mentioned? :whistling:
 
#6
#6
I would rather lose to a Top 25 team than beat a patsy. Not only does it challenge the team and better prepare them for SEC play, but certainly is more exciting for the fanbase. Could you imagine the [lack of] excitement if Arkansas State was our opener?
 
#9
#9
SCSmokey said:
I would rather lose to a Top 25 team than beat a patsy. Not only does it challenge the team and better prepare them for SEC play, but certainly is more exciting for the fanbase. Could you imagine the [lack of] excitement if Arkansas State was our opener?
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Yeah, ask Texas about that one. Super ho-hum around here because the opener is such a clunker.
 
#10
#10
Remember UAB just a few years ago? Hardly what you could call a cupcake opener. A challenging opener lets the coaches have a better feel for where the team is, imo.
 
#11
#11
orange4ever said:
Remember UAB just a few years ago? Hardly what you could call a cupcake opener. A challenging opener lets the coaches have a better feel for where the team is, imo.
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Yeah, UAB was a decent team. Our 2005 team "should" have beat them by 3 tds, but we don't need to rehash the ills of that season.

The big name opener surely does kick the season off with a bang though. And if you're gonna lose, best to lose out of conference and early.
 
#12
#12
More challenging says a lot more about a team than beating up on a Western Kentucky or Western Carolina team.
 
#14
#14
BruceAlmighty19 said:
So which do you prefer? Would you rather play a team like Wyoming, UNLV, Fresno State, or UAB in the first game or a team like Cal? I've noticed it certainly does make the buildup for a season a lot more intense. We'll have to hit the ground running whereas you can sort of feel your way around with a weaker team.

I think one thing has been proven from last year, given several months our coaching staff is finally able to outcoach someone. :)
Click to expand...


Challenging team. Every time. It just gives the team a lot more focus if they are going through spring and fall drills with that big game to point to opening the season. Look at the 1998 season...that Syracuse team may have been the best team we've opened the season with in a generation (the only one close I can think of is 85 UCLA...which also led to a great season). It really propelled that team to an undefeated season. I think the reasons were twofold- A. It caused a more focused fall practice and B. The win gave the team confidence.

I like a challenging opener. Even if you lose, it's not always bad. Cal recovered pretty well from the UT game because it seemed to serve as a wakeup call.
 
#15
#15
The only downside to a challenging team is the risk of injury. If you lose, early is best. A team like Cal should give UT time to look at and correct weaknesses before going out against USM or UF. Same for Cal.

They were probably a better team for having lost to UT last year.
 
#17
#17
I'd rather have a middle of the road type team to open with. It all really depends on the team. Last year, a big game was what we needed. This year is probably more suited for a weak opening game, but we have Cal.
 
#22
#22
I want to play a cupcake. It would probably only hurt us, but there's nothing like dominating a poor defenseless div 1-AA straggler.
 
#24
#24
Playing two top 20 teams and a team picked to win their conference is not a cupcake schedule to start the year,no other team has such a tough start.Fl will find out how good Tebess I mean Tebow is come their second game against Troy !! This is a giant killer team just waiting to happen.
 
#25
#25
vols do me a favor go out and dominate cal and shut up all the talk about desean jackson its really getting old. Hes overrated so go ring his bell a couple times and tear his acl.
Represent the most beast conference in football!
 
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