Cupcake or No Cupcake for Game 1?

[TNHopeful505]

Just interested to see your thoughts here. I enjoy being on the right end of a good beatdown, but I've noticed in some years, we do that, and get a false sense of who our team is, and then we get smacked in the mouth (usually by Florida). So, would you rather have that, or play a Power 5 team quick out of the gate that doesn't impact our conference standing, but shows us what kind of team we have early?

 

[joevol33]

Its nice to start out 1-0, but it'd be sweet to do it in a big featured game. Jmo

 

[Enki_Amenra]

Its nice to start out 1-0, but it'd be sweet to do it in a big featured game. Jmo

I like our schedule now. Week 1 cupcake, solid OOC team for week 2.

 

[basspond]

Based on the last 10 years, I have no idea what to expect for the first game. I hope at the end of the season, I will want to change my answer.
If this was in the prime Fulmer years, I'd want a top 5 opponent on day 1.

 

[joevol33]

I like our schedule now. Week 1 cupcake, solid OOC team for week 2.

True, that's not a bad setup.

 

[TNHopeful505]

Its nice to start out 1-0, but it'd be sweet to do it in a big featured game. Jmo

I agree Joe. I would LOVE to be playing a big name on Thursday that all eyes are on. But, I wouldn't want to end Week 1 in a loss. Georgia State still hurts.

 

[SaintLouisVol]

For me, it depends on the season. If the team has a ton of returning starters, especially the QB, I would probably prefer to play a pretty good school and hope they are having their growing pains, too. If there's a lot of questions still unanswered, I'd take the G5 team.

This year, I'd be fine with playing Pitt right out of the gate.

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

ALWAYS cupcake first, it's smart. Then 2nd week, legit power 5 team.

 

[Vol524]

I like the cupcake for game 1 because the coaches get to see how the new guys are going to react
under the bright lights. Some of these kids are used to playing in front of two or three hundred fans.
100,000 people and TV is a big change.

 

[sjt18]

It really depends on what kind of team you have returning. Particularly QB. This would have been the ideal year to draw a top opponent in game 1 on the national stage. If you have a new QB, OL, or lots of inexperience on D then the cupcake is better.

 

[TNHopeful505]

I like the cupcake for game 1 because the coaches get to see how the new guys are going to react
under the bright lights. Some of these kids are used to playing in front of two or three hundred fans.
100,000 people and TV is a big change.

Two or three hundred fans? I didn't know we had Vanderbilt transfers.

 

[DC_Vol]

Wow, this poll shows how far we’ve moved from the late 1990’s and 2000’s. I remember how jacked up the students would get for some of the bigger opening games. We were proud of Fulmer’s any opponent, anywhere mantra.

 

[IndianaVol]

Wow, this poll shows how far we’ve moved from the late 1990’s and 2000’s. I remember how jacked up the students would get for some of the bigger opening games. We were proud of Fulmer’s any opponent, anywhere mantra.

1000% AGREE - we need to get back to those days where it didn't matter who your opener is against you are going to win !!!

 

[TennEddie]

Get a sure win and build depth and confidence in week one.

 

[orangefloyd]

I’ve been on this coaster since the 60s. I don’t take anything for granted. Go Vols.

 

[BlinghamptonVol]

4 ooc cupcakes to go with vandy, mizzou, usc, uk, and hope to get a miss school or arky so we have guaranteed 8 win season, likely a 9 win season, a just a ball bounce the right way vs uga, bama, or uf for a 10 win season. Gets the high ranking and then the high recruits.

 

[Enki_Amenra]

True, that's not a bad setup.

I just hate that when we do schedule a premier team, they seem to be having their best season in decades when they play us.

 

[Adam Sandler]

Don’t care who we play or where we play them as long as we WIN!

 

[greenbacknative]

I liked the line yesterday -35.... I don't care . Just looking forward to the excitement we missed last year. Flying in tomorrow. What time is Vol Walk?

 

[VolBricks]

I don't want to take on a top 10 contender in the first game but a sub 50 team that will challenge us would be preferable to a cupcake like Ball St. Let's play UCLA and Cal again or some team like Ok St or maybe a Nebraska.

Edit: I think this would make the team focus more to know they have to be sharp in game 1.

 

[Devo182]

Give us 12 cupcakes like Clemson plays and the playoffs.

Even 1 appearance and our recruiting would be insane.

I'm tired of being the ONLY team that volunatrily plays the best stretch of teams in cfb history and now another top 3 team. It's nearly impossible to rebuild from this position. Maybe the realignment will help to some degree.

 

[jonnon111]

There is no advantage to playing anyone good. NONE.

 

[a vol n tears]

As a fan I want a top team. For the program, at this time, a cupcake is probably better.
However these schedules are usually made several years in advance. Although it wasn’t an opener, the Ok series was great as a fan.

 

[ENGRVOL]

See the pros and cons of both.

Feel that the wrong answer would be to schedule a power 5 school that no one cares about like university of Virginia at a neutral site for your opener.

 

[ftsandersvol]

I want the toughest schedule possible every season. That's the only way you get better and prove your worth.