Finebaum's Take On Alabama/UT

[Lexvol]

Very good read.

This is like Paul McCartney doing a concert at Dollywood. This is like Robert De Niro playing community theater in Montgomery. Or Gene Stallings coming back to coach in an arena football league.

al.com: Everything Alabama

 

[hohenfelsvol]

Was a good read. Thanks Lex. How far we've fallen. On both sides of the ball.

 

[awebb7]

Good find, rag paper.

 

[Lexvol]

For those of you that don't know, Finebaum is a UT alum.

 

[hohenfelsvol]

For those of you that don't know, Finebaum is a UT alum.

I learned that watching that lengthy news clip with Saban giving coaching tips. Tks.

 

[Cartervol]

That about sums it up.

 

[myrobbins7]

Was a good read. Thanks Lex. How far we've fallen. On both sides of the ball.

Sad but true. :ermm: Thanks Lex.

 

[RockyTopEmpire]

I am tired of hearing how the game isn't what it used to be blah blah blah. Who cares? Right now this game is huge for us, we need all the SEC wins we can get. For us, it's as big as ever

 

[Lexvol]

I am tired of hearing how the game isn't what it used to be blah blah blah. Who cares? Right now this game is huge for us, we need all the SEC wins we can get. For us, it's as big as ever

I guess that is part of the point for me.....it is a huge game for both teams, but no one else in the country seems to care. I guess that is what two loss teams endure. For me, I miss they hype and the national attention.

 

[TennesseeT]

I am tired of hearing how the game isn't what it used to be blah blah blah. Who cares? Right now this game is huge for us, we need all the SEC wins we can get. For us, it's as big as ever

No doubt! I kinda like an early game. The only negative, imo, is that it is not in HD.

 

[RockyTopEmpire]

I guess that is part of the point for me.....it is a huge game for both teams, but no one else in the country seems to care. I guess that is what two loss teams endure. For me, I miss they hype and the national attention.

Yeah, and the fact that someone can say "yeah at least my game isn't on LC"...and you feel burned, burned in the face. :cray:

 

[RockyTopEmpire]

, is that it is not in HD.

hahah, werd

 

[Cartervol]

I guess that is part of the point for me.....it is a huge game for both teams, but no one else in the country seems to care. I guess that is what two loss teams endure. For me, I miss they hype and the national attention.

It's probably better for us it is low key. If we both had only one loss we'd have to here about saint nicky all week. It is a bummer i can't watch on HD though. Its just a sign of the times. We are no longer the flavor of the month or year or whatever.

 

[Lexvol]

Yeah, and the fact that someone can say "yeah at least my game isn't on LC"...and you feel burned, burned in the face. :cray:

:lolabove: Burned in the face.....oh well. This match up as been on primetime for almost 20 years, and maybe it has run its course in the spotlight for now. You are right it is still Bama, and it doesn't make me want to beat them any less.

It is really the harsh welcome to the second tier of the SEC that saddens me...or burns me in the face.

 

[LS Vol]

Better Lincoln Financial than not at all :ermm:

 

[Plunder]

He is downplaying the game now but I guarantee if AL wins, he will be celebrating like it was the NC game!!!
He is a bammer thru and thru....too bad he didn't go there because he is embarassed that he is a UT alum....I wish he had never told anyone he went to UT...we wouldn't have claimed him!!! His psychology is to act like the game doesn't matter but if they win, he will be ecstatic and I can tell you the bammies want to win this game BIG TIME!
​

 

[SWIL]

I've got a feeling we'll see this rivalry turned back into it's former glory 5-10 years down the road...

 

[allvol]

When one team dominates a rivalry such as Tennessee has over the past 12 seasons, its hard to get national interest. Think about, the Vols are beating the Tide almost as regularly as they beat Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

Saban has never been involved in a Tennessee-Alabama game so he currently has no perspective.

And yes Finebaum is a UT alum, but really hates the Vols. If you ever listen to his radio program or read his editorials you'll pick up quickly his distaste for the Vols program. He likes to take verbal jabs at the Vols as well. Not what I consider very professional journalism.

I think the fact the game is on Lincoln Financial says more about the state of the Alabama program than the Tennessee program.

 

[vol_sec]

UT and Bama both have only one loss in the sec, so this game may have more to say with who wins the sec than UF-UK, but after the UK win over LSU, everyone wants to see the UF-UK game even though at the end of the day UF and UK both probably have two sec losses and only three total between UT and Bama.

 

[rockydoc]

When one team dominates a rivalry such as Tennessee has over the past 12 seasons, its hard to get national interest. Think about, the Vols are beating the Tide almost as regularly as they beat Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

Saban has never been involved in a Tennessee-Alabama game so he currently has no perspective.
he
And yes Finebaum is a UT alum, but really hates the Vols. If you ever listen to his radio program or read his editorials you'll pick up quickly his distaste for the Vols program. He likes to take verbal jabs at the Vols as well. Not what I consider very professional journalism.

I think the fact the game is on Lincoln Financial says more about the state of the Alabama program than the Tennessee program.

You got that right. He grew up in Memphis as a Bear Bryant fan. Nerdy little hair-challenged guy who probably never had a date while on the hill. He runs a soap oprae radio show here with the same retards calling in every day. He doesn't know the difference in a spread offense and a spread eagle.

 

[Lexvol]

When one team dominates a rivalry such as Tennessee has over the past 12 seasons, its hard to get national interest. Think about, the Vols are beating the Tide almost as regularly as they beat Vanderbilt and Kentucky.

Saban has never been involved in a Tennessee-Alabama game so he currently has no perspective.

And yes Finebaum is a UT alum, but really hates the Vols. If you ever listen to his radio program or read his editorials you'll pick up quickly his distaste for the Vols program. He likes to take verbal jabs at the Vols as well. Not what I consider very professional journalism.

I think the fact the game is on Lincoln Financial says more about the state of the Alabama program than the Tennessee program.

I thought about that before I posted Allvol. The fact is, as long as at least one of these teams has been in the national spotlight, this game goes on primetime. That alone allows for upset/dominance storylines. I think that it really does signify that both teams are second tier teams, and that this game is not as significant (even in conference races) as the respective fan bases believes.

I think that the networks/national view of this game is that we will be watching two 8-4 teams battle it out with nothing but pride on the line.

 

[allvol]

I think the national networks are looking at the $. Kentucky is the hot team right now. Florida is coming off of a national championship season. LSU may still be the best team in the nation even after losing to Kentucky in 3 OTs. My take is not what "tier" the Vols are on, but that the matchups in the other 2 games are better. Looking at each game without the orange tinted glasses, why would I want to watch a game between teams where one has dominated the other for the past 12 years? And if South Carolina has moved up into another "tier" then why is the SC vs Vandy game not televised this weekend instead of Tenn vs Bama? SC is in the top 10 and Vandy at least has a 3-3 record.

I think the biggest thing is that the SEC screwed up and is not getting 2 games on ESPN like they have in past seasons. Used to have games on CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, and then Lincoln Financial. In past seasons, last week's game would have been on LF. What's up with the SEC? Is it the rumor that they are starting their own network like the Big11 that is the force behind ESPN showing only 1 game?

Just my opinion, but I think the issues at hand have more to do with $ and corporate power than which tier a team is in the SEC. Because until South Carolina and Kentucky start beating UT on a regular basis, they definately have not surpassed the Vols. And based on the past 4 seasons, the Vols have jumped back over Georgia.

 

[cotton]

This game is a great rivalry because it is a matchup between border states, whose recruiting and fanbases overlap; because it is almost always important in determining the hierarchy in the best football conference in the land; and because the teams and fans genuinely dislike each other. All of that is just as true this year as it has ever been.

If it has "fallen," it is because Alabama has spent more time in the NCAA penalty box and getting it's coaches out of strip clubs than competing on the football field over the last decade. Running off 10 wins in 12 games can take the luster off of any rivalry, but I'd bet there were a few conversations in Tuscaloosa about how the game had lost its shine duing their long streaks as well.

It may not be a matchup of top 10 teams, and there are other premier games Saturday, but way too much has been made of the networks passing on the matchup. TV is decided by popularity and glamour. This is a game that will go a long way in determining whether UT has really rebounded from 2-2 (and 5-6) and is capable of competing for the east title, and whether Bama at 5-2 is legit under their new mercenary or if they are just the beneficiary of good scheduling and not so far removed from the days of Shula/Price/Francione/Dubose.

The game is important, just as it always is. This "lost luster" argument is forced, IMHO. The winner will be at the top of the conference standings, controlling their destiny for the BCS. The loser will be left to struggle to put the season back together, all but out of the conference race.

 

[Lexvol]

I think the national networks are looking at the $. Kentucky is the hot team right now. Florida is coming off of a national championship season. LSU may still be the best team in the nation even after losing to Kentucky in 3 OTs. My take is not what "tier" the Vols are on, but that the matchups in the other 2 games are better. Looking at each game without the orange tinted glasses, why would I want to watch a game between teams where one has dominated the other for the past 12 years? And if South Carolina has moved up into another "tier" then why is the SC vs Vandy game not televised this weekend instead of Tenn vs Bama? SC is in the top 10 and Vandy at least has a 3-3 record.

I think the biggest thing is that the SEC screwed up and is not getting 2 games on ESPN like they have in past seasons. Used to have games on CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, and then Lincoln Financial. In past seasons, last week's game would have been on LF. What's up with the SEC? Is it the rumor that they are starting their own network like the Big11 that is the force behind ESPN showing only 1 game?

Just my opinion, but I think the issues at hand have more to do with $ and corporate power than which tier a team is in the SEC. Because until South Carolina and Kentucky start beating UT on a regular basis, they definately have not surpassed the Vols. And based on the past 4 seasons, the Vols have jumped back over Georgia.

You are correct. Money certainly drives it all. I would make no argument about SC or UK passing the Vols, however, I could go on all day about how they have caught up.

For me the premise of the article still stands. The game is not what it used to be, because people around the country are not that interested in this match up or either one of these teams. If they were, money would dictate a primetime showcase.

 

[Lexvol]

This game is a great rivalry because it is a matchup between border states, whose recruiting and fanbases overlap; because it is almost always important in determining the hierarchy in the best football conference in the land; and because the teams and fans genuinely dislike each other. All of that is just as true this year as it has ever been.

If it has "fallen," it is because Alabama has spent more time in the NCAA penalty box and getting it's coaches out of strip clubs than competing on the football field over the last decade. Running off 10 wins in 12 games can take the luster off of any rivalry, but I'd bet there were a few conversations in Tuscaloosa about how the game had lost its shine duing their long streaks as well.

It may not be a matchup of top 10 teams, and there are other premier games Saturday, but way too much has been made of the networks passing on the matchup. TV is decided by popularity and glamour. This is a game that will go a long way in determining whether UT has really rebounded from 2-2 (and 5-6) and is capable of competing for the east title, and whether Bama at 5-2 is legit under their new mercenary or if they are just the beneficiary of good scheduling and not so far removed from the days of Shula/Price/Francione/Dubose.

The game is important, just as it always is. This "lost luster" argument is forced, IMHO. The winner will be at the top of the conference standings, controlling their destiny for the BCS. The loser will be left to struggle to put the season back together, all but out of the conference race.

Again, this his a huge game for both teams. For the winner, every remaining SEC contest will be pivotal. In the context of how the teams are nationally viewed, I think the argument is valid and at the very least worthy of discussion.