Having a tough first opponent-good or bad?

#1
Fine Vol

Fine Vol

Go Vols
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Sep 15, 2006
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2
#1
Do you like all of the pressure or would you rather play a cup cake team first? I like that our first game is full of hype. GO VOLS
 
#2
#2
It depends on the results.

Great if you win, not so good if we start out with a loss.
 
#3
#3
Well, the last tough first opponent we had was UAB.

I'd rather face a cupcake. It gets the kinks worked out and you don't have to hear a ton of smack talk over the offseason.
 
#4
#4
Non-cupcake is OK with me. We are not winning a NC this year but can win the SEC. Prefer we play real opponents before the big UF game, and we are doing that.
 
#5
#5
We are playing a really good team in Cal. Southern Miss has always got a good defense and are ranked right outside the top 25. Ill be shocked if we go into the Swamp without at least a injury or two. The Gators will be playing their third string by the 3rd quarter of their first two games. I would much rather start off with Sewanee
 
#6
#6
I think it's a good litmus test for seeing what kind of team you've got right away.
 
#7
#7
i would rather be playing Jack ass state personally.

i forsee several injuries before Florida too.


Not good. But we'll see.
 
#8
#8
Only game between two top 25s the whole weekend.
Coast to coast primetime coverage of The Big Orange.
An opponent you can beat if you play well.
An entire offseason of buzz directed at one game.


Whats not to like?....
 
#10
#10
What does opponent strength have to do with injuries? How many players did we lose against Cal and UF last year? How many did we lose against Air Force? Injuries can happen against anyone and there is no indicator of what game they will happen in.
 
#11
#11
hvwarrior58 said:
What does opponent strength have to do with injuries? How many players did we lose against Cal and UF last year? How many did we lose against Air Force? Injuries can happen against anyone and there is no indicator of what game they will happen in.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing. Your knee or whatever gets hurt does not really give a damn about the quality of opponent.
 
#12
#12
For this young team I think it is good. I think there is no question by the end of the season the Vols will be pretty good. The lessons they learn in Berkley and Gainesville will be invaluable.

GO VOLS
 
#13
#13
It's a matter of opinion. Volmania had a good answer. I don't know what's best. I'm always glad we play a couple of patsies before we play the Vols.

Like Rockem said, I imagine that it gives us a chance to test our new kids and to test other aspects of the game. If we were down late we might keep a super frosh on the bench whereas we might discover that he is a playmaker in a lopsided win.
 
#14
#14
orange+white=heaven said:
Only game between two top 25s the whole weekend.
Coast to coast primetime coverage of The Big Orange.
An opponent you can beat if you play well.
An entire offseason of buzz directed at one game.


Whats not to like?....
Click to expand...
My feeling exactly. Look at the buildup we've had the entire offseason. We wouldn't have had all of this buildup if our oppening opponent was Chattanooga or someone like that. Of course we wouldn't have had to deal with Sethyhead all summer long either :).
 
#15
#15
Its probably a good thing for us.But playing three tough teams in a row might be to much to ask of this young team.2-1 and i think we have a good year.1-2 who knows what will happen then.Now 3-0 then were talking it could be a great year.
 
#16
#16
Its good for all the hype, but its the first game of the year and the first game of the year usually brings a little sloppiness with it. Hell just look at Cal last year, they dropped more passes in that game than then they did for the whole season.

If your only gonna lose one game though the first game of the season is it, and hope that team doesnt lose to Arizona or any team that will hurt strength of schedule, and you still got 15 weeks to climb back up in the polls.

Might get a rematch in late february or whenever it is they play the BCS Championship
 
#19
#19
I don't mind it that much in this case since its a non-conference game. At worst if we lose we aren't out of the SEC title race, if we win that has to push us up in the polls and builds the teams confidence heading into the UF game
 
#20
#20
i just wished it was USC, kick the year off with a bang,It has been our first 5 games for years that make or break us,I can't wait till it is football time in Tn,and injuries happen all the time,you never know when, might as well be against a good team,just ask Pat :) I would like to see them play tougher teams rather than them walk overs,boost em up in the polls,play Rutgers Hawaii and Marshall,i say :) but thats just me
 
#21
#21
I'd feel better starting with LaLaff, Arky State and Vandy. Why the SEC doesn't move the UTK-UF game to November is beyond me.
 
#22
#22
it's good,i just wished it was USC, at home of course,been a lot of talk all year about the Cal game good for UT,hmmmm or LSU would be a great game to start with, we will see them in the SEC championship game right ?

GO VOLS
 
#23
#23
I think it's a good thing to play a tougher opponent first. Better to play one first than last. You know the old saying, "They remember in December what you did in November"...or something like that. Luckily, we usually have a little easier opponents in November.
 
#24
#24
VolunteerHillbilly said:
I'd feel better starting with LaLaff, Arky State and Vandy. Why the SEC doesn't move the UTK-UF game to November is beyond me.
Click to expand...

The sec wont let UT anf UF move the date of their game.

Both schools have tried numerous times in the past to no avail.

Remember....when UT and UF started playing in the beginning of September, Florida was right up there with Vandy and Miss. State in terms of good football teams.

Times have changed drastically though.
 
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