Most important rivalry game in the SEC?

#51
#51
Nationdom said:
So do I. I see everyday how "TCU would take us to the woodshed" and we wouldn't stand a chance against Utah". Laughable.
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I don't know what those arguments have to do with ranking rivalries.

Alabama-Auburn
Georgia-Florida

those are the two rivalries in the conference that are bigger than Alabama-Tennessee
 
#52
#52
99gator said:
This has been discussed on this board before.

Every one of tennessee's rivals has a bigger rival than tennessee except vandy.

Even kentucky has louisville
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:eek:lol:

to sum up...

everybody hates everybody, until it's time to chant "SEC" in the national title game.

ready..............break.
 
#53
#53
If the question really is about the most IMPORTANT rival Tennessee has, rather than the game we get the most emotional about, then there's no question that it's Georgia. It's practically a zero-sum game between them and us. Kiffin was right to have that one circled.
 
#55
#55
As a rivalry, it has no importance.

That said, it is a very emotional game for us UT graduates. We have to be honest though, it is unlikely that Alabama considers this game the same we do. They have won 9 of the last 10, have the longest streak, and have the overwhelmingly better all time series record. Our only real success was when Alabama was down prior to Sabin.

I don't expect good things Saturday.
 
#56
#56
Vols vs Bama.........20 National Championships between the two programs.......some in the same year.
 
#57
#57
Younger people just don't understand the history of this rivavly. Most people on here I see only consider what have you done for me lately. The fact that these 2 schools are the winningest schools in sec history, have the two most famous coaches in league history and bear Bryant didn't even look at auburn more than any other game because the history is one sided. He only smoked a cigar when beating Tennessee. Neylands biggest goal every year was beating Alabama. The auburn game is just a hate game because of the state rivalry. It doesn't have close to the historical impact the third Saturday has. I have plenty of Alabama fans young and old in my family, sad to say, and my grandfather is 94 and the biggest sec fan I've ever met. He still stands by Tennessee as the game for Alabama. He considers auburn just like an annoying nat they can't stand to lose to. If you're talking to young people who are prisoners of the current moment, with all do respect, they don't know what they're talking about because they only know what they've been alive for. This rivalry is special and in the sec- it's 2nd to none. The sec brand is built on history and tradition and this rivalry has more of both than any other rivalry. Historically Georgia auburn is the next closest but Tennessee Alabama are more winning programs and have a bigger brand name and tradition. Do your homework before you talk down this rivalry. It means a lot to me as a ut fan as you can tell. I respect the history of this league. It goes back a lot further than 10,15, 20 years.
 
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#58
#58
Bama fan here and to be honest our fanbase is somewhat split on which rivalry is bigger. Yes, we hate Auburn like the devil himself.

But if you were to ask 1000 Bama fans who is the bigger rival (Auburn/Tennessee) it very well could split down the middle.

For me personally, it's Auburn first, then Tennessee. Both I love to win and hate to lose but it's just something about Auburn and their fans that push this rivalry to the top of the list for me.
 
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#59
#59
I guess it comes down to how one defines "important". The TSIO is the most historically-significant rivalry in the SEC, in that it's between the historic #1 and #2 programs in the conference.

But it's been hurt by 2 big issues:
#1: The divisional split.
#2: The fact that both programs haven't been good at the same time in quite a while. Since 2000, Bama and Tennessee have only met as ranked opponents twice, and it's been a decade since it last happened. The rivalry desperately needs both teams to be good at the same time in order to bring it back to prominence. A meeting in Atlanta wouldn't hurt, either.
 
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#61
#61
Jdh13579 said:
I think most people forget we have our own streaks vs Bama and it wasn't too long ago we were telling Bama fans the rivavly is one sided when fulmer was here. It's all cyclical. When I hear people say it's not a big game any more because of the 8 in a row. It's mostly younger fans who just don't understand the history of this rivavly. Go do your hw on it, it's pretty special. Beat Bryant didn't smoke a victory cigar for auburn games but sure did when beating Tennessee. Think about that.
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I have been following Volunteer football since the late 60's and would say it WAS a rivalry but not really since the 11 year run that started in 1971. We have not been on the same level as Bama. But I must admit that Bama does not play by the same rules as other teams in the SEC either.
 
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#62
#62
"That's a great question OP. Right now the most important rivalry game is Alabama because it's THE NEXT rivalry game and we have a tremendous opportunity against them"
 
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#63
#63
BigSteve09 said:
Maybe the ones that are in markets outside of Alabama. Inside the state of Alabama, they hate Auburn first and foremost.
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True. Most people commenting on this board have never lived in Alabama. They go around the lunch table in the first grade and ask each kid if they are a Auburn or Bama fan. You choose your friends from there.

UT-Bama is not even close. Mostly, wishful thinking on our part.
 
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#64
#64
onevol74 said:
I have been following Volunteer football since the late 60's and would say it WAS a rivalry but not really since the 11 year run that started in 1971. We have not been on the same level as Bama. But I must admit that Bama does not play by the same rules as other teams in the SEC either.
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With all due respect, from 1995-2004 we won 9 out of 10 meetings with Alabama. The over all record all time between the 2 is 51-38. We are the closest program in wins and titles and head to head against Alabama "the most storied and successful program in Sec. History" so to say we have not been on the same level since 71" is an ignorant statement. The most successful teams in sec history are Alabama Tennessee in that order.
 
#65
#65
It's definitely the most bipolar rivalry in sports-- one team on a trajectory straight up while the other plunges off a cliff and takes eight years to smack bottom. Logic-defying, really.
 
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#66
#66
Jdh13579 said:
With all due respect, from 1995-2004 we won 9 out of 10 meetings with Alabama. The over all record all time between the 2 is 51-38. We are the closest program in wins and titles and head to head against Alabama "the most storied and successful program in Sec. History" so to say we have not been on the same level since 71" is an ignorant statement. The most successful teams in sec history are Alabama Tennessee in that order.
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How many conference and national championships has each team won since 1971?

Florida has been more relevant in that time span than UT.
 
#67
#67
onevol74 said:
How many conference and national championships has each team won since 1971?

Florida has been more relevant in that time span than UT.
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100% true. If we are talking recent success Florida and Alabama are the top names in the league. If we are talking all time it's Tennessee Alabama. I think most ut fans forget from 93-2006 we were 12-2 against Alabama. Ut fans and most fans only remember what has happened recently. I understand that because it's most fresh on the mind. Ut fans act like we've never been on Bamas level and that might be true but all time were the next closest program in this league. Florida has no history past the 90's. But in the last 25 years damn they have been dominant.
 
#68
#68
People that are clinging to the past need to realize that at one time UT and Vandy was a HUGE rivalry. Things change. Due to a million different reasons, Alabama and UT just isn't that big anymore. Of the probably 20 Bama fans I know well (all in their late 30's or early 40's), NONE of them list UT as even being a rival. It's almost always Auburn, with LSU mixed in occasionally. They say Florida is hated more that Tennessee.
 
#69
#69
"since the 11 year run that started in 1971. We have not been on the same level as
Bama"

That was your statement.. And from 93-2006 we were 12-2 in the 14 year stretch against them. I was just stating a fact that makes the statement you made look ignorant. The rivalry is cyclical and always has been. We're in the wrong part of the latest cycle but that shouldn't cloud our memory of the success we've had also in this rivalry.
 
#71
#71
Living in Louisiana I've NEVER viewed LSU as a rival, even when the whole Saban to Bama , LSU burning him in effigy etc. happened. Granted, I'm sure there are Bama fans who see LSU as a rival. But even so, I've personally ran into one who views it higher than the Tennessee game. Florida is more of a championship game rivalry, if that makes sense. When we play in regular season games, yes it's big, but doesn't bring the same intensity of hatred as the Auburn or Tennessee game.
 
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#73
#73
Before the 8 year run Alabama is currently on the head to head in this rivalry was almost dead even. That's saying a lot when speaking about Alabama and all the success they've had. Don't sell our program short vol fans. We're still an all time heavyweight in this league and the country. Our cycle is on its way back. We've just endured a really rough last 8 years guys. We'll be back.
 
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#74
#74
Jdh13579 said:
Before the 8 year run Alabama is currently on the head to head in this rivalry was almost dead even. That's saying a lot when speaking about Alabama and all the success they've had. Don't sell our program short vol fans. We're still an all time heavyweight in this league and the country. Our cycle is on its way back. We've just endured a really rough last 8 years guys. We'll be back.
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Agreed, I remember the mid 90's and early 2000's. Wasn't a very "happy place" for us to be in this rivalry. But as many have said. It is cyclical and full of streaks. My best friend is a Vol fan and to be honest it is more fun when both teams are competitive and busting each other's chops on the field. They need to be good at the same time so we can see some epic battles between ranked teams.
 
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#75
#75
bamawriter said:
Bama claims 15, has 14.

UT claims 6, has 4.
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I have a T-shirt that lists the years of our six. Therefore, those must be legit. If you want to discount your list, we are ok with that.

So 6 + 14 = 20..........as originally stated.
 
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