Post about Gators turned to Who's Our Biggest Rivalry Thread

[UT IE 95]

I think the initial post here is a bit of an oversimplification primarily because you have to be really good AND get a ton of breaks to make it to the NT game. Florida had so many things fall their way last year that it is tough to see how they can be annointed as the next USC, even if they did recruit really well.

Obviously, Florida had an excellent team last year. But it takes that and some really lucky bounces of the ball to get to the big game, much less win it. I think anyone who has watched the game for a few years realizes that being a good team is usually not good enough,m by itself.

I've posted this opinion in several forums only to be ridiculed. But it is very accurate. There is a slim margin between good and great and most times it depends on injuries, penalties, turnovers, and 18 year olds making decisions. In the "Decade of Dominance" UT was getting most of the breaks. Those have gone the other way the last 6-8 years.

As for our biggest rival - I have to say Bama. UF is a huge game, but the Bama game is the biggest rivalry. There's a reason they are our fixed west game.

The younger folks can look at it like this. Before you were born UT beat the stew out of UF just by showing up. UT and Bama are boarder states that have seen the balance of power and winning streaks go back and forth for decades. It'll be al ong time before the tradition shifts to make UF a bigger rivalry game.

 

[Vercingetorix]

UF or bama is an age thing, over 30 it's bama and under 30 it seems to be UF.

That seems to be the case. It's like how a lot of people still listen to music from their youth -- a lot of folks in their 40s still listen to 70s music, those in their 30s to 80s music, etc. If your formative years were spent losing to Florida every year in the 90s, you hate them more. If, like me, you grew up losing to Alabama EVERY YEAR FOR 11 YEARS, that's where your most visceral reaction is. There's probably going to be a whole generation of Alabama fans who hate us even worse than they do Auburn.

IMO I don't think that many people hate bama these days. Bama is more traditional and one of those fun old college football games. During that week you hear all the bama jokes by the old men and everything and it looks so great seeing the orange and crimson in the fall at Neyland. The Florida game is just about pure hate. Everything about Florida sucks.

See, that sentence makes me want to vomit. The ALABAMA game is about pure hate. Everything about ALABAMA sucks.

Now having said that, with the division format it's pretty obvious that Alabama is only the third most important game of the year; rationally, I know Florida and Georgia are both more important. But to me, those are the games you want to win in order to win the division. The Alabama game is the one you want to win just because of hatred. I don't care whether anything's on the line or not for that game. I just want to see those crimson helmets trudging off the field downcast.

Don't get me wrong; I hate the Gators too, and living here in Atlanta has given me a whole new appreciation for how loathsome most of our Bulldog brethren are, too. But a part of me will always be that pissed off nine-year-old sitting in his room crying because we just lost to Alabama AGAIN.

 

[volmanjr]

That seems to be the case. It's like how a lot of people still listen to music from their youth -- a lot of folks in their 40s still listen to 70s music, those in their 30s to 80s music, etc. If your formative years were spent losing to Florida every year in the 90s, you hate them more. If, like me, you grew up losing to Alabama EVERY YEAR FOR 11 YEARS, that's where your most visceral reaction is. There's probably going to be a whole generation of Alabama fans who hate us even worse than they do Auburn.



See, that sentence makes me want to vomit. The ALABAMA game is about pure hate. Everything about ALABAMA sucks.

Now having said that, with the division format it's pretty obvious that Alabama is only the third most important game of the year; rationally, I know Florida and Georgia are both more important. But to me, those are the games you want to win in order to win the division. The Alabama game is the one you want to win just because of hatred. I don't care whether anything's on the line or not for that game. I just want to see those crimson helmets trudging off the field downcast.

Don't get me wrong; I hate the Gators too, and living here in Atlanta has given me a whole new appreciation for how loathsome most of our Bulldog brethren are, too. But a part of me will always be that pissed off nine-year-old sitting in his room crying because we just lost to Alabama AGAIN.

What he said x2!:salute:

 

[TuskALoosa]

UF did not bounce back after a coaching change, they actually got someone who could coach and recruit. Zook left the cupboards stocked with talent but had no idea what to do with it. If you look he's doing the same thing @ Illinois.

UF or bama is an age thing, over 30 it's bama and under 30 it seems to be UF. UF has been nowhere near the opponent that bama was when they were reeling off 9,10, 11 wins in a row vs the Vols. During that time the gators were an afterthought in the SEC. The bama series changed in 95 but I will never forget how much I despise them (in a good way). I still have the front page of the paper framed from 95 beatdown!

Here's to us bringing the hatred back into the hearts and minds of your under 30 fans.

 

[justingroves]

I think the initial post here is a bit of an oversimplification primarily because you have to be really good AND get a ton of breaks to make it to the NT game. Florida had so many things fall their way last year that it is tough to see how they can be annointed as the next USC, even if they did recruit really well.

Consider the one point win over UT (a game I still say Florida dominated but it did come down to the end in terms of score), the three blocked kicks against South Carolina, the loss by USC to a mediocre UCLA team at just the right time, etc., etc.

Obviously, Florida had an excellent team last year. But it takes that and some really lucky bounces of the ball to get to the big game, much less win it. I think anyone who has watched the game for a few years realizes that being a good team is usually not good enough,m by itself.

Very good assesment. Florida did control that game and if not for a roughing the passer penalty, UT sneaks in for the win. One of those kicks not getting blocked against USC, USC wins. Florida rode an awesome defense and sometimes spectacular, sometimes terrible offense to a NC. Luck has alot to do with it.

 

[lawgator1]

... I don't care whether anything's on the line or not for that game. I just want to see those crimson helmets trudging off the field downcast.

Don't get me wrong; I hate the Gators too, and living here in Atlanta has given me a whole new appreciation for how loathsome most of our Bulldog brethren are, too. But a part of me will always be that pissed off nine-year-old sitting in his room crying because we just lost to Alabama AGAIN.

You actually cried over a football game? And when you were nine and 10 years from even going there?

Very good assesment. Florida did control that game and if not for a roughing the passer penalty, UT sneaks in for the win. One of those kicks not getting blocked against USC, USC wins. Florida rode an awesome defense and sometimes spectacular, sometimes terrible offense to a NC. Luck has alot to do with it.

:yes:

 

[Vercingetorix]

You actually cried over a football game? And when you were nine and 10 years from even going there?

Yes, I cried over a football game when I was a little kid. I was born in and grew up in Knoxville; I cared about the team long before I even had the sense of what a university even really was. It was Tennessee, and so was I.

 

[justingroves]

Yes, I cried over a football game when I was a little kid. I was born in and grew up in Knoxville; I cared about the team long before I even had the sense of what a university even really was. It was Tennessee, and so was I.

I grew up in middle TN, but "It was Tennessee, and so was I" tends to be the feelings shared by alot of UT fans.

 

[ut 4 me]

:rock:

 

[IBleedOrange]

I grew up in middle TN, but "It was Tennessee, and so was I" tends to be the feelings shared by alot of UT fans.

:rock: :rock: I wasn't even born in the state of TN but about 20 minutes south of Chattanooga in a place called Tunnel Hill, GA. However, the fact that both my parents were born in TN and went to college in TN (Tenn Tech actually) and only being about 2 hours away from Neyland; I also feel that statement applies to me as well.

 

[DJ2005]

Lol ...Well one thing is for sure!!! This site is definately viewed alot..Im new on here and posted this thread just wanting some opinions on the recruiting class of Florida, and the chances of Tennessee being able to compete with them....And it seemed i received every answer but that and somehow my thread was changed???? O well thanks for those how actually made an effort to respond to the ORIGINAL post....And to the guy that said i didnt use enough punctuation ...............I didnt know realize this was an English Major type of website............................................................................................................:censored:

 

[I_Eat_Gators]

You would be surprised at the number of Vol fans that would still be willing to sacrifice a loss to Florida for a win over Alabama...

These people are hung up on the past. Alabama used to be the biggest game of our season... before the conference expanded. Not that I'm saying that I don't mind beating Bama, but some of our older fans have more hate for Bama than for Florida, which explains why many of them are Fulmerites and give him a pass because he has consistantly beaten Alabama, even though he's struggled with Florida, bowl games, top 25 teams, etc...

and alabama is consistently the biggest game of the year for fulmer...honestly he gets more excited over those wins than he does florida.

 

[volmanjr]

You would be surprised at the number of Vol fans that would still be willing to sacrifice a loss to Florida for a win over Alabama...

These people are hung up on the past. Alabama used to be the biggest game of our season... before the conference expanded. Not that I'm saying that I don't mind beating Bama, but some of our older fans have more hate for Bama than for Florida, which explains why many of them are Fulmerites and give him a pass because he has consistantly beaten Alabama, even though he's struggled with Florida, bowl games, top 25 teams, etc...

I'm not willing to trade any win for another, but if we were only gonna have 1 win in a season, Bama is the one I'd choose.:salute:

 

[utvol0427]

I'm not willing to trade any win for another, but if we were only gonna have 1 win in a season, Bama is the one I'd choose.:salute:

As would I. I find it hard to consider UF as a rival when they're football program was virtually non-existant prior to the '90s.

 

[BigPapaVol]

Lol ...Well one thing is for sure!!! This site is definately viewed alot..Im new on here and posted this thread just wanting some opinions on the recruiting class of Florida, and the chances of Tennessee being able to compete with them....And it seemed i received every answer but that and somehow my thread was changed???? O well thanks for those how actually made an effort to respond to the ORIGINAL post....And to the guy that said i didnt use enough punctuation ...............I didnt know realize this was an English Major type of website............................................................................................................:censored:

Great, you've done your best to perpetuate the notion that TN fans are little more than a pile of hillbillies with little better to do than watch football, rehash football or play football. Keep up the solid work.

 

[ut 4 me]

Lol ...Well one thing is for sure!!! This site is definately viewed alot..Im new on here and posted this thread just wanting some opinions on the recruiting class of Florida, and the chances of Tennessee being able to compete with them....And it seemed i received every answer but that and somehow my thread was changed???? O well thanks for those how actually made an effort to respond to the ORIGINAL post....And to the guy that said i didnt use enough punctuation ...............I didnt know realize this was an English Major type of website............................................................................................................:censored:

im starting to feel some tension

 

[NCGatorBait]

 

[Tenn_Vol_Authority]

As would I. I find it hard to consider UF as a rival when they're football program was virtually non-existant prior to the '90s.

Beating Florida gives us a better chance at getting to ATL, ie SEC championships. Alabama has not stood in our way of going to Atlanta... Florida has.

 

[utvol0427]

Whoa.....Biggggggggggg popcorn smiley.:rock:

 

[Vercingetorix]

And to the guy that said i didnt use enough punctuation ...............I didnt know realize this was an English Major type of website............................................................................................................:censored:

I wasn't the person that said that, but he was right. It's not about being a grammar Nazi. The purpose of language is communication. You might be enormously knowledgeable, making great and irrefutable points in every post, but when you express them like a drunk nine-year-old, nobody's going to notice.

 

[JOEY'S ALL VOL !!!]

Beating Florida gives us a better chance at getting to ATL, ie SEC championships. Alabama has not stood in our way of going to Atlanta... Florida has.

EVERY conference opponent stands in the way of winning the SEC not just UF. Every conference win or loss counts just the same. Bottom line is if you have more than 1 or 2 conference losses wether to an east or west team, chances are there will be no championship in your future.

 

[justingroves]

EVERY conference opponent stands in the way of winning the SEC not just UF. Every conference win or loss counts just the same. Bottom line is if you have more than 1 or 2 conference losses wether to an east or west team, chances are there will be no championship in your future.

The way the schedule is set up, a loss to Florida sucks the life out of a season that is only 2 or 3 games old. Immediately the fans start saying "Oh well, no chance for us to go to the SEC championship".

That is why I think the Florida game has become the game that matters and Florida has become such a big rival for UT (perhaps bigger than Bama). They have kept some very talented UT teams from the SEC Championship games in the last 15+ years,and while Bama has, they haven't beat UT on a regular basis like Florida.

 

[JOEY'S ALL VOL !!!]

Your points are well taken and understandable but not completely accurate. Yes an early season loss to UF is a bad start for sure and it would always be better to get the win over them and any other East Div. team, but what good would it do to beat UF and every other team in the East and then lose to 2 or 3 teams from the West Div. I understand your concern over UF but in all reality, every conference game in the SEC is just as important as the other.

 

[justingroves]

Your points are well taken and understandable but not completely accurate. Yes an early season loss to UF is a bad start for sure and it would always be better to get the win over them and any other East Div. team, but what good would it do to beat UF and every other team in the East and then lose to 2 or 3 teams from the West Div. I understand your concern over UF but in all reality, every conference game in the SEC is just as important as the other.

Point taken, but from a morale standpoint, beating Florida is a huge way to start the season. You still have to beat the west teams, I'm not stupid. I'll take any SEC win but especially one over the gators.

 

[Tenn_Vol_Authority]

EVERY conference opponent stands in the way of winning the SEC not just UF. Every conference win or loss counts just the same. Bottom line is if you have more than 1 or 2 conference losses wether to an east or west team, chances are there will be no championship in your future.

We lose to Florida and we are two games behind the SECE. We have to hope for two conference losses to catch up. If we beat Florida and lose to Bama, we still have the tie breaker over Florida. If you don't understand the importance of the Florida game by now, there is no sense in discussing any further. I'm not here to say that I want to lose any games during the season, but it has been made clear on several occasions that if we lose to Florida, our chances of making it to ATL are diminished unless they lose more conference games than we do.