You guys are F'ing awesome..great posts!!
I had, without question the best game day with opposing fans when Oregon came to Knoxville. The Oregon fans took it all in and were very respectful before and after the game. For that reason alone, I root for them most weeks.
I think we run the ball well, for that reason I think we get Oregon out of rythem a bit. Because of that my prediction is:
38-19 Oregon
You guys are F'ing awesome..great posts!!
I had, without question the best game day with opposing fans when Oregon came to Knoxville. The Oregon fans took it all in and were very respectful before and after the game. For that reason alone, I root for them most weeks.
I think we run the ball well, for that reason I think we get Oregon out of rythem a bit. Because of that my prediction is:
38-19 Oregon
Great posts by Nick, Duckit and ChattaTNVol. Well done, fellas. :hi:
I said it the other day and it seems you guys agree, turnovers and running the ball will be the key to UT having a chance for a W. And since I'm an eternal optimist with my orange shades permanently glued to my face, I'm going with ChattaTNVol...Vols win.
Our defense is going to create big play turnovers, similar to WKU, Oregon is going to have too many penalties (giving UT good field position) and mental mistakes, Worley and our OL are going to play their best games, controlling the clock and sustaining long drives and the Vols will score early and often and take the wind out of Oregon's sails. Butch is about to show the CFB world what he's building at UT and that's an extremely disciplined, well coached, hardworking, championship program in Knoxville. Get ready boys, the fun begins this Saturday...
42-28 Vols
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i watched the Oregon/UVA game last night. when something doesnt go their way, Oregon gets frustrated and start throwing fits and getting penalties. seems like everyone on that team is full of themselves and once they get frustrated, they start making mistakes. if we can keep it close, i think they will fall apart. remember, they arent used to adversity
Some interesting links to take a quick view at depth charts from 2010 and 2013 for both teams.
- UT 2010 Oregon: http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/2010-depth-notes/depth-oregon.pdf
- UT 2013 WKU: Western Kentucky Depth Chart - UTSPORTS.COM - University of Tennessee Athletics
- All of Oregons Depth Charts: Duck Depth Chart
1. I think our current team has more talent than when we played them in 2010. The only players that would be obvious upgrades to what we currently have are DMoore, Malik Jackson, and Jazen.
2. Our 2010 team played well until they ran out of steam in the 2nd half, but were a better coached and conditioned team this year. If our talent levels in 2010 and 2013 on paper are the same, logically we should be able to play a complete game this time around.
3. Oregons Oline got a lot tanner from 2010 to 2013.
4. Oregon went to the BCS Championship in 2010, is this team better (or vastly different) than that?
Full if themselves? Based on what? Your super objective opinion? Watch an interview with a few of these players before you pass such a judgement. These players are some of the most committed, humble, gracious players any team can have. This team honors military and service men and women in the offseason, they're involved with education improvement in local grade schools, they're involved in local make-wish-foundations, they donate their time as much as they are allowed to. They show stellar sportsmanship before and after games. This squad is full of gentlemen and humble athletes. The reason these past 2-3 years have been my favorite teams is because of how upstanding they are as human beings. You won't find a single player on this team behave like Baby Manziel.
In regards to throwing fits...I mean, kind of, I guess. To me it's holding oneself accountable and demanding perfection. As a team should. Good players should demand perfection, and SHOULD be frustrated when they struggle. Take my favorite player in the NFL: one Peyton Manning. You might have heard of him. The reason I respect the hell out of him is not just because he's funny and nice, but because the man demands perfection. Watch his reaction after a receiver runs a wrong route or he puts the ball into the ground in front of a wide open tight end. The man looks like he just lost a 5 million dollar hand in Texas hold 'em. And that's what makes him great: he expects to be perfect, and hates being otherwise.
Oregon players CAN get frustrated. But it doesn't mean they're full of themselves or entitled, and it doesn't effect the outcome of games or their performance. And it means they have the same reaction as Peyton, Kobe Bryant, Clayton Kershaw, etc. As a team, they believe in absolute perfection, and excoriate themselves when they're not executing.
You see it as throwing a fit. I see at is a visible example of why this team has won 10 or more games for 5 straight seasons and are on their way to a 6th. They hold themselves accountable, and executing their gameplay flawlessly is what they seek to do week in and week out. When they're not executing? They let themselves and each other know. I love that.
not what i meant by full of themselves. the attitudes they displayed during the UVA game made them look like each player thinks they cant be touched on the field. like they are each the greatest player on the field. and you say they show stellar sportsmanship, yet they were penalized for throat slashing, taunting and late hits. they looked like they wanted to fight someone everytime they didnt get their way. this is the kind of stuff i meant by my earlier post
Each player thinks they can't be touched on the field? Good!!! Wouldn't you want your players to carry that attitude? And the thing is, 9/10 times, players like Huff, Thomas, Mariota, and Addison CAN'T be touched on the field. There's a reason our stats are so bloated.
As for the penalties. I say good again. Dance the line between aggressive and out of control. Dance it correctly and you'll step over the line from time to time. So long as they're humble before games, and humble after games, and responsible in the community and in the classroom, I hope they're dickish on the field during game. Establish dominance. And those penalties don't mean what they use to. Referees throw flags so quickly to protect "the wittle pwayers on the field" that it's getting ridiculous. Late hits in the past meant a player or team was dirty. Today? It's usually just a player following through or not being able to stop momentum and getting flagged. It's stupid, and it's soft. The taunting call? Watch it again. It was an absolute hogwash call. But even if you think his clapping went overboard (after drawing a penalty for a cheap move by a Virginia player), whatever. It just gets them in the opponent's head.
All I'm saying is I want my team to have this mindset. It's a mindset that my Dodgers could have used for the past 20 years. The Ducks expect to win every game, and expect to score every play. And they make no apologies for thinking so. I say to them, thank you and keep it up.