The Three Permanent Conference Games

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

Only speaking for myself, but from what I see in this thread, the posters are stating they want our three traditional rivals, and that's likely who we will get.

Now you disagree and want "newer rivals" and that's fine and dandy too. But I don't "want" UK and Vandy because they are easy, but because of the long tradition and hatred we have for each other. Tradition didn't start in the 2000s when you first started going to games. UK and VU games were wars before the 1990s with plenty of hatred on both sides to go around.

But again you fail to understand that the SEC has asked each program to list their #1 rival to try and make those future yearly matchups and all three of those schools (Bama, UK and Vandy) listed us as #1 and we listed them as our top 3. So it assuredly will be likely that will happen. Now in the instance of "fairness", there is a small chance they have Florida or South Carolina instead of UK, but I bet that doesn't happen.

But it has nothing to do with anyone being "scared" of anyone. I hope that helps!

Unfortunately for you the competition dynamics of the three permanent opponents are part of the discussion which is why people have been mentioning how difficult a draw a team like Alabama could get versus those that would get off easy. To pretend that Kentucky and Vanderbilt wouldn't be significantly easier than Florida and Georgia is to lie to yourself.

Just because you can make a plausible argument of appealing to history doesn't mean the competitive aspect isn't also a consideration. Those that want Vanderbilt and Kentucky are using history as an excuse to get an easy draw because they lack competitive fire. It is what it is. Just own it rather than lying.

 

[Vfl2407]

I voted Bama, UGA and Florida. Yes Vandy is our "in state" rivalry but would anyone really miss it?

Why do you hate Josh Heupel?

 

[sami]

The TSIO being permanently preserved is by far the most essential one, and if they rightfully brought the beer barrel back it would add some juice to the Kentucky "rivalry". I can understand why they would cowardly want to keep it out.

Regarding Vandy - if they are going to remain in the league, then we have to be one of their permanents, as we are really their only real rival. And we've played them and KY more than anyone else, so those are the logical picks. Florida was only a rival since the mid '90's.

 

[sami]

Personally, I would prefer Florida over Kentucky as the 3rd perm. Vandy is in-state—they are going to be one. Alabama is our biggest rival with mutual hatred—they will be one. While we may view Kentucky as a lesser rival, they view us as their biggest (with few others to spare), which almost certainly means they will be our 3rd.

This exactly. What some people (actually, one nitwit) fail to understand is that it isn't only about us. We are Vandy's biggest rival as well as Kentucky's biggest rival. Our own biggest rival is Alabama. If those two are going to remain in the conference, it's only logical that they get their main rival as well, making Bama, Vandy, and KY the obvious three for us.

I know, rocket science.

 

[Wireless1]

I think some people confuse a rivalry with Steve Spurrier as a rivalry with UF.
I think if you polled former vol players, Vandy would actually be #1 despite the fact that it’s rarely a competitive game

 

[Vfl2407]

This exactly. What some people (actually, one nitwit) fail to understand is that it isn't only about us. We are Vandy's biggest rival as well as Kentucky's biggest rival. Our own biggest rival is Alabama. If those two are going to remain in the conference, it's only logical that they get their main rival as well, making Bama, Vandy, and KY the obvious three for us.

I know, rocket science.

This is it exactly.
If we don’t get Vandy and UK, it will be because others in the conference have complained that our schedule with them every year is “too easy”.
Hopefully during the decision making process, the Vandy and UK AD’s make it very clear to the SEC just how important playing UT every season is to them.
Danny White should also echo that sentiment.

 

[Power_Sweep_Vol]

anything other than Bama, UK, and Vandy is just stupid

 

[kunsanvol]

Why would anyone want a permanent opponent like Vandy? It's like fighting a girl. Very beta.

 

[Power_Sweep_Vol]

And by the way, this is why we aren't going to have a 20-24 team league. It means not being able to play rivalry games that have existed every year for the last 100+ for the most part...another key reason is that there are no other Texas and Oklahoma's out there. Teams that bring in more than they reduce the pot by dividing the shares more ways.

 

[Power_Sweep_Vol]

Why would anyone want a permanent opponent like Vandy? It's like fighting a girl. Very beta.

Because the game has been played every year for the last 100 years? Tennessee football existed long before you started following it.

 

[86Volunteer]

Frankly if we never played another expansion team again I would be happy. Play all of the remaining SEC founders every year. Let the other SEC teams play whoever the heck they want

This!!

 

[perico]

At this point, we've played Floridaand Georgia as many times as we have played Auburn. Some rivalries die out naturally. That was one that did whether we like it or not.



At the same time, I don't really care about which team we've played the most or whatever. I feel like Vanderbilt and Alabama are locked in as two games. I don't have a problem with that for better or worse.

Until Memphis somehow improves and is granted admittance into the SEC (since we're letting everyone else in what the hell), we are stuck with Vandy as our in state rival. Yeah they usually suck, but unfortunately for those who would want it gone, instate rivalries are valued.

Alabama is Alabama and that game isn't going anywhere. It already survived the divisional split, and they aren't going to do away with it now.

For the 3rd game, I'm going to stick with Florida. Is it as historical as the rivalry with Kentucky? No, but personally I don't get excited for the Kentucky game. In my 45 years of watching, I can never remember a year when I felt that adrenaline rush when Kentucky week rolled around. To be fair, there was one year when Tim Couch was there and Peyton was a senior that I got nervous to see if Hal Mumme's offense would give us issues, but that didn't happen. In the years that Kentucky beat us, we already knew the season was down the toilet. The same could be said for Vandy, but they have the instate advantage that Kentucky lacks.

UGA can go the way of Auburn as far as I'm concerned, but unlike Auburn, it never was an intense rivalry for either side. When we were at our peak in my lifetime, they were an afterthought, much like we have been to them the last decade save for 2022 and to a lesser extent last year. We never developed the resentment for them or mutual admiration that I have for the Gators, though their fans can be arguably more obnoxious.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I think some people confuse a rivalry with Steve Spurrier as a rivalry with UF.
I think if you polled former vol players, Vandy would actually be #1 despite the fact that it’s rarely a competitive game

 

[Gandalf]

At this point, we've played Floridaand Georgia as many times as we have played Auburn. Some rivalries die out naturally. That was one that did whether we like it or not.



At the same time, I don't really care about which team we've played the most or whatever. I feel like Vanderbilt and Alabama are locked in as two games. I don't have a problem with that for better or worse.

Until Memphis somehow improves and is granted admittance into the SEC (since we're letting everyone else in what the hell), we are stuck with Vandy as our in state rival. Yeah they usually suck, but unfortunately for those who would want it gone, instate rivalries are valued.

Alabama is Alabama and that game isn't going anywhere. It already survived the divisional split, and they aren't going to do away with it now.

For the 3rd game, I'm going to stick with Florida. Is it as historical as the rivalry with Kentucky? No, but personally I don't get excited for the Kentucky game. In my 45 years of watching, I can never remember a year when I felt that adrenaline rush when Kentucky week rolled around. To be fair, there was one year when Tim Couch was there and Peyton was a senior that I got nervous to see if Hal Mumme's offense would give us issues, but that didn't happen. In the years that Kentucky beat us, we already knew the season was down the toilet. The same could be said for Vandy, but they have the instate advantage that Kentucky lacks.

UGA can go the way of Auburn as far as I'm concerned, but unlike Auburn, it never was an intense rivalry for either side. When we were at our peak in my lifetime, they were an afterthought, much like we have been to them the last decade save for 2022 and to a lesser extent last year. We never developed the resentment for them or mutual admiration that I have for the Gators, though their fans can be arguably more obnoxious.

The question though is not just who WE think is OUR biggest rival but also which of our rivals think that WE are THEIR biggest. No matter what we might think of KY in recent years (decades), it is highly likely THEY think of us as their biggest rivalry and every year lust to bring us down.

 

[aRmo]

Bama, Vandy, UK. Those are the 3 we should have as permanents. Playing Bama, UGA, and Florida every year isnt good on the heart. Plus, the easier road to the playoffs is the better one. Better chance of being more healthy when that time comes. Not saying the other 6 SEC Teams we get at random will be easy, but it will be more preferred imo.

 

[Rickyvol77]

And by the way, this is why we aren't going to have a 20-24 team league. It means not being able to play rivalry games that have existed every year for the last 100+ for the most part...another key reason is that there are no other Texas and Oklahoma's out there. Teams that bring in more than they reduce the pot by dividing the shares more ways.

Keep saying it but it is going to happen man. Better get used to the future

 

[Rickyvol77]

Unfortunately for you the competition dynamics of the three permanent opponents are part of the discussion which is why people have been mentioning how difficult a draw a team like Alabama could get versus those that would get off easy. To pretend that Kentucky and Vanderbilt wouldn't be significantly easier than Florida and Georgia is to lie to yourself.

Just because you can make a plausible argument of appealing to history doesn't mean the competitive aspect isn't also a consideration. Those that want Vanderbilt and Kentucky are using history as an excuse to get an easy draw because they lack competitive fire. It is what it is. Just own it rather than lying.

Besides your emotional illogical rants, Do you not realize that we will be playing Florida or UGA every other year. As well as Texas or Texas A&M, Oklahoma or Mizzou, Ole Miss or MSU, Arkansas or SCarolina, Auburn or LSU. And playing the other schools the next season

 

[kunsanvol]

Because the game has been played every year for the last 100 years? Tennessee football existed long before you started following it.

100 years of punching down doesn't justify doing it now.

 

[GAVol]

100 years of punching down doesn't justify doing it now

So everybody should just agree to not play Vandy as a permanent opponent?

 

[Vfl2407]

So everybody should just agree to not play Vandy as a permanent opponent?

It’s insane how some here think that Vandy and UK are not members of the conference.

 

[Power_Sweep_Vol]

Keep saying it but it is going to happen man. Better get used to the future

It makes no sense and iI’ve not seen you post any logical reason from you that it will happen nor have you linked to any credible source that this will happen

 

[zjcvols]

So everybody should just agree to not play Vandy as a permanent opponent?

That's the funny part. Somebody has to play Vanderbilt and Kentucky. We have the longest rivalries with them. It just makes sense.

 

[GUNTERSVOL]

It’s insane how some here think that Vandy and UK are not members of the conference.

It is logical that if we have the historical number 1 in the conference we offset it with logical 16 or close (my assumption) and then get 1 in middle of the middle for the third. Not a clue where KY is on the list, might rule them out.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

I feel like there will be a random 3rd team that we’re not expecting bc they will use a metric that will be different from the other 2. Like similar record over the past 5 or 10 years. It could be a geographical opponent like Vandy, most traditional opponent Bama, similarly tiered opponent over a 5 year span. I don’t know who or what that looks like, but if they gave us a random Ole Miss or South Carolina that would be interesting .

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Nope.

I would miss it. A larger segment of my Middle Tennessee family attended Vanderbilt. I love it when continue to dominate them in football and Basketball. .