jakez4ut
Patience... It's what's for dinner
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- Jul 7, 2005
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at first i was a little outraged that this game was on regional TV. I mean how could they? would the OSU/Mich game be on regional TV under similar circumstances? Would FSU/Miami?
since the divisional play was set up, and Bama went thru their probationary period, it's not exaclty been a secret that Bama has had it's fair share of "down" years. It's also not been a secret that TN has been "down" of late as well. and to boot, given the divisional set up, the argument is justifiable that neither Bama or TN is each other's biggest rivalry anymore.
I remember when the League expanded and TN and Bama were put in to separate divisions the one thing i couldn't get out of my head was the fact that TN and Bama would possibly play each other twice. once in the regular season and again in the championship game. and at the time, all i could think was "sweet, a chance to beat Bama twice!!!!".
Well, Bama and TN have been to multiple championship games, but never once in 15 years against each other. so why no love for the Third Saturday in October? well say thanks to LSU, Kentucky, FL, and Auburn. And you can also say thanks to Alabama and Tennessee for lately not giving the game much reason to resonate nationally. IN the late 80's thru the early/mid 90's, both teams were generally ranked, several times in the top 10. I don't remember the last time both were in that position at the same time.
but even in this day and age, where next week's game is a 12.30EST/11.30CST kick, a lot can be taken away from this game, for both. Obviously, we need it to set up the big game with SC the next week. only a win over the tide on Saturday morning keeps our title hopes alive for another week. and for Bama, the same is true for them, plus this is one of those games Saban was hired to win. Bama needs to turn the tide (pun intended) on their two big rivals TN and Auburn, that's no secret.
and i'll just go ahead and say, after mulling it over, i'm now glad that game is set to kick off when it is. no build up nationally. no game day appearance, likley just a 10 second graphic and a pick. no 8-10 hour tailgate in T-town. it's a get to sleep early Friday night, and early rise Saturday, where the drink of choice may be coffee and OJ rather than bourbon and coke, present company excluded of course. and maybe just maybe, we'll catch Bama sleeping too?
so for those of us in orange and white and crimson and white, do we really need anyone to tell us how big this game is? is having game day on site or a primetime kick off validation of this rivalry? i say no, and i would bet most of the over 30 crowd would agree. Sure FL is the big game. Sure GA is a big game. can't lose those and win the division. understand and agree. but as someone who grew up and watched my Tennessee Vols lose 15 of the first 22 Bama games of my lifetime, this is and will always be THE game. and it gets lost in the usual rants around here, but i covet our 10-2 record against Bama since 95 like nothing else.
it's bama week. time to remind yourself who you really don't like, and if you're like me, when those crimson jersey's take the feild next Saturday morning, it's likley you'll sit back and say "oh yeah, i hate these guys", cause you can bet your crimson counterpart doesn't need the reminder.
this is just one of those weeks that should give you chills. Here's to 11-2.
Go Vols. Beat Bama.
since the divisional play was set up, and Bama went thru their probationary period, it's not exaclty been a secret that Bama has had it's fair share of "down" years. It's also not been a secret that TN has been "down" of late as well. and to boot, given the divisional set up, the argument is justifiable that neither Bama or TN is each other's biggest rivalry anymore.
I remember when the League expanded and TN and Bama were put in to separate divisions the one thing i couldn't get out of my head was the fact that TN and Bama would possibly play each other twice. once in the regular season and again in the championship game. and at the time, all i could think was "sweet, a chance to beat Bama twice!!!!".
Well, Bama and TN have been to multiple championship games, but never once in 15 years against each other. so why no love for the Third Saturday in October? well say thanks to LSU, Kentucky, FL, and Auburn. And you can also say thanks to Alabama and Tennessee for lately not giving the game much reason to resonate nationally. IN the late 80's thru the early/mid 90's, both teams were generally ranked, several times in the top 10. I don't remember the last time both were in that position at the same time.
but even in this day and age, where next week's game is a 12.30EST/11.30CST kick, a lot can be taken away from this game, for both. Obviously, we need it to set up the big game with SC the next week. only a win over the tide on Saturday morning keeps our title hopes alive for another week. and for Bama, the same is true for them, plus this is one of those games Saban was hired to win. Bama needs to turn the tide (pun intended) on their two big rivals TN and Auburn, that's no secret.
and i'll just go ahead and say, after mulling it over, i'm now glad that game is set to kick off when it is. no build up nationally. no game day appearance, likley just a 10 second graphic and a pick. no 8-10 hour tailgate in T-town. it's a get to sleep early Friday night, and early rise Saturday, where the drink of choice may be coffee and OJ rather than bourbon and coke, present company excluded of course. and maybe just maybe, we'll catch Bama sleeping too?
so for those of us in orange and white and crimson and white, do we really need anyone to tell us how big this game is? is having game day on site or a primetime kick off validation of this rivalry? i say no, and i would bet most of the over 30 crowd would agree. Sure FL is the big game. Sure GA is a big game. can't lose those and win the division. understand and agree. but as someone who grew up and watched my Tennessee Vols lose 15 of the first 22 Bama games of my lifetime, this is and will always be THE game. and it gets lost in the usual rants around here, but i covet our 10-2 record against Bama since 95 like nothing else.
it's bama week. time to remind yourself who you really don't like, and if you're like me, when those crimson jersey's take the feild next Saturday morning, it's likley you'll sit back and say "oh yeah, i hate these guys", cause you can bet your crimson counterpart doesn't need the reminder.
this is just one of those weeks that should give you chills. Here's to 11-2.
Go Vols. Beat Bama.
