What game should we checkerboard this year?

#27
#27
People need to be logical about this choice. OU is our first true "home" game of the year. Crowd will already be hyped like crazy and our team will be sky high as is. The UGA game is the last of 6 straight games and comes following the Florida and Arkansas games. We will NEED an emotional lift following that stretch. I think the checkerboard for UGA helps and that game will either be a 3:30 CBS game OR the ESPN night game. And it's not cold on October 10.
 
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#28
#28
People need to be logical about this choice. OU is our first true "home" game of the year. Crowd will already be hyped like crazy and our team will be sky high as is. The UGA game is the last of 6 straight games and comes following the Florida and Arkansas games. We will NEED an emotional lift following that stretch. I think the checkerboard for UGA helps and that game will either be a 3:30 CBS game OR the ESPN night game. And it's not cold on October 10.

We don't need and emotional lift. Taking the reigns of the sec east as we ride to atlanta will be enough to give us all a lift.
 
#29
#29
We don't need and emotional lift. Taking the reigns of the sec east as we ride to atlanta will be enough to give us all a lift.

Six games in a row to start the season where the first 5 include Oklahoma, Florida on the road, and Arkansas you're fooling yourself if you don't think that takes a toll.
 
#30
#30
Was in Norman last year when they striped out their stadium for us. I saw it as a sign of respect and think we should return the favor
 
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#34
#34
First let me preface this by saying I love the Vols and I hope we curb stomp every opponent this year.

I personally wish we would start winning before we get cute with checkering the stadium, gray uniforms, etc. All that matter is winning and when you do all that crap and then take an embarrassing loss, it makes you look ridiculous. JMO

Seriously, how much harder would we laugh at Vandy if they got organized and did gold and black stars or something in the stands and we rolled in there and embarrassed the s#%t out of them?. Or when UK was wearing those t-shirts a few years ago with "581" (or whatever it was) to motivate them because that was how many points we put on them since their last win against us....y'all remember that? We won by double digits again. And they looked ridiculous for trying to get cute.

Just win baby
 
#36
#36
I know it's still early but things like this take planning and time to implement. That being said I believe we started a new tradition last year and I would love to keep it going, it helps recruiting as well as national image. I would like to see us checker for UGA.

That checkerboard was amazing, and a sight to see. But I can't help but get pissed off when I think of it because of that ****ing Florida game. We hyped that game up so much, and all we had to do was not play our worst game of the year... and of course we did. That game ruined the checker neyland thing for me. I'm not saying we should never do it again, but if we do it again and lose again, it should be permanently retired.
 
#38
#38
Let's set the tone on national TV early. We're going to have the bulk of two power 5 conferences' audiences to watch the revenge of the Vols numero uno for the Sooners, and a lot of recruits are going to be finalizing their choices 'round about that time. Also, it'll be the first large scale national viewing of new Nike unis with an uber-hyped up bunch of swarming orange-clad beasts in the center of the world's biggest CHECKER BOARD...priceless. On September 26th the Big Orange Revenge numero dos will feature those Tennessee Vols in McElwain's swampy slum; revving up with unbelievable momentum to overwhelmingly drain the swamp. Traditional Orange and white will naturally be the attire down there...proper for a no longer worthy foe. And then, folks, let's watch as the revenge train part tres brings the fun into Neyland when the Vols wear smokey grays on October 10th to complete some unfinished business with the dawgs. Let's don't be shaky or skeered about those great looking digs. That next Sunday morning, wouldn't you love to peer at shots and vids of Pig running into the checkerboard (this time holding tightly to the pigskin), index finger pointing upward in a same colored jersey like those which the world witnessed the return of that old UT Volunteer's never-give-up spirit? Checkerboard with Okie and smokeys for the dirty dawgs then...how's 'bout let's make it Halloween all over again when the old balls coach comes sniffin' 'round our house on November 7th with orange and black all over the place. What d'ya say? I'll hang up and listen.
 
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#39
#39
First let me preface this by saying I love the Vols and I hope we curb stomp every opponent this year.

I personally wish we would start winning before we get cute with checkering the stadium, gray uniforms, etc. All that matter is winning and when you do all that crap and then take an embarrassing loss, it makes you look ridiculous. JMO

Seriously, how much harder would we laugh at Vandy if they got organized and did gold and black stars or something in the stands and we rolled in there and embarrassed the s#%t out of them?. Or when UK was wearing those t-shirts a few years ago with "581" (or whatever it was) to motivate them because that was how many points we put on them since their last win against us....y'all remember that? We won by double digits again. And they looked ridiculous for trying to get cute.

Just win baby
Maybe you care too much about what other fanbases think of us. It's college football. Have fun. Be colorful. Don't worry. Be happy.
 
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#40
#40
That checkerboard was amazing, and a sight to see. But I can't help but get pissed off when I think of it because of that ****ing Florida game. We hyped that game up so much, and all we had to do was not play our worst game of the year... and of course we did. That game ruined the checker neyland thing for me. I'm not saying we should never do it again, but if we do it again and lose again, it should be permanently retired.
If we cancelled every great tradition at it's birth, because of a loss, we wouldn't have any. I had to endure that loss directly behind UF's band, hearing them blare out Rocky Top at the final whistle. Having said that, being in that stadium, watching the checkers slowly materialize into vibrant orange and white squares and the sense of knowing that everybody worked as one to pull it off is something I will never forget as long as I live. I hope it happens once a year so every Vol fan can have the chance to experience it. It's the closest a fan can ever come to running into the checkerboard endzone. Ha maybe I'm just getting old and sentimental.
 
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#42
#42
If we cancelled every great tradition at it's birth, because of a loss, we wouldn't have any. I had to endure that loss directly behind UF's band, hearing them blare out Rocky Top at the final whistle. Having said that, being in that stadium, watching the checkers slowly materialize into vibrant orange and white squares and the sense of knowing that everybody worked as one to pull it off is something I will never forget as long as I live. I hope it happens once a year so every Vol fan can have the chance to experience it. It's the closest a fan can ever come to running into the checkerboard endzone. Ha maybe I'm just getting old and sentimental.

Couldn't describe it any better. It was just amazing! Definitely something I want to see continue and definitely something you can't forget once you've seen it come together in person
 
#43
#43
If we could send Neil to the moon in the late 60's one would think we could checkerboard the OU AND the GA game so we won't have to choose. However..... does doing it more than once a season take away the "luster?"

Also, if I had to pick, I say OU. The point was made earlier about why it happened last year in the first place. Another reason is one would think their entire conference's fan base will be watching hoping they get to beat the SEC.
 
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#47
#47
Since when does fans doing anything have an outcome on a game, outside of getting loud enough to force an opposing offense to miscue?

Checkering Neyland should be done for fun and because it shows the positive passion of the fanbase it will help in recruiting. It will never win or cause us to lose a single game.
 
#48
#48
If we could send Neil to the moon in the late 60's one would think we could checkerboard the OU AND the GA game so we won't have to choose. However..... does doing it more than once a season take away the "luster?"

Also, if I had to pick, I say OU. The point was made earlier about why it happened last year in the first place. Another reason is one would think their entire conference's fan base will be watching hoping they get to beat the SEC.


I think it needs to be a once-a-year event. It will add an element of excitement to each season as we pick who will get the checkerboard. As we do it more and more, it will get national attention (which can't hurt for recruiting). Eventually it will become part of tradition and our fans will pull it off better and better.

To naysayers who dislike the checkerboards before winning... The wins will come and are not related to crowd coloring. I don't understand the self-punishment mentality that some people have. We are Tennessee and we do what we want
 
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#49
#49
Who put together the checker Neyland last season? Was that something the university organized or the fan base? I vote for the OU game...
 

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