Which new P5 coach has the toughest opening game in 2018?

#1
Grand Vol

Grand Vol

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#1
Tennessee coming in at #2.

Which new CFB Power head coach has the toughest opening game in 2018?

2. Jeremy Pruitt - Tennessee - vs. West Virginia (at Charlotte, NC; Saturday, Sept. 1)

Jeremy Pruitt comes to Tennessee after three stints as the defensive coordinator at big-time programs - Florida State (2013), Georgia (2014-15), and Alabama (2016-17). He'll have his hands full in the opener with high-scoring West Virginia, who ESPN has at No. 10 in its early sweepstakes.

This is Pruitt's first go as a head coach. Tennessee and West Virginia have never met in football. The Volunteers are 9-8 vs. the current membership of the Big 12. The Mountaineers are 25-25-2 against the SEC.
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It's hard to argue against Oregon State at Ohio State as #1.
 
#2
#2
TN pretty much always schedules tough games to start season. I know we are going to go another round with OU in like 2020. Then we had those back to back yrs against Oregon and Cal when they were up. Good for ratings and they can give a boost to your program, when the timing is right, but frankly since we are in SEC, we should just play a Wisconsin-like schedule. We play Bama and GA every year...we need as many cream puffs as possible
 
#3
#3
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#4
#4
Glocker_Alum_2005 said:
TN pretty much always schedules tough games to start season. I know we are going to go another round with OU in like 2020. Then we had those back to back yrs against Oregon and Cal when they were up. Good for ratings and they can give a boost to your program, when the timing is right, but frankly since we are in SEC, we should just play a Wisconsin-like schedule. We play Bama and GA every year...we need as many cream puffs as possible
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Screw that man! I like it when big schools decided to play big schools!! Especially in a home and away series makes it fun! Cannot wait until the BYU game in Provo in a few years!!
 
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#6
#6
Glocker_Alum_2005 said:
I would say the FSU vs. VT is tougher since its a conference game, thus more meaning. Plus I fully expect VT to take a big leap next year and make to ACC title game in place of Miami.
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I'd say the fact it's Oregon State going into OSU has the edge. The talent gap alone between the two teams gives it that easy pick.
 
#8
#8
Grand Vol said:
I'd say the fact it's Oregon State going into OSU has the edge. The talent gap alone between the two teams gives it that easy pick.
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I constantly forget Oregon state is in a power 5 conference lol.
 
#9
#9
Glocker_Alum_2005 said:
TN pretty much always schedules tough games to start season. I know we are going to go another round with OU in like 2020. Then we had those back to back yrs against Oregon and Cal when they were up. Good for ratings and they can give a boost to your program, when the timing is right, but frankly since we are in SEC, we should just play a Wisconsin-like schedule. We play Bama and GA every year...we need as many cream puffs as possible
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I want Oregon again in the near future when we’re established with this new coaching staff. We owe them a beating.
 
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#10
#10
Giveem6 said:
I constantly forget Oregon state is in a power 5 conference lol.
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Every conference has their homecoming team.

The Pac-12 has Oregon State
The Big 12 has Kansas
The Big 10 has Indiana
The ACC has Syracuse
We have Vanderbilt
 
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#11
#11
fun fact: both Tennessee's and West Virginia's Alumni that live in Phoenix, AZ meet at the same bar in Phoenix to watch their respective games, and as far as I can tell they are the only Alumni that meet there. Should be an extremely busy night for the Half Moon Cafe on Greenway Pkwy.
 
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#12
#12
I know playing cream puffs is probably good in the sense it is really hard to "get up" for every game over the course of a football season.

The argument, on the other side of this, is "if you want to be the best you should play the best" philosophy. Tough disciplined teams should be able to get up for every game. Not being able to get up for every game is a reflection on the quality of recruit and the coaching culture of a particular program.

I come down somewhere in the middle to just to the side of the second argument. Maybe one or two "cream puff teams" per year and the rest with quality opponents. Try to get as many quality opponents as home games as possible. I think it is detrimental to a team to be known as "afraid to play the best" plus it hurts in the long run when bowl selection time comes around.
 
#13
#13
I agree with GoVols15 on this one. I would just add the first game of the season should be a cream puff. A warm up game so to speak.

How crazy will half the posters on this board get if we beat West Virginia though? I can see some going ahead and buying their tickets for Atlanta.
 
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#14
#14
GoVols15 said:
I know playing cream puffs is probably good in the sense it is really hard to "get up" for every game over the course of a football season.

The argument, on the other side of this, is "if you want to be the best you should play the best" philosophy. Tough disciplined teams should be able to get up for every game. Not being able to get up for every game is a reflection on the quality of recruit and the coaching culture of a particular program.

I come down somewhere in the middle to just to the side of the second argument. Maybe one or two "cream puff teams" per year and the rest with quality opponents. Try to get as many quality opponents as home games as possible. I think it is detrimental to a team to be known as "afraid to play the best" plus it hurts in the long run when bowl selection time comes around.
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The only reason to play the cream puffs is to support their programs. Many need the payday in order to keep fielding a team and improving their facilities. It's hard to take the likes of Western Carolina serious.

We have a distinct advantage over WV. There is plenty of film to watch on them. All the film on us is outdated due to all the changes we have/will make.
 
#15
#15
Glocker_Alum_2005 said:
TN pretty much always schedules tough games to start season. I know we are going to go another round with OU in like 2020. Then we had those back to back yrs against Oregon and Cal when they were up. Good for ratings and they can give a boost to your program, when the timing is right, but frankly since we are in SEC, we should just play a Wisconsin-like schedule. We play Bama and GA every year...we need as many cream puffs as possible
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The last "tough" opener prior to last season was 2008 vs. UCLA...which finished 4-8.
 
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#16
#16
Hawkeye4588 said:
I agree with GoVols15 on this one. I would just add the first game of the season should be a cream puff. A warm up game so to speak.

How crazy will half the posters on this board get if we beat West Virginia though? I can see some going ahead and buying their tickets for Atlanta.
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Atlanta? Santa Clara is more like it.
 
#19
#19
Volview said:
fun fact: both Tennessee's and West Virginia's Alumni that live in Phoenix, AZ meet at the same bar in Phoenix to watch their respective games, and as far as I can tell they are the only Alumni that meet there. Should be an extremely busy night for the Half Moon Cafe on Greenway Pkwy.
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Quoting this for reference
 
#20
#20
Dudleys87 said:
With competent coaches the Vols will be much better nxt season from the opener
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That's what we're hoping we've got. Time will tell. Although, they'll be plenty jumping past the time barrier and proclaiming our staff the Patriots 2.0 before our HC ever coaches his first collegiate game. Buckle in. :crazy:
 
#21
#21
It would benefit our W's and L's to schedule gream puffs I agree, but you are who you are. If we do get a loss against them and they go on to go like 9-3 or 10-2, we can know that it was more of a loss because they were a very good team not so much we sucked.
 
#22
#22
ESPN is the only service i've seen that has them this high. several have them not ranked, and SB nation has them 19th.

i don't think anyone knows what to think about WVU.
 
#23
#23
Grand Vol said:
Every conference has their homecoming team.

The Pac-12 has Oregon State
The Big 12 has Kansas
The Big 10 has Indiana
The ACC has Syracuse
We have Vanderbilt
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The B10 has Indiana, Rutgers, Maryland, Illinois, and many years Minnesota and/or Purdue.

Weakest bottom half in the Power 5. It's the secret to success for the league leaders, who have a relatively easy path to November's rivalry games and the conference championship in December.

There's a reason Urban Meyer left Florida for Ohio State (with a "gap year for health"), and it ain't because he grew up there.
 
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#24
#24
I don't attend creampuff games, and I hardly watch them on TV. So, it will be a cold day in Hell before I ever hope for the Vols to play them. Go ahead, schedule a bunch of them. And when selection time comes around, if you are the #5 or #6 team in the eyes of the committee, you all will cry like a bunch of twerps wondering why we didn't get in "because we are Tennessee."
 
#25
#25
I'd say our game is at least the most intriguing. Should be a fun day in uptown Charlotte. Great place to tailgate and party.
 
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