Why have Tenn/Va Tech played only 9 games?

#2
#2
They’re a program that I wish we played much more, for sure. I’m not far from the Tri-City area and the fan overlap in Bristol is very real (less so in Johnson City and Kingsport). Very friendly, passionate fanbase, who have weathered their fade into irrelevance very much like we did in the 2010s, lol.

I'd love to see us schedule a home and away series with them someday soon. No second Battle of Bristol though, that should remain a one time only thing.
 
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#3
#3
HeuperDrive said:
They’re a program that I wish we played much more, for sure. I’m not far from the Tri-City area and the fan overlap in Bristol is very real (less so in Johnson City and Kingsport). Very friendly, passionate fanbase, who have weathered their fade into irrelevance very much like we did in the 2010s, lol.

I'd love to see us schedule a home and away series with them someday soon. No second Battle of Bristol though, that should remain a one time only thing.
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I don’t know if Franklin can bring Virginia Tech all the way back to the heights of the Beamer glory days, but I do think State Penn will regret firing him. I know their Big Ten TV money will hit $100 million a year soon, but with that $700 million stadium to pay off and the new coaching staff, don’t know how much will be left for NIL as the years go on.
 
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#4
#4
I always thought this very odd as well. I can't think of any other two major colleges that are so closely located, but have rarely played each other.

You would think it would be much higher, especially in the earlier days when all travel was done by bus.

The only reason I can think of other than the conference alignments, is that the area is just not a real high priority for recruiting and most good players in the area grow up pretty much committed to one school or the other.

I too would like a home and away series especially since Franklin will have them back as a Top 25 team sooner than later.

Also, solidly agree...Battle of Bristol only needed to happen once. It was cool, a spectacle, and should remain in the history books as College Footballs Largest.
 
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#6
#6
Virginia tech up until the past 40 years wasn’t on anyone’s radar as a good college football program or even a decent one. Prior to the 1980s Tech had only been to 3 bowl games in their history. Tech didn’t join a major conference in football until the early 90s when they went from independent to big east. Heck VMI was their biggest rival prior to 1960. Beamer doesn’t get enough credit in turning the Hokies into a great program in the 90s to 00s.
 
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#7
#7
HeavenUniversity said:
I don’t know if Franklin can bring Virginia Tech all the way back to the heights of the Beamer glory days, but I do think State Penn will regret firing him. I know their Big Ten TV money will hit $100 million a year soon, but with that $700 million stadium to pay off and the new coaching staff, don’t know how much will be left for NIL as the years go on.
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I also think they will regret firing Franklin at State College. It may be like the Titans firing Vrabel debacle…instant regret.
 
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#8
#8
ENGRVOL said:
Virginia tech up until the past 40 years wasn’t on anyone’s radar as a good college football program or even a decent one. Prior to the 1980s Tech had only been to 3 bowl games in their history. Tech didn’t join a major conference in football until the early 90s when they went from independent to big east. Heck VMI was there biggest rival prior to 1960. Beamer doesn’t get enough credit in turning the Hokies into a great program in the 90s to 00s.
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Did not know all this until you posted and I read a little more.
Likely a large part of the reason UT never had them on the schedule.
I actually can't recall Tennessee scheduling a Big East football team, unless U Conn was the few times we've played.
 
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#9
#9
IndianaVol said:
Did not know all this until you posted and I read a little more.
Likely a large part of the reason UT never had them on the schedule.
I actually can't recall Tennessee scheduling a Big East football team, unless U Conn was the few times we've played.
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I think we played Rutgers, Temple, Miami, and BC. I think Miami only in bowl games.
 
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#16
#16
IndianaVol said:
Did not know all this until you posted and I read a little more.
Likely a large part of the reason UT never had them on the schedule.
I actually can't recall Tennessee scheduling a Big East football team, unless U Conn was the few times we've played.
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Only game against UConn ever was in 2023
 
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#18
#18
Man, had forgot all the teams that were in the Big East and bailed...Cuse, Miami, BC, Rutgers, Temple...guess the lure of big conference money.
 
#19
#19
I guess I’m in the minority here, but I have never found anything compelling about VT or playing them. The only exception was the big “Battle at Bristol” which we thankfully won. Not a game that I have much interest in seeing again and definitely not on a regular basis.

If we’re going to pick up an ACC opponent on some sort of recurring basis, I’d rather play UNC or (gross) Clemson. But, heck, I don’t really care. If Tennessee is playing, I’m in!
 
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#21
#21
Chad F said:
I guess I’m in the minority here, but I have never found anything compelling about VT or playing them. The only exception was the big “Battle at Bristol” which we thankfully won. Not a game that I have much interest in seeing again and definitely not on a regular basis.

If we’re going to pick up an ACC opponent on some sort of recurring basis, I’d rather play UNC or (gross) Clemson. But, heck, I don’t really care. If Tennessee is playing, I’m in!
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You're not the only one. I see no reason why VT should be a regular opponent and absolutely no reason we should ever travel to Blacksburg.
 
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#22
#22
HeavenUniversity said:
I don’t know if Franklin can bring Virginia Tech all the way back to the heights of the Beamer glory days, but I do think State Penn will regret firing him. I know their Big Ten TV money will hit $100 million a year soon, but with that $700 million stadium to pay off and the new coaching staff, don’t know how much will be left for NIL as the years go on.
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NIL and stadium renovation monies come from different sources. The stadium won't hurt their NIL a cent.
 
#23
#23
Chad F said:
I guess I’m in the minority here, but I have never found anything compelling about VT or playing them. The only exception was the big “Battle at Bristol” which we thankfully won. Not a game that I have much interest in seeing again and definitely not on a regular basis.

If we’re going to pick up an ACC opponent on some sort of recurring basis, I’d rather play UNC or (gross) Clemson. But, heck, I don’t really care. If Tennessee is playing, I’m in!
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I like the idea. I have friends and family that attended VT. They have a lot of very nice fans. Blacksburg is actually a pretty nice college town. It's also easier to get to from Knoxville than any of the ACC towns other than Ga Tech.
 
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#25
#25
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