Would you rather we opened with a lesser opponent?

[volfan2024]

I am glad we played West Virginia. We played against a great qb. This helps us to work relentlessly on coverage. As far as the rest of the game, we were strong with the run, qb play okay. Any thoughts?

 

[McDad]

I'd rather we looked like a better team.

 

[TAF]

 

[KBVol]

I am glad we played West Virginia. We played against a great qb. This helps us to work relentlessly on coverage. As far as the rest of the game, we were strong with the run, qb play okay. Any thoughts?

We’ve opened up our seasons many, many top flight, highly ranked OOC opponents many times over the years. And many, many times we’ve ourselves looked like top flight, highly ranked, capable, competitive SEC teams. That’s what I would like.

 

[Boca Vol]

I think it may be a blessing in disguise.

If you open up against a scrub and beat them 50-3 what do you really learn? I promise you, the team, coaches, err-body learned some things from yesterday.

Now we have 2 weak opponents to work some ish out before the UF game.

 

[SmokyRiverDog]

I think it is best to lose to Power 5 team. Losing to FCS or the non-Power 5 patsies creates consternation for those still in Orange colored glasses.

 

[GAVol]

The NCAA needs to just add a week 0 preseason game against an FCS school.

 

[jakez4ut]

i'm just tired of losing. period.

 

[volgr]

Doesn't matter who you open with, if you are bad SEC team as we are, there will be plenty of opportunities to be thoroughly exposed throughout the season.

 

[volfaninky]

Tired of losing and knowing that before we step into the ring against these non conference ranked opponents. Do we not play enough good teams in conference unlike 90% of other teams in the country because of our conference? Does anyone else outside of the SEC West have Bama every year? No. No reason to schedule anyone good ooc until we’re good also. A win yesterday and 3-0 record going into Florida would create an atmosphere that would give us a shot at them, now we won’t even have that. It’s stupid to play anyone ranked OOC right now.

 

[CountVolcula]

A lot of teams use them as a tune up game to work out any issues. It also good to start a year off with a win to boost confidence

When you get your ass handed to you on the first game, it does nothing

 

[CountVolcula]

Tired of losing and knowing that before we step into the ring against these non conference ranked opponents. Do we not play enough good teams in conference unlike 90% of other teams in the country because of our conference? Does anyone else outside of the SEC West have Bama every year? No. No reason to schedule anyone good ooc until we’re good also. A win yesterday and 3-0 record going into Florida would create an atmosphere that would give us a shot at them, now we won’t even have that. It’s stupid to play anyone ranked OOC right now.

To be honest, these schedules are made so far in advance, it's hard to say whether a team will be ranked at the time of play

 

[landscapingvol]

Playing a good team does no one any favors regardless of what many claim on here especially for a team with no confidence like UT. This “anywhere, anytime” mentality is stupid and generally spewed from fans with a small penis complex. Washington WAS a great team till they opened with Auburn, their season is likely over as is Michigan’s. Louisville was embarrassed by Alabama, I doubt their fans feel the great pride of starting with an elite opponent. Great opening opponents and good OOC make no sense. If UT is sitting home in January at 5-7 or worse, an extra win on the team’s record would be much more acceptable. This team was not ready to a WVU type team nor was it talented enough

 

[volfaninky]

Then don’t schedule these names for next 6-8 years and buy them out now and replace them with Tulane and Rutgers and Illinois and Kansas.

 

[give_him 6]

Until we get our house in order, let’s quit playing these opening games against good power 5 teams. If we were good then it makes sense to play teams like West Virginia in week one.

 

[LargePairOfVols]

It’s quite possible that the L to WV will be the reason we sit at home this bowl season.

A question for the proponents of tough OOC games- does the pride we have from playing a good OOC team and losing outweigh missing a bowl game and thus missing the extra practice time?

Would be tough to argue yes.

 

[Johnnyreb#VFL]

We just played a top 10 team with possibly the top qb in the nation. I’m fine with it and glad Pruitt got thrown to the wolves so to speak. It will fire them up

Silver lining, still 0-0 SEC record

 

[Sarms58]

I am glad we played West Virginia. We played against a great qb. This helps us to work relentlessly on coverage. As far as the rest of the game, we were strong with the run, qb play okay. Any thoughts?

Because of the transition to new schemes under a new staff, I would have preferred if we could have flipped the first two games. I don't know that we could beat WV this year but we might have made fewer errors. That said, it's back to practice to get ready for the home opener. Plenty to work on but also plenty of positives to build on...I'm happy to see us running an offense that looks like the old UT.

 

[Pruitt Will Do It]

I would rather have had Tennessee play someone like Southern Miss,MTSU or LaTech than open the season with West Virginia.

 

[MyBloodRunnethOrange]

Tired of losing and knowing that before we step into the ring against these non conference ranked opponents. Do we not play enough good teams in conference unlike 90% of other teams in the country because of our conference? Does anyone else outside of the SEC West have Bama every year? No. No reason to schedule anyone good ooc until we’re good also. A win yesterday and 3-0 record going into Florida would create an atmosphere that would give us a shot at them, now we won’t even have that. It’s stupid to play anyone ranked OOC right now.

So you think we should pad our W/L with a bunch of lower level teams like we play the next two weeks to give us a false sense of confidence? I'd rather do away with those "games" and only play other P5 teams. But that's just me

 

[YankeeVol]

The NCAA needs to just add a week 0 preseason game against an FCS school.

Didn't 3 FCS teams win yesterday?

 

[malinoisvol]

We should drop out of the SEC and move to a lesser conference so we can almost be assured of going 6-6 and make it to a Bowl game every year. This way we avoid all the Goliaths. Amirite?

SMDH​

 

[Pruitt Will Do It]

Didn't 3 FCS teams win yesterday?

Kansas lost 26-23 to Nicholls State. The Gayhawks are on their way to an 0-12 season.

 

[Pruitt Will Do It]

We should drop out of the SEC and move to a lesser conference so we can almost be assured of going 6-6 and make it to a Bowl game every year. This way we avoid all the Goliaths. Amirite?

SMDH​

At least Tennessee plays these teams OOC in 2019

Georgia State
BYU
UAB
Chattanooga

4 pretty much automatic wins

 

[volfan2024]

I think it may be a blessing in disguise.

If you open up against a scrub and beat them 50-3 what do you really learn? I promise you, the team, coaches, err-body learned some things from yesterday.

Now we have 2 weak opponents to work some ish out before the UF game.

I agree totally. I too am not happy about our loss but just gotta be patient and realistic and fair to both players and coach. If we improve we are on our way.