Alabama is moving to the ACC!

[VOL89grad]

Hayes: SEC teams will pay dearly in 2024 for not agreeing to 9-game schedule

Obviously, there’s some humor in the title of this post… but not really. I attached (above) link to article which prompted this post.

It’s absolutely sad (and funny) to me that the once proud Alabama program is soo scared to death about facing our Vols that they’d like to just punt the series we’ve played since way before I was even born. I’m personally not scared of Nick or that Bama team… even more so now that they have done a literal “about face” to march towards their new mediocrity. Frankly, if Nick and company are going to cowardly avoid a challenge, just let them say they aren’t interested in the 3rd week of October anymore (because that’s what I’m hearing from San Destin this week).

it is what it is Vol Nation… the sport we all love is in transition. I personally hope our university and team will continue to chase and embrace excellence as opposed to going along with some other members (looking at you Bama!!!) who don’t really want a challenge or are simply just looking for some $$$ from ESPN/etc.

Our Vols are better than those tides of folks who only can survive if their team is winning. Life is full of both wins and losses… we all have to roll with it.

Go Vols!!!!

 

[onevol74]

Tennessee is not the only problem Alabama has. Just a prediction but I think this will be Saban’s last year. He has all the money he will ever need and at his age you start thinking what remains in your life.

 

[VOL89grad]

Tennessee is not the only problem Alabama has. Just a prediction but I think this will be Saban’s last year. He has all the money he will ever need and at his age you start thinking what remains in your life.

While I would agree with you, Nick is the “Commanding Officer“ of what’s been relatively recently a born-again “proud program” just like when Bear Bryant was there. Cowering away does absolutely nothing for his legacy.

I also predicted the ’end of times” for Nick/Tide was imminent.

 

[KnoxRealtorVOL]

While I would agree with you, Nick is the “Commanding Officer“ of what’s been relatively recently a born-again “proud program” just like when Bear Bryant was there. Cowering away does absolutely nothing for his legacy.

I also predicted the ’end of times” for Nick/Tide was imminent.

It will be less about what he has/hasn't accomplished and more about how much he despises this new NIL/transfer portal CFB landscape. I don't think he wants to deal with this much longer.

 

[FlyFishnVol]

Hayes: SEC teams will pay dearly in 2024 for not agreeing to 9-game schedule

Obviously, there’s some humor in the title of this post… but not really. I attached (above) link to article which prompted this post.

It’s absolutely sad (and funny) to me that the once proud Alabama program is soo scared to death about facing our Vols that they’d like to just punt the series we’ve played since way before I was even born. I’m personally not scared of Nick or that Bama team… even more so now that they have done a literal “about face” to march towards their new mediocrity. Frankly, if Nick and company are going to cowardly avoid a challenge, just let them say they aren’t interested in the 3rd week of October anymore (because that’s what I’m hearing from San Destin this week).

it is what it is Vol Nation… the sport we all love is in transition. I personally hope our university and team will continue to chase and embrace excellence as opposed to going along with some other members (looking at you Bama!!!) who don’t really want a challenge or are simply just looking for some $$$ from ESPN/etc.

Our Vols are better than those tides of folks who only can survive if their team is winning. Life is full of both wins and losses… we all have to roll with it.

Go Vols!!!!

Envy is an ugly character trait. Everyone is trying to compare other leagues with the SEC. It is like weighing down a fast horse so the others can keep up. B10, PAC12, Big12 and the ACC are ate up with jealousy. Sankey has no reason to be upset, the SEC rules. I say shut up and try catching up. To be the best, you have to beat the best.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

Can someone please explain why anyone would think Alabama is scared of us? Yes we beat them last year. But it seems some of you think we have been beating the brakes off of them for awhile. If you really think Saban is afraid of us you are insane.

 

[DonDiego]

Can someone please explain why anyone would think Alabama is scared of us? Yes we beat them last year. But it seems some of you think we have been beating the brakes off of them for awhile. If you really think Saban is afraid of us you are insane.

I hate to agree with you, but you're pretty spot on. Alabubba had the #1 recruiting class last year and they always turn it on late in recruiting. They ain't going nowhere, and we need a couple more wins to scare them.

 

[GoVols64]

I think there is validity to the thought around playing a brutal schedule year to year. Teams will get beat up without doubt. Once you expand the playoff though, records matter slightly less. The top teams will get in and then it’s all about who is healthiest. You probably aren’t playing top SEC caliber talent until the last two games.

 

[ftsandersvol]

Tennessee is not the only problem Alabama has. Just a prediction but I think this will be Saban’s last year. He has all the money he will ever need and at his age you start thinking what remains in your life.

You’re only left with memories.

 

[VOL89grad]

Can someone please explain why anyone would think Alabama is scared of us? Yes we beat them last year. But it seems some of you think we have been beating the brakes off of them for awhile. If you really think Saban is afraid of us you are insane.

I’ll just say that Coach Saban miraculouly changed his 13 year advocacy for a 9 conference game season recently while mentioning it wasn’t “fair” they had to play UT/AU/LSU as permanent opponents… teams that Bama has enjoyed beating collectively 24 times (out of 30 games) over the past decade. I could not ever imagine any UT Coach saying playing Vandy wasn’t “fair” even though they beat us 4 times over the same period. Yes, Bama has talent… but their sudden reversal can reasonably be attributed to a renewed fear of our team (and upgrades of coaching staffs by us, Auburn and LSU). Just being real…

 

[bamawriter]

So what's the reason Heupel voted for 8 games?

 

[johnboyhunter]

Tennessee is not the only problem Alabama has. Just a prediction but I think this will be Saban’s last year. He has all the money he will ever need and at his age you start thinking what remains in your life.

he has no soul. He will die with a whistle around his neck.

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

I’ll just say that Coach Saban miraculouly changed his 13 year advocacy for a 9 conference game season recently while mentioning it wasn’t “fair” they had to play UT/AU/LSU as permanent opponents… teams that Bama has enjoyed beating collectively 24 times (out of 30 games) over the past decade. I could not ever imagine any UT Coach saying playing Vandy wasn’t “fair” even though they beat us 4 times over the same period. Yes, Bama has talent… but their sudden reversal can reasonably be attributed to a renewed fear of our team (and upgrades of coaching staffs by us, Auburn and LSU). Just being real…

That doesn’t equate to him being afraid of us.

 

[JohnWardForever]

Hayes: SEC teams will pay dearly in 2024 for not agreeing to 9-game schedule

Obviously, there’s some humor in the title of this post… but not really. I attached (above) link to article which prompted this post.

It’s absolutely sad (and funny) to me that the once proud Alabama program is soo scared to death about facing our Vols that they’d like to just punt the series we’ve played since way before I was even born. I’m personally not scared of Nick or that Bama team… even more so now that they have done a literal “about face” to march towards their new mediocrity. Frankly, if Nick and company are going to cowardly avoid a challenge, just let them say they aren’t interested in the 3rd week of October anymore (because that’s what I’m hearing from San Destin this week).

it is what it is Vol Nation… the sport we all love is in transition. I personally hope our university and team will continue to chase and embrace excellence as opposed to going along with some other members (looking at you Bama!!!) who don’t really want a challenge or are simply just looking for some $$$ from ESPN/etc.

Our Vols are better than those tides of folks who only can survive if their team is winning. Life is full of both wins and losses… we all have to roll with it.

Go Vols!!!!

When Tennessee doesn't play alabama in Football It is indeed the End Of Days...

 

[Woodrow Call]

Can someone please explain why anyone would think Alabama is scared of us? Yes we beat them last year. But it seems some of you think we have been beating the brakes off of them for awhile. If you really think Saban is afraid of us you are insane.

Spot on. They're not scared in the least. Alabama always expects to win against Tennessee, even when they're not as good.

 

[Hyperion]

I'll never forget that their fans wanted to cancel the series during the height of the Fulmer era with the Tommy Gallion nonsense. They were claiming fan safety as a potential problem worth canceling the series. Of course they wanted to cancel because they were very likely to lose. Their fans and program are the essence of chicken ****.

 

[EverythingOrange]

BAMA’s wave has crested…. They lost to Tennessee and LSU last year - and barely escaped losses to Texas & Texas A&M! Their expectations are so freakin’ high that anything less than the College Football Playoff is a DOWN year! A couple of 9/10 win seasons (or less) & they are fixing to IMPLODE!!!!!

Saban can keep getting his money from AFLAC!

 

[tn4elvis]

Can someone please explain why anyone would think Alabama is scared of us? Yes we beat them last year. But it seems some of you think we have been beating the brakes off of them for awhile. If you really think Saban is afraid of us you are insane.

The down year for Bama was losing two Sec road games on the last play of both games. So I don’t think the gumps have really fallen on hard times as some are predicting. We just need to keep elevating our program and not worry about any one else

 

[Gandalf]

Can someone please explain why anyone would think Alabama is scared of us? Yes we beat them last year. But it seems some of you think we have been beating the brakes off of them for awhile. If you really think Saban is afraid of us you are insane.

Until we prove otherwise, thinking that Saban fears UT is about as silly as cock fans thinking that we fear USCjr after they got lucky last year.

 

[malinoisvol]

Hey Nick!

 

[VOL89grad]

OK… I’ll give this just one last try. While it’s certainly true I’m conflating Bama’s program leadership (Coach and AD) comments that “it’s not fair that Bama has to play UT/LSU/AU as permanent rivalries“ in what was reported for the SEC’s 9 game proposal as “being afraid to play Tennessee,” I don’t think anyone would argue that Bama viewed the proposal as one that placed them at a disadvantage to reach the CFB playoffs.… like it happened this year with close losses to UT and LSU. Basically, their “flip” of position (e.g going from leading the effort to shift to 9 conference game schedule to opposing it after this season) can only be logically viewed as “fear” of losses that will keep them out of CFB playoffs. If Bama truly believed they could beat the best competition (e.g. were not afraid to continue playing UT/LSU/AU like they have for decades despite their opponents‘ recent rises), then why the heck would Bama proclaim to the world that the 9 conference game proposal was “unfair”?

It’s simply beyond my simple mind to understand why Bama would change their tune if it wasn’t out of “fear.” If Bama truly wants to go down the road of “fairness,” I’d expect Coach Saban/Bama AD to also propose that every team can only field at any time the same number of 4 and 5 star players as those teams that they play. For that matter, perhaps there should be a conference wide “cap” on coaching salaries (just like Saban wants to equalize NIL distributions). Let every team figure out how they can get/pay a complete staff… for let’s say $8M/year?

The game of football (like life) isn’t always “fair.” Hoping the title of my post gave everyone a good laugh as Bama’s actions and statements can certainly be perceived as their let’s just say “concern” about a rising VOL and perhaps “Tiger’s” programs. Like the original story I linked, if a program is driven strictly by gaming the system to either reach playoffs (or a bowl) or just getting as much money as possible, then we’ve truly stepped away from the actual game of CFB… and our SEC! Real competition isn’t designed to reward those with a weak heart, mind or body.

Go VOLS!

 

[Tnphil]

IMO Saban will croak on the football field or as the coach of the program. His ego will not let him retire....He has more power than anybody in the state of Alabama and probably the top of the college football world. He could not stand waking up in the mornings and not have his ego stroked....He could not stand being the X coach of Bama football.

He's got all the money he or his family will ever need.....He's in his 70s....So why does he put up with with all these look at me kids.....the trouble that many get into.....the portal...the NIL....Because his ego has to be stroked!

 

[BruisedOrange]

Quite to the contrary, I believe Saban approaches the twilight of his career with a sense that he has gained the most from it and feels responsibility to leave the SEC and college football better than he found it. But there is chaos afoot, and the NCAA is too weak and compromised to set its house in order.

College football is facing forces that want to destroy it in its current socio-cultural context. NIL was not put upon the NCAA to save college football--it was designed to weaken or destroy it. There were many stipend-based options that would have benefitted more players to a much greater degree, but that was not the goal for the lawyers who forced it on the NCAA.

Players deserve money. A college education (scholarship) isn't what it used to be. Today it is overpriced and has lost its job market value, except in a few fields. Even 20 years ago, less than 5% of college graduates found a job in the field of their degree.

Well, that's a rabbit trail of its own.

But I'll stick with the belief that while we are seeing many of Saban's moves, we are not seeing the board Saban is playing on, nor his opponents.

You can keep hating Saban, but stop and look at how many American traditions, traditions that--however imperfect--formed the woven cloth of our free society and values, have been under attack. Heck--pray for the dude! He's got more influence than any of us over things that are dear to us. Saving competition as an American value is worth more than a dozen NCs.

 

[VOL89grad]

IMO Saban will croak on the football field or as the coach of the program. His ego will not let him retire....He has more power than anybody in the state of Alabama and probably the top of the college football world. He could not stand waking up in the mornings and not have his ego stroked....He could not stand being the X coach of Bama football.

He's got all the money he or his family will ever need.....He's in his 70s....So why does he put up with with all these look at me kids.....the trouble that many get into.....the portal...the NIL....Because his ego has to be stroked!

Yes… just like Proverbs 16:18

 

[VOL89grad]

Quite to the contrary, I believe Saban approaches the twilight of his career with a sense that he has gained the most from it and feels responsibility to leave the SEC and college football better than he found it. But there is chaos afoot, and the NCAA is too weak and compromised to set its house in order.

College football is facing forces that want to destroy it in its current socio-cultural context. NIL was not put upon the NCAA to save college football--it was designed to weaken or destroy it. There were many stipend-based options that would have benefitted more players to a much greater degree, but that was not the goal for the lawyers who forced it on the NCAA.

Players deserve money. A college education (scholarship) isn't what it used to be. Today it is overpriced and has lost its job market value, except in a few fields. Even 20 years ago, less than 5% of college graduates found a job in the field of their degree.

Well, that's a rabbit trail of its own.

But I'll stick with the belief that while we are seeing many of Saban's moves, we are not seeing the board Saban is playing on, nor his opponents.

You can keep hating Saban, but stop and look at how many American traditions, traditions that--however imperfect--formed the woven cloth of our free society and values, have been under attack. Heck--pray for the dude! He's got more influence than any of us over things that are dear to us. Saving competition as an American value is worth more than a dozen NCs.

I certainly agree with much of what you’ve said… and to be honest, I really have nothing but respect for Coach Saban and what he’s accomplished. To me, it’s just a very bad look from a very great coach.… I hope no VOL coach now or in future would “flip” positions and make us look silly.

Like many others who eventually rise to prominence from their hard work, it would have been much more impactful if Coach Saban had led the changes he advocates now “for the future and love of the game” before he entered his twilight years. With great power comes great responsibility... so they say…. Coach Saban has had power for way over a decade.

Again, my post is simply “mocking” the overall Bama program now (not really Nick Saban personally)… programs certainly evolve from one coach to another. In another sense, my post simply tries to point out some of the changes going on are definitely not part of CFB that we grew up with.

Go VOLS!