Sigh. Who cares? These are the same type of idiots who will flame anything, anyone, in regards to any subject. Especially over the Internet.
And google search crazy Vol fans and you'll see the same two clowns wearing orange. Who cares what these idiots have to say?
I don't pay a premium on tradition. Especially in sports. It's a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately enterprise. The Dodgers are my baseball team, and they have one of the richest histories in all of American sports. It's cool; but right about now, I don't give a damn because they haven't won a title since 1988. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks Marlins have won a few combine titles. Seriously?!
I love Dodger tradition, but man do I covet the World Series the Diamondbacks have. To say a bad modern team is great because they won championships 40 years ago is as dumb as saying a dominant team now is bad because they didn't win 40 years ago. I don't think there's anything wrong with the fans of the #2 team in the country feeling confident about beating an unranked team at home in a hostile environment, especially when said fans watched said current #2 team beat up said visitor in their stadium just a few years ago. That can only be expected. (Imagine Tennessee were ranked #2 and an unranked UCLA, Michigan, or Texas team came to YOUR house. I assume you'd be feeling pretty damn confident.)
But what should also be expected is for a fan base, on both sides of major football teams, to respect the fact that on any given day, any team can beat any team. I'll be the first to admit I expect the Ducks to beat Tennessee. But I'm also the first to admit that Tennessee could easily beat the Ducks if a full effort isn't given. You guys are down - you're not dead. You have players, you have a chip on your shoulders, and you have a solid coach. What about that doesn't say losable game for the Ducks? Nothing, I say.
Screw those guys. Best not to give them attention. This Duck respects your Vols and looks forward to a competitive game.
As far as the dirty Nike comments go: don't be ridiculous. The payment Oregon made wasn't a recruiting violation; it was a horribly worthless business transaction, operated under an undefined gray area of NCAA rules. Regardless of what you think of that, Nike wasn't writing the paychecks.
And also remember that Nike only gives Oregon what it gives a **** load of other programs nowadays: trendy uniforms. Phil Knight the alum - not Nike the company- is the man who gives us money. And most alums do it, whether making $50,000 a year or $50,000,000. And that's completely legal. He could offer Oregon a billion dollars tomorrow. And the university would take, as would any university. His connection to our school is legendary. It makes sense he donates a lot. And while he may give our football program prodigious sums of money, he also donates prodigious suns of money to academics - paying for our library, our law building, our study and resource center, as well as paying for professor tenures.
AND, what's the difference between one über wealthy booster and 10 really wealthy boosters? Nothing. Oregon takes Phil Knight's money without shame. Just as USC, Texas, Alabama, Michigan, Notre Dame, Tennessee, etc. etc. takes money from all their wealthy boosters. If you hate on Oregon for benefiting from Nike, you're crazy. Because your cannot convince me that your school wouldn't jump with joy if one of your alums created the largest sports apparel company in the world. And your president, athletic director, and everyone else involved in the school would line up outside of his front door with palms held out and an Oliver Twist "More, please..." look in their eyes.
Anyway, this website is great. I've enjoyed reading your thoughts and posts (even the slightly crazy ones!). I feel like I've learned a lot about your team and the state of your program. And for it's worth, this outsider sees good things on the horizon. To many years of us beating USC and you beating Florida!