VFL-82-JP
Bleedin' Orange...
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2015
- Messages
- 20,379
- Likes
- 55,864
We've already seen a number of parallels between both the 1998 and 2001 seasons and these '22 Vols. Here's hoping these are a few more:
Early November is #1 in our hearts:
Point: on the 9th of November, 1998, the Volunteers were given the #1 spot by the BCS ranking system for the very first time.
Counterpoint: 8 days shy of 24 years later, on the 1st of November, 2022, the Vols were ranked #1 by the CFP Committee, successor to the BCS, for the very first time.
Hump Game right out of the gate:
Point: The following Saturday, the Vols beat #10 Arkansas in a nail-biter that proved to many the lads in orange were "a team of destiny."
Counterpoint: If the Vols find a way to beat #3 UGa this coming Saturday, many expect that to be the last major hurdle to an undefeated regular season. Destiny.
Cleaning house to finish the season:
Point: Having beaten the Razorbacks and held serve on the #1 spot in the BCS, the Vols went on to trounce the lesser brothers of the SEC East in the final weeks of the season; the combined score of those games? 100-21.
Counterpoint: If we take care of business against the Dawgs, all that will remain for our lads will be three matches against the SEC East basement: Mizzou, USCe, and Vandy. I could easily see us doing even better than 100-21 combined...thinking closer to 150-21 (to be fair, there were only 2 games left in '98, we get 3 this year).
The state of Mississippi's role:
Point: The '98 Vols met Mississippi State in Atlanta. That has been the Bulldogs' only appearance in the SEC CG, ever.
Counterpoint: The '22 Vols could meet Ole Miss in Atlanta next month. That would be the Rebels' only appearance in the SEC CG, ever.
Some curious and fun possibilities, no?
~ ~ ~
Bonus round, this one hearkening back to 2001:
Come the 4th of December, day after the conference championship games, the CFP Committee could announce:
#1 Tennessee vs #4 TCU in the Peach Bowl
#2 Michigan vs #3 Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl
And a few weeks later:
#1 Tennessee vs #2 Michigan in Los Angeles' SoFi stadium, national title game
A rare event:
Point: At the end of the 2001 season, back when Phillip Fulmer still reigned on the Volunteers sideline, we met the Michigan Wolverines in the Citrus Bowl. It is the only meeting to date of these two storied programs, in the history of the sport. The Vols walked away the victor, 45-17.
Counterpoint: I could see history repeating itself, with the 2022 Vols beating the modern-day Wolverines by precisely the same score.
~ ~ ~
What do you think?
Go Vols!
Early November is #1 in our hearts:
Point: on the 9th of November, 1998, the Volunteers were given the #1 spot by the BCS ranking system for the very first time.
Counterpoint: 8 days shy of 24 years later, on the 1st of November, 2022, the Vols were ranked #1 by the CFP Committee, successor to the BCS, for the very first time.
Hump Game right out of the gate:
Point: The following Saturday, the Vols beat #10 Arkansas in a nail-biter that proved to many the lads in orange were "a team of destiny."
Counterpoint: If the Vols find a way to beat #3 UGa this coming Saturday, many expect that to be the last major hurdle to an undefeated regular season. Destiny.
Cleaning house to finish the season:
Point: Having beaten the Razorbacks and held serve on the #1 spot in the BCS, the Vols went on to trounce the lesser brothers of the SEC East in the final weeks of the season; the combined score of those games? 100-21.
Counterpoint: If we take care of business against the Dawgs, all that will remain for our lads will be three matches against the SEC East basement: Mizzou, USCe, and Vandy. I could easily see us doing even better than 100-21 combined...thinking closer to 150-21 (to be fair, there were only 2 games left in '98, we get 3 this year).
The state of Mississippi's role:
Point: The '98 Vols met Mississippi State in Atlanta. That has been the Bulldogs' only appearance in the SEC CG, ever.
Counterpoint: The '22 Vols could meet Ole Miss in Atlanta next month. That would be the Rebels' only appearance in the SEC CG, ever.
Some curious and fun possibilities, no?
~ ~ ~
Bonus round, this one hearkening back to 2001:
Come the 4th of December, day after the conference championship games, the CFP Committee could announce:
#1 Tennessee vs #4 TCU in the Peach Bowl
#2 Michigan vs #3 Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl
And a few weeks later:
#1 Tennessee vs #2 Michigan in Los Angeles' SoFi stadium, national title game
A rare event:
Point: At the end of the 2001 season, back when Phillip Fulmer still reigned on the Volunteers sideline, we met the Michigan Wolverines in the Citrus Bowl. It is the only meeting to date of these two storied programs, in the history of the sport. The Vols walked away the victor, 45-17.
Counterpoint: I could see history repeating itself, with the 2022 Vols beating the modern-day Wolverines by precisely the same score.
~ ~ ~
What do you think?
Go Vols!
Last edited:
