Is Saturday the Biggest Game in 23 years?

[RDU VOL#14]

It's hard to do a direct comparison to that game because the postseason format that exists today did not in 2001. The SECCG loss in 2001 lost an SEC championship and a chance to play directly for a national championship, so even if we lose Saturday I would say that loss is bigger.

I think that loss is probably the worst loss I’ve experienced as a Vol fan. I think my comparison for this game and that 2001 LSU game comes from the idea that we get to continue to play for a championship if we win. It’s not the same old we go play Vandy and then we start making plans for whatever the reward bowl destination might be and start talking about the depth chart for next year. We win, we start talking about our next matchup w/ Penn State or Notre Dame, maybe Texas. Win that one and the stakes get even bigger. It’s not the opponent, so much as the opportunity that I think makes this the biggest game in a very long time .

 

[BowlBrother85]

I think that loss is probably the worst loss I’ve experienced as a Vol fan. I think my comparison for this game and that 2001 LSU game comes from the idea that we get to continue to play for a championship if we win. It’s not the same old we go play Vandy and then we start making plans for whatever the reward bowl destination might be and start talking about the depth chart for next year. We win, we start talking about our next matchup w/ Penn State or Notre Dame, maybe Texas. Win that one and the stakes get even bigger. It’s not the opponent, so much as the opportunity that I think makes this the biggest game in a very long time .

Worst loss of my lifetime. I think of Fulmer's tenure in two distinct parts : Before and after the 2001 SECCG loss to LSU.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

I think that loss is probably the worst loss I’ve experienced as a Vol fan. I think my comparison for this game and that 2001 LSU game comes from the idea that we get to continue to play for a championship if we win. It’s not the same old we go play Vandy and then we start making plans for whatever the reward bowl destination might be and start talking about the depth chart for next year. We win, we start talking about our next matchup w/ Penn State or Notre Dame, maybe Texas. Win that one and the stakes get even bigger. It’s not the opponent, so much as the opportunity that I think makes this the biggest game in a very long time .

We are about to enter an age of college football where NO bowl game is even remotely a consolation to missing the playoffs! When it was just 4 spots, and we were still digging our way out of the hole that Pruitt left us in, yeah a Taxslayer or Duke's Mayo bowl bid was considered a positive. But going forward in a 12 team playoff world? NO! Sorry! Its playoffs or bust! From this year forward, bowl games are the NIT Tournament of college football!

 

[BanditVol]

No. But it could set up the biggest game since 2001 SECCG, which you could consider a play in to the old BCS championship.

I would maybe throw in 2007, but not at all sure we would be in the BCS game if we had beaten LSU. Likely we would not have.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

No. But it could set up the biggest game since 2001 SECCG, which you could consider a play in to the old BCS championship.

I would maybe throw in 2007, but not at all sure we would be in the BCS game if we had beaten LSU. Likely we would not have.

That’s what I was referring to.

 

[TennEddie]

Biggest game in a long time. A giant gap between a win vs a loss.
If you are not worried, you need to take off those orange tinted glasses.

 

[EZE]

OP, given that this puts us in the Group of 12 that have a chance at a national title, the answer is an unequivocal yes.

I considered the SEC Championship Game of 07, but it didn’t have national implications. But, it still woulda been an SEC Title, which is a big deal. So…close.

 

[TennEddie]

This game calls for one of those situations where you need a rah rah meathead type of coach, becuase talent wise the Vols have the edge over Vandy.

We definitely need someone to “ wake “ this team up to start the game.

 

[EZE]

Biggest game in a long time. A giant gap between a win vs a loss.
If you are not worried, you need to take off those orange tinted glasses.

I’m not “worried.” I’m excited to see if the program is ready to take another step.

We’re ahead of schedule IMO. And it would suck to lose for a lot of reasons, but we have a program on the rise no matter what happens. I’m just watching the phoenix rise from the ashes.

And I see many more opportunities in the future.

This game is not a slam dunk by any means.

 

[feathersax]

Please, vandie....try to start a fight after pre-game warmups. Then, you will awaken (if that's even necessary) the dormant pain-and suffering ORANGE gene in our Vols. No reason for Tennessee not to CRUSH & MAIM the commode-doors this Saturday in the vandie "landfill". Get 'er done, Tennessee!

 

[Enki_Amenra]

Biggest since Vols/UGA '24

 

[EastTNVol6240]

From a standpoint of being back, how is it not? I don’t like coining it that being that it’s Vandy, but win this game, get hot at the right time, and who knows where this can go?

 

[BowlBrother85]

Last year's game was chippy. I would expect more of the same.

 

[CAVPUT]

It’s Vandy. We know it’s Vandy, but with everything on the line, I can’t remember a bigger game since a December 2001 game in Atlanta . We don’t need to go down that rabbit hole of horror, but this seems like this is the biggest and best opportunity we’ve had in a long time . USCjr in 2022 is also in the discussion.

What say you guys and girls?

Nah. For me, the '22 SCjr game was bigger. Get us into the playoff picture with our offense and we had a shot against anyone. This year we might make it, but I don't think we go very far with our offense, and our defense is showing some signs of cracking a bit.

 

[Jaxon_Vol2017]

I can’t get myself to agree Vandy is the biggest game of year. Just not right.

You might want to because it is. Win and you're in vs. lose and go home for the winter

 

[CAVPUT]

You might want to because it is. Win and you're in vs. lose and go home for the winter

Huh? Did they eliminate bowl games and I missed it?

 

[BowlBrother85]

Huh? Did they eliminate bowl games and I missed it?

They really might as well. Player opt-outs are going to be off the charts from now on.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

OP, given that this puts us in the Group of 12 that have a chance at a national title, the answer is an unequivocal yes.

I considered the SEC Championship Game of 07, but it didn’t have national implications. But, it still woulda been an SEC Title, which is a big deal. So…close.

I hear you. If we’d won that 07 against LSU we would’ve played (and destroyed) Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl. An SEC title and a Sugar Bowl trophy would’ve been nice. It also would’ve been interesting to see what that did for Fulmer’s longevity, but that’s a different discussion.

I keep seeing people saying “it’s Vandy”. You could insert any team into this equation and I think the answer is the same . It just doesn’t have the fanfare bc they’ve been the worst Power 4/5 program for the better part of a decade.

 

[EZE]

I hear you. If we’d won that 07 against LSU we would’ve played (and destroyed) Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl. An SEC title and a Sugar Bowl trophy would’ve been nice. It also would’ve been interesting to see what that did for Fulmer’s longevity, but that’s a different discussion.

I keep seeing people saying “it’s Vandy”. You could insert any team into this equation and I think the answer is the same . It just doesn’t have the fanfare bc they’ve been the worst Power 4/5 program for the better part of a decade.

But, I think everyone can agree…no matter whether it was 01 or 07…this is the biggest game in a long, long time.

 

[Wezcoast]

If Vols lose it will cement the opinion that Heupel teams play poorly on the road.

There'll be no excuses for a loss . So yeh , any heat the coaching staff gets will be warranted , unless of course everyone gets butterfingers and fumblitis.

 

[Illinoisvolfan2]

They will beat us if we aren’t ready for war

 

[RDU VOL#14]

But, I think everyone can agree…no matter whether it was 01 or 07…this is the biggest game in a long, long time.

I certainly agree, but others have their own opinions. Which they are certainly entitled to.

 

[BobbyMcGee]

It’s Vandy. We know it’s Vandy, but with everything on the line, I can’t remember a bigger game since a December 2001 game in Atlanta . We don’t need to go down that rabbit hole of horror, but this seems like this is the biggest and best opportunity we’ve had in a long time . USCjr in 2022 is also in the discussion.

What say you guys and girls?

No.

 

[hardyemt_p]

I think if we lose the conclusion on Heupel will be that he’s a very likeable guy with a good offensive mind but not an upper tier head coach

It’s Vandy. We know it’s Vandy, but with everything on the line, I can’t remember a bigger game since a December 2001 game in Atlanta . We don’t need to go down that rabbit hole of horror, but this seems like this is the biggest and best opportunity we’ve had in a long time . USCjr in 2022 is also in the discussion.

What say you guys and girls?

Ball is in our hands, all we have to do is win. Have my doubts it happens. Lord I hope we show up for 4

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Nah. For me, the '22 SCjr game was bigger. Get us into the playoff picture with our offense and we had a shot against anyone. This year we might make it, but I don't think we go very far with our offense, and our defense is showing some signs of cracking a bit.

But the difference is there were no expectations in 2022. Nobody figured us to be THAT good! So even though we missed the playoffs, a 10 win season along with an Orange Bowl victory against Clemson still felt like a really nice year! Now we have expectations and the playoffs have been expanded to 12 teams, which btw swallows up all the worth-a-damn bowl games. So now, if you're not in the playoffs, there's literally nothing else to play for!

Oh incidentally, if you thought we saw a lot guys opting out of bowl games before, wait until you see the mass exodus that's getting ready to happen to teams who don't make the playoffs! It's going to get ugly!