November's getting harder

[VolsSportsFan]

Take away Oregon and Vandy's schedule is very similar to UT's, isn't it? The SEC East is the same for both. Vandy goes to aTm and UT goes to Bama. That's a wash. UT hosts Auburn and Vandy opens with Ole Miss. That's pretty even as well.

For those talking about Vandy not beating anyone worth a crap last year, keep in mind, it's Vandy.

If UT were to go 7-5 this year, most on here will be jumping for joy about how UT is back and that Butch gets it. Even though, UT would most likely get to 7 wins without beating any team of note:

APSU
WKU
S
S. Alabama
Missouri
Auburn
Vandy
UK

I think right now Ole Miss is better than Auburn, unless AU has a huge turn around.

And no, I wouldn't say "UT is back" if we just go 7-5. I would say it's a step in the right direction.

Plus if we beat Vandy this season and you put them in the category of not being a "team of note", aren't you proving our point that Vandy is still Vandy?

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Do you really think Florida won't be really good again? And if 9 wins and that curb stomping of UT last year doesn't change your perspective I'm not sure what will.

If me breaking down said 9 wins and said "curb stomping" doesn't change your perspective, then I'm not sure what will.

 

[Exfix]

Take away Oregon and Vandy's schedule is very similar to UT's, isn't it? The SEC East is the same for both. Vandy goes to aTm and UT goes to Bama. That's a wash. UT hosts Auburn and Vandy opens with Ole Miss. That's pretty even as well.

For those talking about Vandy not beating anyone worth a crap last year, keep in mind, it's Vandy.

If UT were to go 7-5 this year, most on here will be jumping for joy about how UT is back and that Butch gets it. Even though, UT would most likely get to 7 wins without beating any team of note:

APSU
WKU
S
S. Alabama
Missouri
Auburn
Vandy
UK

Exactly. At no point did I say they are gonna win a BCSNC, but Vandy is on the rise along with everyone else. They finished with a top 25 recruiting class last year and are in line for another. This thread wasn't supposed to be about a UT/Vandy pissing contest. I'm pointing out that many teams are improved, including them. But go ahead and stick your head in the sand and pretend we will beat them for another thirty years in a row.

 

[99gator]

this is a long term thought here. this is not a "in a given year" or "at this moment in time" perspective.

florida and georgia are going to be strong. even when they are down, they will still have talent and not be pushovers.

vandy, ky, and missouri will always suck. the problem those schools will have is if they ever find "the guy", that guy probably won't stay at those schools very long. so, take franklin. i respect him and what he's doing at vanderbilt. that said, it's not like vandy is some sort of power. it's also not like the moment franklin bolts from vanderbilt, they will kiss their moment of being average goodbye. same thing if stoops actually does well at kentucky.

south carolina is the wild card. i don't know what carolina will be like after spurrier leaves. will they continue to produce ranked teams year after year. can they get to the next level? will they go back to being what they were? i don't know because frankly, i believe all of those options are possible.

so long term, at worst, tennessee has to worry about three other teams in the division. at best, it's what it as before... florida and georgia.

 

[Exfix]

this is a long term thought here. this is not a "in a given year" or "at this moment in time" perspective.

florida and georgia are going to be strong. even when they are down, they will still have talent and not be pushovers.

vandy, ky, and missouri will always suck. the problem those schools will have is if they ever find "the guy", that guy probably won't stay at those schools very long. so, take franklin. i respect him and what he's doing at vanderbilt. that said, it's not like vandy is some sort of power. it's also not like the moment franklin bolts from vanderbilt, they will kiss their moment of being average goodbye. same thing if stoops actually does well at kentucky.

south carolina is the wild card. i don't know what carolina will be like after spurrier leaves. will they continue to produce ranked teams year after year. can they get to the next level? will they go back to being what they were? i don't know because frankly, i believe all of those options are possible.

so long term, at worst, tennessee has to worry about three other teams in the division. at best, it's what it as before... florida and georgia.

It all really depends on if Franklin stays. He's had several chances to leave but hasn't and signed a long term deal with language to improve the facilities. If he stays and spurrier retires they may very well pass SC. In 1999 when SC went 0-11 no one thought they would ever be good either. I agree KY and Missouri will always suck because Stoops will probably leave and Missouri is Missouri.

 

[Exfix]

If me breaking down said 9 wins and said "curb stomping" doesn't change your perspective, then I'm not sure what will.

You're right. Everything is fine in Knoxville. That's why at SEC media days they were picked ahead of us and Vegas has their over under win total higher than ours. It's because everyone recognizes that Vandy sucks and UT is awesome. I'm assuming UT will pass them, maybe even this year, but right now there are some SEC doormats like Vandy and Ole Miss that are playing some pretty good football.

 

[99gator]

It all really depends on if Franklin stays. He's had several chances to leave but hasn't and signed a long term deal with language to improve the facilities. If he stays and spurrier retires they may very well pass SC. In 1999 when SC went 0-11 no one thought they would ever be good either. I agree KY and Missouri will always suck because Stoops will probably leave and Missouri is Missouri.

i think you overestimate vanderbilt's ceiling. i don't care if franklin stays or not, they are never going to seriously challenge to win the division.

the ceiling for them is to beat other mediocre to poor teams and give contenders a good game (but, lose). franklin or no franklin.

 

[Boca Vol]

I think right now Ole Miss is better than Auburn, unless AU has a huge turn around.

And no, I wouldn't say "UT is back" if we just go 7-5. I would say it's a step in the right direction.

Plus if we beat Vandy this season and you put them in the category of not being a "team of note", aren't you proving our point that Vandy is still Vandy?

It's all relative. For Vandy, winning seasons are something to celebrate. Why UT fans feel the need to get wound up over Vandy is beyond me.

Think back to 2010 when UT went to the Elite 8 in basketball. UT fans were excited and happy, as they should be because that was unchartered territory for UT hoops.

For UK and UF, that's a normal year. It's all relative.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

You're right. Everything is fine in Knoxville. That's why at SEC media days they were picked ahead of us and Vegas has their over under win total higher than ours. It's because everyone recognizes that Vandy sucks and UT is awesome. I'm assuming UT will pass them, maybe even this year, but right now there are some SEC doormats like Vandy and Ole Miss that are playing some pretty good football.

I really don't know what your point is anymore, you contradict yourself in your own post. You start off with sarcasm about how great things are in Knoxville, then end with saying you assuming UT will pass them and it might even be this year.

If you cannot comprehend the "pretty good football" Vandy has been playing given the parameters in which they've played "pretty good football", then I really don't know how much more simple I can break it down for you. If you can't grasp the reasons they "curb stomped" us last year, then I can't help you.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

It's all relative. For Vandy, winning seasons are something to celebrate. Why UT fans feel the need to get wound up over Vandy is beyond me.

Think back to 2010 when UT went to the Elite 8 in basketball. UT fans were excited and happy, as they should be because that was unchartered territory for UT hoops.

For UK and UF, that's a normal year. It's all relative.

I agree, which is why I have no idea why this guy is touting Vandy so much. The fact is the chances are far greater that last season will be Franklin's best and probably Vandy's best for another 20-30 years.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

It all really depends on if Franklin stays. He's had several chances to leave but hasn't and signed a long term deal with language to improve the facilities. If he stays and spurrier retires they may very well pass SC. In 1999 when SC went 0-11 no one thought they would ever be good either. I agree KY and Missouri will always suck because Stoops will probably leave and Missouri is Missouri.

Really? Where was he offered?

Someone has been listening to too much Clay Travis. And it's hilarious you think Vandy is on the rise, but Missouri sucks and will always suck, yet their football tradition is better than Vandy's.

 

[Boca Vol]

I agree, which is why I have no idea why this guy is touting Vandy so much. The fact is the chances are far greater that last season will be Franklin's best and probably Vandy's best for another 20-30 years.

You're probably right. However, Vandy won't be the historical doormat with Franklin at the helm. I think they'll be, on average, a 6-6 to 7-5 type team. For Vandy, that's pretty good and it makes the SEC a little more difficult. Certainly a team you'll have to show up for.

 

[VolsnRavens]

I keep seeing Vandy trolls on all of my Vol sites talking about how they are on the upswing. (EXFIX), Not sure why you are defending them but Vandy fans keep saying how they can beat the Vols on a regular basis now. They say "look at last year." We were 8-4 regular season! And won a bowl game. But a closer look reveals the true smoke and mirrors of your schedule. You beat the Blue Hoes (2-9), Mizzou (5-7), Tennessee (5-7), Auburn (3-9), UMASS (1-11), Kentucky (2-10), Wake Forest (5-7). Not 1 win over a team over .500. And your bowl win over N.C. State who itself only had one quality win (a 1 point victory at home against FSU). So again. Even your bowl victory was against team that wasn't even ranked. If you continue to hang your hat on that schedule. (And your rare win over the Vols) You might be severely disappointed. Of course, no more so than us Vol fans of Doolittle. But at least we have a tradition of winning. You, not so much. I can appreciate the enthusiasm. But this borders on insanity. :loco: James Franklin is selling snake oil. But wait. At least you started off this year the same way. By beating some Hoes blue. But I digress.

 

[Exfix]

I keep seeing Vandy trolls on all of my Vol sites talking about how they are on the upswing. (EXFIX), Not sure why you are defending them but Vandy fans keep saying how they can beat the Vols on a regular basis now. They say "look at last year." We were 8-4 regular season! And won a bowl game. But a closer look reveals the true smoke and mirrors of your schedule. You beat the Blue Hoes (2-9), Mizzou (5-7), Tennessee (5-7), Auburn (3-9), UMASS (1-11), Kentucky (2-10), Wake Forest (5-7). Not 1 win over a team over .500. And your bowl win over N.C. State who itself only had one quality win (a 1 point victory at home against FSU). So again. Even your bowl victory was against team that wasn't even ranked. If you continue to hang your hat on that schedule. (And your rare win over the Vols) You might be severely disappointed. Of course, no more so than us Vol fans of Doolittle. But at least we have a tradition of winning. You, not so much. I can appreciate the enthusiasm. But this borders on insanity. :loco: James Franklin is selling snake oil. But wait. At least you started off this year the same way. By beating some Hoes blue. But I digress.

Why so butthurt about a little success that another team is having? My OP was about how most of the SEC is getting better, which frankly, makes things more interesting. Unlike some of you I'm a rational fan that can give credit where it is due. I never said Vandy would be "contending" for any kind on championship. How this turned into a Vandy thread I'm not sure. Relax with a cup of coffee this morning outside and take a deep breath. Oh and by the way, I'm a UT alum.

 

[Spartacavolus]

There are fewer doormats across the board and even down to fbs, which is why we see so many upsets.
There are just more good players across the board with more kids playing football and a growing population.

 

[Exfix]

You're probably right. However, Vandy won't be the historical doormat with Franklin at the helm. I think they'll be, on average, a 6-6 to 7-5 type team. For Vandy, that's pretty good and it makes the SEC a little more difficult. Certainly a team you'll have to show up for.

This. The most homer of UT fans have to admit that November games got a little more interesting. At least I have a reason to go in the stadium and watch the game now.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Why so butthurt about a little success that another team is having? My OP was about how most of the SEC is getting better, which frankly, makes things more interesting. Unlike some of you I'm a rational fan that can give credit where it is due. I never said Vandy would be "contending" for any kind on championship. How this turned into a Vandy thread I'm not sure. Relax with a cup of coffee this morning outside and take a deep breath. Oh and by the way, I'm a UT alum.

I think you know exactly why it turned into a Vandy thread.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

This. The most homer of UT fans have to admit that November games got a little more interesting. At least I have a reason to go in the stadium and watch the game now.

Yes they have, but it's way more because we're down than because others are up.

 

[VolsnRavens]

Why so butthurt about a little success that another team is having? My OP was about how most of the SEC is getting better, which frankly, makes things more interesting. Unlike some of you I'm a rational fan that can give credit where it is due. I never said Vandy would be "contending" for any kind on championship. How this turned into a Vandy thread I'm not sure. Relax with a cup of coffee this morning outside and take a deep breath. Oh and by the way, I'm a UT alum.

LOL, you say butt hurt. Not sure how you get that from my OP. Is there anything in my post that's not accurate? Let's see. Record is correct. Check. Many trolls think they are going to beat us with ease. Check. Franklin talking up that record. Check. My point was that if you are holding onto last year. You could be in for a huge let down. There was nothing personal for me. I don't normally root against any SEC team unless they are playing my VOLS. It just seems that Vandy fans are as disillusioned as some of us VOL fans were when Donothing was here.

 

[TVA]

LOL, you say butt hurt. Not sure how you get that from my OP. Is there anything in my post that's not accurate? Let's see. Record is correct. Check. Many trolls think they are going to beat us with ease. Check. Franklin talking up that record. Check. My point was that if you are holding onto last year. You could be in for a huge let down. There was nothing personal for me. I don't normally root against any SEC team unless they are playing my VOLS. It just seems that Vandy fans are as disillusioned as some of us VOL fans were when Donothing was here.

You just don't understand the importance of a one-year tradition. Just because they can't fill their own little stall, er, uh stadium doesn't mean that a handful of geeks from FantasyLand can't exhibit some enthusiasm.