Actually, I hope he is wrong. I have a UT QB, RB, TE, and WR active on my Fantasy team this week. Still starting the Florida defense and those bums :shock: better score me more points agains Troy than the Tennessee defense would score against UCLA. :wink: :wink: :wink:
I always enjoy these things, if for no other reason than to see how little Southerners know about western football. Now now.. I know whenever I break out the broad brush stroke of the term Southerners, you all get riled up here but that is simply not the case here. It's the media gurus and pickem pundits in this region that I refer to here. The guys with weekly columns (some national) and poll votes. They just don't know a damned thing about it. I've come to respect you guys here as I think you've taken the time to get to know a bit about each other's programs/teams/traditions from all over the country... so when I say this, please do know that it doesn't apply to you. With that being said... Last season UCLA beat Tennessee with 5 first time starters on the OL and a JUCO transfer QB who was only taken to be used as the 'break glass in case of emergency' guy.. and sure enough, the glass broke when UCLA lost both of their senior starters in the spring. Kraft had no business doing anything more than holding a clipboard on the DI level, but he led the Bruins to a victory over the Vols last season and I assure you... the young kid QB will be better than Kraft. Also, the 'true freshman left tackle' isn't usually a good thing..but that means he was better than the guy who started against the Vols in a win last season. I heard Barnhart basically talking about how this will be a typical Southern whoopin of a less than physical Pac10 opponent. Some other jackass pundit said that they just don't even play 'our brand' of football out west.. Only one pundit on the radio all day picked UCLA to cover the spread, and even he said they'd lose. It's not to say that I don't believe that UT won't win. I think the Vols at home should almost always be favored. It's just that after all these years living in the south (coming up on a decade now), I am still amazed at how little these guys (who get paid a lot of money) understand about football played west of the mississippi. All they do is perpetuate myth and serve up hype. It makes me wonder why anyone objects to Finebaum at all. At least he isn't hiding his hyperbole... I can remember the last two times in which Tony Barnhart made such claims about SEC teams all being more physical and the Pac10 teams not being able to compete physically especially with the likes of the Vols only to see the Vols lose that week. It's crazy...the fans know so much, but the 'experts' know so little.. Oh well, this could be fun. Good luck to you guys!
Corey, just remember this: Last year's Tennessee team would have had trouble scoring on my 92 year old Grandmother. What teams were able to do to us last year means absolutely nothing to me this year. This team plays with confidence... not like a lethargic three toed sloth. Bring on the Pac 10. Lane's Boys are ready.
Should be a good game, I have no clue as which team should be favored. UCLA would seem to have an advantage with their staff being in it's 2nd year while this is only the 2nd game for Kiffin. But it is at Knoxville so that gives Tenn the edge there, I'm sure there is some revenge factor of course. I'm going to go with the 2nd year guys though and give them the 28-24 edge.
Tom, Don't get me wrong. I believe (and have always said so) that Kiffen will be successful in Knoxville. I think it's a good thing he's doing there even with all those crazy bastard NCAA skirtin assistants he hired... I think the things that Kiffen will bring to you can win big if embraced by VolNation. I even believe you should be favored in this game.. It's the disparaging remarks and portrayal of the Pac10 as a whole. I'm not doubting UT at all. I respect the program. It would appear our regional media (some of who are VERY prominent nationally) absolutely do not respect the Pac10... or they are complete morons who refuse to learn or retain any info from previous seasons.
Corey Who in their right mind ever said sports media people were bright? :lol: Having played teams from the west coast on numerous ocassions I don't know of a Vol fan who doesn't believe they play "real football" out west. They have beaten or almost beaten us more than I care to remember. :wink:
I'm going to have to say if UCLA thinks they have a chance against our "D" they are morons!! And I think I just jinxed us, Crompton fumbled the snap :shock:
Congrats to UCLA... The 2008 Crompton came back to haunt us. I could not believe the head hanging by that boy most of the day. With 57 seconds left, and a reprieve by the offsides penalty, he looked completely lost. With that said, UCLA played better and was the better team today. Congrats!
I agree Tom, Compton didn't look mentaly into the game. I hope this is not what we have to look forward to next week.
uh Ralph, Tennessee Tom is a ..gulp Tenn fan. Maybe you meant to congratulate Corey...he's a UCLA fan. :wink:
I thought in the 1st quarter last week that Crompton looked pretty much the same as he did in '08 but he came alive as undermanned WKU wilted. I think he suffers from a lack of quality WRs and the OL at times doesn't protect him enough. The Tenn RBs are very good but against a team like Fla the Vols will need their WRs to get open and make catches or the Fla CBs will single cover and allow Strong to stack the line against the Tenn running game. If UF gets out to a 14-17 point lead that may be enough. Very entertaining game to watch......good job by both teams.
Tom, GORT, Cindy.. as always you're all class. It was a hard fought physical battle. Someone had to win. The UCLA D just might have had something to do with his struggles. Aside from Fl and AL, I'm not sure you'll see a better D this season.
Corey This Vol offense was outplayed. What makes me so mad at Crompton is his crazy changes in personality. He sits with his head down and doesn't interact with anyone for 2 quarters, then gathers the team and acts like the worlds biggest cheerleader with all the confidence in the world. It's too late. His offense already lost confidence in him and was off and on the rest of the game. Last week's Crompton couldn't lose. This one let his brain talk him out of winning. I WANT A CONSISTENT QUARTERBACK!!! I don't care who it is, just consistently OK. :roll: