🏈 Adams: Vols shouldn't have to play Alabama every year

[TUSKtimes]

With so many football teams trying to get as far away from Alabama these days, I thought John Adams in the Tennessean today said what a lot of rival teams are thinking these days:

"As a card-carrying member of the SEC East, Tennessee isn’t required to play Alabama every year in football. It does so voluntarily

And what does it have to show for treasuring tradition and maintaining Alabama as its permanent rival?

Ten consecutive losses by a combined count of 351-119.

I know the counterpoint: Rivalries are cyclical. There are ups and downs in every series.

But here’s Tennessee’s problem: When Alabama is up, it’s really up. It doesn’t just have a good stretch.
It goes full dynasty.


Bear Bryant managed one dynasty. Nick Saban is overseeing another one.

The way Alabama is rolling under Saban, there’s no relief in sight for anyone in its way.

That’s why UT would be better off not having the Tide as a regular opponent. The SEC also would be

better off from a competitive standpoint without permanent non-divisional rivals.

Playing Alabama obviously puts UT at a huge disadvantage in its division. Its scheduling disadvantage will be magnified this season and next."

Adams: Vols shouldn't have to play Tide every year

Much like the barners, looks like a lot of 10essee fans are going full white flag on the 3rd Saturday in October.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Wasnt LSU whining about the same thing vs Florida?????
Goodness....play the game....

 

[Sid Youngleman]

With so many football teams trying to get as far away from Alabama these days, I thought John Adams in the Tennessean today said what a lot of rival teams are thinking these days:

"Tennessee isn’t required to play Alabama every year in football. It does so voluntarily."

I get it.

 

[Bamabww]

My goodness gracious, I'm so thankful even in our down years we didn't think like this. Bless their hearts and then let's kick their ass in October and the next and the next ad infinitum.

 

[OldPlayer]

When the conference rules for scheduling include every team in your division, a rotating member of the opposite division, and a traditional rival, then you are required to play Alabama every year.

 

[sean]

Spoiler

pussies!

it's offensive to some, might not wanna click it if you're easily offended.

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

Easy solution to the argument would be to make division champions only dependent on the division record, with head to head then non-division used in case of ties.

 

[BAMAneck]

It's good to be the KING ..............again .

 

[bamachine]

Check out the reddit thread on this article, none of the Vol fans on there agree with this article. I may hate the Vols but their fans feel the same about the rivalry as we do.

 

[JoshB]

Meh, I always wanted to keep the rivalry for tradition sake but Im over it now. Tennessee is absolute garbage, just cycle another east team through. Maybe Tennessee wont absolutely suck every few years that way.

 

[alabama mike]

The viles did not seem to have a problem playing us every year when they won about 10 in a row. I have no problem if the powers that be come up with a better schedule where we play teams in the east on a better rotation.

 

['65 Cobra]

Yes, we've won 10 in a row which I believe is the record in this series. But how soon people forget the stretch from 1995-2006 when UT won 10 of 12 including 7 in a row. That was a miserable stretch for me in particular because of a couple of UT grads that were in my circle of friends at the time. And they were QUITE obnoxious about it all. Leave the tradition alone - cycles come and go.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Yes, we've won 10 in a row which I believe is the record in this series.

Nope....71-82...11 in a row....
86-94.... 8-0-1.....tie was in 93 ... (i know of forfeit..was BS and handled bad by AD....i talked to Langham last year and almost asked him about it)
and record now is 10 in a row...11 of last 12.....
Not bad having to live around them vols here in TN...RTR

 

[JoshB]

Yes, we've won 10 in a row which I believe is the record in this series. But how soon people forget the stretch from 1995-2006 when UT won 10 of 12 including 7 in a row. That was a miserable stretch for me in particular because of a couple of UT grads that were in my circle of friends at the time. And they were QUITE obnoxious about it all. Leave the tradition alone - cycles come and go.

Easy to forget 95-06 compared to 07-now because during that Tennessee stretch we never lost to them by scores like 41-17, 29-9, 41-10, 37-6, 44-13, 45-10 and 49-10...

 

[TUSKtimes]

Easy to forget 95-06 compared to 07-now because during that Tennessee stretch we never lost to them by scores like 41-17, 29-9, 41-10, 37-6, 44-13, 45-10 and 49-10...

That was the best point that Adams made in his surrender piece. The lopsided scores have made Alabama the dominant bully, beyond the consecutive wins. To continue to get humiliated even on your own grass has got to be emotionally debilitating after a time.

 

[TheChief]

Nope....71-82...11 in a row....
86-94.... 8-0-1.....tie was in 93 ... (i know of forfeit..was BS and handled bad by AD....i talked to Langham last year and almost asked him about it)
and record now is 10 in a row...11 of last 12.....
Not bad having to live around them vols here in TN...RTR

The Tide won from 1971 to 1981 - which is 11 in a row. I attended the 1982 game. Yuck, but historically interesting. God, I hate orange.

I say beat their ass every year and watch them cry and wring their hands. I don't care if they're never good or competitive again. I'm glad they're ready to quit.

 

[XXL TideFan]

Beat the dog shit out of them this year and they run butchie off. They get a couple years or more of turmoil and instability in the program and we extend the streak to at least a dozen years and a new record.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

The Tide won from 1971 to 1981 - which is 11 in a row. I attended the 1982 game. Yuck, but historically interesting. God, I hate orange.

I say beat their ass every year and watch them cry and wring their hands. I don't care if they're never good or competitive again. I'm glad they're ready to quit.

Yep gave us extra year..senior moment..
.71-81 it is...then they won a few...and then Bama put the other streak on.. i hope we play them annually...when Keith Jackson was listening to a bunch of people talk about the best rivalries in CF...He only said....dont forget about the 3rd Saturday in October!!!!!!

 

[doemasters]

Just think last year they wanted to play us twice

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Just think last year they wanted to play us twice

Yep..was told how they were going to start their "decade of domination ". Lol