(12-18-2016 04:34 PM)RodShaw2 Wrote:  Gonzaga is thumping Tennessee right now.

Tennessee has it done to nine. 7+ minutes to go

(12-18-2016 05:50 PM)RodShaw2 Wrote:  

(12-18-2016 04:34 PM)RodShaw2 Wrote:  Gonzaga is thumping Tennessee right now.

Tennessee has it done to nine. 7+ minutes to go

got it to 4 and had the ball, missed.

I have been excited about this game for the past 3 years since it was announced. This is absolutely a bigger game than if North Carolina came, or when VCU came. VCU at the time was a better team than UT currently is, but this game is a much bigger deal.

I want two things out of this game. First, I want our fans to show up and be loud. I remember against VCU that the VCU fans literally took over the Dome and were twice as loud as our fans. I will be upset if we allow that to happen Thursday. Secondly, many of us have commented on our tendency to play terribly at home when we manage to get good crowds. Last year's early morning game was an exception, and basketball was the talk of the campus for the next couple days and I believe it helped attendance the rest of the year. Of course I want us to win, but more than anything I don't want us to look outmatched.

If we win this game, we should win the next two and be 12-2 heading into a couple of important road conference games. Winning against Tennessee is between us and a truly special start of the season and should result in increased attendance for the rest of the season.

The last 2-3 times we have played UT the games have been very close but the Vols made the key play(s) down the stretch.

Mostella killed us last year.

(12-18-2016 01:50 PM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  

(12-18-2016 12:57 PM)Meanmike0001 Wrote:  Been waiting for this literally my whole life.

Ok, I've been trying to hold off saying something like this, but here goes.....

You guys are embarrassing. This game isn't nearly as important as the Dayton game was. I know, tho. I get it - it's like a kid that says "I can't wait 'til I grow up and can whup my paw." Or "I can't wait 'til I grow up and can sit at the grown-up's table at Thanksgiving." Why the lack of sense of self worth?

For me, and I know it's true of others, the main reason to be against UT is the awringe intoxication syndrome of their fans, which begets arrogance in many of them. So many of their fans have just latched onto them because they're perceived (or *were* perceived) as a "winner", and the same, except maybe moreso, goes for the Lady Vols hoops team. Some of these fans, many in fact, have never been in a UT classroom , or maybe even never on campus except possibly for their chances to see a football game.

So in that respect, some of you are almost being like them. (Not picking on you in particular, Meanmike.) Sure, it's a big game, but come on, as the saying goes "Act like you've been there before." How about just a touch of nonchalance?

Many times things in this world work to cause the most consternation or grief to the most people. Certainly I've seen it happen over and over and over again. I think you all just want it TOO MUCH. So I hate very much to say this, but some of you all will almost 'deserve' this to be a loss because it's just too important to you. That's *exactly* why not to pull for the Awringe a lot of the time.

All *that* said, I'm not predicting a UT win (altho I know it's quite possible and fear it's gonna happen); nor do I want UT to win. Hardly. But having such high hopes is a recipe for depression, if it doesn't turn out.

This concludes your Buddhist seminar for today on the renunciation of craving and attachment. Back to your regularly scheduled pep rally.

Not embarrassed to say how bad I want the win. For so many reasons including for our players, Coach Forbes, the school, and for all of the tens of thousands of other Buc fans and proud alumni like myself. I want ETSU to be successful with the spotlight on us, for recruits to take notice, to make new Buc fans out of the kids at the game...and dammit I just want to have some fun on a Thursday night. The season will go on after the game and win or lose there will be a lot more to accomplish but I say let's do this! Let's go Bucs!

(12-18-2016 02:28 PM)brock20 Wrote:  Anyone who is trying to downplay this game is just trying to troll. This is without a doubt the biggest home game in about 20 years or longer.

Not even close to biggest game of the year let alone last 20 years. That's ridiculous. Bucs can beat TN by 50 but they aren't winning conference or going to the dance if they don't beat Chatt. In a one bid league those games just might matter more. Hate to see Buc fans acting like "little brother" and making this more than it is when they actually have the better team.

(12-18-2016 10:03 PM)Just Buc Wrote:  

(12-18-2016 02:28 PM)brock20 Wrote:  Anyone who is trying to downplay this game is just trying to troll. This is without a doubt the biggest home game in about 20 years or longer.

Not even close to biggest game of the year let alone last 20 years. That's ridiculous. Bucs can beat TN by 50 but they aren't winning conference or going to the dance if they don't beat Chatt. In a one bid league those games just might matter more. Hate to see Buc fans acting like "little brother" and making this more than it is when they actually have the better team.

A better way to put it would be this is the biggest statement game we have had in a while. Having UT come to johnson city and play us where we are surrounded by volnation who ignores and degrades ETSU, it is time to shut them up.

The home game against UTC will have at least 1,000-1,500 less fans in attendance than UT. In terms of going to the NCAA tournament, even the UTC regular season games only have minimal significance. I choose to care about more than 3 games per year- and in terms of perception and future fan support, this is a huge game. The coach hasn't even tried to minimize that fact.

(12-18-2016 10:03 PM)Just Buc Wrote:  

(12-18-2016 02:28 PM)brock20 Wrote:  Anyone who is trying to downplay this game is just trying to troll. This is without a doubt the biggest home game in about 20 years or longer.

Not even close to biggest game of the year let alone last 20 years. That's ridiculous. Bucs can beat TN by 50 but they aren't winning conference or going to the dance if they don't beat Chatt. In a one bid league those games just might matter more. Hate to see Buc fans acting like "little brother" and making this more than it is when they actually have the better team.

This post proves you haven't been a fan long. I don't care if it was one of the old Wade Houston 10 win Vol teams ETSU was playing, for the fans, this is huge. The players will probably brush it off like it's another game but they aren't dumb; they know the community has looked forward to this game for 3 years.

Like I said, if you are downplaying this game you are trolling and the biggest troll we have on the board at this time jumped right in.

(12-18-2016 10:14 PM)etsubuc Wrote:  The home game against UTC will have at least 1,000-1,500 less fans in attendance than UT. In terms of going to the NCAA tournament, even the UTC regular season games only have minimal significance. I choose to care about more than 3 games per year- and in terms of perception and future fan support, this is a huge game. The coach hasn't even tried to minimize that fact.

I think you've effectively analyzed this game from both a basketball and public opinion perspective. Further, as you say, the coaches and Doc Sander understand the implications of this game. I've had conversations with them about it, and I assure you they're not saying "this is just another game".

(12-18-2016 10:33 PM)brock20 Wrote:  

(12-18-2016 10:03 PM)Just Buc Wrote:  

(12-18-2016 02:28 PM)brock20 Wrote:  Anyone who is trying to downplay this game is just trying to troll. This is without a doubt the biggest home game in about 20 years or longer.

Not even close to biggest game of the year let alone last 20 years. That's ridiculous. Bucs can beat TN by 50 but they aren't winning conference or going to the dance if they don't beat Chatt. In a one bid league those games just might matter more. Hate to see Buc fans acting like "little brother" and making this more than it is when they actually have the better team.

This post proves you haven't been a fan long. I don't care if it was one of the old Wade Houston 10 win Vol teams ETSU was playing, for the fans, this is huge. The players will probably brush it off like it's another game but they aren't dumb; they know the community has looked forward to this game for 3 years.

Like I said, if you are downplaying this game you are trolling and the biggest troll we have on the board at this time jumped right in.

About 20 months, he is clueless. As for ETSU having a better team, I am not so sure about that. Tennessee has played a pretty tough OOC schedule and while they haven't won a big one yet they have played those teams tough. I think 4 off their losses came to teams in the Top 10 when they played, all 4 of those teams are still in the Top 25 and 2 still in the Top 10.

(12-18-2016 01:50 PM)posterformerlyknownasthedoctor Wrote:  This concludes your Buddhist seminar for today on the renunciation of craving and attachment. Back to your regularly scheduled pep rally.

NOW you're going all Zen??? Oh, good grief...

I'd rather go with the young St. Augustine when he said, "Lord, make me chaste... but not yet!"

Enlightenment tomorrow. Beat Vols tonight!!

It's important to note this is the first game we'll see a packed Freedom Hall since the Buc's have moved over. For that reason alone I believe this is the biggest home game in twenty years. When's the last time you saw people begging for a Buc's basketball ticket?

(12-18-2016 10:14 PM)etsubuc Wrote:  The home game against UTC will have at least 1,000-1,500 less fans in attendance than UT. In terms of going to the NCAA tournament, even the UTC regular season games only have minimal significance. I choose to care about more than 3 games per year- and in terms of perception and future fan support, this is a huge game. The coach hasn't even tried to minimize that fact.

Last year against UTC, we had great attendance. I don't think we will sell out like the UT game, but I expect to see us exceed last year and get close to selling out, IF two things happen. One, we beat UT and two, we are undefeated in the other conference games to that point.

Perception is reality. People perceive UT by default as the better school in everything, to include men's basketball. Yes, as folks who watch basketball with less orange tinted glass, we realize that TN has a lot better schools with regard to basketball than UT. (Us, UTC, MTSU and even TN Tech have potential to be conference champs this year in each conference and go the NCAA tournament. UT is ranked toward the bottom of the SEC and has little chance to get a bid this year and if they do, it's all because the SEC is perceived as stronger or some other BS.

But casual fans don't get this. That's what makes this game such a big deal. If ETSU can beat UT, that perception starts cracking a tiny bit. Beat UTC and win SoCon and even more cracks. Beat UT at home once or twice after that and we've got ourselves a real rivalry starting back up. Not to mention the perks of the national exposure of the talk beating UT will get on a national level.

Tennessee won't come back if ETSU wins. And they will wait for their program to recuperate before having us in Knoxville. And you know what? I'D LOVE TO TAKE THE NEXT 5 YEARS off with bragging rights and people calling Tennessee chicken.

(12-19-2016 09:36 AM)queenladybug817 Wrote:  Perception is reality. People perceive UT by default as the better school in everything, to include men's basketball. Yes, as folks who watch basketball with less orange tinted glass, we realize that TN has a lot better schools with regard to basketball than UT. (Us, UTC, MTSU and even TN Tech have potential to be conference champs this year in each conference and go the NCAA tournament. UT is ranked toward the bottom of the SEC and has little chance to get a bid this year and if they do, it's all because the SEC is perceived as stronger or some other BS.

But casual fans don't get this. That's what makes this game such a big deal. If ETSU can beat UT, that perception starts cracking a tiny bit. Beat UTC and win SoCon and even more cracks. Beat UT at home once or twice after that and we've got ourselves a real rivalry starting back up. Not to mention the perks of the national exposure of the talk beating UT will get on a national level.

Yep. While us fans who follow college basketball know that Dayton and UNCW would have been better wins than Miss State, the casual fan was more impressed with that win than they would have been the other 2.

(12-19-2016 10:28 AM)shampoo Wrote:  Tennessee won't come back if ETSU wins. And they will wait for their program to recuperate before having us in Knoxville. And you know what? I'D LOVE TO TAKE THE NEXT 5 YEARS off with bragging rights and people calling Tennessee chicken.

This was at least a 2 for 1/3 for 1 type deal.

http://jcnewsandneighbor.com/former-bucs...tennessee/

(12-19-2016 04:17 PM)brock20 Wrote:  http://jcnewsandneighbor.com/former-bucs...tennessee/

That's a great article right there. I was scratching my head, thinking "Who is this "Collin Brooks" guy?", 'cause it's pretty obvious that's Trey's writing, and Trey's contacts. So why the pseudonym? So when I finished reading the article, I go back up and see it's also got Trey's byline. So.....what's the deal? Clearly it's Trey's writing, or at least 90%. Anybody know if this Collin Brooks is a real person, and why, if he is, is he sharing a byline on this story?

In any event, good find, brock20. And another job well done, Trey.