(01-02-2013 05:12 PM)TiminMem23 Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 05:06 PM)MtownTigers916 Wrote:  Really, though, if you take UT off the schedule, you HAVE to replace them with a marquis opponent-- even though UT isn't one, per se. Kansas, Texas, UCLA, someone like that.

Our current home schedule, without Louisville, is awful. And with the implosion of the Big East, we need 3 home opponents every year that will generate excitement.

My vote for replacing UT is Florida-- stick it to them by playing a rival.

Not sure we can "stick" it to UT even if we wanted to from a scheduling standpoint. They play UK twice a year, Florida twice, Vandy and then their non-conference schedule is good with Georgetown, OK St, etc. Meanwhile, we play in a good pre-season tournament and get Louisville. That's it.

We are a blip on their radar. Believe me when I tell you their fan base cares more about playing UF, UK and Vandy than they do Memphis.

The coaches there probably want to keep the series going for recruiting purposes, but it hasn't served them well over the course of history. So if I were AD at UT, I'd mutually agree with Memphis to drop the series.

Looks to me that you haven't got a clue about their fan base.

I want to play Louisville every single year. I want to play Cincy every single year. I'm even fine with playing Southern Miss every single year. But Tennessee? Whatever, man.

Personally, I don't care if we play UT but what I do care about is having 'big' game(s) on the schedule. That could be a rivalry game against UT or against higher caliber team(s). Our schedule is just awful and leaves no margin. Please don't tell me you go to see your team play. Cannot argue that point but what does matter is that it severely hurts our ability to get into tournament or at least get a decent seed. Our scheduling situation should have been remedied by now. JMO

I like Josh and wish the best for him and the team but there are things that need to be addressed. Serious question: 'If' we loose (2) league games and don't win our tournament (total 3 league losses) do we still get invited to the big dance? I really wonder. Makes me feel sick to even think this could be the case.

Hopefully these are just irrational fears.

I think their West Tennessee fan base hates us, but the East Tennessee Viles do tend to focus on the Gators, Kensucky and Vandy.

I say, be done with them. Josh is right. NO REASON to play them.

Should we play Ewe Tee?

HELL NO.

I'd much rather play Louisville than UTay. Louisville is a REAL rivalry. UTay is not. No comparison.

(01-02-2013 05:06 PM)MtownTigers916 Wrote:  Really, though, if you take UT off the schedule, you HAVE to replace them with a marquis opponent-- even though UT isn't one, per se. Kansas, Texas, UCLA, someone like that.

Our current home schedule, without Louisville, is awful. And with the implosion of the Big East, we need 3 home opponents every year that will generate excitement.

My vote for replacing UT is Florida-- stick it to them by playing a rival.

or Ga. Tech
or NC State
or Syracuse
or Illinois

I say play UT. I live in WNC where all you hear is GA and TN football. So I personally am all about beating them. I liked Nolan and the hogs back in the day. But most of all Louisville and Cincinnati. Find Huggens and see if he want's that a$$ kicked for old time's sake. Heck just play them all.

(01-02-2013 05:18 PM)fsquid Wrote:  so Boss man, why doesn't anyone at UM use that message? I don't think I've heard that come from someone employed at the university maybe ever.

Hell if I know, squid. I just know how I would address that issue. You just read it. I wouldn't sugarcoat it, either. Straight up truth.

Plus, if Pastner did say "Invite us into the SEC if you want to play us", then good for him.

Quote:UT completely ****** RC with the contract. We get a grand total of 1 home game every 4 years IF UT feels like it. In exchange we give them a pipeline into Memphis every year. It isn't worth it.

Good stuff, Stammers. More excellent truth to lay on the UT faithful.

Quote:F UT and the mule they road in on. They stuck it to us in FB in 2003 and will on the 2017 game. They more than likely strung that game out to 2017 to force us to re-up hoops in 2014.

More solid stuff from IrishMO. Particularly that last sentence. That is highly possible.

I agree, UT will indeed stick it to MEMPHIS on that 2017 game. I think RC learned a hard lesson in 2004 and SURELY had the sense to build in at least a $500k buyout penalty should UT cancel it again.

Someone needs to alert Bowen.

Quote:I say, be done with them. Josh is right. NO REASON to play them.

Preach it 21-17. You damn skippy.

I know the UT lurkers hate reading this but now ask me if I care.

MEMPHIS is going to run the Vols out of the building Friday night; I hope it is a beatdown for the ages to end this series.

So here's my take, but I've said it before... Just my opinion, and I know I'm not in the majority.

We have been playing SEC schools for years, in every sport. What does that do for us? We get a little gate from it on football. We sell 16k of 18k tickets for basketball anyway. We win most of our basketball games vs SEC, but when we don't, it takes the one thing we have away. We rarely win football games. So in the end, the best we can hope for is more of the same. We don't have SEC resources, and we won't any time soon. This makes it difficult to catch up (impossible). We're stuck in their shadow here, and the best way to keep it that way is to take it on the chin 95% of the time in football, and 35% of the time in basketball (making up percentages).

I present this as an alternative: Let's find some other Big 5 schools that will play us in both sports. Okay, so Kansas, Indiana, etc. is going to be hard to get. I understand that. (although I would think they are looking for similar football opponents). So what about Duke, Wake, Purdue, Northwestern, Iowa State, and other schools like that, non-major football brands, but big 5 schools. And in basketball, we can't get a Crieghton, Wichita St, Butler, Xavier, etc? Better RPI than UT and Ole Miss. Parrish says we can't, but I find that hard to believe. Other schools seem to be able to do it...

Let's break out of the mid-south, SEC-country-so-sit-in-the-back-seat mentality, and schedule opponents in conferences we'd like to be in and start building relationships with them. For example, the Duke football game is a good series. Maybe it will turn into a basketball deal eventually. Maybe the ACC will need one more team at some point and we'll have some history with some of their teams. Didn't our relationship with Louisville and Cincy get us in the Big East (back when it mattered)?

So yes, I would rather play a mid-level ACC or Big 12 team in basketball and football than UT, and that's basically why. Ga Tech isn't going to draw 55k for a football game like UT would, but it would be exposure outside the mid-south where we're mired in the same ol', same ol'. What is the saying about the fool that keeps doing the same thing and gets frustrated because things don't change?

Wonder if the hillbillies plan to come to Memphis and recruit Leron Black? Pretty sure the answer is yes.

(01-02-2013 07:05 PM)transitt Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 07:03 PM)JMSTiger Wrote:  

(01-02-2013 06:58 PM)transitt Wrote:  We don't need Tennessee. Yes, Josh needs to get bigger home games. However, how about we get games vs teams who have seen the elite eight more than once in the past 100 years?

Like Old Miss? That was a brilliant move.

and against Pastner's wishes.

I could be wrong, but I think this had to do with renewing the football series with Ole Miss. If UT would agree to a home-and-home, every-year football series (with a $1M buyout), then I would agree to keep the basketball series going. But, if they will only bring their football team to Memphis every 4 years (and only if they "feel" like it), screw 'em.

(01-02-2013 08:53 PM)Tigers2B1 Wrote:  Wonder if the hillbillies plan to come to Memphis and recruit Leron Black? Pretty sure the answer is yes.

Hey, it sure worked out for Stokes.

I like the "just go out and get so and so" lile it is just that simple. You think if it were that simple ig woild have been done by now. ESPN drives those games and, without Cal, Memphis doesnt have any stroke with them.

Lets keep playing and keep kickin the shat out of them and hope they go on to win the SEC.

(01-02-2013 08:59 PM)salukiblue Wrote:  I like the "just go out and get so and so" lile it is just that simple. You think if it were that simple ig woild have been done by now. ESPN drives those games and, without Cal, Memphis doesnt have any stroke with them.

Butler, Gonzaga, Creighton, Wichita State, and some others seem to be able to put together big non-conference schedules. I think we could too... We should be playing those guys at least.

If we can't replace UT with something better, then fine; but I believe we can.

(01-02-2013 08:59 PM)salukiblue Wrote:  I like the "just go out and get so and so" lile it is just that simple. You think if it were that simple ig woild have been done by now. ESPN drives those games and, without Cal, Memphis doesnt have any stroke with them.

^This is definitely part of the problem.

(01-02-2013 08:27 PM)21-17 Best Time I Ever Ha Wrote:  I think their West Tennessee fan base hates us, but the East Tennessee Viles do tend to focus on the Gators, Kensucky and Vandy.

I say, be done with them. Josh is right. NO REASON to play them.

this is true. most TN fans east of the TN river hardly ever run into a Memphis fan. it's only west TN Vol fans that really hate Memphis basketball.

(01-02-2013 06:04 PM)Tigerx3 Wrote:  Football- UT sells tickets if and when they ever play a Memphis home game. It does UT absolutely no good to play here and since we don't ever win the only positive issue is the box office.

Basketball- Non issue on both sides. Kinda fun for a couple of years with Cal and BP but now that both crooks are gone...eh! Niether side gets a box office bump. Neither sides gainies in the polls. Bragging rights last only till the next game.

Memphis hates UT and UT thinks their too good to care but in reality hates Memphis.

UT will continue to get FB players no matter what either side does.
Memphis will contiue to get Memphis BB players no matter what either side does.

I don't know why it's a complete non issue with basketball in not playing UT. It would probably be fine as long as we had a home schedule but we don't and we haven't.

The Fact is that season ticket sales are down and so is actual attendance.

(01-02-2013 08:59 PM)salukiblue Wrote:  I like the "just go out and get so and so" lile it is just that simple. You think if it were that simple ig woild have been done by now. ESPN drives those games and, without Cal, Memphis doesnt have any stroke with them.

This times 1000