(07-15-2013 07:16 AM)vandiver49 Wrote: (07-14-2013 01:08 PM)He1nousOne Wrote: New markets for the SEC and ESPN to show the conference in. A new strong regional rival for Tennessee. The Tennessee Brand seriously needs some help. It would be so awesome for the hilltoppers if you guys could land both VT and WVU.
A lot of talk from Tennessee is that they dont like to play VT due to recruiting competition but if the SEC moves to four divisions and those schools are all in the same division then that helps Tennessee rebuild it's program back to what it was. Strong rivalries in division that Tennessee can actually win on a regular basis.
Tennessee is one of the schools that really needs to look to the future and the changing atmosphere. Holding back progress and protecting the Alabama and Florida rivalries at the cost of continuing to slide downwards as a program, that is just not a winning scenario for the Volunteers.
He1nous,
Are you suggesting that UT can't win b/c of the ascension of other SEC programs? If that's the case then it won't matter what divisions/teams the Vols end up in. The reason things are terrible in Knoxville is b/c of former AD Mike Hamilton and his coaching decisions after firing Phil Fulmer. UT play in the SEC championship game as recently as 2007.
I'm not really sure how UT's position is that dissimilar from Auburn's. But schools rely heavily on out of state talent and are other overshadowed by more prominent programs. Both have endured a spat of terrible coaching hires which have knee-capped overall performance.
Bit,
Maybe it's b/c I was a Midshipman at the time, but during Navy's visit to Morgantown in 1999, I had a great experience. It was a competitive game and the fans were very generous and helpful (we did have to wear our SDB's to the game) and I don't recall one instance of couch-burning during my visit.
I can't imagine that a school that is capable of averaging over 100,000 fans per game would ever be significantly out the hunt for football recruits. UT for reasons different than those at Auburn followed a stable successful coach with a disaster of a head coach and then picked green fruit to follow him. I think if Davis is given time (5 years) the Volunteers and their fans will be back big time. My reasons are these.
1. Spurrier will likely retire within that time frame taking the stress off from South Carolina as a new guy builds his credentials.
2. Richt will likely be gone from Georgia with that time span for no other reasons than length of tenure. Big programs need turnover to keep fan interest these days. He may get hired away by an ACC school or a Big 10 school looking to improve their program.
3. I don't think Florida stays happy with Muschamp who heretofore has been only above average, not stellar.
With turnover looming for the three chief rivals in the East the time is very right for Davis to establish himself.
The money will be there.
Tennessee has cache.
In the West on the other hand Miles and Saban are settling in. I think Auburn can get back to a position to challenge but climbing back into the championship game will take some time.
And as far as the treatment of the Midshipmen at Morgantown I have nothing against West Virginia, but the Midshipmen would be treated fairly well by any fan base they visited. People simply respect the uniform, respect the tradition, and admire the young men and women who serve. Only the most ignorant and obtuse imbecile would taunt or abuse our cadets. So while I appreciate your experience and am glad you were well received I doubt that the U.S. Naval Academy experience at any venue is typical.