allenf1

I know what you meant. We all wish we could keep our in-state prospects AND grab neighboring state kids. Good luck to Auburn this year. I sure as hell miss our annual matchup. My first UT vs Auburn game was in 1969, #19 TENNESSEE 45, #17 AUBURN 19. It was a great series.

Thanks for being a true fan of the Conference. Good luck to the Dawgs this year.

Reminds me a lot of Jennings high school tape. Coach Pruitt is doing a great job recruiting...now let's develop them. Many of my Bama, Georgia, and Florida fans who appreciate all talent have all said, "A strong Tennessee program is good for the SEC. Brings in extra money for the Conference each year."

Fellow SEC fans, The effing powers that be in the SEC office are making this harder than it needs to be. Precedent has been set not once but twice in the last 15 years, both involving Tennessee. Tennessee was scheduled to play at Florida 9/15/01 -- none of us will forget the larger than sports tragedy 4 days earlier. The SEC simply moved the game to December 1, pushed the SEC Title game back a week, and we got a game for the ages. This was during the Fulmer / Spurrier era when winners went back and forth each year, and basically the SEC East champ was determined by the 3rd week of September. Fans mused how exciting it would be if the matchup was later in the season. Well in the 2001 rescheduled game, December 1 rolled around and going into the game in the Swamp, Tennessee and Florida were both ranked in the Top 10 with identical 9 - 1 overall records and identical 6 - 1 SEC Conference records. In other words, both fan groups got what they wanted, a late season game against their biggest division rival with everything on the line. TV got some of the highest ratings for a college game that early in December. And the winner would have an excellent shot at playing #1 Miami in the Rose Bowl in the BCS Championship. In a thrilling game, Tennessee knocked down a Rex Grossman 2 point conversion attempt in the final minute to seal a 34 - 32 victory. Then 4 years later, #10 Tennessee was scheduled to play #4 LSU in Baton Rouge Saturday night, September 24th. However, Hurricane Rita was predicted to cause significant damage and flooding around Baton Rouge. The SEC office quickly assessed the situation and again came up with a doable solution. The game was moved to Monday, September 25th in primetime. LSU beat Tennessee and Eric Ainge like a punching bag in the first half, taking a 21 - 0 lead at halftime. Rarely used Rick Clausen entered the game in the 3rd Quarter and started getting the offense moving, but at the start of the 4th Quarter LSU had a commanding 24 - 7 lead. Then some voodoo happened. Clausen hit a groove and Tennessee scored 17 unanswered points to send the game into overtime. Tennessee held LSU to a FG on LSU's first possession, and then on their turn at offense, Tennessee's RB Gerald Riggs touched the ball 4 straight times rushing to the 1 yard line, and 2 plays later he powered into the end zone for an improbable 30 - 27 Tennessee victory. Two rescheduled games involving the same team, with classic outcomes. So if the AD at LSU or Florida, or the SEC office says there's no way to reschedule the game, here's proof they are all full of sh#t and the final conference standings this year could be a crying sham. Yes, sham....shame also.

Florida fans, read my entire reply before responding. Florida fans and Muschump have NOTHING to complain about. Prior to the LSU game, Florida got the benefit of no flags being thrown when the play clock ran out before the ball was snapped on FG's that led to Florida victories. Against Tennessee the play clock clearly hit zero and then the ball was snapped for a 49 yard attempt (the longest of the kicker's career) that put Florida ahead 10 - 9. Back him up for a 54 yard attempt, and it is questionable if he makes it or if Muschump even attempts the FG at that point in the game. Florida got the same break the week before against Kentucky where they won in 2 OT's. Yes, I am a Tennessee grad, and a long time season ticket holder who went to my first UT game in 1969, and no, Ref's don't win or lose games for you. UT did not capitalize on tremendous field position due to the worst QB I have seen at Florida since we started playing them every year. But, not flagging the play clock violation or not flagging several blatant holds (and even a hold and tackle on A. J. Johnson on the long run off the corner on the winning FG drive) potentially changed the outcome of the game. Again, UT lost by not putting the ball in the end zone when we had it in the Red Zone off of QB errors. But it is inexcusable for refs to blow the call on a game clock violation. At the next NCAA rules committee meeting, they should add a rule that a coach can challenge a play clock violation.