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Columnist’s idea to drop Alabama from Tennessee’s schedule leads to mockery/debate
By Keith Farner
Published:
Given the recent talk of Auburn moving to the SEC East, the fallout has landed on the Alabama-Tennessee series given its cross-division nature, and the need to preserve the Iron Bowl on the schedule.
Knoxville News-Sentinel columnist John Adams recently proposed that Tennessee drop its annual meeting with Alabama because the Crimson Tide are in the middle of a dynasty.
“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.”
The main problem with Adams’ opinion is there’s no end to the schedule changes. What happens when Nick Saban retires and LSU, or any other SEC West team, develops a dynasty. Will you move that program off the schedule in favor of a team not winning as much? The other issue is this wouldn’t have come up had Tennessee won half the games, or at least made them more competitive. Given the recent streak against Florida, does Adams propose moving the Gators off the schedule?
Eliminating this rivalry, which is typically played on the “Third Saturday in October,” would rob college football of what it’s best known for: Deep-seeded traditions that cross generations.
Adams also notes that the game puts Tennessee at a “scheduling disadvantage.” But how many teams in the College Football Playoff lament that they overcame a “scheduling disadvantage.”
This opinion only materializes during a prolonged losing streak. There’s no way a similar thought would have come during the Volunteers most recent winning streak in the series in the 1990s, when they won seven straight and nine out of 10.
Below is social media reaction to the proposal:
The last 10 seasons (now including 2016!) pic.twitter.com/ZOao8HRrHo
— Tom Fornelli (@TomFornelli) June 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/danny_shin131/status/871737330008281088
Where was this article when the Vols won 6(?) in a row?
— vicious jay (@JBALLR) June 5, 2017
Arguably the best border rivalry in the SEC. Only FL-GA is close.
— Hugh Miller (@hbmiv) June 5, 2017
3879 days since UT beat BAMA that's why they don't want to play
— Tommy (@VYPUR) June 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/SRyanSkelley/status/871729624983769088
Seriously? I didn't see u complaining when u were kicking our butts before Saban came. Get over it – not happening!!!
— Jeff Crowley (@Crowdawg54) June 5, 2017
Bottom line: Playing Bama’s tough, but even a loss won’t kill CFP chances.
The real issue: Not bouncing back, as Tenn did at SC last year.
— Alex Scarborough (@ByScarborough) June 5, 2017
JFK in Knoxville, 1962: "And that's why we're not going to bother with this moon thing. We will fly pretty high, and then we'll come back!"
— John Garrison Marks (@johngmarks) June 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/tdudz/status/871737694556172290
https://twitter.com/DustNDunlap/status/871737606006087680
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
