2015 Season Opener Announced

[madmaxvol]

The BGSU news release indicated that our original plan was to host South Carolina State in the opener, but that they "backed out." So, when Alabama-Birmingham decided to shut down the football program, we jumped at the chance to fill the hole in the Vols schedule, and in ours.

Put another way: We did not have many other options at this point, so we signed up with Tennessee.

I would imagine Babers isn't thrilled about this. Had we stuck with our original plan, our nonconference schedule would have been close to ideal: South Carolina State, at Maryland, Memphis, at Purdue. That's smart scheduling. This is tougher sledding, no doubt.

But it isn't an impossible challenge, either. I wouldn't be shocked to see the Falcons to win any of these games if they play anywhere near to what we know they are capable of. Tennessee is a 6-6 SEC team. Peyton Manning is long gone, fellas.

Peyton has been gone for 16 seasons...and Tennessee has fallen on hard times, lately. With that being said, they are one of the youngest FBS teams. Tennessee has played 23 True Freshmen this season. Of those 23, 14 have started sometime throughout the season. UT started this season with 6 Seniors on the 2-deep.

Tennessee is a 6-6 team (two plays from being 8-4...but then again...a play away from being 5-7, too). Tennessee's 6 losses were to: Oklahoma (8-4), Georgia (9-3), Florida (6-5), Ole Miss (9-3), Alabama (12-1), and Missouri (10-3). Florida is the only stinker among those, and UT lost to them by 1 point...I'm just saying that UT is a pretty good 6-6 team, and with the players they have coming back, they should be significantly better next year.

I'm glad that UT was able to swap out UAB with BGSU. The Falcons are a much better opponent, and will be an early test to see how good UT really is.

[Schadenfreude]

But it isn't an impossible challenge, either. I wouldn't be shocked to see the Falcons to win any of these games if they play anywhere near to what we know they are capable of. Tennessee is a 6-6 SEC team. Peyton Manning is long gone, fellas.

Peyton has been gone for 16 seasons...and Tennessee has fallen on hard times, lately. With that being said, they are one of the youngest FBS teams. Tennessee has played 23 True Freshmen this season. Of those 23, 14 have started sometime throughout the season. UT started this season with 6 Seniors on the 2-deep.

Welcome to the board. Thanks for the kind words, and for the background on your youth. BG is young, too.

Don't get me wrong, this is a tough, tough matchup for us. Any time we play the SEC, you have our respect.

But I want to make sure Falcon fans aren't completely writing us off in Nashville. Yes, this season left a bad taste in our mouths. But, remember: We lost by one point at Mississippi State in 2013 and we gave Florida a real battle the year before that.

I'm glad that UT was able to swap out UAB with BGSU. The Falcons are a much better opponent, and will be an early test to see how good UT really is.

As you can see, we are pretty fired up about this game. It's going to be a real test for us, too, obviously. Tennessee is still one of America's great college football programs, no question about it.

[Falcon137]

Welcome to the board, madmaxvol.

Tennessee will probably be the favorite in the East next year, won't they? I know people have been pointing to next year as Butch Jones break through year. Who does Tennessee replace Worley with?

[Flipper]

Orange you glad we scheduled a game with the Vols?

[Schadenfreude]

Orange you glad we scheduled a game with the Vols?

Speaking of that: White hats, white shirts, and brown pants would be pretty sweet.

(First, though, we will need brown pants).

[Ydfalcon]

Who does Tennessee replace Worley with?

They've pretty much already replaced him with Josh Dobbs, who started the last several games, and most Vol fans seem to prefer him to Worley.

Haven't actually posted on here in quite some time (though I have been reading along sporadically), but naturally I feel compelled to comment on this game. It's going to be something of a civil war in my household, as I moved to Knoxville and married a Tennessee grad. Most days, I root for the Vols along with BG, and my wife reciprocates by pulling for BG throughout the year. That day though, we'll be wearing very opposite gear. Luckily I was able to convince her that since most of the stadium will be UT fans, we're at least going to get seats in the "BG section." Which is a relief since it'll be my first BG game in several years.

And yes, I wish the game was in Knoxville too... since that's easier for me to get home afterwards. But given that the Vols already had their opener scheduled to be on "neutral" territory in Nashville, I guess I can understand it staying there.