GAME #6 Alabama @ #10 LSU ESPN

[bamafan4evr12]

@bamafan4evr12

I will say this, Nate Oaks plays a fun level of basketball. I was a little surprised that Alabama fired Avery Johnson because I thought he did alright there as well but Nate Oaks has brought Alabama basketball to a stronger level than Avery Johnson had it.

His style of basketball is a lot of fun. The games certainly aren't boring, his style does require a certain style of player thought. But I love his trolling too. Look at @Mistaken4193 avatar for example 1 of Oats' trolling

I liked Avery, he recruited well but his offense was abysmal.

 

[ojb81]

Actually, at that point, it is the safest move for LSU. They had a chance to make a 2 point conversion to win without 'Bama having a chance to match it. If they kick, they have to start trying to make a 2 and have Alabama miss one to win or they kick a FG in the second OT and have Alabama match the FG or win with a TD. Auburn should have gone for two in this exact same situation last year, and they would have had a better chance to win in OT vs. 'Bama. Just my opinion, but what Kelly did there was the high percentage move to win.

blah blah blah whatever, pops. it was a ballsy move, i don't give a fuck whatever psychobabble bullshit you want to attach to it.

 

[Wizardhawk]

One of the best college games of the year. That was pretty awesome.

 

[Jon Deaux]

The score in the game was 21-17 bama. Sitting in the recliner, I laid back to watch the game. The next time I saw the tv, it was 7-0 Cal over USC.

Spoiler: Well

FUCK

This probably should go in the lol thread and I could lol at myself, but I can do that here just fine.

 

[Collegefbfan]

This is such an EXCITING, high scoring game to watch, isn't it?

Yeah, it is really bad. How about giving up 35 to a 3-6 Cal team… at home. Bama and LSU must really be jealous.

 

[Bamagrad75]

Marked

SAFE

From playing Georgia in the SEC Championship Game

 

[CorpRebel]

Yeah, it is really bad. How about giving up 35 to a 3-6 Cal team… at home. Bama and LSU must really be jealous.

I hear ya!! You get NO argument from me about that... That SC game was ALL "O" and NO "D" - especially that no "passing defense".

 

[Bayou Tiger]

Marked

SAFE

From playing Georgia in the SEC Championship Game

Hey man that was a crazy game yesterday. So back and forth. Awesome game by both teams. There was no quit on either side and it showed. I know there are some sore players on both teams today.

 

[Bayou Tiger]

One of the best college games of the year. That was pretty awesome.

I agree. I've seen some good games this year but this game was over the top. These teams always play each other with everything on the line. Incredible effort by both squads. They came to play and in the process entertained us with such a completive game.

 

[Deep Creek]

I hear ya!! You get NO argument from me about that... That SC game was ALL "O" and NO "D" - especially that no "passing defense".

SMU and Houston say "Hold My Beer".

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

You are correct on Hyatt. It was only his second year at Tennessee, that got me confused. The one area we are loaded in and getting good recruits is WR. I think our offense will take a step down but not as bad as you think and 9-3 or 10-2 for next year is still very likely with Tennessee. It will depend heavily on how we do in the Swamp but here is our schedule next year:

Virginia (in Nashville) - Should be a win
Austin Peay - Win
at Florida - Toss-up although they are struggling right now as a program so a win is possible
UTSA - Win
South Carolina - Seems like a win but they are improving
Bye
Texas A&M - Who knows. They have out recruited us but they have to come to Knoxville and their program is a wreck right now
at Alabama - Loss
at Kentucky - Toss-up. This one could be a loss but Kentucky is losing a lot from this year as well so who knows.
UConn - Win
at Missouri - Tricky game but should be win
Georgia - Loss although I imagine the fans will be up for this game so you never know
Vanderbilt - Win

I am seeing at worse 7-5 or 8-4 but that could easily be 9-3 or 10-2 schedule even with the rebuild.

Where we are struggling in recruiting so far is defensive line and linebacker. We landed four 4* CBs so our secondary might be better in coming years. I do think Tennessee needs to finish strong in recruiting this year. 2024 class is already showing great signs and could be a top 5 class.

Man, you are putting way too much thought into this. There is going to be so much turnover on all these teams -- you, nor I, have any idea what they will look like. You don't even know who will be the QB at Tennessee next year and you are predicting your full schedule.

Let it all play out, then worry about that.

 

[78Cyclones]

blah blah blah whatever, pops. it was a ballsy move, i don't give a fuck whatever psychobabble bullshit you want to attach to it.

Ballsy or not, it was the smart play IMO. That was the point I was trying to make. Coach Kelly himself said after the game that he would take that situation of having one play to beat Alabama 100 out of 100 times instead of kicking and continuing the OT battle. I applaud him for that. I wish more coaches would think about playing to win with one well executed play vs. playing not to lose in that situation.

 

[Volbound1700]

Man, you are putting way too much thought into this. There is going to be so much turnover on all these teams -- you, nor I, have any idea what they will look like. You don't even know who will be the QB at Tennessee next year and you are predicting your full schedule.

Let it all play out, then worry about that.

My point is that I like the direction of Tennessee and I think we will be back. We are going to take a step back next year but frankly, I don't see us falling flat like you saw with Jones and Pruitt. I truly think this is a new era for Tennessee.

I agree with you that we won't be a playoff contender next year unless Heupel truly has some magic dust in his pocket.

Keep in mind, we got this guy coming next year:



Joe Milton is going to possibly be the start (I know Michigan fans hate him but people say he has turned the corner. Hooker got hate at Virginia Tech as well but he turned the corner).

However, Nico could push him. There is a third QB, Tayven Jackson, who was a 4 star recruit last year and will be a rising Sophomore. He could also push for the starting spot.

There is a third string RB that you guys haven't seen yet that is turning heads. I am not sure why he isn't getting more snaps, I am assuming he doesn't know the system yet. There are also other good WRs. Fant (as a TE) and Keeton at WR slot have all made big plays and are coming along. We will still be a dangerous team but being in playoff hunt is probably a lot to ask for 2023.

The key difference is that Heupel is installing a culture of confidence and winning again. Having the right culture goes a long way for a program.

The SEC in 2023 could be interesting. I do think Georgia will still be the top team but they got to replace a lot. Alabama won't have Bryce Young so that could be interesting as well. SEC West maybe wide open.

 

[NewPhoneWhoDis]

My point is that I like the direction of Tennessee and I think we will be back. We are going to take a step back next year but frankly, I don't see us falling flat like you saw with Jones and Pruitt. I truly think this is a new era for Tennessee.

I agree with you that we won't be a playoff contender next year unless Heupel truly has some magic dust in his pocket.

Keep in mind, we got this guy coming next year:



Joe Milton is going to possibly be the start (I know Michigan fans hate him but people say he has turned the corner. Hooker got hate at Virginia Tech as well but he turned the corner).

However, Nico could push him. There is a third QB, Tayven Jackson, who was a 4 star recruit last year and will be a rising Sophomore. He could also push for the starting spot.

There is a third string RB that you guys haven't seen yet that is turning heads. I am not sure why he isn't getting more snaps, I am assuming he doesn't know the system yet. There are also other good WRs. Fant (as a TE) and Keeton at WR slot have all made big plays and are coming along. We will still be a dangerous team but being in playoff hunt is probably a lot to ask for 2023.

The key difference is that Heupel is installing a culture of confidence and winning again. Having the right culture goes a long way for a program.

The SEC in 2023 could be interesting. I do think Georgia will still be the top team but they got to replace a lot. Alabama won't have Bryce Young so that could be interesting as well. SEC West maybe wide open.

Joe Milton is a Redshirt Senior, so unless he has a 6th year granted to him -- he won't be back. It will come down to what type of QB play you and what type of WR's you get. What has made Tennessee so good this year offensively is Hooker paired with a great big bodied WR (Tillman) and a WR who is almost always the fastest player on the field in Hyatt (THAT will be the toughest to replace).

It is why I said -- this year was the year for Tennessee and it still may be if they get some more things to fall their way for the CFP. I think Tennessee may be the 2nd best team in the country based solely off their offense. Unfortunately for them, the one team who has the talent and athletes defensively to stop it was in their division of the SEC.

I also think Heupel has Tennessee going in the right direction, but the conference they play in does them no favor at all. Your 2022 recruiting ranked 17th in the nation, but you are 9th in the SEC. Your 2023 ranks 12th in the nation, but 7th in the SEC (if you include OU and Texas, who I believe start in the SEC next year).

So yes -- Tennessee will be more competitive, but they will still be behind so many teams and when you have Bama and Georgia in the conference, it is just ridiculous. Between just those 2 teams -- they signed 20% of the top 100 recruits in the nation in 2023. That is absurd.

If you put Tennessee in one of the other conferences -- I like your chances much better. It is an uphill battle in icy conditions for Tennessee to try and win the SEC in today's game. It definitely can happen, but i wouldn't hold my breathe as a Tennessee fan. And I'm not hating on Tennessee -- I'd say the exact same thing if Michigan were in the SEC. We pull in top 10 classes and even get to the top 5 once in a while. We have nowhere near the talent of the top SEC teams though. We'd need the stars to align for us to win a national title in today's game and then we'd need every bounce to go our way, maybe some players injured on whoever we were playing, every call by the refs to go our way............you get the point.

 

[Volbound1700]

Joe Milton is a Redshirt Senior, so unless he has a 6th year granted to him -- he won't be back. It will come down to what type of QB play you and what type of WR's you get. What has made Tennessee so good this year offensively is Hooker paired with a great big bodied WR (Tillman) and a WR who is almost always the fastest player on the field in Hyatt (THAT will be the toughest to replace).

It is why I said -- this year was the year for Tennessee and it still may be if they get some more things to fall their way for the CFP. I think Tennessee may be the 2nd best team in the country based solely off their offense. Unfortunately for them, the one team who has the talent and athletes defensively to stop it was in their division of the SEC.

I also think Heupel has Tennessee going in the right direction, but the conference they play in does them no favor at all. Your 2022 recruiting ranked 17th in the nation, but you are 9th in the SEC. Your 2023 ranks 12th in the nation, but 7th in the SEC (if you include OU and Texas, who I believe start in the SEC next year).

So yes -- Tennessee will be more competitive, but they will still be behind so many teams and when you have Bama and Georgia in the conference, it is just ridiculous. Between just those 2 teams -- they signed 20% of the top 100 recruits in the nation in 2023. That is absurd.

If you put Tennessee in one of the other conferences -- I like your chances much better. It is an uphill battle in icy conditions for Tennessee to try and win the SEC in today's game. It definitely can happen, but i wouldn't hold my breathe as a Tennessee fan. And I'm not hating on Tennessee -- I'd say the exact same thing if Michigan were in the SEC. We pull in top 10 classes and even get to the top 5 once in a while. We have nowhere near the talent of the top SEC teams though. We'd need the stars to align for us to win a national title in today's game and then we'd need every bounce to go our way, maybe some players injured on whoever we were playing, every call by the refs to go our way............you get the point.

OU and Texas won't be in the SEC until 2025 now. We already have 2023 schedules released. Divisions may go away when they join so whole different animal.

The only SEC East team (besides Georgia) that is close to us in recruiting right now is Florida. I agree we need to step it up. 2022 class wasn't fair because Heupel walked into a disaster and the 17th ranked class was a actually a win considering the situation. This year's class is kind of disappointing but I do think it is underrated. It isn't a top 5 class but it is behind a couple of teams (like Florida) that I don't see once you look at our prospects. We have several that I think are better than the stars.

Everyone is saying Milton has another year of eligibility and will be back next year. However, I wouldn't be surprised if one of the younger QBs beats him out.

 

[NinerSpartan]

Nobody loses more games in as heartbreaking a fashion as Alabama. Nobody