Bleacher Report - UT and App - decent analysis

[AtlAppMan]

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2660 ... tch/page/7

This guy has some good points/analysis and some that don't exactly hold water. He finishes by using an analysis of UT's game against Bowling Green and how they basically eventually blew them out 59-30 and then we had to have a 17 pt comeback to beat Ohio, who BGU blew out. Why did he not go the other way and say, App blew out Ga Southern 31-13 and GSU blew out BGU 58-27, which is worse than UT beat them?

Anyway, nice write-up and shows we are starting to gain some attention on national stage. Now let's have that "biggest game of our careers".

[bigdaddyg]

Another Michigan reference. My god that gets old. I pretty much stopped after Appy State.

[mountaineerman]

Is their d front really that good better than Clemson?

[ashugh]

No, they're not better than Clemson. But, they're elite and not just up front; everywhere. This game has almost nothing to do with UT. The Apps have to play flawless and get some huge breaks to stay in it. Regardless of how UT plays, we'll get boat raced if we are not flawless and playing over our heads. I would love nothing more than watching App, in person, take Rocky Top to the bottom. But, reality is reality.

[AtlAppMan]

Here is my takeaway from a boat load of UT preseason hype. UT, in preseason hype, sounds like the biggest, baddest beast in CFB. I hear a lot of people act like they are literally untouchable. These same folks act like they will roll everybody on their schedule. Maybe they will but maybe they won't only time will tell. Quite honestly I haven't heard this much hype about anybody short of Alabama and I am in heart of SEC country. I have heard hype in the past about UGA but nothing like UT is getting. I know they are good but I guess I am a little skeptical when it gets this big.

[Saint3333]

Saying Alabama is good isn't really news. People are crowing about those outside the top 5 or 6 that have a shot at cracking the ceiling to get into a NY6 bowl. UTk is that sexy pick to do so this year after losing by a TD or less to two of the 2015 playoff teams.

Their style of play doesn't lend towards an upset from a G5 or even bottom 2/3 P5 schools. They pound the run and stop the run as well as anyone in the country. We're going to need a turnover or three to stay within 3 TDs if they play the kind of game they want to play.

[appchicago]

He finishes by using an analysis of UT's game against Bowling Green and how they basically eventually blew them out 59-30 and then we had to have a 17 pt comeback to beat Ohio, who BGU blew out. Why did he not go the other way and say, App blew out Ga Southern 31-13 and GSU blew out BGU 58-27, which is worse than UT beat them?

Yeah, that really emphasizes the weakness of the transitive property. The article is fine, I guess, but using that as a central argument is silly. It reminded me a little of the article on SportingNews a few years ago that declared App, along with a half dozen other schools, as de facto national champs, vis-a-vis the transitive property: http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footba ... iyugr4irx2

[T-Dog]

Another Michigan reference. My god that gets old. I pretty much stopped after Appy State.

Michigan references have been constant from the Vol media. There are reasons because 1) App hasn't done well vs P5's since then 2) Mike DeBord, Tennessee OC, was the Michigan OC on that day 3) Satterfield said App can never sneak up on P5's ever again because of Michigan.

[WilliamDuVOL]

Here is my takeaway from a boat load of UT preseason hype. UT, in preseason hype, sounds like the biggest, baddest beast in CFB. I hear a lot of people act like they are literally untouchable. These same folks act like they will roll everybody on their schedule. Maybe they will but maybe they won't only time will tell. Quite honestly I haven't heard this much hype about anybody short of Alabama and I am in heart of SEC country. I have heard hype in the past about UGA but nothing like UT is getting. I know they are good but I guess I am a little skeptical when it gets this big.

If I may.... I personally am tired of the moniker of "pre season national champs" and hearing how we are "always over-hyped." We were picked by almost all sane pundits/media members last year to finish second or third in the East, which we did. I think maybe Kirk Herbstreit picked us to finish first. The years preceding that we were picked to finish 5-7 to 3-9 (only us and Ohio State have never gone worse than 5-7). We have not been good in a decade and we know it. The "what have you done for me lately" society has fostered this sense of idiocy in a lot of our rival SEC fan bases that we're "always pre season champs" thanks to the past two years. It is simply not true.

That being said, this team has the potential to be really, really good. We return our entire offense and defense practically, brought in statistically a proven top defensive coordinator, have a schedule that is easy relative to how it has been in several years past, have many coaching changes taking place and brand new QBs in the down Eastern division of the SEC, and bring back all of the pieces of one of the best rushing attacks in UT history.

You can see why we have reason to be excited. If we can split or better the 4 game stretch of Florida, at Georgia, at Texas AM, and Bama, we can likely go 10-2 and win the East, getting a shot at the SEC title. Obviously reality is almost always different than predictions. That is why the games are played. I think this is just the best set up schedule for us and the best team we have fielded in over a decade, and that is why there is cause for great optimism.

[AtlAppMan]

You can see why we have reason to be excited. If we can split or better the 4 game stretch of Florida, at Georgia, at Texas AM, and Bama, we can likely go 10-2 and win the East, getting a shot at the SEC title. Obviously reality is almost always different than predictions. That is why the games are played. I think this is just the best set up schedule for us and the best team we have fielded in over a decade, and that is why there is cause for great optimism.

DuVol, let me be clear from my point of view, if I were a Vols fan I would have the highest expectations too. I do think you guys are primed and ready to jump back into the National Championship discussion. With your recent recruiting and coaching additions you deserve to feel that way, I know I would be. I would be saying, "Ok guys, it is time to step up on the big stage again."

Now here is some insight on where we are coming from. You know we had a lot of success at the FCS level and finally decided to step up to big boy football. We know it is a journey that few have taken successfully but we believe we will be one of the few. Basically Boise St is our point of reference. We are still years away from even having a full FBS built program but we did not move to FBS to be another also run FBS program. We know we have less and have to expect more from our team as we will never have the resources of a SEC (P5) school so we will have to do more with less. What we aspire to be is a perennial overall top 25 program, a dominant G5 team that occasionally gets a shot a NY6 bowl. To accomplish that goal, at some point we have to step up and deliver on the big stage (again i.e. Boise St example). We cherish our Michigan take down but also know that is ancient history, a different place and different time. It is time for this team, a true FBS team, to start making new history. We want the top tier of college football world to start seeing App State as busting onto the FBS scene as the next serious G5 program that will have to be reckoned with.

[WilliamDuVOL]

You can see why we have reason to be excited. If we can split or better the 4 game stretch of Florida, at Georgia, at Texas AM, and Bama, we can likely go 10-2 and win the East, getting a shot at the SEC title. Obviously reality is almost always different than predictions. That is why the games are played. I think this is just the best set up schedule for us and the best team we have fielded in over a decade, and that is why there is cause for great optimism.

DuVol, let me be clear from my point of view, if I were a Vols fan I would have the highest expectations too. I do think you guys are primed and ready to jump back into the National Championship discussion. With your recent recruiting and coaching additions you deserve to feel that way, I know I would be. I would be saying, "Ok guys, it is time to step up on the big stage again."

Now here is some insight on where we are coming from. You know we had a lot of success at the FCS level and finally decided to step up to big boy football. We know it is a journey that few have taken successfully but we believe we will be one of the few. Basically Boise St is our point of reference. We are still years away from even having a full FBS built program but we did not move to FBS to be another also run FBS program. We know we have less and have to expect more from our team as we will never have the resources of a SEC (P5) school so we will have to do more with less. What we aspire to be is a perennial overall top 25 program, a dominant G5 team that occasionally gets a shot a NY6 bowl. To accomplish that goal, at some point we have to step up and deliver on the big stage (again i.e. Boise St example). We cherish our Michigan take down but also know that is ancient history, a different place and different time. It is time for this team, a true FBS team, to start making new history. We want the top tier of college football world to start seeing App State as busting onto the FBS scene as the next serious G5 program that will have to be reckoned with.

I can absolutely respect that, and after having interacted with your fans, I hope that happens for you guys. I will certainly be cheering for you to win every game this season after us. You have proven yourselves to be a winning team and I think in due time it will pay off on the big stage. My only hope is it's against Miami and not us.

That being said, I still question whether or not this is a national championship team. The pieces are in place, but so much has to go right in order to get there that the odds are obviously stacked against us or any other single team. I'd just like to see us get back into contention for our conference first.

[EastHallApp]

The transitive property reference is all I need not to click. I know of at least two separate paths to make App transitive property national champs last year.

[mtnjax]

The article pretty much lost me with all of the "Appy" references. Blatantly disrespectful. T-Dog needs to just refer to the Vols as UT-Knoxy in his pre-game roast.

[BlueCreekAppFan]

Good article; probably fair,.and we have to expect the media love for a P5 Tennessee loaded with talent. Like every other week, we have to trust preparation and execute. Bobby Bowden once said that every National Championship team he coached had at least one or 2 lucky bounces that made the difference in critical games.

This is not a do or die game. A win wold be phenomenal, a loss is not the end of the season. I hope we play focused, have fun and and have a lucky break or 2. Let's make it interesting and come home proud.

It's great to be a Mountaineer!

[hapapp]

The article pretty much lost me with all of the "Appy" references. Blatantly disrespectful. T-Dog needs to just refer to the Vols as UT-Knoxy in his pre-game roast.

Except you know one calls them that. Like it or not folks call us that without the intent of insult. Sure, some might but most do it because they don't know any better.

[WVAPPeer]

The article pretty much lost me with all of the "Appy" references. Blatantly disrespectful. T-Dog needs to just refer to the Vols as UT-Knoxy in his pre-game roast.

Except you know one calls them that. Like it or not folks call us that without the intent of insult. Sure, some might but most do it because they don't know any better.

I didn't view it as an insult either...not nearly the level of Appa lach shun