It’s a rainy, rainy, ugly Wednesday afternoon here on the campus of the University of Tennessee.
Coincidentally- sorry Alanis- it has been a rainy, rainy, ugly (and tornadoey, avalanchy, tsunami-like, hurr-OK you get my drift) past half decade for fans of the Volunteers across the board.
Which got me thinking that I need sunshine.
It does not have to be 90 degrees and perfect, but I will take a 60 degree sunny day (is that too much to ask?). I’m sure all Vol fans are praying for any kind of sunshine as well.
The football coaches are making a valiant late push on some huge names just before national signing day. Coach Martin has reeled off two straight single-digit victories at home following a rough four game losing streak.
Fans are hoping that this means they are headed for a top fifteen national recruiting class (would still only be like 7th in the SEC- YIKES!) and marks the beginning of a winning streak to get the BasketVols back on the NCAA tourney bubble.
Despite your feelings of pessimism (or perceptions of reality), the bad feelings of the past few years could be lessened over the next couple of weeks.
I mean the Knoxville will eventually get beautiful weather again, right?
Everyone knows that football is the ultimate king on campus, but basketball has been revived since Bruce Pearl, and the fan base is there. Casual fans are more invested in the success of the hoops team.
Which has me wondering about what would Vol fans want more: a trip to the Final 4 (meaning win in Elite 8 game) or a trip to the SEC Championship game in football (pretend that this does not ensure a trip to the BCS Championship game even though history has shown us that it ultimately does)? You are not guaranteed a win in the SEC Championship, just a chance to play.
So if given a chance to choose, which would you pick, Vol fans? A Final 4 or a trip to the SEC Championship?
Jonathan Reed
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If you claim football is king, you’ve already answered your own question
That’s a fair point, but I remember being a lot more moved by the elite 8 game against MSU than the SEC championship in 07 against LSU. I do not think I was alone in this
I’ve been to an SEC championship and the atmosphere was incredible. I have never been to a final four game. Since football is king here in Knoxville, most would be inclined to say SEC championship. If you said National Chamionship then I would definitly go football; but since the UT men’s team has never made a final four appearance in school history. I would say a final four for Coach Martin & co. would be it for me.