...but I just caught a few minutes of the SECN replay of last year's game at Lil' Neyland in Nashville, and noticed that occasionally, after a defensive stop, the Pride would play a few bars of "The Wall".  

Now I love the song, and I appreciate them expanding their repertoire of stands music.  But doesn't it kinda reinforce a stereotype to hear an SEC band belting out "We don't need no education"?

 

Some people's negativity amaze me! Our fun base just can't be happy with anything. When did we become so jaded and why can't we just enjoy things without all the negativity?

There are quite a few negative folks in our fanbase.  I'm not seeing any on this thread?   

A radical departure from Fulmer's final years.  He would almost never give backup QBs PT.  Early on he did.  I wonder if Peyton didn't kill that all by himself. That boy never wanted to come out.

a logical and and scientific case can't be made for God, Bandit. Not God as defined by the religions of the world anyway.  You can say that we have so many things in the Universe which we can't explain, but most people just say "God did it". No evidence - It's about faith. You need faith to believe in God - and faith isn't about logic and proof. By the way I don't think a person needs religion to believe in God either. I think religion is a man-made idea to control the masses.

Dying isn't a human concept. We're made of the same stuff as the earth. The earth will die. We're just here, living. So what?
I agree there's probably tons of life, even intelligent life out there - all a part of the universe, and all a part of cause and effect. Cause and effect is the truth of the universe, and if you're looking for a "force" that created life - look no further than Gravity, without which the universe would never have expanded into what it is.

Religion or your straw man of religion?  Having asked that question, I acknowledge that many have a simple version of God which is entirely faith based.  But I am saying that God can be (and is IMO) quite complex and logical and can naturally fit into the universe.  I think some critics of the concept of God simply lack the imagination and open mindedness to see this.

As for your point on "dying", here we have a fundamental disconnect.  Let me ask you this...do you make a distinction between life and non-life?  If the answer is "no", then I am really interested in why you think that.  And let me acknowledge in advance that "life" is not easy to define with words (and yet its something fairly obvious to an observer).

Football season starts in less than 4 weeks...and we're really going here again? 

So what?  It's interesting to some of us.

Why do you think I follow Bama? Not in the least. All  I am guilty of is calling the Vols out on things I think are substandard. We have been waiting for Jones to get a substantial win. That's all I want. He has beaten Vandy, UK and USCe since becoming coach. I think he will change that some this season. Until he does, the Vols are a work in progress. Bama is the benchmark until we beat them. Do you expect us to beat them, if they are as weak this year as you imply?

USCe was ranked both times we beat them.  And they are far better than any team Dooley beat. Butch should IMO beat one of Florida, Georgia or even bammer this year (though it's debatable if florida is a "big win" this year...but it will be big if for no other reason than we broke a 10 year streak).  And though people routinely underate Mizzou, beating the team that has been to the SECC two years in a row would be a step up from USCe IMO.  Heck, other than vandy and Kentucky, beating any SEC team is impressive.

Can we beat bammer this year?  It will be tough, but IMO we have our best shot since 2009.  Our talent level is finally SEC again, but we are still young and need one more good recruiting year for depth.  Even down they will be our toughest game.  I would say we have about a 12% chance, but if their QB situation does not gell and their D struggles a bit that could go up to 20% at gametime, assuming we improve about like we should.

We were more challenged at WR than I thought prior to Von Pearson coming back.  North was a big piece of the upcoming season, but frankly after wowing in his rookie year he didn't do much last year anyway.  IF he's out, which is still uncertain, it's an opportunity for a young guy to step up.

What I want to know is how is bammer going to compete with as many as five guys still in the running for QB (per SECN last night), only three starters back on offense, and literally half their passing offense (Amari Cooper) playing in the NFL? 

And oh yeah, Kiffin is the OC.  His offense last year consisted solely of finding ways to get Amari the ball.  What is he going to do this year?  Do you trust him to pick the right QB? 

Here's another thing to ponder.  Personal saban ass licker Finebaum says that Bammer's D was "really good last year and people are not crediting that".  Putting aside Finebaum's bias, bammer's D gave up 18 ppg last year, which is their highest since saban went 6-6 in his first season.  The second highest was 14 ppg in 2008.  (Defensive ppg is one of the most correlated stats in football to wins).    They also were 58th in the country in pass d and lose a 1st round DC/1st team AA db in Landon Collins.

So in spite of the fact that they get 7 starters back on D, do you really agree with delusional saban ass puppet Finebaum that bammer's d will be "one of the best, if not the best, in the country?"

I just figure you follow bammer really closely and might have an opinion.   

No.  I don't believe that UT has arrived at that level yet.  Given that UT teams under CBJ have only beaten SEC foes VU, UK and USCe to date, I don't see UT beating OU this year.   

I do expect that next year's UT team will have developed sufficiently to compete with or beat teams that are at OU's level.   

Now, I would bet that UT beats UF this year.. in Gainesville.. even given the "streak" that UF is on currently in the series.
 
 

You and others are not paying attention to how OU ended the season LY.  They lost 5 of their last 9 including a 48-14 blowout by Baylor and a 40-6 debacle in the bowl game against Clemson.  During that stretch, they only managed to beat Texas 31-26.  During that stretch, they struggled at QB and that still is not resolved.

OU was 8-5 last year and we were 7-6.  Since the general expectation is that we will win 8 games, then we are LITERALLY "at their level" this year.

I think a lot of you are overestimating OU.

And speaking of teams we should beat this year, we will finally have uga's number.  You guys have cheated death 3 years running, and he is very angry.   

The  so called "Wrath of God" happens every day in the Universe. Stars die, planets die, and likely - lives are lost on grand scales all over the universe, all the time. It's the nature of the universe - nothing lasts for ever. Not even the Universe will. The earth? Maybe significant to us. Not significant in the grand scheme of things - we're all just here for a really short time, enjoy life and do some good, have empathy for living things, do some good. That's my motto and I try to live it.

Why project a human concept on to stars and planets?  They don't "die", as they are never "alive" to begin with (well...at least not so far as we currently know, lol).  They simply change form in the cycle of the universe.

As for life, given that the universe (per the current theories) is about 14 billion years old (don't worry, this number will change again, but that's what it is today), and technological innovation on Earth has been what it is the last 100 years, what are the odds that any life out there is so advanced that (as Arthur C. Clarke said) their technology is "indistinguishable from magic?".

I have no doubt that we are a small part of a larger whole....not just physically in the sense of stars and planets....but as a form of life...we are part of a much greater whole.

Life IMO is common in the universe and a natural part of it.  As such, it stands to reason that there is life far, far in advance of us.  I think religion is pretty much saying that.  That we are part of an order of life, that there is an order to life, and this is true everywhere.

Now that doesn't address the chicken and egg question.  What came first, the universe or a "Creator"?  But to me, if there was life as early as 13 billion years ago and it continued to advance, it must be incredibly advanced.  So along those lines, it's not a reach to believe that the universe is designed and created by some highly superior entity.

It's funny, Adrian prides himself on being "open minded", but the fact is a logical and scientific case can be made for "God" or whatever you want to call it.  Some atheist scientists just have a huge bias that they are unaware of, while ironically considering themselves more "open minded" than theologians they dismiss as superstitious without thinking about it too much.

Even Richard Dawkins stated he thought life on Earth could have been seeded by "highly advanced aliens".  Which IMO is a baby step in the direction of truth, but I give him credit for getting that far.   

Tom Bwady.

Oh wait...that's my least favorite. 

If I have to pick, then it's Andrew Luck, because I am a Colts fan.

It wasn't anywhere near SEC level noise
Besides, you were up high ...

I agree that Neyland is much louder when we are good or invested in the game.  But it was hardly "quiet".   

Don't see it happening. Oklahoma is still on another level.  

UT is getting there, but not there yet.  Still way too many OL issues.  

I agree on the OL, but Dobb's is a world of difference from Worley.  I am going to go out on a limb and predict they don't get 5 sacks this year.

Its also worth pointing out that the top two tacklers on their DT are gone.  They do get all their LBs back though, including Stryker who gave us fits last year.  With Worley.   

Reps with a huge lead would be the only chance we see Blair, IMO, and we may not ever see him then. It would be a waste of reps for guys who will develop into good players (like Chance Hall).

You may be right.  What I am thinking is that if we get thin, which we already are with the Jackson injury, Blair at least has experience and can provide depth.  Even bad players can provide some relief from time to time in non-critical situations.

That might change with the release of the week zero shoes tomorrow 

Colour....were you in the UK too long?   

Yes but I'd only wager a week's salary 

Here's a tidbit...two of their OL from last year are now playing on Sunday, and another that graduated was 2nd team all big 12.  They only have a total of 28 starts back on the OL.  Two starters (and not their best players at that) and some second teamers with a couple starts between them. They are also unsettled at QB.

Our DL was was top notch last year.  Well, in fairness the DEs were and the DTs were adequate at least. 

Let me put it this way...if Kahlil MacKenzie is going to shine this season, this game would be a great place to start.   

Given our improvement on defense last year and what they are bringing this year, I have no doubt we can hold them to a reasonable amount of points, and I am confident that Dobbs is enough of a difference, along with Kamira (sp? the former bammer running back), not to mention the year of experience for our line, for us to score enough to win.

I expect us to win.  We will see.

Memorial Stadium is quiet and Neyland is going to be as loud as it has been in years. It should be a bit of a shock for him, for sure.

It was pretty noisy last year.   

Wow that's a lot, but I have noticed that ticket prices are inflated in spite of declining attendence at all sports (due to increasing costs and HD, with HD likely being the bigger factor).

I can't say why they have increased so much, but they have. 

I am attending the game with a really good buddy who is an OU fan and his friend.  We all went to the game last year in Norman along with his friend's son, who won't make the trip this year (something about having 6 kids...lol!).

My friend has the milder version of ALS (the kind Hawking has) and so we will sit in the handicaped section.  I don't know if that affected price or not, but the tickets were $110 each straight from the AD about two weeks ago.

Blair is apparently a complete bust.  Too bad, I guess. 

It will give a younger guy a shot, which likely is better in the long run.  In the meantime, even if he's a bust, Blair might be able to help late in the game or at any rate take reps when we have a big lead. 

nm

Quite honestly so far every position group has met or exceeded my expectations. The only question mark is the OL, especially due to losing Jackson, but we have some talent there, and I believe they will be a lot better than last year. Pretty pumped for the season.

Losing Jackson is a big concern. He was one of our better OL returning and it doesn't need to be said how critical that is.

Still, they have to be better right?

And a key stat is that with Worley under center we gave up 29 sacks and with Dobbs only 13 (though 6 of those were against Mizzou).

There were a couple other factors such as the line was no doubt better the second half the season and the opposition DL quality mostly declined (Mizzou being a big exception) but you have to figure Dobbs at least cuts the sack total in half as well as always having the potential to run for 100.

If I am the opposing DC, I key on Dobbs running and force him to pass.  Easier said than done though.   

Debord likely anticipates that and will have some plays to take advantage, but we will see soon enough.  One thing we can agree on...I can't wait either. 

That all sounds good.  Now I'm really looking forward to this season.  The most anticipated for me since 2008 for sure.   

Okay I read up on his bio:

http://www.utsports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/mike_debord_949721.html

I didn't realize or forgot that he had worked with Butch before, and I thought he had been an admin longer than two years (He last coached in 2012).  Both those make me feel better, and he has some impressive accomplishments on his college resume, although that part is much older.

Still, until he gets it done on the field he might be a positive or a negative.  We will just have to wait and see, but I am wondering if there are any rumors floating around in the meantime.

Has an impressive resume, but has been out of the game awhile.  Are there any indications at all that he is getting it, or the opposite?

Frankly this is a big unknown going into the Fall. I feel good about every other area of our offense save the OL.  

I don't need to remind anyone what happened with a new DC in 2012 (shudder).  Of course, this is completely different.  For one thing, our HC is not a complete idjut and for another staff continuity is there (in late 2011 Coach Doofus lost 8 of 10 assistants  ).  

I think we will have to wait and see how things change, but this is an area of concern for me.

LBs can covert to DE...see under Curt Maggit.

Of course we always need pure DTs, but as pointed out we seem to be okay there.  You can never have enough though IMO.

lol.  nasty