#1 Florida vs. #2 Alabama: An Impossible Choice
by Will on Dec 4, 2009 10:00 AM EST
in College Football
37 comments
Deep breaths, and repeat after me: "It's not as bad as last year."
One year ago this weekend, the same scenario presented itself: our two biggest rivals were and are the two best teams in college football. The winner is guaranteed a shot at the National Championship. Tennessee has not beaten Florida since 2004, Alabama since 2006.
It's not as bad as last year.
The only difference this time around is us.
Last year, Florida and Alabama played for everything seven days after we said farewell to our coach of seventeen years, at the end of the longest and most difficult season of our generation, if not every generation. Lane Kiffin was six days old and we knew nothing.
I tried to watch the game last year. You knew it was going to be a great one, it was a game of historic importance for the SEC...and I made it through about a quarter and a half. And then I had to stop...because there was too much to be depressed about in Knoxville and too much elation in Tuscaloosa and Gainesville. If there is a worse scenario as a Tennessee fan than what happened last year, I don't want to see it.
This year, the stakes are the same for Florida and Alabama. They beat us again, though by only a combined 12 points instead of 44. But instead of being in the pit of despair...Tennessee is right where they should be at the end of Lane Kiffin's first season. We're generally satisfied with what we've seen in the last 365 days, and also, we have a big game of our own to look forward to in four weeks. Obviously, it's nowhere near as big as Saturday's contest in the Georgia Dome...but when the Vols are there on New Year's Eve, it can become the next step in the process en route to a return visit for reasons other than the Chick-Fil-A Bowl.
This year, I'm going to watch. And I'm going to try and enjoy it.
Still...the Tennessee fan faces an impossible choice tomorrow. I don't know about you, but for me it's impossible to watch a football game as a neutral observer - you always end up cheering for someone, even if you go into it with no perceived dog in the fight. Even when it means either Todd Jones or Spencer Hall is going to sing Rocky Top, it's hard for the Tennessee fan to take any particular pleasure in either of these teams winning.
So, we ask you...who would you like to see win? And I know that if I put "Tornado returns to finish Georgia Dome off" as an option, it would win in a landslide. But we're curious to see what you think, so here it is, the worst poll in the history of this fine website:
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With this stipulation:
Winner gets beaten by TCU in the MNC.
by Incipient_Senescence on Dec 4, 2009 10:27 AM EST reply actions
Mythical National Championship
I’m not sure if I could take Texas winning, but I’d love to see TCU beat one of our rivals.
by Incipient_Senescence on Dec 4, 2009 10:49 AM EST up reply actions
This.
"I can't hear you, Rocky Top is playing."
by Getoffmyvols on Dec 4, 2009 10:45 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
This is one for me
where my respect for Alabama outweighs my hatred of Florida. I also think Alabama is going to win.
On SportsCenter this morning they said another SEC coach was going to be live on the set at GameDay in the morning…could it be…
Respect for Alabama!?!?!
I have more respect for Florida as a school. The only thing I like about Alabama is the campus and the girls
I have respect for Danny Wuerffel and Tim Tebow
that’s about where it ends. Respect is born from longterm relationships and both sides knowing what the other feels like – Tennessee and Alabama have that, even at our worst. Florida is a relative johnny come lately…but lately has been very good to the Gators, especially when playing Tennessee. Our rivalry with Florida is really only 18 years old, and in 18 years of divisional play, Florida is 13-5 against us. And I think Florida wants to be hated, so I’m happy to oblige.
On GameDay
Brent Hubbs is saying the Vols have moved practice tomorrow from the morning to the afternoon, and they believe Kiffin will be live on GameDay. In that environment, he might be the most hated man to ever grace the set.
That would be awesome!
He was on Colin Cowherd today. Colin asked him who he likes tomorrow. Kiffin said that Florida has better players but Alabama has better coaches… ha
I don't see why that statement is such a big deal.
Ask any Florida fan about their offensive coordinator.
They have one?
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
Can you watch it on the internet ?
And if so were ? espn360 doesn’t have it listed . HELP !
Dan Willmams and Hardesty are the real deal ! Go Vols !
Wait
If you’re talking about the game, CBSSports.com If you’re talking about GameDay…not sure where you can see that online
Wow, close vote...
As has been mentioned already by Will, I hate Florida too much to root for them against anyone, even Bama.
Roll Tide.
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
Help!
I can’t bring myself to vote!
If Tebow wasn’t there, the hate for Florida would outweigh that for Alabama, but as it is, he sort of neutralizes it and makes it even.
Rocky Top Talk
Definitely Alabama
As a UT fan I can’t bring myself to root for either. But as a Tennessee fan it is clear that the best outcome for Tennessee is for Alabama to win.
I think the winner of the SEC Championship will probably win the national title. If Florida wins all of the attention will be on 3 NCs in 4 years, the genius of Meyer, Tebow, Tebow, Tebow, etc. In other words, all about Florida. If Alabama wins out, much of the press is going to be about the strength of the SEC: 4 straight championships by the conference by 3 different teams, and 5 of the last 7 national titles.
I think the second case helps Tennessee’s cause much more than the first. Kiffen can tell recruits that they are coming to the best conference, bar none, and that to excel in this conference means winning titles. Furthermore, UT is one of the four SEC schools to have won BCS titles and we are getting back in the hunt for a second one.
I would have to say Florida !
I don’t think I could take Bama swearing now that they have 13 National Championships ! : )
Dan Willmams and Hardesty are the real deal ! Go Vols !
Very persuasive
And so my vote goes to ’Bama. But talk about a choice between the lesser of two evils.
Rocky Top Talk
Right
I would choose Alabama if I thought they could beat Texas, but I don’t think they can. Florida wins big games, Alabama doesn’t. They better watch out for Cincinnati in the sugar bowl. They might get blasted like last year.
sorry to repost this but I think it bears repeating
I would prefer a FL win and then a loss to TX
1) because I live in AL and will have to deal with their terrible fans even more
2) because AL will find a way to claim another national championship no matter what happens this season
3) because AL fans are intolerable enough as it is without actually having something legitimate to claim in the last 16 years (they will ride this for at least 20)
4) having another championship will do little to change FL, Meyer will be very vulnerable next year while having a championship will probably help Saban’s recruiting a lot more than it would Meyer
5) AL does not need any legitimate titles
The SEC has already cemented itself and I don’t see that FL or AL winning the NC will do much there. As long as they don’t get blown out it is probably more important for the rest of the SEC to win its bowl games for any claims about the strength of the SEC.
Living in Alabama is like living 50 years in the past, they are still just as racist, just as educated, the state constitution forbids any kind of public transportation, and all they can talk about is Bear Bryant
When was UT's last SEC Championship?
Lee Corso: How would you describe tailgating at Alabama?
Kirk Herbstreit: Barbecue and Ralph Lauren
by animalcracker on Dec 4, 2009 8:29 PM EST up reply actions
Ask all the Alabama fans living in various sections of Tennessee.
They’re over on RBR all the time. ;-)
Guilty as charged
Lee Corso: How would you describe tailgating at Alabama?
Kirk Herbstreit: Barbecue and Ralph Lauren
by animalcracker on Dec 5, 2009 9:05 PM EST up reply actions
Why isn't this a choice?
Florida and Alabama are both DQ’d because of street thug brawl before the game which devolves into a Saban-Meyer duel with simultaneous shots killing both men slowly and painfully over time. Since Tennessee finished second in the much-tougher SEC East, we are declared SEC Champions and head to a BCS bowl while Florida and Bama players serve time in jail over the holidays.
OK, it’s not realistic, but I hate choosing Florida or Bama so much that I am willing to create this choice as an alternative.
I also pick this
Living in Alabama is like living 50 years in the past, they are still just as racist, just as educated, the state constitution forbids any kind of public transportation, and all they can talk about is Bear Bryant
DOH!
Take 1 vote away from Bammer and put it on the Gators.
I can’t stomach the thought of Bammer playing in the MNC game. I hate UF and all they stand for as well, but tacking on another post-season of cheer for the orange and blue is no extra skin off my back. I’ve done it a lot as of late.
I cannot vote in this poll.
Simulated Gameday Experience - just like the real thing, only we have smoke machines.
Bama
I couldn’t stomach those lizards winning 3 in 4 years.
So Sayth King Zach I
by kingofzachland on Dec 4, 2009 10:49 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
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