By Craig

August 22, 2005 04:36 PM | Link to this

That’s unfortunate about the new AJC policy. Of all the writer’s at the AJC, Tony’s is the only opinion worth anything.

By Dave

August 22, 2005 04:46 PM | Link to this

I don’t get the Tennessee ranking. Was everyone watching the same team that I was last season? Bumbling against Mississippi, lucky against Florida, gasping across the finish line against UGA, wheezing against Alabama…the list goes on. They had a great bowl game against 4 game loser TX A&M….but #3 in the country? They’ll lose to LSU and Florida before they even GET to UGA.

By eric

August 22, 2005 04:53 PM | Link to this

It’s funny how there is a policy that prevents Tony from being involved in news making events, but yet i just read an entire news article generated from him. If he can’t create news, then doesn’t putting his opinions in a newspaper seem a bit ironic? Now that i know how he thinks, it is news to me and it just generated this blog for us to talk about.

By Greg

August 22, 2005 05:04 PM | Link to this

Dave, You forget that UT won the game against Georgia on both sides of the ball. Not only did they beat em but weren’t behind the entire game. Returning 17 players from a team that was injury ridden all 12 games that is why they are rated #3. See you in Knoxville !!!!

By David

August 22, 2005 05:12 PM | Link to this

As a response to Dave, Tennessee has legitimate all-American prospects on the DL (the Hawaiian), corner (Allen, linebacker (Simon), and the rest of their defense is not a bunch of stiffs. They have lots of depth at receiver and a Walter Camp list running back (Riggs). They’ll probably beat Florida (Leak hasn’t beaten them yet), lose at LSU, and then HUMBLE Georgia in Knoxville, whom they’ve beaten 10 out the last 14. They DID, by the way, win the SEC East last year even though both their top 2 QBs were hurt before the season was over. And they also didn’t lose to Auburn by much in the title game.

By DH

August 22, 2005 05:13 PM | Link to this

The AJC policy is stupid. We need someone who understands Southern college football representing us in the national media.

Oh yeah, I don’t get the UT thing either. (Fulmer’s still the coach, right?) Look out for UF and UGA in the SEC East and ‘Bama in the SEC West.

By KL

August 22, 2005 05:37 PM | Link to this

UT was lucky at times last year no doubt, but they also had TWO freshman QB’s playing and a third stringer playing during the season. YES, a FRESHMAN QB beat UGA in Athens with the Snellville golden boy on the other side of the field watching.

I love Georgia fans, one SEC title in 23 years and they think they will repeat every year.

ALL VOL!

By Matt Mashburn

August 22, 2005 06:19 PM | Link to this

Pride comes before the fall, UT. Considering you benefitted from this same principle last year by “beating” Georgia. You’ll soon realize that the only place Gerald Riggs Jr. will lead you is to juvey!

By Max

August 22, 2005 06:26 PM | Link to this

All other arguments are irrevelant, when USC is clearly (with no close second) the best team and might be the best history, so what are all these argument about is who will finish 2nd, 3rd, 4th, it’s all academic. USC will dominate everyone in College Football once again.

By Dan

August 22, 2005 06:34 PM | Link to this

Nice to see Virginia Tech getting their due. They are flat-out loaded this year. If Marcus Vick can live up to expectations, this is a team that can go all the way. They could easily have beaten both USC and Auburn last season, and their 2005 schedule lays out pretty favorably for them.

By Mike

August 22, 2005 06:47 PM | Link to this

VT can be very good. But with all the hype, they just might be very bad. We’ll see.

By Lawrence

August 22, 2005 07:38 PM | Link to this

You are a great writer and I am truly an admirer but have you lost your mind. Virginai Tech is at a 9 and 3 team and possibly 8 and 4. Maybe they would be #2 with Michael Vick at the helm. Marcus will be 60 % to 70% as good as his older brother which is still not bad.

Please save this email for future reference.

By Harvey Copeland Jr

August 22, 2005 09:00 PM | Link to this

It`s amazing how the newa media controls college football rankings including the BCS. Oklahoma, SC, Texas, Notre Dame or Miami would never be picked #16 after finishing a 13-0 season and 2nd in the Nation, plus being bushwacked from a chance to play a team who scored 55 points against Oklahoma in the NC game…. no justice for Auburn

By Matt

August 22, 2005 09:04 PM | Link to this

I dont get the No. 13 ranking for UGA. I dawgs have three (count them) three running backs that would make any offensive coordinator turn backflips. A freak of nature at tight end, an offensive line that is loades with talent and experience. They also have a defense that is second to none. I assure you that the Vols will be watching the Dawgs and Tigers play in Atlanta. Mark my words.

By Greg

August 22, 2005 10:24 PM | Link to this

Mark this down: Va Tech will lose in the first game to sleeper, NC State. “Super” Mario Williams and Manny “the freak” Lawson will make a meatball out of Marcus Vick.

By Clete

August 22, 2005 10:46 PM | Link to this

I’ll be willing to be bet Max, who thinks USC is clearly no.1 with no close second, $10,000.00 USC DOES’NT win the national championship this year. USC is just like any other team throughout the past years going for a two-peat. Only they’re more over-hyped than most teams were.

By Colin

August 23, 2005 02:37 AM | Link to this

I don’t think many of you are familiar with Pac-10 football, and unfortunately, even a media writer like Mr. Barnhart isn’t, either. The only team that stands a chance to ruin USC’s run for three-peat is California Golden Bears. Case in point, the past three USC-Cal games have went down to the wire: In 2002, Cal was up by two touchdowns in fourth quarter when a referee gave a phantom touchdown to a USC receiver who had clearly dropped the football. USC came back to win the game and Carson Palmer went on to win the Heisman Trophy; in 2003, Cal, playing in front of a abnormally large crowd in Berkeley(Cal Berkeley’s academic reputation and renown is in par with the Ivy League schools, and the Cal students are notorious for not showing up for football games) defeated the Trojans(USC’s last loss); in 2004, with a minute left in the game, Cal, trailing by six points, had first and goal on the 9 yard line. Aaron Rodgers, Cal’s quarterback, who had tied Tee Martin’s NCAA record for consecutive completions in a game in this game, incredibly, failed to deliver a completion in four tries, although one ball was dropped in the endzone by a Cal receiver. USC went on to survive and claim another national championship with a total annihilation of an overrated Oklahoma team. This year the game is once again in Berkeley, and because of Jeff Tedford, Cal’s amazing coach and quarterbacks guru, who has breathed a life into once moribund program, Cal is again very strong this year(even though a lot of key players have graduated, Cal has been recruiting great players for the past three years and as we football fans all know, great coaches do not “rebuild” but “reload”) and is more than capable of upending USC once again. Plus, the Cal students and alumni are no longer apathetic to their football team. Thus, Cal’s Memorial Stadium will be packed and raucous. Another thing, many Cal players are from Southern California, and like the Auburn kids from Georiga who relish the opportunity to beat their hometown team, many Cal players from Southern California tend to play their best game against USC. So, Tony, it’s not VT or Tennessee who will push USC; rather, it will be a tough and well-disciplined team from Berkeley that has the best chance to knock off seeming invincible USC this year.

By Randy

August 23, 2005 08:04 AM | Link to this

Gentlemen (especially you Dawgs), your capacity for self delusion always amazes me. There are plenty of reasons for Barnhart’s picks all of the way down the line. Tennessee should beat Florida this year. Leak still has that ‘deer in the headlights look’ and who knows what LSU can be, they still haven’t got a quarterback. Luck will still be the major determinant for #2, #3, #4…(it will be tough to knock out USC, they have a light schedule and an easy path to Pasadena, as well as one of the most dominant teams to walk onto the field in the last 10 years), but the SEC may very well beat itself to death (a circular firing squad). It will be really tough for any team in the SEC to get through its own league without a fall.

For all of you Dawgs who are convinced that you will beat the Vols this year…that will only happen if we do the same thing you did last year…pencil in a Big ‘W’ before even playing the game.

By Steve

August 23, 2005 08:55 AM | Link to this

Hey UT fans…Go read your own paper in your own state.

By FRANK E. kAWTOSKI

August 23, 2005 09:44 AM | Link to this

Given the rather easy first five games I believe Penn State will go into the Ohio State game undefeated. I think its bowl chances are greatly enhanced by not having to play Iowa also. I also look for Michael Robinson to make a national impression at quarteback. Actually a Vick like impression.

By Brett

August 23, 2005 10:04 AM | Link to this

VT will rock this year. Yes, it has to happen on the field. But, I’ve followed VT for a long time, and this will be the first year where all the components are 100% there. Those being: Talent, depth, attitude, chemistry, leadership, focus, talent, talent, and talent. These guys aren’t joking around…

By ingineervt

August 23, 2005 10:14 AM | Link to this

Don’t be retarded…ask any fan to name 2 games they’re concerned about, one of them is bound to be NC State. We’re well aware of how good NC State is…remember we lost to them last year.

Just like we’re concerned about Miami, WVU (away), UVA (away), and Maryland (away).

Mark this down: Va Tech will lose in the first game to sleeper, NC State. “Super� Mario Williams and Manny “the freak� Lawson will make a meatball out of Marcus Vick.

By marcus

August 23, 2005 10:18 AM | Link to this

Ok, here it is. First off you cant compare a team from LAST year with a team from THIS year. You cant talk about “lucky” wins for UT against Florida (lets talk about Florida’s “lucky” win against UT in 99) or Ole Miss. A win is a win and a comeback is a comeback…especially if it is with a 3rd string QB with 2 FRESHMAN out. For all you GA fans, get over it. You lose to UT 11 out of 15 years. You lose in Athens last year and you were #3 in the nation at the time. Great win over Florida…good job and bout time. Wasnt that the FL team that Miss State beat? Bottom line is the conference is stacked. UF, UT, UGA, Bama. Lets face it if USC played in the SEC they wouldn’t be a shoe in at #1…talk about media hype. You can’t compare Oregon State, UCLA, STanford and Oregon to UF, UT, UGA and Bama. Come on….. UT has the best STARTING team in the SEC. Lets see how injuries play into this. And lets be honest here….there should be no surprise if UT loses a couple of games. My god, can you say ‘toughest schedule in the nation”? So, for you GA fans….hang in there and try to focus on keeping your atheletes on the field instead of in jail. You never know…with expectations low, you may shine this year. Look at UT in 98 after Peyton left…..if your gonna dream, dream big.

By marcus

August 23, 2005 10:22 AM | Link to this

Matt Mashburn….if I were you, I would learn to spell before you post a comment representing GA. Looks like last year Gerald Riggs let UT to a “W” in Athens. Oh, and Riggs is a legal adult…”Juvey” as you put it is for kids under the age of 18.

By Dave

August 23, 2005 10:34 AM | Link to this

UGA has only one SEC title, but has the best winning percentage in the SEC over the past 4 years. I’d say we’re pretty much close to the top if not at the top recently. And Tennessee fans don’t forget….UGA has won the past two in Knoxville including 41-14 the last time we were there. I look forward to UGA to continue it’s winning percentages.

By Nathan

August 23, 2005 10:37 AM | Link to this

All of you people need to remember who would’ve spanked USC two years ago and who is clearly the most talented team in the country, from the most talent rich state per capita. LSU has the finest facilities in the country and can boast the best talent. West Coast football is irrelevant down here. It’s nice to fly under the radar, therefore when January comes, we’ll see who’s holding that BCS National Championship Trophy again, AND IT WON’T BE VOTED ON EITHER.

By David

August 23, 2005 10:44 AM | Link to this

Response to Dan who stated: “They (Virginia Tech) could easily have beaten both USC and Auburn last season,” I seem to remember that Auburn won the Sugar Bowl last year by beating….Virginia Tech.

By Perry

August 23, 2005 10:59 AM | Link to this

Yes, UGA fans are amazing. TN beat GA (10 of last 14) with a true freshman QB. Georgia is the most over-hyped, done absolutely nothing in more than 20 years team in the country. Yes, how ‘bout them dawgs, indeed!

By Cotton

August 23, 2005 11:04 AM | Link to this

I agree, the Vols should have a strong team this year, with alot of talent, especially with Ainge at Qb. That said, so does Florida and Georgia. UT fan, you were given a gift last season against Florida, don’t try to argue that. Georgia, Florida and Tennessee should battle it out all season long, which what makes the SEC so great.

Lastly, UT Fan, yes, you owned Georgia in the 90s, but Georgia has had your number since 2000 winning 4 of 5. Which figures do you really want to lean on going into this season?

By Paul

August 23, 2005 11:20 AM | Link to this

These polls mean nothing. Last year is nothing. This year is now and… everyone… must prove… their worth… on the field. Go ahead and knock Virginia Tech to build up your team, because the Hokies prefer to be the underdog.

I’m not just speaking for VT. My words apply for any school that is trying earn their way to national respectability: Oregon, Cal, Louisville (although it pains me to recognize it after what you did to VT, we still got the last laugh), there are more school that don’t get the recognition they deserve than the handful that hog the spot-light.

By Justin

August 23, 2005 11:23 AM | Link to this

1.Virginia Tech is starting a rookie for all intents and purposes. 2.Norm Chow is gone from USC and he will missed more than we realize when we find out that USC has no offensive philosphy other than throwing with Leinhart and getting the ball Bush. 3. Tennessee has the poetential but not enough to garner the #3 ranking in the country. More like 9 or 10. I would rank the top ten as follows. 1. Texas 2. LSU 3. USC 4. Ohio State 5. Louisville 6. Miami 7. Michigan 8. Florida 9. Tennessee 10.Iowa

By Steve

August 23, 2005 11:43 AM | Link to this

David,

You said in response to Dan- “They (Virginia Tech) could easily have beaten both USC and Auburn last season,â€? I seem to remember that Auburn won the Sugar Bowl last year by beating….Virginia Tech”

Yes, VT lost to Auburn by 3 points, after passing up a chip shot FG in the 2nd qtr. If they make the FG, it is 16-16 at the end of regulation. Also, VT lost game 1 to USC by 9 points after a very controversial offensive pass interference call. And the game was still up for grabs in the 4th. So, yes, VT could have won either game if a single play or call goes the other way.

By Ted

August 23, 2005 11:48 AM | Link to this

Is Auburn the Rodney Dangerfield of college football? 13-0 last year and I know we lost 4 first rounders, but. We have the nucleus of our defense and our wr and te’s are all back. They will help break in a new qb. Tre Smith is back and he did rush for over 100 yds against Bama in 2003. So i believe we can still be a top 5 team again.

By Scott

August 23, 2005 11:51 AM | Link to this

I would rank the conferences this year like this… 1. SEC 2. Big 10 3. Big 12 4. ACC 5. Pac 10 Who cares after that.

So Colin, (who says that people in the south don’t understand West Coast football). Understand that!

Of course Cal has a better chance of beating USC than Tennessee, VT, Texas and anyone else in the top 25. They’re the only ones who are guaranteed a shot to play them.

By Mike Rebillot

August 23, 2005 12:18 PM | Link to this

I believe the winner of the Ohio State/Texas game on 9/10 will play USC in the Rose Bowl for the National championship. Mike(OSU ‘66 and not the least bit partial.)

By John

August 23, 2005 01:03 PM | Link to this

I know Spurrier is the best coach in college football and he’ll probably win the SEC, but placing USC #1 in his first year seems a little lofty.

By Andrew Bagley

August 23, 2005 01:16 PM | Link to this

Anyone who criticizes the entusiasm and excitement of a georgia football is simply jelous. Georgia suffered through one of the most excruciating decades a team can have and still managed to sell out Sanford Stadium every Saturday. This jelousy has blinded Vols, Gators, and all other critics to the fact that Georgia has a BETTER record than them over the past four years. We are no longer an easy win. Mark Rict will prove to be a better coach than that cheater Fullmer, as Goeriga will leave Tennesse sprawled out and dumbfounded just like that tennesse thug football player left that poor kid lying half dead on the basketball court.

By Objective Hokie Fan

August 23, 2005 01:59 PM | Link to this

Tony Barnhart is being very generous to the Hokies. The potential is there for the Hokies to be great, as is the case for many teams mentioned in the top 15. Virginia Tech has a better and more balanced “team” than when Michael Vick was with the Hokies (taking the Vick factor out of formulas). There’s no doubt many fans want Marcus to be as electrifying as his older brother, and there may be some of that, but Marcus will not need to carry the team as much as Michael did. NCST is only one team that will cause Virginia Tech to bring their “A” game to, this season. There are a lot of young and unproven talented players on this year’s team, and several proven players also, with the potential to be great this year.

Next year (2006) Virginia Tech will be the team to beat as most of their offensive talent will be seasoned veterans at QB, WR, RB, OL., and the core of the talented defense will be back again, and could realistically accept a preseason ranking of #2.

As a college football fan, Virginia Tech football will be strong and exciting for several years… starting last season, but don’t know if they deserve to be ranked #2 at the start of this season with so many great teams worthy of that ranking. It will be a very exciting year in college football, but agree that preseason polls are meaningless… Virginia Tech proved that last year and hope they prove Tony Barnhart right this year.

By Wareagle

August 23, 2005 02:48 PM | Link to this

TO DAN: Notice you said VA TECH could have easily beat USC and Auburn last season!!! Here is a news flash they LOST!!!!

By Paul

August 23, 2005 02:58 PM | Link to this

Getover it Georgia fans you were over rated last year same as this year so is tennessee. Florida will win the SEC this year

By Robbie Burns

August 23, 2005 03:03 PM | Link to this

With this ridiculous decision regarding Tony, are former employees at the NCAA’s offices now working for the AJC?

By Jon

August 23, 2005 03:45 PM | Link to this

Va Tech has everything in place. Fall practice has been the best Beamer can remember. The team is focused particularly since their first game is against the only ACC school to beat them. Team even voted to start practices at 6:00AM because of commitment.

By chris

August 23, 2005 04:54 PM | Link to this

note to auburn fans: you may have been lucky to beat vt in the sugar bowl, but guess what, you were still #2!!!!!

By BB

August 23, 2005 10:14 PM | Link to this

If there was a rule that you could only recruit & play players from your home state, then Tennessee would be the worst in the SEC. The only reason that they win is because they recruit kids from other states. As long as Mark Richt is in Athens, UGA will always compete with UT & UF. UT got lucky last year in Athens, but the Dawgs will get their revenge on the Vols on October the 8th. The fact that the game is in Knoxville doesn’t matter because everyone knows that MR teams flourish on the road. UT is overrated kind of like my Dawgs were last year. We will shock them again this year just like 2003 when Sean Jones returned that fumble 92 yards. The look on the faces of all those Vol fans was priceless!

By Coach

August 24, 2005 10:08 AM | Link to this

This poll is what is wrong with Division I football. It is subjective and biased. Until Division I goes to a post season playoff to determine the best team on the field, the National Champ will always be mythical.

Division II, and III has the time to do it correctly. What’s the excuse of Division I. Academic arguments are bogus. It has to be about the money and that really confuses me because if a national playoff was implemented the money paid by advertisers to the bowl committees and the schools involved would make March madness an after thought.

By Andy

August 24, 2005 10:51 AM | Link to this

DAVE, DAVE, DAVE. You’ll see why Tony has the Vols ranked #3. Just wait and see what happens when your mutts visit Knoxville in October. Thanks Tony for seeing what the rest of the country besides Dave sees.

GO MUTTS SIC’M YIP YIP YIP

By MT

August 24, 2005 01:04 PM | Link to this

VT had a talented team last year and should be good again this year-but no team in college football could have “easily” beat USC last year, although Auburn might have limited the damage. And this coming from a DAWG fan.

By crs

August 24, 2005 03:31 PM | Link to this

The thing about Tennessee is they play a brutal schedule, it is highly possible they have two losses before September is out. That’s what I don’t like about polls, they need to wait a month before any rankings come out.

By lowell

August 24, 2005 09:02 PM | Link to this

I really look forward to some day watching a Georgia team play a real schedule, one with a tough opponent outside the conference…Try playing Miami, Notre Dame, UCLA maybe— One conference win in Atlanta doesn’t signal any type of dynasty. If you learn to run the ball straight up instead of that sprint draw and quit being so over confident, you might just learn how to win with class. Go vols

By WHOPPER DAWG

August 25, 2005 02:44 AM | Link to this

First again, I am a DAWG fan. The SEC East will be a DAWG fight this year for all teams, the SEC in total will too. The competition in the SEC in getting simply unbelievable when compared with the other conferences.

In short order I look to see these teams in a preseason top 25 (this is potential)

GA TN FL SC AL AU LS

With MS, OM and Ar floating in and out.

KY and VD play the round ball.

It could happen my SEC friends.

TO HELL WITH TECH

By Greg

August 25, 2005 04:15 AM | Link to this

The only thing I do agree with when it comes to a dawg fan. Whopper I concur the SEC is the toughest conference in the USA. 6 teams in the top 25 while USC gets another cush schedule this year with a very weak PAC 10 conference. They play 1 top 25 team while the SEC beats up on each other. No wonder USC will 3 peat!!! Just doesn’t seem fair does it??

By Kyle

August 25, 2005 10:08 AM | Link to this

To the guy who said Tennessee cant rely on recruiting talent from inside the state of Tennessee: One could argue that the best High School receiver and tailback in the country came from Tennessee. If you think I am wrong, ask Pete Carrol and Phil Fulmer why they recruited them.

By Lovely

August 25, 2005 10:27 AM | Link to this

Ahhh, college football in the south. Only here does it inspire the religious-like passion.

I agree that until somebody beats USC, it is their crown to lose… The rest is pure speculation. I would like to remind Tennessee fans that when you won your national championship, you did it the year after Peyton & Company left… With a scrambling QB, a deep backfield and a solid defense…. Sounds alot like Georgia this year, doesn’t it????

By Big Pene

August 25, 2005 10:49 AM | Link to this

I HATE UGA. Nothing else to say.

By MD

August 25, 2005 02:24 PM | Link to this

Nobody ever seems to consider schedule when developing preseason polls. Both UF and UT play at LSU and at ‘Bama. UGA’s schedule by comparison is much softer. If you assume that UF, UT, and UGA all beat each other, which often happens, the difference in the East this year will occur in Baton Rouge and Tuscaloosa. Says here that UGA will beat UF, UT will beat UGA, and UF will beat UT. Either LSU or ‘Bama (or both) will send Georgia to the Title game. And keep in mind that UGA was ranked #3 in last year’s AP preseason poll. UT? 14. Auburn? 17. Preseason polls mean nothing. GO DAWGS!

By Dave

August 25, 2005 04:30 PM | Link to this

Andy, you sound like every Vol fan..an intolerable winner and a whiny loser. I’ll keep your name on hand when you limp into Neyland Stadium to play UGA with a record of 2-2 after getting beatdowns from LSU and Florida. Next will be a continuation of the shellacking the last time UGA visited Knoxville. Of course, by then there will be a suicide watch for TN fans leaping into the Tennessee River because “they have nothing left to live for.”.

By Chuck_Uuga

August 25, 2005 05:43 PM | Link to this

Wow, it sure is funny to read all the anti-UGA venom on here. It’s also enjoyable to know that UGA is so over-hyped and untalented. Funny thing, seems UT was recruiting 90% of the same players that will be starting for UGA this Fall. Amazing how they have become less talented for not attending UT.

All I know is Mark Richt is 34-6 the past 3 seasons. UGA is 4-1 against UT since 2000 (favored to win in only 2 of those 5 games winning 1 and losing 1). He now has 4 successive Top 10 recruiting classes to pull from. An entire returning OL bigger and stronger than last season, a seasoned DL and DE’s, experience at LB and in the D-backfield, amazing talent at RB and FB. Yeah, we’ll see how poor they perform this season. I’m sure 15 years as Bowden’s assistant had nothing to do with that 34-6 record. Uh-huh. Bottom line: We’ll be watching them play in the Dome on December 3rd.

By Jackets fan

August 26, 2005 03:56 PM | Link to this

It took David Green 4 tries to beat Florida. What makes anyone think, with the talent UGA lost to the draft or legal/academic troubles, that Shockley can beat them his first time out? And if I’m not mistaken UGA travels to Knoxville to face UT. So their two toughest SEC games are away (the COCKtail party is an away game since it’s always in Florida). But we know UGA never plays a non conference game outside of Athens (exception Tech), so at least they protect themselves that way. Newsflash Dawg nation, you’ll never win a national championship unless you’re willing to go on the road to face a big time opponent. See USC vs. VaTech last year or Tennessee at Notre Dame this year or Texas at Ohio State this year. These are spring board games that take teams to the title game.

TO HELL WITH UGA.

By Lovely

August 27, 2005 02:55 AM | Link to this

Does Georgia Tech still play football?

By BiteMe

August 27, 2005 10:45 AM | Link to this

Jacketsfan - It’s David Greene, not Green…you should have learned that after four consecutive victories against Tech by an average of 20 points/game. And here is a ‘newsflash’ for you: The only legitimate out of conference game Georgia plays this season is Boise State, not Georgia Tech. Boise State would beat Tech anytime, anywhere. The Broncos are a legitimate Top 15-20 program…Tech is not. The ironic thing about strength of schedule argument is the Georgia game helps Tech dramatically…and the Tech game hurts Georgia. So, any strength of schedule argument is a fallacy. Oh, and when you get beat by the team whose schedule you are making fun of…well, that’s even more ridiculous. Looking at UGAs schedule, the only teams that Georgia plays who are worse than Tech are La-Monroe, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky. Every other team UGA plays would be favored against Tech.

I expect another Chantastic season on North Avenue…5-6 wins, get drilled by an 8+ win UGA team, play in a second tier bowl, and make fun of UGA’s out of conference schedule. Sounds like lots to look forward to on the flats. College Football fans who were raised outside the south, but live in Atlanta always get a good laugh at Tech fans. You guys have little brother syndrome in the worse way. I’m sure the Southern fans get a kick out of it as well.

By cal

August 27, 2005 07:59 PM | Link to this

I have several things to say. First and foremost I love where UT is ranked and where UGA is ranked. Georgia has always done better flying under the radar so Dawg fans let’s keep it that way. If everyone in the country wants to discount UGA I say let them. I also wouldn’t boast about UGA beating UT. On paper it doesn’t look very likely but that is why the play the game. UT you better be careful your schedule like UF’s is brutal so I wouldn’t talk that much smack either and You have beatean UGA 10 out of the last 14 years but UGA beat you the last 4 out of 5 so which sounds better and which is a better stat? As for UGA’s schedule that is why they are going to play Colorado next year and Arizona State in 2008 and are currently working to play UCLA in the near future. You guys obviously missed that memo. As for Tech fans I wouldn’t talk about anyone’s out of conference schedule. Who do you play out of conference besides UGA? Auburn once in a blue moon somewhat impressive but mostly you play people like Furman and Samford year in and year out. That’s pathetic and I wouldnt’ mock a team that has beaten you four years in a row and destroyed you three of those four years. Get a coach that’s worth a flip and a QB that can count to four and then we can talk.

By Ed

August 27, 2005 09:15 PM | Link to this

It’s great. To be. An IRISHMAN.

We beat the Vols, PHYSICALLY, in NEYLAND.

And THEY are #4? Man, Auburn don’t get no respect a tall.

By DALE

August 28, 2005 10:09 AM | Link to this

the gremlins of tiger stadium will haunt you this year, tony. you know, deep down the tigers are for real. and we have four blurs at receivers (two on the world record mile relay) so watch us throw 2 yards behind the line and no one can touch them. geaux you football tigers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Walt Miller

August 28, 2005 10:19 PM | Link to this

UT Fan here. The Vols have no obvious weaknesses. We have a really good QB in Ainge, and Riggs looks to have a great year running. One of the defensive players said we have 5 AA’s on the defense. We certainly have 3 legit AA’s in Mahelona, Simon, and Allen. Three of SI’s top 10 players in the SEC are Vols — Riggs, Ainge and Mahelona. One of the magazines said that UT had both the best offensive and defensive lines in the conference. The secondary looks improved.

People are betting that UT can’t win at UF and LSU on consecutive weekends. On the other hand, UT has won two in a row at Florida Field and 3 of the last 4. So hopefully, if they get past UF, they won’t go totally flat against LSU the way UGA was deflated after their LSU game last year.

I think Shockley will do fine at UGA. I hear the receivers are not top drawer and that they are thin at linebacker.

LSU has really good backs and receivers but still has some questions at QB.

I don’t think Leak is going to match his hype - again. I think it is an open question how he will do in this spread offense of Meyers’. UF will probably be pretty pumped for his first SEC game on 9/17. I think (obviously) that UT wins this game.

I’d say it’s @ 1 chance in 4 that UT will beat both UF and LSU. I think we handle everyone else in the conference and we’ll beat Notre Dame.

Bama is always scary.

Walt

By Randall Haire

August 28, 2005 10:25 PM | Link to this

I’m sorry this is off the subject, but I feel it must be said. Mr. Barnhart Iam 44 years old and I have enjoyed you and Mr. Bishers articles most of adult life. The point, here we go again. They’re giving us the instant replay under the disguise that it’s for the fans, when it is really just a way for the MAN to control the game like they do in the NFL, controlling the outcome subtly.

By poul

August 29, 2005 02:51 AM | Link to this

well mr.barnhart.i was impressed by usc last year what they did to ou.i couldn/t believe what is goin on with ou.i would be surprise if usc did it again.3 in a row.

By frank

August 30, 2005 04:52 PM | Link to this

go team

By Rudy's Back!!

September 2, 2005 02:46 AM | Link to this

Don’t worry about USC. They’ll get upset at So.Bend on 10-15. GO IRISH!!