In The Tennessean today Williams says the Wake Forest game hasn't worked attendance -wise at either school and he's looking for a new end-of-year opponent. So he's looking at MTSU for that spot, but MTSU wants to play at the start of the year. I don't like that as the final game. It's a no-win situation for us and I don't think anybody at Vandy thinks of MTSU as a rival.

I wish we would look at playing a series with Memphis. Might help us some in recruiting the area also.

CrimeDore wrote: In The Tennessean today Williams says the Wake Forest game hasn't worked attendance -wise at either school...

Strange that he would say that, since we haven't had Wake visit Nashville in years, & they're scheduled to so so the next two seasons, right? I'd at least see how the attendance does next season at home before expressing disappointment.

dvinson wrote: I wish we would look at playing a series with Memphis. Might help us some in recruiting the area also.

I totally agree with the Memphis thing.  We had some good games with them in the past, it would certainly raise our exposure in Memphis, and I don't care a whit about doing anything to help MTSU.

Blech.  I was afraid that might happen at some point.  I don't necessarily have a problem playing MTSU, but I don't want to play Tennessee and MTSU back to back.  

I've thought all along that Memphis would be a good choice for that spot, but that's not exactly going to fill the stadium, either.  Depending upon what ultimately happens with the SEC schedule, I could possibly see playing Missouri on the final weekend, since they no longer have a season-ending series with Kansas.  (Missouri played Texas A&M the final weekend this year, which is understandable given their Big 12 ties, but that may not be a permanent rivalry since they are in different SEC divisions). They would at least bring some fans to the game, and an SEC opponent would be a better draw locally on Thanksgiving weekend.

Of course, I've said all along I want to move the UT game to mid-season.

Couple of things...for a couple of reasons, the last WF game here was horrible attendance wise. Maybe the worst in 30 yrs...Citadel the other in late 90's. Don't know just how big of a crowd it would've drawn this year as a final game when it really didn't mean anything. We were already bowl eligible.

I want to play and beat the crap out of MTHS, so I would love this.

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--- CrimeDore wrote:

In The Tennessean today Williams says the Wake Forest game hasn't worked attendance -wise at either school and he's looking for a new end-of-year opponent. So he's looking at MTSU for that spot, but MTSU wants to play at the start of the year. I don't like that as the final game. It's a no-win situation for us and I don't think anybody at Vandy thinks of MTSU as a rival.

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It's been rumored for a while that Mizzou and Arkansas would become cross-division rivals, and would play last week of the regular season. The conference would also move the LSU-A&M game to that weekend, as well. Personally, I would rather switch back to UT-Vandy playing on Thanksgiving weekend.

AuricGoldfinger wrote: Blech.  I was afraid that might happen at some point.  I don't necessarily have a problem playing MTSU, but I don't want to play Tennessee and MTSU back to back.  

I've thought all along that Memphis would be a good choice for that spot, but that's not exactly going to fill the stadium, either.  Depending upon what ultimately happens with the SEC schedule, I could possibly see playing Missouri on the final weekend, since they no longer have a season-ending series with Kansas.  (Missouri played Texas A&M the final weekend this year, which is understandable given their Big 12 ties, but that may not be a permanent rivalry since they are in different SEC divisions). They would at least bring some fans to the game, and an SEC opponent would be a better draw locally on Thanksgiving weekend.

Of course, I've said all along I want to move the UT game to mid-season.

Katuah wrote: As much as I admire what David Williams has done for Vandy, this is a bad decision ... Especially so since it is a 4-game contract ... 

We have absolutely nothing to gain by playing Middle ...
 
 They, on the other hand, have EVERYTHING to gain ...
 
 And considering their poor attendance figures, I doubt they could even sell out their 30k seat stadium for a weekend game ... But, a weekday game, when everyone is on campus, would possibly be a different story ... I doubt that even James Franklin could get his players excited about playing MTSU.  
 
 However, a home & home series with The University of Memphis makes very good sense for Vanderbilt.   

It's just as much of no-win situation to play Memphis right now as MTSU. Middle's attendance numbers are pretty bad, but a home game at Floyd against Vandy is a guaranteed sellout. It might be half Vandy fans, but it would sell out.

I think almost every Vandy fan would like to see it moved back to Thanksgiving weekend versus where it is now, but I think that ship has sailed...unless Kentucky and Louisville come to an agreement that with the Cardinals' move to the ACC, it makes sense to place that game on Thanksgiving weekend with the other SEC/ACC matchups.

I can see moving the LSU-A&M game to Thanksgiving weekend, even though Arkansas-LSU has been a terrific rivalry.

shelbyvillevol wrote: It's been rumored for a while that Mizzou and Arkansas would become cross-division rivals, and would play last week of the regular season. The conference would also move the LSU-A&M game to that weekend, as well. Personally, I would rather switch back to UT-Vandy playing on Thanksgiving weekend.

AuricGoldfinger wrote: I think almost every Vandy fan would like to see it moved back to Thanksgiving weekend versus where it is now, but I think that ship has sailed...unless Kentucky and Louisville come to an agreement that with the Cardinals' move to the ACC, it makes sense to place that game on Thanksgiving weekend with the other SEC/ACC matchups.

I can see moving the LSU-A&M game to Thanksgiving weekend, even though Arkansas-LSU has been a terrific rivalry.

shelbyvillevol wrote: It's been rumored for a while that Mizzou and Arkansas would become cross-division rivals, and would play last week of the regular season. The conference would also move the LSU-A&M game to that weekend, as well. Personally, I would rather switch back to UT-Vandy playing on Thanksgiving weekend.

I think UK and UL moving their game to that weekend makes sense, given UF-FSU, USCe-Clem., and UGA-GT are that weekend, too. I think Mizzou-Arkansas would develop into a big rivalry.

"candy" ? Did you just slip and reveal your innermost orange bias?

vandystud wrote: "candy" ? Did you just slip and reveal your innermost orange bias?

Not much to reveal. Look at the handle of the poster.

I would like to see us add Memphis as well. If not them then add in WKU...I wouldn't even think about adding in MTSU.

shelbyvillevol wrote:

Katuah wrote: As much as I admire what David Williams has done for Vandy, this is a bad decision ... Especially so since it is a 4-game contract ... 

We have absolutely nothing to gain by playing Middle ...
 
 They, on the other hand, have EVERYTHING to gain ...
 
 And considering their poor attendance figures, I doubt they could even sell out their 30k seat stadium for a weekend game ... But, a weekday game, when everyone is on campus, would possibly be a different story ... I doubt that even James Franklin could get his players excited about playing MTSU.  
 
 However, a home & home series with The University of Memphis makes very good sense for Vanderbilt.   

It's just as much of no-win situation to play Memphis right now as MTSU. Middle's attendance numbers are pretty bad, but a home game at Floyd against Vandy is a guaranteed sellout. It might be half Candy fans, but it would sell out.

Yeah, we certainly were candy for you this year, huh.  Of course, chocolate candy might go well with buttchugging, I don't know.

Katuah wrote: It's just as much of no-win situation to play Memphis right now as MTSU. Middle's attendance numbers are pretty bad, but a home game at Floyd against Vandy is a guaranteed sellout. It might be half Vandy fans, but it would sell out.

Reply:  The same was said of our games in basketball at Murphy Center (re: sellout) ... Yet it was NOT sold out. I don't believe Vandy fans would be very excited to attend a game in Murfreesboro ... Our "road crowds" for other than bowls has been meager thus far.

Of the 6000 at Murphy Center the last time Vandy played there, 2000 were VU fans.  And that was well before the recent surge in Vandy fans in the north part of Rutherford County (Blackman, Smyrna/Lavergne)

A football game down there might sell out with about a third of the crowd being Vandy.

Did we not offer to move the Tennessee game to accommodate their rivalry game with Kentucky, all the while admitting that we needed it the weekend before so our student section was not empty for Thanksgiving and filled with orange? Why would we consider moving it back and returning to the same issue?

I don't think Wake Forest is a great attendance game but lately I've sure enjoyed us whipping that tail. If Coach Franklin continues to put us in bowl games that's a nice senior ending against a non SEC foe every two years at home.

The MTSU game to end the season will not happen because of Conference USA's proposed rule for the league to end its non conference schedule in the first half of the year and finish in conference games.

Opening with MTSU might be a great attendance draw but it's a dangerous game.

SumnerCountyDore wrote: Couple of things...for a couple of reasons, the last WF game here was horrible attendance wise. Maybe the worst in 30 yrs...

Plus the weather was horrible that night.  And we weren't much better either...

And playing MTSU is a terrible idea.

Even Phil Fulmer commented on the differing admission standards between MTSU and SEC schools.