WTF, mate? link

OS Poll actually asks 'Is the Gators v. Vols game the most anticipated in Swamp History?'

I'm flying back for the game, but that's only because it's one of two decent home matchups this year, and Thanksgiving is a generally a prohibitively expensive flight (plus if I stay in Dallas I get the Cowboys and tailgating on Turkey Day, but let's move on).

Note my comment on the OS page:

This is a joke, right?

This wouldn't even be in my top 30.
 

The more embarassing thing is that 22 people voted for this game!

I would say it's not the most anticipated THIS SEASON (FSU, Tebow Senior Day, plus best team to visit Swamp this year) or the most anticipated in the (short) history of this rivalry... behind 95, 97, 99, and 01, at the least. I'd even argue for 07 UT ahead of this one, because I would say there was greater anticipation to see Tebow as a starter in his first SEC game than this likely bloodbath. And 05 was Meyer's first &big& game.

The poll has a pretty good list of games, otherwise. I threw down the gauntlet, so now I'm going to have to come up with 30 more anticipated games. Hint: I'll actually put Spurrier, Meyer, and even Zook coaching debuts on this list ahead of this weekend's game. Who wasn't looking forward to seeing new coaching staffs? (disclaimer: these are the only coaching changes in my memory-creating lifetime)

I voted for the 01 UT game, though I'm not 100% sold on it. My thinking about that game was that whichever team won was going to be favored against LSU for the SEC Title, with a shot at Pasadena. Sure, the winner of the UF-UT game is always a favorite to reach Atlanta, but this game was moved to December because of 9/11... so it was fairly close to that &National Semifinal& feel that UF-Bama had in ATL in 08.

Other games not in the poll I've thought of real quickly:

1991 FSU: What if I told you this would be a matchup between hated rivals, including two top 5 teams? Is that something you'd be interested in?

1993 FSU: Noles were #1, Gators #7... we lost, they win the NC. Two guys who eventually win the Heisman on the field.

1994 Georgia: Considering we never get them in the Swamp. Sure, the game was a blowout, but including THIS WEEKEND'S game on the list means we don't care if they are blowouts.

2006 LSU: #5 v. #10. Sorry, matchups between two top ten teams are going to beat out this Kiffin BS, every time. We won the title, LSU was the media's golden boy squad who 'got hot' at the end of the season and was included in people's argument for a playoff.

2008 LSU: What if I told you this would be a matchup between the last two National Champions? Is that something you'd be interested in?

Almost any other game I can think of involving two ranked teams. Several more Auburn games. The Alabama game I wrote about here. This is too easy.

Check back later this week for my full list of 30. Note, including EVERY OTHER GAME in the OS poll, we've gotten to 20+ more anticipated games, without breaking a sweat.

Orlando Sentinel, I'm embarassed by your sensationalism.