Tickets are available.
Travel plans likely can be made.
Tennessee can’t officially identify what game the tickets are good for or guarantee a destination, but all indications point to the Chick-fil-A Bowl and Atlanta.
According to a source with knowledge of the process, the Vols are headed for a showdown at 7:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve against Virginia Tech, but no public announcement is expected until after the Bowl Championship Series process is complete on Sunday. In the meantime, UT will keep its options open after surprisingly being shunned by the Outback Bowl on Tuesday, even though it now appears to have found a home for the holidays.
“We’re always going to keep having contact with folks, that’s part of the relationship-building process and so forth,” UT athletic director Mike Hamilton said. “But we feel like there’s a pretty strong sense of direction of where this team is going to end up.
“Until we receive official notice, we’ll continue to have conversations.”
More discussions with the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., would seem unlikely after it apparently broke from tradition to take Auburn out of the SEC West instead of the second-place finisher in the East, but that could actually work out in UT’s favor.
The Vols (7-5, 4-4 SEC) still don’t have a verbal or written deal in place with the Chick-fil-A and the SEC isn’t releasing anything official yet either, but a primetime game against the Hokies (9-3, 6-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) could hold far more appeal than an early kickoff against Wisconsin on New Year’s Day.
And out of a pool of Clemson and Georgia Tech from the ACC or South Carolina and Georgia from the SEC, the matchup with the Vols and Hokies might be the best fit all around.
“We’ve got to wait through Sunday, and obviously we respect championship games and I think you’ve got to let those teams play before you can make any decisions,” Chick-fil-A Bowl president Gary Stokan said. “I think anytime you get the chance to work the University of Tennessee and a Mike Hamilton, who we think so much of personally and professionally, it’s a good situation to be in.
“When you look at the numbers with Tennessee having played No. 1 and No. 2 in close games, certainly being 4-1 in their own division with the head-to-head-to-head records against who would be in our selection process, plus I think there’s also a feeling with the fans and the team with what Coach (Lane) Kiffin has brought in there. There’s a new excitement at Tennessee.”
It reached a crescendo last Saturday on the road at Kentucky when the Vols looked like they had won an Outback Bowl play-in game in overtime to cap off Kiffin’s first season, but a field of six conference teams at 7-5 muddied the postseason waters and left both the bowls and the teams scrambling during the last few days.
That process isn’t even close to done yet as the league waits for Alabama and Florida in the SEC championship game on Saturday, but there appears to have been enough movement to piece together plans for UT.
“We won’t know anything official until after the BCS selection process,” Hamilton said. “We know the BCS process is first and we have to respect that.
“But in the process, if it’s far enough along that the bowls have made their selections and there’s reasonable certainty that things are going to work out the way people think it might pan out, then we obviously would like for the process to move along so folks can make plans and arrangements.”
The Vols can probably start, but for now they’re technically still tentative.
Tennessee 69, South Carolina 57 men's…
Tennessee 60, Connecticut 57 men's…
Tennessee 73, Georgia 62 men's…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 150
pammyvol1000 writes:
huh.. what happened to the Outback?
richvol writes:
The upside...It helps us recruit Georgia
The downside...the Outback screwed us again
riversetvol writes:
I never have liked the Outback's management, but it's pretty hard to say we were screwed when they take a team that beat us head to head.
Even though we haven't played well in it the Chick-Fil-A/Peach is a first class operation.
p66ayers#1376155 writes:
Beat the Techerwoods. I'm 20 minutes from Blacksburg. The worlds biggest "Hokie Pokie" in the 4th quater against William and Mary don't impress th Big Orange!
WytheVol writes:
Your screen name should say listentotheSIRENS...
hokies4ever writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
FatherVol writes:
And you should...just the way SS used to do to us.
WytheVol writes:
I live in Wytheville and hope like hell our Vols beat the Hokies. My living room will be full of Hokies and I would love to have some smack to talk all night long!!!
GOVOLZ1 writes:
Better matchup + better exposure + better-looking Hotlanta women....on New Year's Eve to boot. SCORE!
SanFranciscoVol writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
razin55 writes:
A surprising fact for you, Who gives a flying rats arse about what you "think". Just maybe you do need a good bowel movement since you and the "rest of your kind" are full of poop
RJ_Vol writes:
I really think playing a highly ranked Va-Tech team is much more a draw than playing Wisconsin, again. We'll fill the Dome. I will say I do wish we'd played in the Cotton. While the Peach is not a New Year's Day bowl, it is a marquee match-up. I am much more fired up to play the Hokies than either Wisconsin or PSU. Looking forward to it if that is what transpires.
WytheVol writes:
I'd rather watch us play any team from the ACC than the best team in the Weak10.
the10sevol writes:
i've been (shudder) in central fla for 30 years, and the citrus/cap-1 bowl is still the tangerine bowl to me, in fact, locals still refer to the stadium as the t-bowl.
GBO
tree_em_smokey writes:
This is off subject but is funny: Breaking news tiger woods at fault in ONE car crash... really I didnt know the tree was being questioned as to what his role in the crash was. I mean come on. Duh!
slov writes:
huh? stupid.
p66ayers#1376155 writes:
I like the match up. It beats last years bowl for sure. Big 10 is boring, and all jokes aside, if the Techers get a blocked punt or fg early or some kinda fire they will be tough to beat.
slov writes:
whew. better.
slov writes:
hmm... good.
slov writes:
funny and deserved.
wally writes:
I'm much more excited about playing the Hokies in Atlanta than WI in Tampa. VT is a better team and the GA Dome is an outstanding venue. I'm looking forward to it.
slov writes:
yep. wouldnt count on rankings. exposure will be good.
asleep#212036 writes:
Good.
hokies4ever writes:
If Witch Doctor read cheer I am all VOL ,wife all Hokie. I love to read bones never lie Go Vols.
Cldvols1 writes:
Yes, I would much rather play in the Chick Fil A as opposed to the Outback! New Years Eve @ 8:30pm vs New Years Day @ 11am and the Hokies will be a great matchup. Go Vols!!!
asleep#212036 writes:
Except that we finished higher in the conference with a tougher conference schedule and we are in the East, a tradition the Outback has fallen back on before when they didn't want a West team. BUT - I agree that a prime time matchup with Virginia Tech, if we win, is preferable. Pretty sure we would kick a midlevel Big 10 foe, Va Tech is much more difficult. It's all about the extra practice anyway.
asleep#212036 writes:
No matchup with Wisconsin is attractive for anybody. It's just the prestige of a NYD bowl. But we certainly can't complain when we are 7-5 and lost to UCLA and Auburn at home. Go Vols!!!
VolinCalif writes:
1st year poetry A-
seacondor writes:
Wisconsin is just not appealing...Very lucky as fans to have this match-up with Va Tech - Could be the beginning of a great series. The bowl tie-ins are just stale. Playing a middle of the pack Big-10 team is not exciting anymore. If your not in a BCS bowl, what a great match-up. Bet it plays out as the best non-BCS of the year.
p66ayers#1376155 writes:
Meet me at old stock market and I'll bring you a jar of liquid "smack talker" for you and none of your Hokie friends.
asleep#212036 writes:
It's possible that an impressive win against Va Tech, with some other losses at the bottom of the polls could sneak us in but I agree with you, a 5-loss team is rarely going to be ranked. That spanking we got from Ole Miss took care of that. The exposure to recruits and momentum going forward are much more important than rankings anyway. Go Vols!!!
hokies4ever writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
tennezz writes:
Every time I read your posts I think of a bowel movement!
SanFranciscoVol writes:
And an A- in wit and candor as well.
GBO hound them Hokies!!!
Looking forward to the month long recovery for our team to get healthy. Crompton needs to go out in a blaze of glory!
WytheVol writes:
The smack talk has already began. I've been lighting up their phones since I heard this earlier today.
GahLee writes:
Star DL Chris has de-committed from Notre Dame, yes we are/were recruiting him, he visited Florida last weekend and appears to be a lean towards the Gators or the Trojans, still reserving hope that we can get him.
RJ_Vol writes:
Who needs the Outhouse Bowl?
bigorange101582 writes:
I would rather play Va Tech instead of Wisconsin, New Year's Eve is better than 11 a.m. New Year's Day and I live a lot closer to Atlanta than Tampa; however, we got screwed again just like in 2003.
In 2003 we finished the regular season ranked #6 and then lost SEC championship game. So Outback picked Florida and we went to the Peach Bowl - the highest ranked team ever to go to Peach Bowl. We had no desire to play in that bowl and felt like we were screwed (which we were) and therefore didn't show up to play. And we got beat by Clemson. We were a much better team than them but as they say, "the better team doesn't always win". I live 20 minutes from Clemson and still hear about it.
This year we finished 4-4 in SEC and Auburn finished 3-5. We were 2nd in east and they were 5th in west. We finished 5-2 in last seven games and the finished 2-5. Common sense says we go ahead of Auburn. I know it's Outback bowl choice but all it comes down to is money! Not what your record is or where you finish in your conference.
Honestly I think only teams with 8 wins should go to a bowl game. There are way too many bowl games and a 6-6 team doesn't deserve it.
CoverOrange writes:
Why is it the Outback can extend invitations but everyone else has to wait until next Sunday?
WytheVol writes:
I agree. VT is no joke. Their freshman RB is 110 yards away from setting the school's single season record, and Tyrod Taylor CAN make some good throws. He looked great against Nebraska and Miami, but still seems to be a run first type QB. If he plays well, we could have some problems, because their ground game is so good. Bud Foster coached defenses are no slouch either. Their special teams haven't been outstanding this year, but overall they are a very good team.
Their play calling in the last couple of bowl games has been very sketchy and cost them some wins. Overall, I think we have a really good shot at beating them. But I do agree, I think this could be the best non-BCS game...
tigervol77 writes:
I want to play Clemson in the Chick-fil-a bowl. My wife went to Clemson and she is not letting my live down our last game in the Peach! I want redemption! Don't get me wrong Clemson is my # 2 team, but I want us to have a crack at them again!!! GO VOLS!!!!!! Whoever we play!
WytheVol writes:
Good question...
steamboatticket#484773 writes:
I got a proper respect for the W-Doc. I also got some advice. If he wants to keep dem bones from lying, keep them away from a telephone!
seacondor writes:
Clemson will have to wait behind, North Texas St, Army, UCLA, Dang let's hope we don't add anymore to this list anytime soon...
tigervol77 writes:
I know.......just want her to know that the ACC is not at our level. Of course I think deep down she knows.
tovolny writes:
Well, all these comments are interesting and entertaining.Just PLEASE...if anyone out there hasn't read Aesop's fable of the fox and the grapes...don't...it would mess up the fun for us that have. Human nature is so predictable but, none the less, entertaining. Yeal"eat mor chickin" and forget the sirloin fillet (Outback Special), a cut that doesn't exist.
hokies4ever writes:
Duh Huh what the Hell?
AllforTenn writes:
Which "he" are you referring to, Hamilton or Kiffin? Either way, you are way off base.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Aaaarg, not the Dome.
Again.
SmokeyHound writes:
my birthday is new years...the vols better get me a bday present practice hard, get healthy, and beat the cr@p out of va tech!!! every vol fan go to the game! we need all support we can get! go vols!
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