Should Tennessee play Memphis regularly in football? The question comes up very often in the debate.
So I decided to check in with the most informed group of Tennessee sports fans (my literary collaborators) and get their take on the rivalry.
I asked them if they thought UT should play Memphis often or occasionally in football and basketball or just basketball. Or should Tennessee act as if Memphis doesn’t exist?
James writes: I’ve been in TN for almost 10 years. For many of those years, Memphis had a good chance of kicking UT’s butt in either football or basketball.
I thought we didn’t play them to avoid being embarrassed. There were several years under Coach Norvell where Memphis was arguably the best FB team in the state.
But why play in Memphis and possibly lose when you can get a big MAC?
My answer: You’re right. The big MACs go down very easily, not only for the benefit of Tennessee, but on behalf of the entire SEC. No matter what direction college football takes, SEC schools will find a way to schedule MAC teams. Scheduling MAC teams is as much a part of SEC football as tracking them.
Glenn writes: Fans would probably enjoy the annual games with Memphis in basketball. Annual basketball games could easily fit into both schools’ schedules and a basketball rivalry would be fun.
I’d rather watch the Vols play Memphis than Kent State. Chattanooga is on the calendar this season. More games should be played with our state teams.
Let’s keep football revenue at home as much as possible. But heaven help us if we ever lose to one of them again.
My answer: It would be easier on the Vols’ ego to lose to Georgia State than to Memphis. A loss to Georgia State or a MAC team wouldn’t stop them from being hailed as state champions with a win over Vanderbilt.
Jimmy writes: I’d say there’s no value in playing Memphis in football unless someone thinks it’s a good recruiting tool for the western part of the state.
On the other hand, I like the idea of playing basketball against Memphis annually; It’s nice to have an in-state rival that’s more competitive than Vanderbilt, and could actually help attract prospects from the Memphis area, provided Tennessee prevails in the race. at least most of the time.
My answer: Tennessee vs. Memphis in basketball could be good for both schools, but I suppose the recruiting boost for the Vols would be minimal. In the NIL era, money carries more weight in recruitment than intra-state rivalries.
As long as the Vols continue to reward basketball players for their name, image and likeness, their program will be nationally competitive in basketball.
Doc writes: The answer is an unequivocal “yes.” Memphis, although farther from UTK than Atlanta, Lexington, Louisville, Athens, Columbia and Tuscaloosa, is still part of Tennessee and there are a lot of Vol fans there who I’m sure would love the opportunity to go to a game without having to drive seven hours.
Additionally, the Memphis area is fertile recruiting ground, especially in football and basketball, and UT would be shortsighted not to take full advantage of it.
I would be in favor of playing the Tigers annually in basketball and baseball (alternating between Knoxville and Memphis) and doing a series of home-and-home football games every three or four years. I don’t think an annual confrontation is necessary in football.
My answer: The only reason for UT to play Memphis in football is if the Tigers eventually join a Power 5 conference, and that’s not out of the question. Then, the Tigers could serve as their “marquee” non-conference opponent.
Chris writes: The way the scheduling is in football, I wouldn’t try to play it every year, maybe every 3 or 4 years.
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There’s a little more flexibility with basketball scheduling, so they should definitely be able to figure something out annually.
My answer: What if football teams met annually in Nashville? Imagine half the stadium filled with Memphis fans and the other half with Tennessee fans.
It’s a joke.
Tennessee fans would make it look like a home game, although not as much as when they take over Vanderbilt Stadium, also known as Neyland West.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He can be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.
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