Tennessee-NC State in 2012 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game
by War Eagle Atlanta on Jun 18, 2009 1:58 PM CDT
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PrintATLANTA (June 18, 2009) – The University of Tennessee Volunteers will face the N.C. State University Wolfpack in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game to open the 2012 season in the Georgia Dome Chick-fil-A Bowl and ESPN officials announced today.
Tennessee and N.C. State are a mere 296 miles apart, but the two programs have met only twice and have not played since 1939. The teams are 1-1 in their two previous meetings.
"This match-up will continue the tradition of creating the Daytona 500 of College Football," said Gary Stokan, Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO. "I fully expect that in 2012 both of these rising programs will be ranked in the top 20."
This regional rivalry game will feature an ACC program with one of the conference’s brightest futures under a proven Tom O’Brien against a traditional SEC power led by new head coach Lane Kiffin. The game is expected to air nationally on ESPN Sept. 1, 2012.
"We’re very pleased that two great programs in Tennessee and N.C. State will participate in the 2012 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game," said Dave Brown, ESPN vice president, programming and acquisitions. "Atlanta is the perfect spot to host the first meeting between the teams in over 70 years. A match-up of this caliber is another great way for the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game to usher in the first week of college football."
Tickets will be split evenly between N.C. State and Tennessee and the game and its surrounding events will be managed by the Chick-fil-A Bowl.
"The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game gives us an excellent chance to showcase the Wolfpack football program against a great team and in front of a national audience," O’Brien said. "N.C. State is proud to represent the Atlantic Coast Conference as we compete against a powerhouse SEC team like Tennessee."
"We are excited to be a part of what should be a great environment to kick off the 2012 season," Kiffin said. "Atlanta is a great sports town and the Georgia Dome has been great for college football. SEC versus ACC match-ups are always intense, and we know Tennessee fans will be there in force to see this one."
Billed as the "Daytona 500 of college football," the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game matches top-tier programs in a BCS-type game on the first Saturday of every season.
The 2009 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game featuring projected pre-season top-10 powers Alabama and Virginia Tech will be played Sept. 5 and will air nationally in prime time on ABC.
Alabama defeated Clemson 34-10 in the 2008 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, drawing a sold-out crowd of 70,097, and was viewed in more than four million households nationwide. The pre-game fan activities were attended by more than 22,000 fans and the event created an economic impact of $29.1 million for Atlanta and Georgia including $1.2 million in direct tax revenues.
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Somewhere...
Jay Jacobs continues to sit on his ass…
Must be that all the other teams are afraid to play us…
We were supposed to have had a reasonable shot at playing VA Tech in this year’s game, yet Alabama plays again.
He turned down UCLA flat. That makes us look weak. Pathetically weak…
Is it too late to get the government to bail us out and appoint us a scheduling czar, since it’s apparent that someone else is asleep at the wheel?
by War Eagle Atlanta on Jun 18, 2009 2:03 PM CDT reply actions
TN-UNC
would have been the better matchup. Those teams have some shared ancient history.
Was I alseep, or have the games in ’10 and ’11 been scheduled? I wish I knew what determined the scheduling for these games. Alabama got two in a row. How is that possible, with all the other great teams in the SEC around?
by War Eagle Atlanta on Jun 18, 2009 2:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Pretty bold statement to make
“I fully expect that in 2012 both of these rising programs will be ranked in the top 20.”
I’d actually wager with this fella that neither team will be in the preseason top 20 in 2012. He’s got some kind of foresight to make a statement like that.
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" - Jeff Francouer
No doubt....
UT could and should be or kiffykins is a goner. NC state is a long long long way away from being a top 20 program.
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
That's what I'm saying
Kiffin won’t be successful at UT because he’s not a good coach. I follow the Raiders (I stop short of calling myself a fan because Al Davis is still in charge) and I know he’s not what he’s cracked up to be. If his name was Lane Jones, do you think he’d have gotten the Raiders and/or the UT gig? I don’t. He was successful at USC because anyone can be successful at USC.
I’m not saying I’m certain he’ll bomb at UT, but I’d say it’s about a 75/25 chance from my point of view. At least he’s recruiting, so if he does suck, UT will have their Orgeronian era and hire a good coach who has the cupboard filled.
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Jun 18, 2009 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions
Epic
I follow the Raiders (I stop short of calling myself a fan because Al Davis is still in charge)
Kudos on a fine post, my friend!
"When people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears their people, there is liberty" - Thomas Jefferson
by BamaReturns07 on Jun 18, 2009 10:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah
When I was a kid, I kind of picked the Raiders out of nowhere because the Falcons were horrible and the Titans weren’t in Nashville yet. It was completely random, but what else was a kid from Huntsville supposed to do?
Anyways, I won’t acknowledge myself as a Raiders fan until Al Davis retires or dies (I imagine the latter will come first). Until then, I’m a Falcons “fan.”
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Jun 19, 2009 2:18 AM CDT up reply actions
Wow
I didn’t know there were so many of us! We should start an Al Davis death watch. Actually, I don’t believe that would be any use, as Al is obviously an unholy undead who walks umong us. Maybe we could pay some adventurous duo to break into his crypt and destroy his phylactery (sp).
Anyhoo..I think predicting the success of any coach based on his record with the Raiders is premature (See Mike Shannahan).
by SandMountainTiger on Jun 19, 2009 12:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah
Al said he’s not going to retire until the Raiders win another SB. Soooo….he’s gonna die first, unless your theory that he is undead is accurate (which, surprisingly, makes alot of sense)
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Jun 19, 2009 12:57 PM CDT up reply actions
He’s just trying to pump up the match up and make it sound more appealing to the average college football fan than it really is. Wishful thinking on his part. NC State? Really? To open up the college football season?
What he should have said.....
is “this matchup is between two teams close enough to Atlanta that will have good fan support and make a good deal of cash for the venue and surrounding businesses and maybe UT will have its head on straight by then and it won’t matter what NC State brings to the Dome”
I would have gone to bammer if my grades hadn't been good enough to go to AU
Hey!
DUKE won the ACC twenty years ago. And the Berlin Wall came down. And—wait. You’re right!
by War Eagle Atlanta on Jun 18, 2009 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Wait...
You mean that’s not WEA’s main objective on this site? I was waaaaayyyyyyyy off!
(I keed I keeeeeeeed)
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Jun 19, 2009 2:15 AM CDT up reply actions
(Say this in a German accent, Like Ahnold as the Terminator)
My primary mission objective is to piss of Alabama fans. My secondary objective may involve pissing off Auburn fans when necessary. My contigency mission to to terminate Jay Jacobs from his current position.
by War Eagle Atlanta on Jun 19, 2009 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions
Austrian!
No dissin the Govinator!
by SandMountainTiger on Jun 19, 2009 12:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Who are you, Barack Obama?
Sie sprechen Deutsch im Osterreich.
by War Eagle Atlanta on Jun 19, 2009 1:47 PM CDT up reply actions
Well
We speak English in the south, but I don’t have an English accent..
by SandMountainTiger on Jun 19, 2009 11:48 PM CDT up reply actions
THEY think...
we’re the ones with the accent, though…
by War Eagle Atlanta on Jun 20, 2009 9:30 AM CDT up reply actions
I have to agree with SandMountain
…on this one. Having spent a fair amount of time in Germany and getting a pretty good take on their accent, inferring that Mr. Universe has a German accent is like saying Larry the Cable Guy has an English accent. 75 days until kickoff!
Let's see
Alabama Vs Clemson
Alabama Vs VaTech
Top SEC school vs Top ACC school (ha ha I just said "top ACC school)
Rinse, Repeat
Tennessee Kittens vs NCSU! We use to play them at homecoming.
I know the ACC isn’t the SEC, but when you get teams the caliber of Bama, Auburn, Tennessee, whomever, you gotta bring it with the FSUs, Miami’s, etc.
And you guys are missing a golden opportunity…it’s being played in your backyard! I give ya’ll crap, but you really deserve a better AD.
Actually, on that note, so do we…
I’m with you WEA – where are the 10 and 11 games? Why jump ahead and announce this crapfest? Could it be the next two years are crap games as well
“2010 CFA Bowl! MISSISSIPPI STATE vs…wait for it….DUKE!”
“2011 brings you the mighty Commodores of Vandy vs….VIRGINIA!”
"When people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears their people, there is liberty" - Thomas Jefferson
Hey
Remember that time Auburn declined to play UCLA in Atlanta?
Oh wait, that was like a month ago.
"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" - Jeff Francouer
by jd is legend on Jun 19, 2009 2:32 AM CDT up reply actions
Well, I didn't want to bring that up. Trying to be civil lol
But yeah, I still don’t get that. Auburn is an SEC powerhouse, the AD shouldn’t be afraid to play anyone (I say AD, because I seriously doubt any coach or player would shy away from that game)
"When people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears their people, there is liberty" - Thomas Jefferson
by BamaReturns07 on Jun 19, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Can't do anything but help
IMO.
"When people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears their people, there is liberty" - Thomas Jefferson
by BamaReturns07 on Jun 20, 2009 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions
those games sucked ass for us though
i was at teh rose bowl one. we chanted “freddie!! freddie!!” after the opening sack, 3 n out, and punt return for a TD by milons 2 minutes in… 5 minutes later they were chanting “freddie freddie!!” for their freddie mitchel, and my trip to LA was ruined.
welcome to the SEC kiffykins...
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