Actually, the lack of a bye date IMHO is helpful to UT. Yes, UT thinks it is a good idea, but its really not the case. UT did not have an off date when it snapped the streak against Bama (in 95') after years of having an off date before Bama. The Vols had beaten a good Arkansas team on the road in a shootout (49-31) the week before Bama. Manning had an incredible game, and his crisp passing did not miss a beat as the Vols were firing on all cylinders when they came to Birmingham 7 days later and won going away 41-14. IMHO, had UT scheduled a bye date before Bama that season, breaking the streak would have been in question in the 4th quarter.
The off dates before the Bama games usually leave UT a bit flat and rusty. Even a bad 97' Bama team led SEC Champ UT 6-0 before the Vols got on track. In 98', 00', 01', and 03', UT won between 8 and 13 games each season, while Bama had 2 losing seasons and 2 marginal winners. Still, the games were nip and tuck with the Vols just pulling away at the end. IMHO, the bye date was an ally to Bama.
UT annually has an off date against UF, which is more counterproductive than helpful. In 2001, the Vols beat the Top 5 ranked Gators in the Swamp in December as the game was rescheduled from the September weekend cancelled because of 9/11. The Vols had played 7 straight games when they met the Gators who were favored by 17. Ironically, it was the Gators that had 2 weeks to prepare, having concluded what would have been the season finale against FSU two weekends before the rescheduled UT game. Spurrier with 2 weeks to prepare vs. Fulmer with a single week was the joke de jure among the media. Still, UT won. The UT staff did not have an opportunity to overcomplicate the game plan and confuse themselves, and the players did not have 2 weeks to dwell on UT's then ineptitude in the Swamp. By the way, the Vols led UF 14-0 in the first quarter scoring on their first two possessions. When the commentators noted that the rested Gators looked a step slow and disoriented, and that the Vols looked crisp, I just smiled having watched UT been in UF's position several times after an alleged beneficial bye date.
IMHO, bye dates should come much later in the season (after the 7th or 8th game), and I think 1 bye date per season is plenty. I think UT's 2nd weekend bye date is moronic. Playing a 1st game, then having a bye, then playing a 2nd game means UT is really having a first game twice (where fumbles, mistakes and special teams miscues are more likely to occur). JMO.
