Go Bears!!

On September 1st this fall, my favorite team will be the California Bears for approximately 4 hours, give or take:

ABC Sports announced today that it will televise Tennessee's season-opening contest at California Sept. 1 in prime time to kick off the second season of ESPN on ABC's Saturday Night Football. The telecast will kick off at 7 p.m. and be offered in high definition on ABC HD. Since 1997, UT's season-opener has appeared on national television every year except 2005, when the Vols' game against UAB was broadcast regionally by Jefferson Pilot Sports. UT has won its last 12 season-openers.

Tennessee last appeared on ABC in 2003, when the 18th-ranked Volunteers defeated sixth-ranked Miami 10-6 Nov. 8. The Vols have only appeared on ABC 11 times since 1995, but Tennessee has been victorious in nine of those contests. The Big Orange fans have traditionally traveled well to the West Coast. Tennessee expects to sell all of its 7,500 ticket allotment. The Vols opened the 2006 season with a 35-18 win over California at Neyland Stadium.

Sorry to make you revisit your painful past, Coach Bando, but The Tennessean brought it up, not me. ;)