Five Stages of Dealing with this Season

First&Tenn · 10-13-2008, 09:59 AM

1. Denial

"So they lost at UCLA. It was Crompton's first real start on the road and it was in the Rose Bowl. I'm sure that the offense really isn't that bad, they just aren't comfortable in their roles yet. We'll see great improvement before the Florida game, and we can still win the SEC this year."

"I know that the no name opponents put up more than 40 against UAB, but Crompton looked much better this week. I really think that we can come out of this with some positives to build on. We are 1-1, and I think we're on the way up."

2. Anger

"We're 10 minutes into the Florida game and they are up by 17?! Someone should run out onto the field and hand Fulmer his pink slip now. These coaches couldn't get a High School team up to play a group of Pop Warner kids! I'm going to return my season tickets and spend the rest of the season rooting for a team that has a better chance to win some games...At this point I'd be willing to believe Clemson is better! At least I can keep wearing orange."

3. Bargaining

"If you can hear me lord, please let Fulmer pull his traditional 'time to save my job' run out of his...back pocket. I know that we're playing NIU close right now, but if you can help Stephens develop (since no one on the coaching staff will), I'll quit yelling obscenities at the field and I'll stop telling that FEMA joke about Fulmer. UT surely has some good karma built up that we can use to get out of this funk...right?"

4. Depression

"I just can't get myself excited for the UGA game. I know that I felt bad before this game last year, but this year it just feels completely hopeless. I am now expecting to lose to everybody on the schedule outside the state of Wyoming, and I think even they will give UT a good game. At this point I will be happy if the Bulldogs let our offense get more than a yard rushing. This is the year that Kentucky finally breaks the win streak."

5. Acceptance

"Well, it's still great to be a Tennessee Vol. While we won't win another 2 or 3 games this year, we can still watch Eric Berry break records. I hate to see a young man with his talent trying to buoy a sinking ship, but it's nice to have something to hope for when I flip over to our weekly disappointment. On the bright side, this year should finally end the Fulmer era. Surely he will be ushered out after two debacles in the span of 4 years. For now I guess I'll have to keep myself going on Eric Berry, speculation about the new coach, and the thankfully approaching basketball season. At least there the highly rated prospects actually get coached up to their potential."

Etownvol · 10-13-2008, 10:02 AM

I'm already at #5!!! I'm progressing nicely, as long as I don't regress back into depression...

General_Neyland · 10-13-2008, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Etownvol

I'm already at #5!!! I'm progressing nicely, as long as I don't regress back into depression...

Yeah, I went to number 5 after the UF game. We are watching a train wreck unfold....

**Lexvol** · 10-13-2008, 10:07 AM

The cycle of grief....could be more like the cycle of abuse....

1. Fans take a beating at the hands of coaches
2. Fans threaten to leave
3. Fulmer offers a gift (beating MSU)
4. Fan moves back in with abusive coach

Etownvol · 10-13-2008, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by General_Neyland

Yeah, I went to number 5 after the UF game. We are watching a train wreck unfold....

I did too...more like during the UF game though. This is a train wreck of great magnitude.

00FattyT · 10-13-2008, 10:14 AM

I dont know whether to laugh or cry but either way that is so true.

Cartervol · 10-13-2008, 10:32 AM

1-5 Drink alot.

PandamoniumReigns · 10-13-2008, 10:35 AM

I think you forgot about #6

#6 - Cynical Laughter

This is the stage where the coaching calls and plays on the field simply make you laugh. You bypass the anger, and the crying and go straight to sarcastic laughing at the incompetence and the current state of the program.

TennTom · 10-13-2008, 10:44 AM

#7 Apathy. Let's see, do I want to watch the USCe game, clean out the garage, or help the kids with homework?

Cartervol · 10-13-2008, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TennTom

#7 Apathy. Let's see, do I want to watch the USCe game, clean out the garage, or help the kids with homework?

Thats when you know its getting bad. I 'll be watching the game on the ticker going across my big screen saturday. I'am not even turning on bob kessling. If the red ink is on miss st's name after the game. I'am not even going to let out a sigh. Now thats apathetic.

alavolfan · 10-13-2008, 10:59 AM

#8 Moving on. Seriously, It's so bad I would rather go out and mow the lawn and check back in occasionally to see how we are doing. It's a combination of denial, apathy, and sadly, acceptance.

General_Neyland · 10-13-2008, 10:59 AM

May as well get used to this list and learn to love it...Because if Fulmer is back next year its going to be the same as it has for the past..ummm....say 6 years, just mediocre...For the past 6-7 years I have been saying all offseason, "we are going to be really good this year"....only to watch the same ole same ole year in and out....As long as he stays here this is what the University of Tennessee Football team will look and play like....

ukvols · 10-13-2008, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexvol

The cycle of grief....could be more like the cycle of abuse....

1. Fans take a beating at the hands of coaches
2. Fans threaten to leave
3. Fulmer offers a gift (beating MSU)
4. Fan moves back in with abusive coach

I'm making the trip for the MSU game and will be in Columbia - and that will be it for me this year.

BigOrange88 · 10-13-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TennTom

#7 Apathy. Let's see, do I want to watch the USCe game, clean out the garage, or help the kids with homework?

This is the most dangerous one at all. This is like cancer. Once it sets in it will kill any program.

Once this fully spreads even Fulmer won't survive.

I think most people have a ways to go till they get to this point though because so many still show up for games.

If you ever get to the point where the replacement people don't show up for the ones originally supposed to be there then maybe they'll notice that and that will be the sign that true Apathy has set all the way in.

VOLatile · 10-13-2008, 11:17 AM

I'm to the point where I don't even look for the score on ESPN's website until Sunday morning.