Recruiting Forum: UNofficial TaxSlayer.com Pre-Game Thread

#101
#101
WallyBalls said:
It's definitely possible.

I think most of us were like that until around the mid 2000s.

I just don't want to ever go back to the point where I couldn't enjoy wins. I hate that version of myself.
Click to expand...
I wasn't and I really doubt most were.

I'm not sure if I'm following you exactly though. Would you rather be a mediocre program that gets excited about upsets than a great team that is let down by poorly performing wins?
 
Last edited:
#102
#102
chavisut said:
I wasn't and I really doubt most were.

I'm not sure if I'm following you exactly though. Would you rather be a mediocre program that gets excited about upsets than a great team that is let down by poorly performing wins?
Click to expand...

I'd rather Tennessee be the latter obviously.

I'm mainly talking about me, personally. I was spoiled growing up in the 90s. 1989 was the first football season I remember paying attention to so I had no concept of following a team like UT's had over the last 5 or 6 years.

Losses used to wreck me for days. That sick feeling wouldn't leave until Wednesday or Thursday. I was as negative as anyone could be and I couldn't enjoy something I love. When I say I don't want to go back to that, I'm talking simply about myself. I want UT to win every game, I just hope I keep the right perspective when successful times return.
 
#104
#104
Volnatic said:
My "I care too much" moment came just before exams my 1L year of law school. It was the Dooley too many men LSU game. After it ended, I punched my metal door and broke my left (dominant) hand. Lesson learned. I still get fired up, but I do my best not to let it make me so angry that I do stupid things any more.
Click to expand...

I've had severe anger issues at times in my life, but I've never understood the impulse to punch something that will break your hand. I missed that part of life where that's ingrained into you I guess lol
 
#106
#106
I actually think Dobbs could have a good game because he will have finals behind him and be able to focus on football 100% for all the preparation leading up to the game. Just please let Hurd, Croom, Crowder, and Malone be 100% healthy and we should look at least as good as we did against Bama. Right? The games where Dobbs struggled we were depleted. And the D should be healthy and rested too. We roll IMO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#107
#107
jave36 said:
I've had severe anger issues at times in my life, but I've never understood the impulse to punch something that will break your hand. I missed that part of life where that's ingrained into you I guess lol
Click to expand...

I can't say it was one of my finer moments. I didn't seek treatment either, which was also dumb and likely why my hand still has a little weakness in it several years later. Instead of going to the doc, my buddies and I went and ate hot wings...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#108
#108
Bought my tickets today.

Section 148 Row P.

Pumped to cheer on the Vols at my third road venue this year...none in Neyland. Weird season for me!

Go Vols!
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#110
#110
I find this handling of success/failure conversation fascinating.

My moment of clarity with Tennessee football came after the Alabama game in 2009 with Kiffin..... The Cody block. I was on a trip to some of the beaches of Louisiana with a lot of great friends who didn't care too terribly much about football. I was so angry. That loss hurt me so much and nobody really understood why. I really had no good answer for anybody. I met a beautiful girl that night who made me forget about the game and I started to realize that life kept rolling on no matter how the Vols did. Even good things could still happen.

I had another moment of clarity when we had 13 men on the field.....

Then again against the Tarheels....

Also the Mississippi State game in 2012. That was the real moment where I gave up on Dooley. I still believe that loss was inexplicable. We were so poorly coached and it was obvious. The losses after that were all just a blur. I only tuned in the rest of the games to see what Cordarrelle would do.

But in general I have really tried to step back from games and realize that I can't do anything about the outcome. I have mostly failed miserably to do that. This years Florida game was just awful. I really thought we would win. I felt like there was no way we would let that game slip away. But of course we did, right? That's kind of been the theme for a while.

But we all bounced back with the team and had some pretty good moments this year. I'm really happy that we're headed back to a bowl game. That is exciting stuff. I think we're about to take Iowa behind the woodshed.

38-14 Vols

Go big orange
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#111
#111
The Dooley years took a huge toll on me. I was all in with him in 2010. I still think he actually did a pretty good job winning the last 4 to get us bowl eligible at the end of that season. Granted, 3/4 of the opponents were terrible, but that Kentucky team was better than Tennessee and he got the W.

I still liked him in 2011, and those close losses to UGA and USC were agonizing, but hey--no Hunter in the UGA game and no Bray against USC. Forgivable losses. Let's just make a bowl game and rebuild for a monster 2012 season.

Then UK happened and the wheels fell off. I think 90% of Tennessee fans went from being on the fence about Dooley to knowing for a fact he wasn't the right guy.

But 2012 looked so promising. I remember telling a friend that Tennessee was guaranteed to win at least 9-10 games that year based on the offense alone. Rogers, Hunter, CP, Rivera, Bray. Are you kidding me?

Then Rogers got kicked off the team and that old sinking feeling came back. Like seaofORANGE, I gave up on Dooley after Mississippi State and my enthusiasm for the Vols was just crushed.

But to his credit, Butch Jones sucked me right back in, and I think he's done that for a lot of other fans as well. I just really think he's the guy and that in 3-4 years, he will be regarded as an elite coach in the SEC.

And at that point, all of us who hung in there during these terrible years will finally be rewarded. I feel bad for anyone who gave up on the team and don't really follow then anymore (or even root for other teams), and there are plenty who did. The journey back to the top won't be nearly as much fun for them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
#112
#112
Ericvol2096 said:
Bought my tickets today.

Section 148 Row P.

Pumped to cheer on the Vols at my third road venue this year...none in Neyland. Weird season for me!

Go Vols!
Click to expand...

Got mine today as well. Section 227 Row H Seats 1-3. Staying at Courtyard Marriott--Jacksonville Flagler Center on Old Saint Augustine Rd. Gonna spend 5 days down there with my girlfriend and her daughter. Game can't get here soon enough!!!

GBFO!!!
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#113
#113
Oh yeah...31-16, VOLS. :)

Hurd has a big game and Malone/Pearson goes off on their D. And I'm calling 3 picks on D: Cam, Randolph, and JRM. :)

GBFO!
 
Last edited:
#114
#114
OldVol49vfl said:
Losing is never easy on fans. I went to a lot of games during the Dickey and Battle years when we had 12 straight winning seasons. After Battle was let go and we got Majors I thought we would continue the great winning seasons but Johnny had 3 out of 4 seasons at the start that were losing. I was a lot younger then and it really bothered me. I enjoyed most of the remaining Majors and Fulmer years but the fiasco with Dooley was the most depressing I've had as a Vol fan. I'm at the age now where I don't get into the heart attack mode but it still gets under my skin if we lose, especially if we don't put in a good effort (haven't seen that under Butch).
I feel good about this bowl game, Vols by 38-20.
Click to expand...

You and I go back aways. I have followed the program since my first visits to Neyland with dad seeing Steve DeLong destroy an O-lines in the early 60s. Was even briefly recruited by Battle's staff in the early 70s. There were some off and on lean years, but nothing has been like what has happened recently. Complete and utter incompetence by segments of coaching staffs. Thankfully it appears those days are ending.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
#116
#116
OddFuture said:
49-10 Vols. Scott, Hurd, and Dobbs all get 60+ yards and a TD running each. Lane adds a TD too. Berry houses the opening kick or the opening kick of the second half (whichever we get). Dobbs gets 250+ passing yards. 2 TDs, one to Wolf and one to Pig.

Defense gets 5+ sacks, and a few TOs.

We whoop dey ass!
Click to expand...
My prediction is off to a good start. Scott gon ball
 
#118
#118
Dobbs, Hurd, Lane, Pig, Pearson, Malone, Wolf too much to handle. I'm hoping Lane is 100% and has a good game in his farewell. Vols 38-17.
 
#119
#119
Extremely thankful to be able to watch another Vol game this year. Will have to dvr and avoid the net though until later in the evening though, unfortunately.
 
#121
#121
web1_hyrd.jpg


Crisis averted.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 1 person
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.
Advertisement





Back
Top