What if we start out 2-5

#76
#76
If you guys really think we are a 5-7 team next year then why'd we fire Butch? If that is what this talent level is then Butch did ok with what he had. His recruiting ranked decently...so why get on Butch for last year?

Seems Butch is the main one everyone was screaming at as the problem. Now that he's gone you still think 5-7 is acceptable?
 
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#77
#77
Coach has this....He is so confident that we will win the National Championship next year that he feels like he doesn't even have to work full time on our program....just to keep things close with Bama next year...he is working with them part time.

BTW....I love Phil....BUT he owns this now.
 
#78
#78
I don't care who is coaching this team, they have their work cut out for them. I am going to look for signs that the culture has changed more so than wins this year. Field a team with passion, none of that "bend don't break" philosophy on the field, and that takes the fight to them. That is what I hope to see and I am not sure more can be expected.

I hope he surprises me and stacks up a few Ws people are not expecting.
 
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#79
#79
Alto1 said:
If we start 2-5, then we start 2-5.

Wayyyyy to early for fans to get their panties in a wad.

6-6 next year would be huge.
4-8 very possible.

CJP needs time, as in 3 years minimum. Deal with it.
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Unfortunately, due to circumstances... Butch, players decomitting, players wanting to transfer out of the ash heap made by Currie and the former coaching staff, new coaching staff, recruits being played by our opponents' recruiters use of the national media regarding the last three weeks (Currie's coach search)... due to those circumstances... you are right - it will probably take about three years for Tennessee to be truly competitive again.

Therefore, 6 - 6 in 2018 would be great!
Anything above that should get Pruitt and staff raises and extensions!

However, with our Titanic-like schedule, 5 - 7 or 4 - 8 should not come as a complete shock... or as a complete letdown. We must remember that our football team is going through a MAJOR rebuild from the inside out... all the way from the Athletic Director, Head Coach, and down to the water boy.

When it was time, several weeks ago, for UT fans to stand up against a hire we knew was wrong for out team and fan base... we did just that. I live in Biloxi, MS, and could not come to rallies or paint the Rock... but I assure you I made phone calls and called the UT administrative offices to let my voice be heard. Vonation, we won!

Now, we need to win again... by standing with our athletic director, head coach, and our players during the next couple of tough years. Go Vols ! ! !
 
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#80
#80
We had some obvious deficiencies this year in depth and coaching...

Talent was average. Depth was below average. Coaching was below average...

Good coaching will make the biggest difference, imo...we shall see...

A bowl berth would be a good opening season for Pruitt & co...
 
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#82
#82
Well what if we start 5-0

Leading to the first 5 time 5 time reigning defending National Champions

Followed by a Statue of Pruitt

What would we do then?
 
#83
#83
djohnnyg said:
If you guys really think we are a 5-7 team next year then why'd we fire Butch? If that is what this talent level is then Butch did ok with what he had. His recruiting ranked decently...so why get on Butch for last year?

Seems Butch is the main one everyone was screaming at as the problem. Now that he's gone you still think 5-7 is acceptable?
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Great point. If we only had 4-8 or 5-7 talent we wouldn't have wanted to get rid of BJ.

Our talent is better than that. No way we should win les than 6 games for any reason at all.
 
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#84
#84
OldandStillaVol said:
Schedule definitely harder early next year so 2-5 can certainly happen. I will disappointed however if we aren't 6-6 or better when the season is over.

I think one of the QB's (don't know which one) will thrive with a new coaching staff. It will still be a spread option but more freedom for the QB. Also think play calling will be far superior. Hopefully, the OL will also be much, much better.
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The schedule really isn't any more difficult than it was this year. W.Va may be a bit more difficult than GA Tech but not by much. Will depend on what Grier decides to do. And W.Va is a middle of the road Big 12 team and not a game we should lose. The first 4 games are all very winnable then highly probable we lose to GA, AU and Ala in the next 3 games. I also think GA takes a step back next season with all the experience they will be losing. But still counting that as a loss. Then SCe is a toss up, we win our last OOC game, then our last 4 games are all in state so we never even have to leave TN in the month of November. We are expected to win those last 4 most years and very easily could with 3 home games then a trip to Nashville. I think the ceiling is 8 wins plus a bowl next season and the absolute worst we should be is 6-6. Our swing games will be W.Va, Fla and S.Carol. Winning 2 of 3 definitely are possible and with some luck all 3. GA, AU and Ala are pretty much for sure loses. Outside of those 3 anything is possible. All 6 could be won or at worse we go 3-3 but my guess is atleast 4-2 plus 3-0 on the other 3 OOC games. We only play 3 games outside of TN on the opponent's home field next year. Then throw in the neutral site game vs W.Va where we will have the major fan advantage. .The chance we start 2-5 is very small. My bet is 4-3 or 5-2 at the very best with breaks going our way and very few injuries. Then the worst case scenario is 3-4. We have no business losing to W.Va on a neutral field and Fla will be beatable at home as well.JMO but the schedule is slightly tougher overall next season than this year's was. Just swap LSU and AU and having to go to the Plains and play which is very difficult to do. That game is what makes next year's a slight bit tougher than this years but really top to bottom are pretty equal.
 
#85
#85
To answer your question OP, no reasonable Vol fan will be upset if we start out 2-5. Going 6-6 with a new coach, new system, right after the worst seasons ever, should cause folks to do back flips.
 
#86
#86
I feel this team will be closer to Auburn 2012 to 2013 turn around than some others. Now that team had some flukes but they looked much better. They had talent on the team and some good breaks but took advantage due to the coaching. I’m not expecting a playoff run but I think this team could win 8 games. Won’t be shocked if it is 6-6 but I think 8 wins is doable
 
#87
#87
Once again, why can’t we beat Georgia? They are going to be like Florida. A lot of their seniors are gone. He isn’t going to have the team like he has this year.
 
#91
#91
Dudleys87 said:
Well what if we start 5-0

Leading to the first 5 time 5 time reigning defending National Champions

Followed by a Statue of Pruitt

What would we do then?
Click to expand...

A 4-0 start definitely won't be impossible. Believe at the very least we start 3-1 but 4-0 is very doable. Then the next 4 are brutal. We have to win 1 of those 4 then that makes 5-3 a great start to the Pruitt era and the last 4 are all very winnable. Think 9-3 is the absolute ceiling next season and would need to stay healthy and have some things go our way. I really see 7 as the floor and 9 being the ceiling with a chance to get 1 more in the bowl game. There is no way we should finish with less than 6 wins next year.
 
#92
#92
Glocker_Alum_2005 said:
Very plausible we start we out 2-5 after the Bama game next year. If we are struggling on offense in particular who all is going to be clamoring for Mike Leach and blaming Fulmer for being to prideful to hire him?
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not gonna happen on my watch...you don't give us enough credit...:)

GO VOLS!
 
#95
#95
Orange defense said:
Once again, why can’t we beat Georgia? They are going to be like Florida. A lot of their seniors are gone. He isn’t going to have the team like he has this year.
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You're absolutely right. They will lose a lot of experience, yards and points after this year. They won't be unbeatable at all and they definitely won't be 12-1 and a playoff team next season. We slowly start finding out what Kirby can do without Richt's players. GA doesn't go 12-1 if Chubb and SM aren't headlining their offense. Frohm has a much different year without his 2 security blanket's. I'm not sure how difficult GA's entire schedule is but they do have to play at LSU and get TN and AU at home. Think they play at SCe also. But they have been beatable at home the last few decades just like we have been. The East most likely is wide open again next season.
 
#96
#96
Glocker_Alum_2005 said:
Very plausible we start we out 2-5 after the Bama game next year. If we are struggling on offense in particular who all is going to be clamoring for Mike Leach and blaming Fulmer for being to prideful to hire him?
Click to expand...

Bored are you....Need to find a hobby....This why people shake their heads at UT fans....shame on you
 
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#98
#98
k-town_king said:
That is a real loser mentality. We will be better next year. Our qb that looked better and better as the season went along won't be a freshman. All our other most important players are back. With good coaching we could have won 7 last year. 6 wins should be the floor. I wouldn't be surprised at anything from 6-6 to 9-3.
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I agree and said the same thing. Anywhere from 7 to 9 wins are very possible. No way we should win less than 6. The schedule easily has 6-7 wins at the least and with some break's and staying healthy 9 is reachable.
 
#99
#99
Glocker_Alum_2005 said:
Very plausible we start we out 2-5 after the Bama game next year. If we are struggling on offense in particular who all is going to be clamoring for Mike Leach and blaming Fulmer for being to prideful to hire him?
Click to expand...

2-6 start with a 6-6 invite to Shreveport or Birmingham has been my predication throughout the time from the Departure of our former coach until now.

2019 will be a terrific year at 8-4 or 9-3.

“It’s the end of the world as we know it...and I feel fine”

Aw-ite!?!

GBO!!!
 
#100
#100
JCHateSteve said:
Next year is likely to be tough. People best get ready for it.
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Nah not at all. There's very easily 7-9 wins with our schedule. We only leave the state 4 times for a game and one of those is a neutral site game that will be majority Orange and White.
 
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