Why is it so gloom and doom around here lately?

#51
#51
utvols74 said:
We'll know most of what we've got in players and coaches by the end of the 3rd quarter of the first game. I know what you're probably saying, "How can you say that?". Because if you look back at the last 5 years, think about the first game and how it went. The rest of the season pretty much followed suit.

With this said, one season doesn't necessarily dictate the following. As such, each season builds on the previous (at least that's what is supposed to happen).
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Knowing by the end of the third qtr.
That's the way it's been over the last few years because the "staff" has not taught the players a damn thing.
Now, if Coach "P" and staff do what we think they can, then much improvement will show from game one until the season end. The same thing you see from really well coached teams.
 
#52
#52
AustinMem said:
This year is going to be rough. Based on the head coach himself, the lazy/quitter mentality remains. It takes longer than 1 off-season to turn around a team as bad as we were.
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Our head coach also isn't going to come to the podium and declare us NC contenders either. Then, if we fail, he'll look like a fool. He has to maintain the reality that we are in a rebuild, which we are, but it isn't as bad as most believe. JMO
 
#54
#54
VFL-82-JP said:
Well said, Jake.
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thanks. to me, it feels like we're on a really long road trip, and the kids just keep asking "are we there yet?"

and you have to keep giving them same answer...."no".

they then ask "when?"

you say "dunno, i see a couple storms ahead, maybe a wreck or two...don't worry, you'll know it when we do, try to enjoy the ride, k?"

then the requisite "well i'm bored, can we stop?, there's nothing to do, my butt hurts from sitting so long, i'm hungry, i gotta go to the bathroom.........."

that's where we are.....

:p

edit: that doesn't mean the guy driving the car doesn't want to get to the intended destination as quickly as possible either....believe me, he'd like to have just chartered a jet and skipped all the in between.:thumbsup:
 
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#55
#55
JonGrudensAgent said:
And about 12 to 15 super true Vol Fan posters who latch onto any criticism of anything Pruitt does as a jihad against him which drives everyone into their respective corners.
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Anyone criticizing Pruitt needs to leave this forum till further notice. The man has taken on the biggest challenge of his entire life (OK, being married is a close second...) and I will support him for three years as that is how long it will take to be respectable in the SEC again.

The O&W game scared the beegeebers out of CJP, the press and VN as the reality of the dust remaining shows just how vulnerable we are going into our Fall campaign. Our Frosh will fill up a few holes but certainly not the gapping gaps, and I just hope we have enough healthy players to field an opposition by the time we play Bama.
 
#56
#56
jakez4ut said:
thanks. to me, it feels like we're on a really long road trip, and the kids just keep asking "are we there yet?"

and you have to keep giving them same answer...."no".

they then ask "when?"

you say "dunno, i see a couple storms ahead, maybe a wreck or two...don't worry, you'll know it when we do, try to enjoy the ride, k?"

then the requisite "well i'm bored, can we stop?, there's nothing to do, my butt hurts from sitting so long, i'm hungry, i gotta go to the bathroom.........."

that's where we are.....

:p

edit: that doesn't mean the guy driving the car doesn't want to get to the intended destination as quickly as possible either....believe me, he'd like to have just chartered a jet and skipped all the in between.:thumbsup:
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Lulz.

Bout time to pull the car over and climb "back there".
 
#58
#58
Feel like a broken record saying this, but look at the schedule. College football prognosticating is all about the schedule.

IMO, there are 3 gimmies:

ETSU
UTEP
Charlotte

There are 3 games we should probably win:

Kentucky
Missouri
at Vandy

That's 6 wins and a bowl right there. Anything beyond that is gravy. A win at home against Florida or a win on the road against South Carolina would be huge; I think those are more likely than beating West Virginia.
 
#59
#59
The challenge is to be realistic in expectations without becoming a fatalist, but
with recent head coaches coming and going the last 10 years it can be tough to be
positive at times
 
#62
#62
We're not entitled to wins, and that's not even aimed at us. No team is entitled to wins. We'll start winning games when we start winning enough plays. A bunch of things need to go right during every single play, and it's sort of difficult to avoid the conclusion that we're probably in better shape in that regard now - that we have a staff that wants to deal in execution and managing all the little things, more so than leaning on platitudes. If it's really truly "your" team, and the coaching talent and the player effort is there, there's just as much joy to be had watching the lights come on for a kid and seeing execution start to happen.

Just enjoy watching your team get better at playing football, you know? Maybe they improve enough to win everything they should, and even nick one they shouldn't have won. Maybe they don't. But why worry about people pining that they're not being delivered a winning season or a bowl game? The whole "long-suffering fan" thing is kind of rooted in the expectation that you're going to be delivered something, and you won't find much of that in a dyed in the wool fan. They're along for and loving the ride no matter what the ride is.
 
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#63
#63
I was actually doing pretty good until I glanced at the recruiting rankings and only 3 teams are worse than UT. Many SEC teams have already locked up top talent for the year. Not sure what it taking UT so long to get going. I thought the new head coach was supposed to make recruiting better than the hype machine it used to be. Hopefully I'm just worrying too early and somehow this guy knows how to recruit.
 
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#64
#64
MWAVolfan said:
I was actually doing pretty good until I glanced at the recruiting rankings and only 3 teams are worse than UT. Many SEC teams have already locked up top talent for the year. Not sure what it taking UT so long to get going. I thought the new head coach was supposed to make recruiting better than the hype machine it used to be. Hopefully I'm just worrying too early and somehow this guy knows how to recruit.
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It’s still early but there is some concern.
 
#65
#65
LandonVFL said:
I’m not saying you’re right or wrong, but does it have to take that long? Butch “smoke and mirrors” Jones is gone. Pruitt isn’t gonna blow smoke up these guys butts and call them champions of life or whatever. All it takes is a moment in these young guys lives to turn it around. It’s up to them. If they want to see the field it’s obvious that they have to give 110% every play and run through the opponent with no regard, Derek Barnett style. The new early enrollees/ summer enrollees can help with that. I just want to see a team play with effort and technique this season. I’m not expecting anything miraculous year 1, but who says the culture can’t change quickly? If guys wanna quit, let em. That’ll make the TEAM better in the long run. I think we’ll see a different attitude among the team this fall. go Vols.
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Agreed, it is a decision the players have to make. From what I saw of the Orange & White game, they have not. I actually think by the end of the year we will be a much better team, but it is going to be a bumpy ride getting there.
 
#66
#66
MWAVolfan said:
I was actually doing pretty good until I glanced at the recruiting rankings and only 3 teams are worse than UT. Many SEC teams have already locked up top talent for the year. Not sure what it taking UT so long to get going. I thought the new head coach was supposed to make recruiting better than the hype machine it used to be. Hopefully I'm just worrying too early and somehow this guy knows how to recruit.
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this shortened recruiting calendar has hurt us. it hurt for the last class most immediately cause time was a factor.

in this cycle, while there's definitely more time, a lot of the rising seniors are taking plenty of visits this spring, all over the country.

there's a few fairly big time recruits committing tomorrow, one of which is a top 20 OT, who has it down to us an Auburn. he was supposed to OV Auburn this past weekend and didn't. he was here for the OW game on an OV. if he pulls the trigger with TN tomorrow, could be the start of what could be a really good class.

we're one of the leaders for another 5*, top 5 OT out of WV, another top 5 ATH out of NC....and several other 4* WR, DB, DE...

just need a little momentum, and i think with the group we had visit for the OW game, we had some more visitors this weekend....so, yeah, it's slow on the commitment front, but it's far from that on what's actually going on in recruiting.

this staff is doing the work. they need whatever they can get by way of a result...

and they won't be behind for the 20 class. they're doing as much work on that class as they are the 19 class.

i'd just say wait til signing day in december and feb. we may just wind up with that top 10ish class we know we're gonna need.
 
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#67
#67
Jack Burton said:
It’s still early but there is some concern.
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if you wanna be concerned about recruiting in April/May, that's a choice.

this staff is doing what they said they'd do. they're going after the best players in the country. they won't get them all, obviously. but you gotta be in it, to win it. and we are, with some pretty heavy hitters.

we'll see how it shakes out, but things are not awful on the recruiting front.
 
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#68
#68
ArmchairQB said:
We're not entitled to wins, and that's not even aimed at us. No team is entitled to wins. We'll start winning games when we start winning enough plays. A bunch of things need to go right during every single play, and it's sort of difficult to avoid the conclusion that we're probably in better shape in that regard now - that we have a staff that wants to deal in execution and managing all the little things, more so than leaning on platitudes. If it's really truly "your" team, and the coaching talent and the player effort is there, there's just as much joy to be had watching the lights come on for a kid and seeing execution start to happen.

Just enjoy watching your team get better at playing football, you know? Maybe they improve enough to win everything they should, and even nick one they shouldn't have won. Maybe they don't. But why worry about people pining that they're not being delivered a winning season or a bowl game? The whole "long-suffering fan" thing is kind of rooted in the expectation that you're going to be delivered something, and you won't find much of that in a dyed in the wool fan. They're along for and loving the ride no matter what the ride is.
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This is going to be what I am looking for and excited by in this year. I think there will be some "stars" who will lose playing time as new leaders emerge.
 
#69
#69
AustinMem said:
This is going to be what I am looking for and excited by in this year. I think there will be some "stars" who will lose playing time as new leaders emerge.
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based on what CJP has said about the effort level of some guys (unnamed guys that is), you're probably right.

but he's also not in a position to run everyone off, just because of the #'s.

one thing i feel confident in saying, you will see a much different tactic in how this staff rotates players vs. what the last staff did. a lot of guys are going to get plenty of snaps. they'll find out one way or the other who is and who isn't on the program.
 
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#70
#70
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvaEJzoaYZk[/youtube]

This should have been posted earlier.
 
#73
#73
jakez4ut said:
if you wanna be concerned about recruiting in April/May, that's a choice.

this staff is doing what they said they'd do. they're going after the best players in the country. they won't get them all, obviously. but you gotta be in it, to win it. and we are, with some pretty heavy hitters.

we'll see how it shakes out, but things are not awful on the recruiting front.
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That’s why I stated it was still early. More concern is how we closed the last class whiffing on the big targets. I suppose I expected more from a top recruiter, but I think that it was premature. We just need a big recruiting win for some momentum.
 
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#74
#74
Jack Burton said:
That’s why I stated it was still early. More concern is how we closed the last class whiffing on the big targets. I suppose I expected more from a top recruiter, but I think that it was premature. We just need a big recruiting win for some momentum.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
#75
#75
jakez4ut said:
thanks. to me, it feels like we're on a really long road trip, and the kids just keep asking "are we there yet?"

and you have to keep giving them same answer...."no".

they then ask "when?"

you say "dunno, i see a couple storms ahead, maybe a wreck or two...don't worry, you'll know it when we do, try to enjoy the ride, k?"

then the requisite "well i'm bored, can we stop?, there's nothing to do, my butt hurts from sitting so long, i'm hungry, i gotta go to the bathroom.........."

that's where we are.....

:p

edit: that doesn't mean the guy driving the car doesn't want to get to the intended destination as quickly as possible either....believe me, he'd like to have just chartered a jet and skipped all the in between.:thumbsup:
Click to expand...
:lol:
Dangit Jake, you always have some great analogies!
 
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