Recruiting Forum Football Talk [RIP 9.3.2019]

[Dudley Smith]

I read a stat that stunned me the other day. The last time Tennessee had less than 4 losses in a season was 14 years ago.

14 years. Would have been unthinkable to lose 4 games in the 90’s. Let alone for a decade and a half.

I’m 24 so I don’t really remember the 90’s. My first real memories are of the ‘01 season. And I can attest with firsthand knowledge that people my age and younger do not expect Tennessee to be good or to be competitive. We’re largely a laughing stock in that demographic.

I'm old enough to have been on message boards in the 90's, back when CNN/SI was a thing. A bunch of Tennessee, FSU, and Nebraska fans made up the bulk of the posters, and we used to rib each other by calling them "Four-Loss Suckbutts." Man, that seems like a long time ago now. We are getting to the point where we have almost lost an entire generation of young fans, who don't remember when Tennessee was a national player. I really think Pruitt is the guy to get us back, but if he doesn't, I'm not sure I can make it through another cycle of rebuilding, and I'm not sure the program can ever fully recover.

 

[volsagain]

Who's been talking moral victories since the loss yesterday? Haven't see that. Yes, there were some positives that happened yesterday, is that not okay to talk about? JG looked good enough to be the QB, Tim Jordan looked like John Kelly, and the WR's caught the ball well. The bad...the OL started bad but got better, the DE's were bad which exposed a young secondary having to guard a very good WR core being thrown the ball by a heisman candidate QB. Secondary has talent but need help from the DE's and they got zero help yesterday.

Like I've said all morning, it starts with the DL, specifically the DE's. MUST get to the QB and they didn't. Grier was in the zone because he didn't have to worry about our awful pass rush. Any team that has a good QB and WR's has to be licking their chops right now if Tennessee is on the schedule. Hopefully they find a way to rush the passer or we're going to struggle to make a bowl. That's today's reality. But I do think we'll get better as the season goes on, too many hungry players and good coaches on this staff. Going to take time. More time than we want to admit.

Too many people expect to win now, we don't have the players top to bottom Georgia and other big dogs right now, but we will ,just give it time.

 

[bignewt]

We beat Florida and all will be well.

 

[Aesius]

It's kind of why I cringe when I see people wearing the "98" jersey and stuff like that. I think that just looks weak to dwell on the past like that constantly. Alabama has 5 of those in 9 years and we're over here flashing a big 98 in everybody's face.

I'm the same way. I'm a hyper competitive person and it sucks to feel helpless to watch the team I live and die with just get pummeled and ultimately disappoint everyone year in and year out.

I've taken up a few rec league sports in recent years and I think that may have helped me because it's a better competitive outlet. My success or failure hinges on me and not a coaching staff of transient dudes and a bunch of 18-22 year olds who are probably more concerned with who they're going to "smash" when they get back to their dorms/apartments than winning the games.

 

[InVOLuntary]

A Florida win changes everything and would make the season a success for many even if we miss a bowl game.

I think we need a at least one "good" win whether it's FL or South Carolina. I don't count Vandy, KY, or Mizzou as good wins. Typically don't count SC either but this year is different.

 

[Vols4us]

We beat Florida and all will be well.

Bingo. That's all any of this is about. They have 3 games to get ready for UF. They learned a lot yesterday. Now they have two games to build on that knowledge and put the best players on the roster in positions to succeed. That's on the coaches to do now.

They wanted a clean slate for the players to prove themselves against quality competition. They got it. There are practice players and there are gamers. Some of the gamers are good practice players and some are not. Find the gamer for each position. Play the best you have available for the others. Adjust the schemes on both sides to the gamers and expect the others to hold up to their responsibilities. The only real answer to becoming elite is to recruit a better roster. I have faith this staff will improve the existing players and recruit a lot of better ones.

 

[Catbone]

A Florida win changes everything and would make the season a success for many even if we miss a bowl game.

It does. On the other hand if we lose it will be the 2nd time in school history we start out 2-6 or worse.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Maybe just the first signs of the bubble bursting for college football. If you're top 10 you can still generate the revenue. Other than that, not so much. College football needs parity and Saban has killed that over the last decade. The face of the sport is a grumpy old man pissed that they ask him about his QB competition. That, coupled with 70" TV's and every game on TV makes going to the game not nearly as meaningful in years past. Essentially the sport is canabalizing itself. I don't know what reverses it because, like you said, younger fans aren't loyal and don't see the benefit of sports. Maybe it's because of the disdain with which athletes in general have been viewed for the last 20 years. You see all the bad stories, but not many of the good ones where the sports stars are heroes and good role models of the younger generation. I think we have catered to the "everyone is special and should all be treated the same" mentality so younger kids are "meh" towards sports in general. / End Rant

Other teams don't seem to be losing fans. I passed through Columbia last week and about every third person I saw had gamecock gear on. Compare that to Knoxville on Friday where you would usually see Vol gear everywhere on Friday before a Saturday game. I bet I saw 2 - 3 that had on orange out if 100s of people I saw. I think a decade of being a bad to average football program has taken it's toll on UT famdom.

 

[Chief Vol 13]

I'm the same way. I'm a hyper competitive person and it sucks to feel helpless to watch the team I live and die with just get pummeled and ultimately disappoint everyone year in and year out.

I've taken up a few rec league sports in recent years and I think that may have helped me because it's a better competitive outlet. My success or failure hinges on me and not a coaching staff of transient dudes and a bunch of 18-22 year olds who are probably more concerned with who they're going to "smash" when they get back to their dorms/apartments than winning the games.

I'm in the same boat. It'd be good for me to find something to kind of feel that void for me to replace Tennessee football. Wish sometimes that I could be more of a casual fan. I've always enjoying playing ball, working out, and other stuff but I need something that takes my mind off Tennessee so much. You invest so much time and energy pulling for the program only to watch it get hawked on as soon we hit the field.

 

[volsagain]

Bingo. That's all any of this is about. They have 3 games to get ready for UF. They learned a lot yesterday. Now they have two games to build on that knowledge and put the best players on the roster in positions to succeed. That's on the coaches to do now.

They wanted a clean slate for the players to prove themselves against quality competition. They got it. There are practice players and there are gamers. Some of the gamers are good practice players and some are not. Find the gamer for each position. Play the best you have available for the others. Adjust the schemes on both sides to the gamers and expect the others to hold up to their responsibilities. The only real answer to becoming elite is to recruit a better roster. I have faith this staff will improve the existing players and recruit a lot of better ones.

THIS . Not going to happen overnight, we have the coaches now we have to have patience. I'm probably older than most on here I've seen the difference. Can't believe how butch would practice on Thursday and Friday crazy.

 

[Weezer]

It was one game against a better, more experienced team. Grier lived up to his hype and made some perfect throws. Kudos to him. For us, the key is to learn and get better. Whether or not we improve as the season goes on, that will speak to how good our coaching staff is. It was one game. The sky hasn't fallen yet.

 

[vol4eva]

And a large number of fans sandwiched between the old-time donors and fans in their 20s are those who remember the 90s and are starting to believe that the glory days aren't coming back. It's this middle demographic that's growing increasingly impatient and disillusioned with both the progress and the product. That's why I think we're at a pivot point.

Despite the dreadful start, we can have an okay season. A lot of yesterday's mistakes are correctable.

I'm 28 and remember winning the National Championship, although I didn't understand the significance of it at the time. I remember the '01 season like it was yesterday. Even when we were declining from 2002-2008, it felt like we could compete with any team in the country.

The last decade has crushed me. I don't recognize Tennessee football anymore. I used to live for Fall Saturdays and Tennessee football, and watching every game with my father. Now, I barely kept up with the program over the offseason. The apathy is real, and I imagine that is the case for a large part of the fanbase.

 

[Aesius]

I'm 28 and remember winning the National Championship, although I didn't understand the significance of it at the time. I remember the '01 season like it was yesterday. Even when we were declining from 2002-2008, it felt like we could compete with any team in the country.

The last decade has crushed me. I don't recognize Tennessee football anymore. I used to live for Fall Saturdays and Tennessee football, and watching every game with my father. Now, I barely kept up with the program over the offseason. The apathy is real, and I imagine that is the case for a large part of the fanbase.

I was at the game yesterday sitting next to a very knowledgeable (albeit drunk as hell) and enthusiastic fan. He knew all of the new recruits/transfers and I found myself struggling to name some of the backups. I completely checked out on the last recruiting cycle and feel myself sliding into casual fandom.

 

[InVOLuntary]

THIS . Not going to happen overnight, we have the coaches now we have to have patience. I'm probably older than most on here I've seen the difference. Can't believe how butch would practice on Thursday and Friday crazy.

Ok guys, here's your old geezer. I'm not the heir apparent to Baldy. Here's the new old dude.

 

[85SugarVol]

I think we need a at least one "good" win whether it's FL or South Carolina. I don't count Vandy, KY, or Mizzou as good wins. Typically don't count SC either but this year is different.

Mizzou would be a good win this year.

 

[omghulkhands]

A lot of wallowing going on. Too many of you set yourself up for disappointment.

It’s very clear to me and has been since last year that we don’t have the Jimmy’s and Joe’s. Don’t care what recruiting rankings say. Don’t care about who developed who.

I feel like I’ve watched enough football to know some guys have it, some don’t. And this roster has an abundance of guys that don’t.

Pruitt won’t even have an opportunity to prove himself for a couple more years the way I see. Gotta have some serious roster turnover first.

In the meantime, I’ll find joy seeing how much lemonade he can squeeze out of this group. Also, I’ll enjoy basketball.

 

[volinexile17]

WVU was just a bad matchup for this team’s first game. Upperclass, talented offense vs freshman secondary. This team will have some more terrible games, but I think there’s enough bright spots to have some growth and really positive moments as the season goes on.

Still looks like a 6 win team that will pull off a surprise or two, but also take a crap in a game it shouldn’t.

 

[InVOLuntary]

Mizzou would be a good win this year.

I'm really talking typically. Just saying that we should consider them a good win is a testament to how low this program has sunk. I mean there whole program imploded a couple of years ago.

 

[InVOLuntary]

A lot of wallowing going on. Too many of you set yourself up for disappointment.

It’s very clear to me and has been since last year that we don’t have the Jimmy’s and Joe’s. Don’t care what recruiting rankings say. Don’t care about who developed who.

I feel like I’ve watched enough football to know some guys have it, some don’t. And this roster has an abundance of guys that don’t.

Pruitt won’t even have an opportunity to prove himself for a couple more years the way I see. Gotta have some serious roster turnover first.

In the meantime, I’ll find joy seeing how much lemonade he can squeeze out of this group. Also, I’ll enjoy basketball.

Tgfrb

 

[Aesius]

A lot of wallowing going on. Too many of you set yourself up for disappointment.

It’s very clear to me and has been since last year that we don’t have the Jimmy’s and Joe’s. Don’t care what recruiting rankings say. Don’t care about who developed who.

I feel like I’ve watched enough football to know some guys have it, some don’t. And this roster has an abundance of guys that don’t.

Pruitt won’t even have an opportunity to prove himself for a couple more years the way I see. Gotta have some serious roster turnover first.

In the meantime, I’ll find joy seeing how much lemonade he can squeeze out of this group. Also, I’ll enjoy basketball.

247's talent composite says we're 20th but we play more like a team that's 60th-70th best in the nation IMO. That's why the SEC wins will likely come from either Vandy or UK.

Guys either aren't being developed or our recruiting evaluations have been pisspoor. Possibly both on many recruits.

 

[Kingston Vol]

Blast the next two opponents and beat UF and this WVU game is all forgotten. Get in the film room and on the practice field and get better. No time for crying about it and giving up. Some of our fans might but Pruitt and his staff aren't going to and they won't allow their players to either. That's what all the offseason talk was about...toughness. Mentally and physically tough teams get over these losses and get better. I suspect the 2018 Vols will do just that. Hopefully they have enough improvement over the next couple weeks to get a W over goofy ass Dan Mehlen and the gators. I'm already over the loss, personally, it's time to get ready for ETSU and be better. Crybaby fans and players can stay home and cry about it if they choose to do so. 14-1 until we aren't.

For sure. All that matters is the next game until you run out of next games.

I’m still optimistic. I think this staff is too good to fail. But the larger conversation about where the UT program is as a whole ~today~ is still interesting (to me anyway) and warranted.

I think we’re too far away from any real success to lean on said success and say “we’ve done it before so we can do it again.” It’s going to be tough and basically be totally different, but it can be done. Yesterday doesn’t change that.

Like you said, beat Florida and everything is fine.

 

[JacketVol]

It’s never as good or as bad as it seems. UT loss to a good team yesterday while GT drilled Alcon State. GT is not going to win the Natty and UT is not losing 8 SEC games this year. UT will blow out ETSU but doesn’t mean we are back. Not sure what CJP will do to a school that is in our system as far as holding the score down but I think we need to win the next two games 60-10 like. Blow them into oblivion. Tired of being nice.

 

[JCP201]

I would have been apathetic if we had hired Schiano or Dave Doorknob, (did you see how they played James Madison--granted Coach Houston is very good, I still think getting NC State coach would have been worse than keeping Butch) Pruitt brought a bunch of great coaches with him, and I have seen his DC pedigree. Also, Fulmer is our AD. They said Smart had to rebuild GA after Richt, and they had Michel and Chubbs that first year. I am willing to cut Pruitt some slack to get this team back to a decent spot considering the record breaking horror of the final Butch Jones season.

 

[Chief Vol 13]

If we have another guy who compares our recruiting rankings to those of our opponents, he ought to be slapped. It means zilch, clearly.

 

[Bassmaster_Vol]

Guys if we find a pass rush we’ll be okay. We will improve tremendously on defense with just that addition. Hopefully we can. Maybe jj is the answer.

We need to be patient