Are we really that far behind Florida?

#176
#176
secking said:
OR, they know what they are doing this year and their heads aren’t spinning,

Still amazes me everyone thinks it was all the offense fault last year, it was the defense that gave up 30 ppg against P5 teams, where does that blame lie? Is 30 ppg the worst ever for a TN defense?
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An offense that keeps the defense on the field and lack of defensive depth because you "need" all those skilled offensive players will do that. I really hope Pruitt puts the kind of defense on the field that his coaching history promises.
 
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#179
#179
secking said:
I don’t think anyone is the next Saban. There is some built in advantages in Tuscaloosa that you don’t see elsewhere. The one thing recruiting does, is sustain you so Smart has many cracks at being in the playoffs, but no one is Saban. Saban and Bama have been afforded the removal of reasonable doubt. Bama has won NCs without winning their own division, Saban has one, maybe two undefeated seasons in his entire career?
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Yep. It’s one thing to win the title but it’s a whole other level to run the table and do it. That’s one of the many reasons ‘98 was so special. Florida still hasn’t run the table and won a title. All their titles included a loss. Dabo appears to be in position to have a great run but even he likely won’t win 6 titles in 11 years. That’s insane. There are absolutely zero challengers in the ACC though. The second best team is a fringe top 20 team.
 
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#180
#180
livefaith said:
Honest question. How many years since 1992, could our game against UF be characterized with this phrase? Not just winning, but not "sharting the bed" in a game where you watch in disbelief as the team on the field does not perform up to their ability.

I could point to these ...
98'(Except for McGriffs big play, we played solid)
03' (About like we were able, could have done even more imo)
04' (XPt inexplicable, but quiet good w 2 FR QBs)
09' (Way overmatched, but we hung around w/o callapse)
10' (Overmatched again, but made it interesting requiring fake punt.)

Five games in 25 years, I could honestly say we played a really solid game fundamental game. Even in 01' we did incredible things, but the weird mistakes were mind blowing (See J Witten).

My point is, we need some kind of coaching staff that can have us prepared mentally for this early season game. I hope we have it. Evidence form 18' sure doesn't help the case.
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Jason Witten almost single-handedly cost UT the game against UF in '01. Minus Witten, UT beats UF by double digits.
 
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#182
#182
secking said:
Why do you give the OL advantage to UF? They lost their entire line, haven’t seasoned the guys behind them and haven’t recruited well there.

I’d give starting secondary players edge to UF.

What title is UF playing for again? Has anyone ever had an emotional win over Ky?
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I give the OL advantage to UF because our OL absolutely sucked, last season. Kennedy did not even finish one game, last season. Trey Smith is big ????? And we are starting two freshmen at OT, against a REAL SEC DEFENSE.
Our DB's are pretty good, I think. Young, aggressive and talented. If we get Gibbs (and Solomon DT)we are golden.
As far as titles, make no bones about it, UF is playing for the SEC East title. They'll be right there, season's end. And by emotional I mean, a hard fought, close win, or loss, to UK. An emotionally flat UF could be a blessing.
 
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#184
#184
livefaith said:
Honest question. How many years since 1992, could our game against UF be characterized with this phrase? Not just winning, but not "sharting the bed" in a game where you watch in disbelief as the team on the field does not perform up to their ability.

I could point to these ...
98'(Except for McGriffs big play, we played solid)
03' (About like we were able, could have done even more imo)
04' (XPt inexplicable, but quiet good w 2 FR QBs)
09' (Way overmatched, but we hung around w/o callapse)
10' (Overmatched again, but made it interesting requiring fake punt.)

Five games in 25 years, I could honestly say we played a really solid game fundamental game. Even in 01' we did incredible things, but the weird mistakes were mind blowing (See J Witten).

My point is, we need some kind of coaching staff that can have us prepared mentally for this early season game. I hope we have it. Evidence form 18' sure doesn't help the case.
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Part of the problem has been facing so much speed and talent in so many positions, so early in the season. You can blame Steve Spurrier, and That Gator Swagger for that. Steve spent his time playing down The Vols vs Gators match up. Where our staff played it up, like it was the game of the freaking century. We were usually untested at that point of the season. Gators come in confident, like Spurrier. The Vols were game planned to death. But their mental condition was one of uncertainty. When we were beating them in the early 2000's, Casey Clausen brought the Swagger to Tennessee, and the offense showed it. The team took the attitude of it's leader. In 03', we played them later in the season. We were quite sure of who we were, on offense and defense. There was no intimidation or shock factor. We simply did exactly what we'd done all season. Even overcame some early mistakes, and falling behind, at The Swamp.
 
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#185
#185
kbear01 said:
Part of the problem has been facing so much speed and talent in so many positions, so early in the season. You can blame Steve Spurrier, and That Gator Swagger for that. Steve spent his time playing down The Vols vs Gators match up. Where our staff played it up, like it was the game of the freaking century. We were usually untested at that point of the season. Gators come in confident, like Spurrier. The Vols were game planned to death. But their mental condition was one of uncertainty. When we were beating them in the early 2000's, Casey Clausen brought the Swagger to Tennessee, and the offense showed it. The team took the attitude of it's leader. In 03', we played them later in the season. We were quite sure of who we were, on offense and defense. There was no intimidation or shock factor. We simply did exactly what we'd done all season. Even overcame some early mistakes, and falling behind, at The Swamp.
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Except UT played UF at NOON in early/mid Sept. 2003. It was hotter than balls that day!!!!!!!!

Casey Clausen beat a marginal UF team in '03. Still, that's more than any other UT QB has managed to accomplish...winning 2 games at UF!
 
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#186
#186
The OP has hope eternal due to all the ways we will improve. Ever stop to think other teams on our schedule are working to correct their deficiencies as well?
 
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#187
#187
Boca Vol said:
Except UT played UF at NOON in early/mid Sept. 2003. It was hotter than balls that day!!!!!!!!

Casey Clausen beat a marginal UF team in '03 and '04. Still, that's more than any other UT QB has managed to accomplish.
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My bust. It was 2001, when we beat them 34-32. UF was #2 in the country.
 
#190
#190
Here’s the thing, we can be better on paper, better overall athletes and should win the game and we don’t. The fact is it is in the players head, the fans head and I think even local media heads. We make such a big deal over Florida week. We are going to win, this is the year is our year. I remember in 95, we went to Alabama they had an 8 year winning streak outside a tie in 93. That week leading up to the game it was so calm, the players were asked about it and basically said it Alabama just another game another week. Peyton said that week yeah Alabama is good and it’s been while since we won but it doesn’t matter this year. Tennessee dominated bama that year 41-14 and I was in the alumni section by the end everyone gone around us and we moved to Tennessee section.

We need to forget its Florida who cares we are going to beat them and kicked their ass and then we move on next week. No big deal just another game.
 
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#192
#192
alltimevol2331 said:
Here’s the thing, we can be better on paper, better overall athletes and should win the game and we don’t. The fact is it is in the players head, the fans head and I think even local media heads. We make such a big deal over Florida week. We are going to win, this is the year is our year. I remember in 95, we went to Alabama they had an 8 year winning streak outside a tie in 93. That week leading up to the game it was so calm, the players were asked about it and basically said it Alabama just another game another week. Peyton said that week yeah Alabama is good and it’s been while since we won but it doesn’t matter this year. Tennessee dominated bama that year 41-14 and I was in the alumni section by the end everyone gone around us and we moved to Tennessee section.

We need to forget its Florida who cares we are going to beat them and kicked their ass and then we move on next week. No big deal just another game.
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Spot on but why has this so called “psychological” issue continued over 3 decades, over 5 coaches and players that change every 3-4 years? It is clear that our team is always the most tense against Florida every year regardless of who’s on the field. We always save our most idiotic mistakes for this game. I know Florida has been better than us in some years but even L. Wright, Jaws, and our other gator friends will have to admit that we have absolutely handed them games on a silver platter half a dozen times. Why does this generational sin continue?
 
#193
#193
PhoenixAZVol said:
Spot on but why has this so called “psychological” issue continued over 3 decades, over 5 coaches and players that change every 3-4 years? It is clear that our team is always the most tense against Florida every year regardless of who’s on the field. We always save our most idiotic mistakes for this game. I know Florida has been better than us in some years but even L. Wright, Jaws, and our other gator friends will have to admit that we have absolutely handed them games on a silver platter half a dozen times. Why does this generational sin continue?
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I think it is build up. The week of the game you would think it was national championship week. I mean heck our sports talk star talking Florida in August before we ever play our first game. We need to be like oh well we are playing Florida this week who cares. Just need to completely mellow out with Florida and go and play like they know how to.
 
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#194
#194
Boca Vol said:
Except UT played UF at NOON in early/mid Sept. 2003. It was hotter than balls that day!!!!!!!!

Casey Clausen beat a marginal UF team in '03. Still, that's more than any other UT QB has managed to accomplish...winning 2 games at UF!
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I was there in '03. Hotter than a whorehouse on nickel night, with a fistful of fifties and a pocketful of pesos. But we won 😁
 
#195
#195
Bigun said:
Florida finished 10-3 and trounced Michigan in a bowl game. We lost to Missouri and Vandy in humiliating blowout losses. Make all the excuses you want but Florida is better than us and the results on the field show it.
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we choked the mizzou and vandy games because some guys didnt wanna practice over the holidays from what was said. we were better than those 2 as well. its a new yr and we have chaney. we're gonna smash those teams
 
#196
#196
Bigun said:
Florida finished 10-3 and trounced Michigan in a bowl game. We lost to Missouri and Vandy in humiliating blowout losses. Make all the excuses you want but Florida is better than us and the results on the field show it.
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we choked the mizzou and vandy games because some guys didnt wanna practice over the holidays from what was said. we were better than those 2 as well. its a new yr and we have chaney. we're gonna smash those teams
 
#197
#197
lexkyvol said:
we choked the mizzou and vandy games because some guys didnt wanna practice over the holidays from what was said. we were better than those 2 as well. its a new yr and we have chaney. we're gonna smash those teams
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We are not better than those teams as they have owned us for the last few years. We have lost by 30+ pts to Missouri the last two Yeats and by 20+ pts to Vandy as well.

We arent in a position as a team to say we are going to pound anyone.
 
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#198
#198
Bigun said:
We are not better than those teams as they have owned us for the last few years. We have lost by 30+ pts to Missouri the last two Yeats and by 20+ pts to Vandy as well.

We arent in a position as a team to say we are going to pound anyone.
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we're in the position to say whatever we want. stop living in last season and live for this season coming. F those teams, this ROCKY TOP!
 
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#199
#199
lexkyvol said:
we choked the mizzou and vandy games because some guys didnt wanna practice over the holidays from what was said. we were better than those 2 as well. its a new yr and we have chaney. we're gonna smash those teams
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It's funny how we only mention these off-field problems when they are diminishing our losses. Nobody ever mentions them when they diminish our wins (like both Kentucky and Auburn losing by double digits 6 days before we play them). No loss of motivation for them though- they were hitting on all cylinders!

If our players didn't want to practice or to win, then we didn't "choke" those games away- we just had a weak team. That's what losers do. Kentucky doesn't get credit for TDs they didn't score against us because they were disappointed after losing to Georgia. They were not as prepared to play as we were- that's what losers do.
 
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#200
#200
lexkyvol said:
we choked the mizzou and vandy games because some guys didnt wanna practice over the holidays from what was said. we were better than those 2 as well. its a new yr and we have chaney. we're gonna smash those teams
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Those were not choke games. Missouri was legitimately better than us. A lot better than us. Vandy was a match up of a senior QB, with several good receivers, against an out matched secondary, that had already mailed it in. The game should've been closer. But, I think they beat us, anyway. Bottom-line, this team quit. If that **** happens again, screw Pruitt. Get him the hell outta here! I will not tolerate that pussy ass crap!
 
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