We need to accept the reality that when many people are telling you there is a problem, there *might* be a problem. Getting angry at that possibility doesn't make anything better than shouting that message down (oh the irony).
Imagine it like this: youre severely overweight, with pre diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. That cheeseburger in your hand is not THE problem, but it certainly isn't making anything better.
The fans don't have to be THE problem, for the fans to be A problem.
Really all that matters in these types of situations is are the fans **perceived** to be a problem. We've been told by plenty of people over the years, in many different ways, that the answer to that might be a resounding yes (I've personally been shocked by hearing first hand how some people in the industry view the UT fanbase). So maybe, just maybe, instead of doubling down on the "nuh uh, I've bought a billion dollars of t-shirts over the years, and I've gone to Neyland during the worst teams ever fielded, it can't hurt anything if I tweet recruits/coaches/media people something hateful" we just decide not to do that for awhile. It's also irrelevant (to continue torturing the metaphor) how many cheeseburgers your neighbor is eating, when his diet won't affect your health at all (ie the idea that "other fanbases do too" is a meaningless issue given our cascading issues over the last 15 years).
Ultimately is it so hard to believe that mamma was probably right when she said "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all?". Maybe let's try that for awhile?
Or, let's continue being/doing the same thing and hoping for different results. Maybe you're right and what fans do, say, or otherwise, just doesn't matter.