Catbone
Hit me baby one more time
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Elite 8, since it's only happened once here. Plus 8 wins in football is too low to compare the two. 10 wins in football though...different pick
An Elite 8 run doesn't elevate the BasketVols any higher. 8 wins in football, helps expedite the change in trajectory for the football program. It would immediately pay dividends in recruiting, and solidify any questions regarding how the new coaching staff, and Huepel's offense can perform in the SEC. The value between those two choices is an easy one - 8 Wins in football. IMO.
Not one to call people out, but have you watched Tennessee Football lately?
Didn't we have 8 in Pruitt's 2nd season and it did exactly what?
One program has gone to an Elite 8 once in it's entire history, the other has had 8 win seasons far more often. The better question is what will Heupel do in year 3 or 4, those will be more telling in my opinion than this upcoming season. So again the two aren't even comparable to me.
I agree with Jay, I think S16 is the ceiling for this team. Also Bama is the type of team that can beat Gonzaga.Jay Bilas on ESPN+:
No. 5 Tennessee Volunteers vs. No. 12 Oregon State Ducks
Oregon State went on an improbable run in the Pac-12 tournament. It has a terrific guard in Ethan Thompson. But Tennessee is talented and tough at every position. Tennessee has size, depth and talent. If the Vols make shots, this team can beat anyone. Yet there have been struggles to score from time to time, and that is what can end Tennessee's ride in Indy. Tennessee's offense is average. But when in a flow, this group is special. Yves Pons is one of the best defenders in the country. Lefty John Fulkerson is a low-post threat. Freshman phenoms Jaden Springer and Keon Johnson are dynamic athletes and drivers who can make Tennessee truly elite. Tennessee can guard inside and out, force turnovers, force tough 2s, block shots and give you a physical beating. They wear orange, but the Vols leave you black and blue. Tennessee can get stuck on the offensive end at times but is better than the Beavers.
Winner: Tennessee
Tennessee vs. Oklahoma State
The Vols are so good defensively and more experienced. Unless the Vols go into one of their scoring droughts, I like Tennessee here -- by a hair.
Winner: Tennessee
He has us losing to Illinois in sweet 16.
He also has the Gumps in the Final Four playing Gonzaga.
We're only jobbers if we allow it. If DW is the AD everyone touts him as being, that won't remain the same. A strong AD quickly finds where the bodies are buried and isn't afraid of using them to get a leg up in the conference. Our last successful AD was Doug Dickey, and he made sure UT ate at the big boy table. DW cannot be intimidated and has to demand the same. His job isn't to play nice with the other SEC schools. His job is to restore UT to where it should be.
Listened to most of the podcast produced by Kyler Kerbyson this weekend, and he told an amazing story about a WR who skipped out on a couple of weeks of summer conditioning to go to the beach. When he came back, a D-lineman confronted him, told him he must apologize to the team, or he was going to slap the blank out of him.
Apparently "the loudest, most disrespectful slap I have ever heard" took place ... fun story. SIAP.
Pretty sure this was about Da'Rick Rogers.
IMO - different optics all together, an elite 8 appearance, while nice, doesn't change our narrative in basketball, would I love to see it, absolutely. Winning 8 football games this year, in a season where everyone is watching our new coach and seeing what to expect, in the aftermath of Bubba Gump and Co. trying to destroy the program during their time in Knoxville, would be a major accomplishment and set us up for a faster than expected turn around.
The reward for 8 wins in football this season, again IMO, is greater than the Vols winning the title in basketball.