Recruiting Forum Football Talk IV

[BSOVOL1967]

I am not and never have been a big time donor, but there was point where for 30 consecutive plus years, I went to every home game and also a few road games, pretty much 1983 - mid 2010's, like 2015 or so... So, I have been to over 200 games, my point is as you get older some of your life priorities change, etc.. I will be 55 in January, and I will go to at least 1, maybe 2 games this year.. I still feel invested in the program even though I have never been a big time donor, nor do I go as often anymore, now that I'm getting older, but I certainly understand the frustration of VOLS fans of all ages.. I like Coach Heupel and support him, but, and this is not an indictment on him, it's just my personal viewpoint or perception of reality as I view it currently, I said earlier I don't see Tennessee ever being any better than 8-4 or 9-3 at best during the regular season with him or any other coach for that matter, because college football has changed so much since I became a fan in the early/mid 70's of Tennessee.. I will say though for the first time in awhile, I felt like the 16 year old teenager I was during the first half of the game last night, I was yelling and into it, and going into halftime thinking, ok we are in this game, but Florida made adjustments and we did not, and we all know the rest of the story.

I had hope for a 6-6 year this year, but losing to Pitt - a game we had every chance to win, makes that an uphill battle. I saw a post earlier saying only 52K season tickets were sold this year, is that right? If so, that is very telling on the negative side, but not an indictment of Heupel, White, etc.. an indictment of the current state of our program is more the way I see it. I understand changing your ticket pricing structure but I feel it's a bad time to do it when the football has struggled now for a decade and a half.. Understanding and enacting a new strategy are two different things. Coach Heupel will most certainly get the time he needs, but for me the pivotal year will be year 3, and that's because in year 3 you have your system in place and most but not all of your players, and you can and should be competitive in nearly every game.. I harken back to Coach Johnny Majors, year 3 was 1979.. We were up on mighty Alabama at Legion Field, 17-0, however, they comeback and win 21-17, 27-17..?? My point is UT in year 3 in a very similar rebuilding effort was up 17-0 on the eventual National Champion in college football in 1979.. Also, we upset a top 15 team in Notre Dame that year, year 3 1979... 40-18... We finished 7-4 in the regular season and then lost a close Blue Bonnet Bowl to Purdue, but although we had a few more bumps along the way, Coach Majors eventually got the program righted, and then Coach Fulmer continued that, etc. Yes, we need stability but when year 3 comes, 2023, Coach Heupel needs to deliver with some strong, competitive football and with the opportunity to be in every game, and win at least one of the 3 big games currently: Bama, Gators, Dawgs...

One more thing: I know some Vols folks are against OU and Texas joining the league, but if the SEC goes to the NFL divisional/pod scheme, in other words 4 divisions of 4 teams, I think it helps the Vols, personally. The reason being, if one of the divisions is Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn and Vandy, then I will take my chances with that... I don't see Auburn being as good as Georgia or Florida right now, and growing up we always played Auburn the first SEC game, followed by Bama or maybe someone else, then Bama.. What I'm saying is I am more than happy to lose Florida and Georgia as permanent opponents, and if we have to play Texas one year instead, then I have no issue with that, since they aren't what they used to be either... I think our chances of winning more improve with the 4 division/pod schematic, then the current East/West setup.

Sorry for the long and rambling post... Go Vols!

 

[MarcoVol]

Hooker has 2 less touchdowns and has played 1.5 games less

Edit: Rattler was supposed to be #1 overall pick. Doubt he’s top 3 rounds now

Dude is a RS sophomore. And his RS Fr season he threw 28 TDs. You wouldn’t want that guy and to see what Heup could do with him if he were to transfer???

 

[volbeast33]

I don’t think you realize how big of a gamble he is taking. I’m all for blind following if you want, but you don’t piss off people who make you money. That’s not good business.

He is not pissing off everyone….. he is pissing off some….That will always happen when big changes are made….. part of the issue is how we tried not to make anyone made in the past by allowing previous ticket standards be grandfathered in.

 

[mr.checkerboards]

Dude is a RS sophomore. And his RS Fr season he threw 28 TDs. You wouldn’t want that guy and to see what Heup could do with him if he were to transfer???

No he has attitude issues.

 

[BruinVol]

That punt return targeting wasn't as bad as it first appeared. The guy literally threw up the fair catch sign about a step before he got hit. The player didn't have adequate time to react imo. I won't defend the lowering of the head but I see no way for him not to hit him with that momentum and the late fair catch signal.
.

Sorry been away

Wasn’t talking about the penalty @InVOLuntary .

I was talking about having 9 players without a punt returner on the field

inexcusable

 

[Devo182]

Bottom line is if you want fans in the stands and season ticket holders to spend the money you have to win. Many jumping ship would be right back on the boat if we strung together 10 years of 9+ wins. Just facts. Winning cures all.

While I get that - I also think it's a bit of a self-fulfilling/non-fulfilling prophecy type of scenario.

For example:

If fans aren't showing up and are waiting to see some grand return to relevancy first and recruits show up to a half-full stadium - what will recruits think? How will that affect our overall image and brand? Would that help or hurt our rebuild?

On the other hand, showing out regardless can have a sort of "fake it till you make it" effect.

And no, I'm not saying it will have some massive effect, of course not. But every little bit counts. I just think of how Butch and Pearl were able to mobilize the fans and we showed up in droves, even though we weren't very good to begin with in their tenures. And then recruiting just got better and better...again...no not directly caused by said excitement...but it helped some. Better to help the cause than not. Jmo

 

[InVOLuntary]

Sorry been away

Wasn’t talking about the penalty @InVOLuntary .

I was talking about having 9 players without a punt returner on the field

inexcusable

I agree on that. They had to pull VJ off due to 2 number 1's on the field. Probably wasn't a terrible decision as the punt was probably going to result in a touch back or a fair catch deep or possibly being downed inside the 10. Not sure where the number 10 player was.

 

[Jackcrevol]

yes. the word was Bailey was only gonna appear in four games max in oder to preserve the year of eligibility. looks like that is what's happening.

milton gives the fans in the stands best chance of winning

 

[Batman1948]

Make the FG before half and Callaway makes that catch, we're in it a lot closer for a lot longer.

You can SEE the planning and coaching. We just can't execute. We don't have the players, and we sure as hell don't have the depth.

We have a long way to go, but you can at least see where things can go. We need more depth, and we need guys that can execute. Then we can be in games like this in the 4th. If you get in enough of those you can start winning them.

He's gotta find his QB first. He's probably dying to get better WR too. Get to work coach.

In all our years of struggling, it appears we finally have a coach who knows what he's doing. This offense will work and he will get the guys he needs to run it. Average QB's can manage most game plans but we don't have the QB to run this offense. Hopefully, that QB is gonna come from the portal next year because we don't need to rely a freshman QB in the SEC. It's just a big catch 22. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and for once it's not a train.

 

[Smyrna ATL Vol]

It will be an absolute miracle if HB is not in the transfer portal for next year. They put Milton, who is still healing from his ankle injury, in the game when Hooker got hurt. That's pretty telling.

Milton was brought in to be JH’s guy. He is going to continue to try and make him a good QB. But how long until he moves on? Only time will tell. HB will probably be transferring if they continue to ride with Hooker and Milton. I think that’s dumb as Milton is a lost cause. But I’m not the coach.

 

[engineerVOL]

All I want is Patrick Mahomes, Devonta Smith, Alvin Kamara, and Bama’s 2018 OL to walk through that door and I think we’ll be alright

 

[Batman1948]

Is Tayven an EE? Would be huge

I believe he is

 

[GoBigOrange86]

Imagine walking out of the Georgia Dome in 2007 after a hard-fought championship game knowing 8 of the next 13 years would be losing records and by 2021 there’d be absolutely no sign of the program turning the corner. It’d be unfathomable.

 

[thistime]

If nothing else the game yesterday should show many that it appears we have a coach and staff that have a clue. Will it be a quick top ten......no, will it be a quick jump back into our old days of glory........no, will we all have to wait for this team to get good again........YES BUT THEY ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK....SO FAR.

 

[volsagain]

We can debate the "this and that's" all day, but here's the skinny...

Heupel and Staff are exactly what this program needs right now, and we need to let them do their thing...

They have done a great job of scheming and running the right type of O and D to try and fit our talent level right now.

WE SIMPLY DO NOT HAVE a full roster of the right talent and depth to consistently execute their schemes from start to finish in a game right now due to lack of veteran talent, injuries, and depth issues.


The only thing this team needs to worry about and practice each week---

Stay Healthy
Penalties
Dropped balls
Overthrows

You honestly fix 2-3 of these and we would be winning 7-8 games this season.

Recruit and use the transfer portal the best we can, hope some guys return using their COVID year, and watch he program stabilize and get better as the year progresses and see a huge uptick next season.

We need a J Jennings , we need a dog on 3rd down someone to fight for the ball.

 

[Smyrna ATL Vol]

Imagine walking out of the Georgia Dome in 2007 after a hard-fought championship game knowing 8 of the next 13 years would be losing records and by 2021 there’d be absolutely no sign of the program turning the corner. It’d be unfathomable.

I remember watching it and thinking we will be back and win it. Boy oh boy… still think the worst decision of the last fifteen years was hiring Dooley. That was a terrible hire and a slap in the face to all Vol fans. He had a losing record and never should have even been in consideration. Cut and Patterson both wanted this job. We would still be a top fifteen program every year if we had hired one of them.

 

[therickbol]

Jeremy Banks may be the worst starting LB I’ve ever seen at Tennessee.

Crazy pills are dangerous. Be careful.

 

[thistime]

We have to understand that we are out manned at every position on the field, we have good players but it's that depth thing. OL will be the key. If we can get and develop the type guys ( tall, athletic and quick) they seem to want and get some BIG ugly's on the DL we should be well on our way. QB will be key as well but I think they know what they want and LB will be a spot of need but OL is the key.

 

[TheMagnificantOne]

Feels sacrilege but I just do not care about the NFL. College football is 1000x better.

I don't watch NFL till the games before Superbowl and then the Superbowl

 

[therickbol]

Difference between winners and losers, playmakers make plays. The kicker and Calloway did not make plays. Coop and Evans get hurt. It is what it is.

But there is potential if Heup can make them more disciplined.

Now that we are much more well coached, I think that statement is very true. Playmakers making plays is the difference.

 

[Rishvol]

Pretty sure Fitzpatrick has a dip in

 

[tnvols72]

Disaster lol

Coming from you then that means it would be the right decision

 

[volbeast33]

In all our years of struggling, it appears we finally have a coach who knows what he's doing. This offense will work and he will get the guys he needs to run it. Average QB's can manage most game plans but we don't have the QB to run this offense. Hopefully, that QB is gonna come from the portal next year because we don't need to rely a freshman QB in the SEC. It's just a big catch 22. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and for once it's not a train.

one thing I liked too is JH went and hung out with the players and players families after the loss…. That really helps to create that family and team oriented environment.

 

[JohnnyD1024]

We had 132 more yards of offense against Florida than what Alabama had against them. Heupel offense works, we just need our guys to start making plays more consistently.

 

[engineerVOL]

Jeremy Banks may be the worst starting LB I’ve ever seen at Tennessee.

He’s awful in coverage but man he loves to hit. He’s a great athlete. Decent awareness. He’s like a poor man’s JRM. Probably born about 20 years too late.