I support Heupel and Banks

[LittleVol]

Does Tennessee deserve better? I don't how anyone could make that call.
Great offense in 2021,2022, and ,2025
Great defense in 2024

We're recruiting well. Are over all winning percentage is high the past 4 years.

But
- bad clock management (terrible actually)
- bad play calling (still much improved (
- bad luck (injuries)
All play a part.

If we were able to add 2025 offense to 2024 defense we would be undefeated.
It's frustrating BECAUSE we should have beaten Georgia, and we had opportunities against Bama.
Both teams are still more talented than us. Don't forget that
- Who can make us as talented as UGA, and Bama by next season??
(Trick question)
It's Josh Heupel. Because of all the work he and his staff have done at this point. And yeah maybe there's a coach out there that can win right away with our roster - but we're 5-2 now.

Do I think we can win it all in 2026? Not unless we grab some FCS All-americans at safety and DT.

But show me the available coaching staff that can come in by January, 2026 and have us playing in the National championship 12 months later.

I don't see a program in regression. I see Heupel fighting and pushing against a ceiling. Trying like hell to raise it.

Losing sucks, but the SEC is hard. Bama and UGA both have losses. As does Ole Miss. Texas and Steve Sarkesian were all the talk this off-season. Texas has 2 losses and barely beat Kentucky. So does Sarkesian suck all of a sudden?

- we had a former walk-on rush for over 100 yards and 2 TDs against Bama.
- Also had our 5 star WR drop critical 3rd down pass. So ....is the coaching or recruiting?

I don't see an available better alternative than Josh Heupel and what he's built at Tennessee these last 5 years.

 

[#1fulmerite]

Yeah, the next couple of years is going to be difficult finding replacement coaches.

It’s college football in the modern times. Going to also be difficult having teams go undefeated and win a NC, especially in the SEC.

 

[cdb88]

It's so tiring, already gave up my season tickets. But historically Heupel has as what we have always been a mediocre program with a few lucky breaks to rise above all.

 

[Voltopia]

And here I had basically forgotten what it felt like to watch Vol fans self-destruct and detonate the entire program so they could start over again.

 

[DooleyOrangePants]

I’m not on the “fahr Heupel” train that seems to pop up after a loss. I think a lot of what you bring up are good points. Jettisoning him now would be monumentally stupid with zero justification.

However, I can’t get behind support of Banks and some of the coaches on that side of the ball. Heupels biggest downfall is his refusal to make changes to underperforming staff and that has the potential to be his downfall here.

 

[cncchris33]

Does Tennessee deserve better? I don't how anyone could make that call.
Great offense in 2021,2022, and ,2025
Great defense in 2024

We're recruiting well. Are over all winning percentage is high the past 4 years.

But
- bad clock management (terrible actually)
- bad play calling (still much improved (
- bad luck (injuries)
All play a part.

If we were able to add 2025 offense to 2024 defense we would be undefeated.
It's frustrating BECAUSE we should have beaten Georgia, and we had opportunities against Bama.
Both teams are still more talented than us. Don't forget that
- Who can make us as talented as UGA, and Bama by next season??
(Trick question)
It's Josh Heupel. Because of all the work he and his staff have done at this point. And yeah maybe there's a coach out there that can win right away with our roster - but we're 5-2 now.

Do I think we can win it all in 2026? Not unless we grab some FCS All-americans at safety and DT.

But show me the available coaching staff that can come in by January, 2026 and have us playing in the National championship 12 months later.

I don't see a program in regression. I see Heupel fighting and pushing against a ceiling. Trying like hell to raise it.

Losing sucks, but the SEC is hard. Bama and UGA both have losses. As does Ole Miss. Texas and Steve Sarkesian were all the talk this off-season. Texas has 2 losses and barely beat Kentucky. So does Sarkesian suck all of a sudden?

- we had a former walk-on rush for over 100 yards and 2 TDs against Bama.
- Also had our 5 star WR drop critical 3rd down pass. So ....is the coaching or recruiting?

I don't see an available better alternative than Josh Heupel and what he's built at Tennessee these last 5 years.

I'm fine with you defending Heupel's program development. His clock management is abysmal, his staff loyalty is going to hold him back, but he has rebuilt us into a very respectable program.

However, if you find reason to defend Tim Banks, I can't help you. The McCoy injury is a fine and legitimate excuse, but we are waaaaay beyond simply missing an All-American corner back. And yes, we are missing Rickey Gibson, too, but Colton Hood has been a more than adequate replacement.

 

[LittleVol]

And let's not lean on the (he's better than Pruitt and Butch and Dooley )

Yeah! Who isn't???

But every season Heupel and company get better at recruiting. The offense IS more than it was. The defense has some bad luck but also we have some talent deficiency in year 5. And we've seen it be Top 5. So that means we can get back there. Hopefully at the same time the offense is at its premium. Heupel did get better this off-season even though the clock management is horrible.
Now we need Banks to better during the Off-season. He needs to make sure he has the tools.

He absolutely failed in the 2025 off-season.

We're still playoff contention. Other teams will lose. We saw that all weekend right?

# 2 Miami - lost
# 7 Texas Tech - lost
# 4 Ole Miss - lost
#10 LSU- lost

We're not playing in vacuum. Try to enjoy the season, and not cling your whole life on if Tennessee wins or losses. Because even had we won- people would still be upset for Bad clock management and Banks playing sof defense.

 

[ForMyLosses]

Does anyone think replacing Tim Banks and getting a new dc could make the defense worse? We’re one of the worst defenses in the nation let alone the SEC. The d line is the only reason we can ever get stop

 

[vavolfan6]

Overall, we are a very good football team with one area of glaring weakness. Our recruiting in the secondary has been our Achilles heel since Heupel has been here. It's why the injuries here been very impactful and is extremely unfortunate.

We need to continue to focus on the portal where we were able to get Colton Hood and Jermod McCoy. This year we let Jakobe Thomas walk and was compounded with the injuries. Opponents are exploiting us back there and continue to target our 3 star freshman in critical moments.

 

[Volholic]

It feels like it’s been 20 straight years of this though. I don’t think firing the head coach is the solution but I don’t know what is.

 

[vol94]

Does Tennessee deserve better? I don't how anyone could make that call.
Great offense in 2021,2022, and ,2025
Great defense in 2024

We're recruiting well. Are over all winning percentage is high the past 4 years.

But
- bad clock management (terrible actually)
- bad play calling (still much improved (
- bad luck (injuries)
All play a part.

If we were able to add 2025 offense to 2024 defense we would be undefeated.
It's frustrating BECAUSE we should have beaten Georgia, and we had opportunities against Bama.
Both teams are still more talented than us. Don't forget that
- Who can make us as talented as UGA, and Bama by next season??
(Trick question)
It's Josh Heupel. Because of all the work he and his staff have done at this point. And yeah maybe there's a coach out there that can win right away with our roster - but we're 5-2 now.

Do I think we can win it all in 2026? Not unless we grab some FCS All-americans at safety and DT.

But show me the available coaching staff that can come in by January, 2026 and have us playing in the National championship 12 months later.

I don't see a program in regression. I see Heupel fighting and pushing against a ceiling. Trying like hell to raise it.

Losing sucks, but the SEC is hard. Bama and UGA both have losses. As does Ole Miss. Texas and Steve Sarkesian were all the talk this off-season. Texas has 2 losses and barely beat Kentucky. So does Sarkesian suck all of a sudden?

- we had a former walk-on rush for over 100 yards and 2 TDs against Bama.
- Also had our 5 star WR drop critical 3rd down pass. So ....is the coaching or recruiting?

I don't see an available better alternative than Josh Heupel and what he's built at Tennessee these last 5 years.

Bama is more talented than Vandy but the Dores have Bama fits.

Heup needs to stay but needs to replace some position coaches, @ least.

I’m not saying i want their coach. But, the TN team would be much better if they were fundamentally sound like Vandy. I Can’t believe I’m sayin this.

 

[AlsaceFreak]

We held Ty Simpson to his lowest numbers of the season. No Bama running back even broke 50 yds. Jam Miller rushed 12 times for 15yds. No Bama receiver broke a 100 yds receiving.

Look at Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss today. Georgia never punted the ENTIRE game! The week before they let a dismal Washington St team have a chance to win the game on the last play in their own stadium.

Our defense is flawed but it played good enough to win that game.

A healthy CB tandem that is out would be a difference as well.

 

[EastTNVol6240]

Does Tennessee deserve better? I don't how anyone could make that call.
Great offense in 2021,2022, and ,2025
Great defense in 2024

We're recruiting well. Are over all winning percentage is high the past 4 years.

But
- bad clock management (terrible actually)
- bad play calling (still much improved (
- bad luck (injuries)
All play a part.

If we were able to add 2025 offense to 2024 defense we would be undefeated.
It's frustrating BECAUSE we should have beaten Georgia, and we had opportunities against Bama.
Both teams are still more talented than us. Don't forget that
- Who can make us as talented as UGA, and Bama by next season??
(Trick question)
It's Josh Heupel. Because of all the work he and his staff have done at this point. And yeah maybe there's a coach out there that can win right away with our roster - but we're 5-2 now.

Do I think we can win it all in 2026? Not unless we grab some FCS All-americans at safety and DT.

But show me the available coaching staff that can come in by January, 2026 and have us playing in the National championship 12 months later.

I don't see a program in regression. I see Heupel fighting and pushing against a ceiling. Trying like hell to raise it.

Losing sucks, but the SEC is hard. Bama and UGA both have losses. As does Ole Miss. Texas and Steve Sarkesian were all the talk this off-season. Texas has 2 losses and barely beat Kentucky. So does Sarkesian suck all of a sudden?

- we had a former walk-on rush for over 100 yards and 2 TDs against Bama.
- Also had our 5 star WR drop critical 3rd down pass. So ....is the coaching or recruiting?

I don't see an available better alternative than Josh Heupel and what he's built at Tennessee these last 5 years.

Maybe not regression, but not progression. We aren’t disciplined, look lost at times, and play terrible on the road. We nearly lead all teams in drops. Injuries are never an excuse. Heup builds our depth chart. With the exception of last year banks has been awful here.

It’s time for Heup to make a few changes, or you might start to see that regression. We didn’t win over any recruits last night that were deciding between us and bama. I can promise you that.

 

[LittleVol]

I'm fine with you defending Heupel's program development. His clock management is abysmal, his staff loyalty is going to hold him back, but he has rebuilt us into a very respectable program.

However, if you find reason to defend Tim Banks, I can't help you. The McCoy injury is a fine and legitimate excuse, but we are waaaaay beyond simply missing an All-American corner back. And yes, we are missing Rickey Gibson, too, but Colton Hood has been a more than adequate replacement.

Okay but were you calling for Heupel to be fired when Banks was fielding a top 5 defense last season? And Nico wasnt elevating the offense?

UGA gave up 41 to us and 35 to Ole Miss.
The days of 2011 LSU and Bama are defense are Long gone!

Banks is not playing with a full deck.
AS I SAID- He needs to get better during the Off-season.

 

[LittleVol]

Maybe not regression, but not progression. We aren’t disciplined, look lost at times, and play terrible on the road. We nearly lead all teams in drops. Injuries are never an excuse. Heup builds our depth chart. With the exception of last year banks has been awful here.

It’s time for Heup to make a few changes, or you might start to see that regression. We didn’t win over any recruits last night that were deciding between us and bama. I can promise you that.

Agree with a lot of what you said.
But recruiting is not an exact science. There's no telling who became motivated or not after that loss.

Clark Lea is a name...
But Heupel is 2-0 against him.

 

[vol94]

I’m not on the “fahr Heupel” train that seems to pop up after a loss. I think a lot of what you bring up are good points. Jettisoning him now would be monumentally stupid with zero justification.

However, I can’t get behind support of Banks and some of the coaches on that side of the ball. Heupels biggest downfall is his refusal to make changes to underperforming staff and that has the potential to be his downfall here.

Good post - like

 

[Tman44]

Nick Saban was 51 when he won his first natty. CJH is only 47. I think we do need staff changes, but to let CJH go would be insanely stupid.

 

[SubVet676]

Does Tennessee deserve better? I don't how anyone could make that call.
Great offense in 2021,2022, and ,2025
Great defense in 2024

.....

You missed a couple of points. I'll add them for you:

- 29.33 PAPG. Tied with Purdue at #107 out of 134. I won't add insult by naming some of the teams ahead of UT.
- #100 in YAPG at 393.8. Right behind ULM.
- #121 in PYAPG at 257.8.
- #59 in RYAPG at 136.0.

Mind you, those numbers include the cupcake games. Take those away, and it gets worse.

One can seek refuge in the takeaways, TFL's, etc. Or blame injuries. But when you're giving up the numbers above, anyone with an unbiased eye can see that there is something very wrong with the UT defense. And I don't think another year of recruiting will fix it. Injuries happen. That's why you develop quality depth. Personally, I think any success the UT defense has is despite the coaching, not because of it.

You see the play Germie Bernard made against the defense last night? Dead to rights 10 yards deep. 5 Vols later, it's an 18-yard gain.

That's on the coaching, or more accurately, poor coaching.

Heupel has some tough decisions to make. If he shy's away from the task, then get used to seeing more of the same next season. It is what it is.

 

[cncchris33]

Okay but were you calling for Heupel to be fired when Banks was fielding a top 5 defense last season? And Nico wasnt elevating the offense?

UGA gave up 41 to us and 35 to Ole Miss.
The days of 2011 LSU and Bama are defense are Long gone!

Banks is not playing with a full deck.
AS I SAID- He needs to get better during the Off-season.

I've never called for Heupel to be fired, and especially not in my post you quoted, so I don't know how thay question is really relevant.

Banks fielded a good defense last year. It has been the anomaly, though. You have to admit that. And spare me the full deck speech. We played yesterday minus 2 of our top 3 CBs. Outside of that, we pretty much had everyone we'd expect to play. The problem is that our LBs are slow to react and miss too many tackles, Telander couldn't defend you in coverage, our Safeties can't cover or tackle. The scheme Banks employs in certain situations is completely head-scratching. And this isn't just based on the Bama result.

 

[vol94]

It feels like it’s been 20 straight years of this though. I don’t think firing the head coach is the solution but I don’t know what is.

This x 10000

It’s exhausting for those who have followed TN football for 40 plus years.

I don’t mind losing when my team plays well & I expect games where my favorite team plays poorly. But our deficiencies occur every Saturday -no improvement: poor tackling, poor LB- DB play, dropped passes, horrible clock mgmt with questionable play calling, and penalties. The penalties are drive killers. We should rarely line up incorrectly. I taught my 10 yr old team that when i coached yrs ago.

Our safeties looks lost and out of position. But, i see safeties for avg. teams make plays every Saturday

 

[vol94]

I've never called for Heupel to be fired, and especially not in my post you quoted, so I don't know how thay question is really relevant.

Banks fielded a good defense last year. It has been the anomaly, though. You have to admit that. And spare me the full deck speech. We played yesterday minus 2 of our top 3 CBs. Outside of that, we pretty much had everyone we'd expect to play. The problem is that our LBs are slow to react and miss too many tackles, Telander couldn't defend you in coverage, our Safeties can't cover or tackle. The scheme Banks employs in certain situations is completely head-scratching. And this isn't just based on the Bama result.

Well said

 

[Rocky Top T]

Does Tennessee deserve better? I don't how anyone could make that call.
Great offense in 2021,2022, and ,2025
Great defense in 2024

We're recruiting well. Are over all winning percentage is high the past 4 years.

But
- bad clock management (terrible actually)
- bad play calling (still much improved (
- bad luck (injuries)
All play a part.

If we were able to add 2025 offense to 2024 defense we would be undefeated.
It's frustrating BECAUSE we should have beaten Georgia, and we had opportunities against Bama.
Both teams are still more talented than us. Don't forget that
- Who can make us as talented as UGA, and Bama by next season??
(Trick question)
It's Josh Heupel. Because of all the work he and his staff have done at this point. And yeah maybe there's a coach out there that can win right away with our roster - but we're 5-2 now.

Do I think we can win it all in 2026? Not unless we grab some FCS All-americans at safety and DT.

But show me the available coaching staff that can come in by January, 2026 and have us playing in the National championship 12 months later.

I don't see a program in regression. I see Heupel fighting and pushing against a ceiling. Trying like hell to raise it.

Losing sucks, but the SEC is hard. Bama and UGA both have losses. As does Ole Miss. Texas and Steve Sarkesian were all the talk this off-season. Texas has 2 losses and barely beat Kentucky. So does Sarkesian suck all of a sudden?

- we had a former walk-on rush for over 100 yards and 2 TDs against Bama.
- Also had our 5 star WR drop critical 3rd down pass. So ....is the coaching or recruiting?

I don't see an available better alternative than Josh Heupel and what he's built at Tennessee these last 5 years.

Banks definitely needs to be fired!!!

 

[djwes]

I’m not at all in favor of firing CJH or Banks.

Tennessee does however, needs significant improvement at offensive coordinator and several position coaches if we want to consistently compete better.

 

[Butch s]

Does Tennessee deserve better? I don't how anyone could make that call.
Great offense in 2021,2022, and ,2025
Great defense in 2024

We're recruiting well. Are over all winning percentage is high the past 4 years.

But
- bad clock management (terrible actually)
- bad play calling (still much improved (
- bad luck (injuries)
All play a part.

If we were able to add 2025 offense to 2024 defense we would be undefeated.
It's frustrating BECAUSE we should have beaten Georgia, and we had opportunities against Bama.
Both teams are still more talented than us. Don't forget that
- Who can make us as talented as UGA, and Bama by next season??
(Trick question)
It's Josh Heupel. Because of all the work he and his staff have done at this point. And yeah maybe there's a coach out there that can win right away with our roster - but we're 5-2 now.

Do I think we can win it all in 2026? Not unless we grab some FCS All-americans at safety and DT.

But show me the available coaching staff that can come in by January, 2026 and have us playing in the National championship 12 months later.

I don't see a program in regression. I see Heupel fighting and pushing against a ceiling. Trying like hell to raise it.

Losing sucks, but the SEC is hard. Bama and UGA both have losses. As does Ole Miss. Texas and Steve Sarkesian were all the talk this off-season. Texas has 2 losses and barely beat Kentucky. So does Sarkesian suck all of a sudden?

- we had a former walk-on rush for over 100 yards and 2 TDs against Bama.
- Also had our 5 star WR drop critical 3rd down pass. So ....is the coaching or recruiting?

I don't see an available better alternative than Josh Heupel and what he's built at Tennessee these last 5 years.

I for one I’m not looking for a coach who can have us playing for NC in 12 months. Maybe 60+

 

[TikiVol]

Does Tennessee deserve better? I don't how anyone could make that call.
Great offense in 2021,2022, and ,2025
Great defense in 2024

We're recruiting well. Are over all winning percentage is high the past 4 years.

But
- bad clock management (terrible actually)
- bad play calling (still much improved (
- bad luck (injuries)
All play a part.

If we were able to add 2025 offense to 2024 defense we would be undefeated.
It's frustrating BECAUSE we should have beaten Georgia, and we had opportunities against Bama.
Both teams are still more talented than us. Don't forget that
- Who can make us as talented as UGA, and Bama by next season??
(Trick question)
It's Josh Heupel. Because of all the work he and his staff have done at this point. And yeah maybe there's a coach out there that can win right away with our roster - but we're 5-2 now.

Do I think we can win it all in 2026? Not unless we grab some FCS All-americans at safety and DT.

But show me the available coaching staff that can come in by January, 2026 and have us playing in the National championship 12 months later.

I don't see a program in regression. I see Heupel fighting and pushing against a ceiling. Trying like hell to raise it.

Losing sucks, but the SEC is hard. Bama and UGA both have losses. As does Ole Miss. Texas and Steve Sarkesian were all the talk this off-season. Texas has 2 losses and barely beat Kentucky. So does Sarkesian suck all of a sudden?

- we had a former walk-on rush for over 100 yards and 2 TDs against Bama.
- Also had our 5 star WR drop critical 3rd down pass. So ....is the coaching or recruiting?

I don't see an available better alternative than Josh Heupel and what he's built at Tennessee these last 5 years.

Recruiting is coaching. And we should never be playing walk-ons in year 5