I'd play George MacIntyre

[DEFENDTHISHOUSE]

Joey had his shot. It is what it is.

 

[VolTom1]

Well yeah that would be the smart thing to do, but they wont. Probably not to scare off Brandon if G-mac is good, Which I find stupid expect for the fact you could lose Tristen Keys if that happens, which might happen anyways if you go 7-5

 

[JMSqb11]

Joey had his shot. It is what it is.

Considering Matthews and Staley are going to be here next year, it wouldn't hurt to get live reps with them all. If we are going 7-5/8-4 this year, better to do it with guys who will be here next year.

 

[DEFENDTHISHOUSE]

Considering Matthews and Staley are going to be here next year, it wouldn't hurt to get live reps with them all. If we are going 7-5/8-4 this year, better to do it with guys who will be here next year.

Exactly. Joey did what he could, its time to
prepare for next year.

 

[bpalmer28]

I agree but zero chance that happens

 

[TartanTurff]

Joey plays hard, gave it all he had, but the season has been bungled, time to get ready for next year rather than futz around on the remnants of what might have been, Heupels record developing young quarterbacks is non existent, held on to Nico a year too long, if he let's GMac end up in the portal that is disgraceful, Heupel is not ready for this version of the SEC, it has escaped him again this year and only getting more challenging with his staff of also rans

 

[ALLVOL 4LIFE]

I’d like to see GMac as well, but that’s not happening. Against the rules to plan that far into the future.

 

[UTK]

Play the person that gives you best shot to win. It’s college football, not the nfl. It’s not playoffs or busts. You can still get win in the swamp for the first time since 2003. You can curb stomp little brother back to reality. It’s those games that make the sport special, not the “playoffs”.

 

[orangepenez]

Joey plays hard, gave it all he had, but the season has been bungled, time to get ready for next year rather than futz around on the remnants of what might have been, Heupels record developing young quarterbacks is non existent, held on to Nico a year too long, if he let's GMac end up in the portal that is disgraceful, Heupel is not ready for this version of the SEC, it has escaped him again this year and only getting more challenging with his staff of also rans

What a perfect choice of words. This season has been bungled indeed.

 

[Illinoisvolfan2]

I agree but zero chance that happens

Yep. Not a snowballs chance JH cans Joey for one of the younger guys

 

[ETV]

Exactly. Joey did what he could, its time to
prepare for next year.

It’s ride or die with JA. We both know this staff will not make a change

 

[DEFENDTHISHOUSE]

It’s ride or die with JA. We both know this staff will not make a change

Well, well.

 

[JMSqb11]

It’s ride or die with JA. We both know this staff will not make a change

Blind loyalty is what will do Heupel in. He has a clear history of being loyal to a fault with staff and quarterbacks.

 

[Vols All Day]

This isn’t the NFL with a draft and a salary cap. You got to make recruits still feel comfortable about the direction your program is headed. You got to stick with JA and try to go 9-3. Play GMac at the bowl game.

 

[Cartervol]

You have to try and beat UF and Vandy. Whoever gives you the best shot should play.

 

[JMSqb11]

This isn’t the NFL with a draft and a salary cap. You got to make recruits still feel like you are close. You got to stick with JA and try to go 9-3. Play GMac at the bowl game.

9-3 does nothing for the program. Heupel has officially regressed for the first time here.

We have a bye week, a pay for game. Matthews and Staley will be here next year. Time to get live reps with Merk and GMac and start planning for the future.

Players get paid now. This is a business.

 

[JMSqb11]

You have to try and beat UF and Vandy. Whoever gives you the best shot should play.

And if we don't and roll into 2026 with a brand new start with no experience? Going 7-5/8-4 with Gmac getting a couple of starts and some momentum in 2026 is vastly different than going 7-5/8-4 with zero experience starting QB.

Heupel needs to think of the long term program.

 

[BradstarVols]

After one bad game? Nah

 

[SGMVols]

You owe it to the team you have to play the best players you have now. You never “play for the future” in college football. You don’t get an extra 5 star recruit by tanking.

 

[JMSqb11]

After one bad game? Nah

The season is officially over. There is nothing of significance to play for. This isn't a slight to Aguilar at all. He has been a wonderful blessing this year. But Heupel can't afford to roll into Year 6 with dread / apathy in the fanbase and a brand new starter.

He got away doing that in 2023 after we lost to Alabama because it was so close the 2022 season.

Once we lost to Bama in 2023, Nico should have been given the reigns so Heupel could see what he had in him in the final 5 games. But now, it was "I'm going to let Milton start out the season to finish his career" instead of planning for long term.

This is a business.

 

[Clausen7]

After one bad game? Nah

It's not about one bad game behind us. This season is now not much more than a scrimmage for next season. It's about having an experienced QB next year.

 

[crstygray0211]

Love Aguilar. He did great for us…but since playoffs are out of reach…why not start allowing George some reps the rest of the season. Get him some good experience. But of course we have Merklinger as #2…so maybe rotate them in games. I just know Merk will be leaving but you can’t skip over him either. I just really don’t know how we dropped this game like we did. Piss poor performance. Born in the 80s, knew the 90s Vols and we don’t lose this game back then.

 

[Godfatha]

Next year will be another rebuilding year with breaking in a new QB. Would be good to see some preparation for next year. This season has turned out to be a stinker, with us only beating barely the worst of the SEC and losing to any decent team we face

 

[DEFENDTHISHOUSE]

Next year will be another rebuilding year with breaking in a new QB. Would be good to see some preparation for next year. This season has turned out to be a stinker, with us only beating barely the worst of the SEC and losing to any decent team we face

Yup, so line up the youth movement.

 

[DEFENDTHISHOUSE]

Play the person that gives you best shot to win. It’s college football, not the nfl. It’s not playoffs or busts. You can still get win in the swamp for the first time since 2003. You can curb stomp little brother back to reality. It’s those games that make the sport special, not the “playoffs”.

That's exactly where you're wrong. IT IS playoff or bust.