If We Beat Florida & Go 9-3 Is The Season Still Acceptable?

#51
#51
Depends on how we view ourselves as a program.

If we really think we're a top level football program, like most of our fans think we are, then no it's not because the goal is making the CFP and we didn't. It doesn't mean CJH is to be let go or any nonsense like that, but if we end up 9-3 that means we were went 1-4 against the 4 best teams on our schedule and the 1 win coming after it didn't matter as much.

And yes coming into the season 9-3 on what many thought was a rebuilding year is good, but expectations change. Our schedule has hardly been murderer's row yet we've gone 0-3 against the best 3 teams on the schedule.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Good Ol' Charlie Brown, Native Orange, Woodlawn VOL and 1 other person
#52
#52
Chaplain_Vol said:
I think so, what say you?

We would’ve beaten a Florida team on the road for the first time in over 20 years, have our best recruiting class as of yet (if everything holds up) and make it out with a 9 win season with a chance to win 10 in a bowl game.
Click to expand...
That’s a season where your best win is Vanderbilt. It’s bare minimum acceptable with the understanding we still need massive strides in the offseason as we aren’t always going to have cupcake schedules.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chaplain_Vol
#54
#54
Redleg68 said:
Well, we might as get use to a lot of being nothing. In the last 73 years since the 1951 National Championship we have only been ranked in the top 12 (AP) -- 21 times in that time frame. That leaves 52 years of being nothing. Its a shame that the reality has come to that.
Click to expand...

I think there's a pretty big gulf between acceptable and being nothing. I think it can be a good season while also saying it wasn't an acceptable result.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chaplain_Vol and Redleg68
#55
#55
JMSqb11 said:
I can live with that if we are playing guys who will be on the team next year. I will have zero sympathy or love lost for Heupel if he loses those games with our normal starters.

I can handle going 7-5 playing for the future. Can’t handle 7-5 with our normal starters who won’t be here next year and we have crap QB play in 2026. This is the 2023 season all over again.
Click to expand...
And the possibility is reasonable that Merk or G-Mac look good or bad AND then hit the portal and leave after the national exposure because they realize the coach can easily give up on THEM next season.

If Heupel will turn on his team this year, there's no reason to think he won't do it again to G-Mac and pull him for Faizon.
 
#56
#56
No. Expectations are playoffs or bust.

This is a disappointing season. I’m 100 percent confident that Huepel is the guy though
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chaplain_Vol
#58
#58
The Original Fade said:
I will not be too upset with 9-3, but it will sting looking back at the season realizing we realistically could’ve been 11-1
Click to expand...
That’s what bothers me. The what could’ve beens. We have pissed away 3 games with piss poor execution, questionable coaching, and constant lack of adjustment in the 2nd half. I can handle losses. It’s the way we’re losing looking like inept turds.
 
  • Like
Reactions: The Original Fade and SubVet676
#59
#59
8-4 is acceptable but barely. Nico screwed us. Joey hasn’t been here that long. We have been without our two starting CBs for the season. Context matters.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chaplain_Vol
#60
#60
Chaplain_Vol said:
I think so, what say you?

We would’ve beaten a Florida team on the road for the first time in over 20 years, have our best recruiting class as of yet (if everything holds up) and make it out with a 9 win season with a chance to win 10 in a bowl game.
Click to expand...
No CFP, so it should not be acceptable.
How about if Florida and Vandy beat us? That’s a realistic possibility too.
Big money in The University of Tennessee football!
NEVER settle for being mediocre!!!!!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Native Orange
#62
#62
A double digit wins season is a good season even in the CFP era. Even if Heupel is our Richt, it’s what we need after the crap years of the previous 4 coaches. I’ll take stability, consistently great recruiting, double digit wins, and national relevance to put the program on solid footing for the next few years. Then, maybe, move on when the right elite guy can be snagged. It’s exactly the same recipe that Georgia used and is the reason for their success right now. Enjoy the good times fellas. Great programs are built, not cobbled together via the fire/hire cycle.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chaplain_Vol
#63
#63
BigOrangeTrain said:
8-4 is acceptable but barely. Nico screwed us. Joey hasn’t been here that long. We have been without our two starting CBs for the season. Context matters.
Click to expand...
Also we are two short missed field goals and a blind ref away from being 8-1 and ranked in top 6. Football is a game of inches and sometimes fortunate bounces. You have got to have some luck along the way such as "Stoner Fumbles"
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chaplain_Vol
#64
#64
JMSqb11 said:
No. Beating a Florida team in the Swamp that has an interim coach is not some big achievement. Sure we break the streak but we literally had to have the game against them moved to the end of the year and them to fire their coach to have a shot at winning down there.

We have failed a lot of simple expectations this year.

Losing record to our biggest 3 rivals, didn’t contend for Atlanta, didn’t contend for the playoff, and we got bowl eligible.

This season is about as successful as 2023 and that was a nothing burger year.
Click to expand...

I would not minimize the accomplishment.

Those lizards have possessed some weird mojo over us. Years when they have had no business even being in the game, they have whipped us like rented miles

We didn't make the schedule or decide to fire Sunbelt Billy.

Any day we beat those fools is a good day.
 
#66
#66
Not sure but currently TN has one win over a team with more wins than loses. That was against Miss State. Not sure they can beat FL or Vandy. Florida's defense is better than OU and the QB can hurt you running. We will be in Vandy's bulls eye as this is there best chance to beat TN in years.
 
#67
#67
njvols said:
In all fairness they took uga to the end and we aren’t ranked either…or shouldn’t be…haven’t see. If we play like sat night we will score another L.
Click to expand...
Many teams have played folks close. Arkansas,Mississippi St and even Kentucky at times along with Auburn. And they are the 4 weakest teams in the SEC.
 
#68
#68
stolitonic said:
I would not minimize the accomplishment.

Those lizards have possessed some weird mojo over us. Years when they have had no business even being in the game, they have whipped us like rented miles

We didn't make the schedule or decide to fire Sunbelt Billy.

Any day we beat those fools is a good day.
Click to expand...

Sure I guess. We would be ending the streak against a 5-7 loss Florida team with an interim coach. Not that big of accomplishment
 
#70
#70
Well the folks that watch the 98 championship game twice a year and say things like "it feels like 98 again" will say no. Anyone who actually looks at our situation and our last 20 years will say yes
 
#71
#71
JMSqb11 said:
Sure I guess. We would be ending the streak against a 5-7 loss Florida team with an interim coach. Not that big of accomplishment
Click to expand...

There's no such thing as an easy win against those fools. Hasn't been one in over 30;years

I expected a decent to meh kinda season before Game 1. That's exactly what we've got.

Our schedule next year and the year after is gonna be absolutely brutal . We might as well enjoy the halfway decent seasons when we can There's been a few fun moments along the way
 
#72
#72
Chaplain_Vol said:
I think so, what say you?

We would’ve beaten a Florida team on the road for the first time in over 20 years, have our best recruiting class as of yet (if everything holds up) and make it out with a 9 win season with a chance to win 10 in a bowl game.
Click to expand...
For Tennessee? Absolutely. That’s just who we are. It could always be worse…as we’ve witnessed.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chaplain_Vol
#73
#73
SubVet676 said:
I don’t think Heupel mails it in at this point and goes with the youth movement. He’s trying to salvage as much as he can of this season. He reads the news like the rest of us.

The team, on the other hand…
Click to expand...
I seriously doubt Heupel reads anything that you read
 
#75
#75
We’re are one of the most winning programs in the country. 11th overall, we have been in the top 25 a ton throughout history. In the 60’s,80’s,90’s and even 2000-2007 we pretty much lived in the top 20. 2010-2020 was slim pickens but everyone has a bad run at some point. LSU,Auburn and even Bama in the mid nineties through 2005 went into the tank. But major SEC schools aren’t never going to stay down forever. There is too much commitment to get it right. GBO
 
  • Like
Reactions: Chaplain_Vol
New Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

Advertisement



Back
Top