LOL! I started following the Vols in 1982. I recall the talk of "maybe we can go 9-2 this year or even 10-1" because apparently 1981 was a good year or something. Then Majors promptly lost the home season opener to DUKE...BEFORE SOS was the coach there.
Majors always found a way to lose at least one game a year he was supposed to win, maybe more, and always froze up when he faced bammer. Plus one year before I moved to Knoxville...I think it was 77 he went 4-7 and then there was that time he lost to North Texas State at Neyland.
Butch has yet to lose to a team we are a huge favorite over, at least, and no one can argue that any of our losses this year were not to better teams, though I wish we could play Florida now.
And think about this, going back to your original post...in 2010 this was not "the exact same talent".
Hold up your right hand...now put up a finger...that's ONE. Now put up another finger...that's TWO. Now put up one more finger....that's THREE. One....two...three....it's been THREE YEARS since 2010...this is not "the exact same talent" as 2010.