Anybody bitching about this is a dumbass…

#126
#126
MurphyVol said:
Well you have two choices. We've shown we can't out coach Georgia .

So we can continue to recruit behind Georgia or we can out recruit them (or at least get to the same level).

When some of is bemoan the fact the we often recruit around the 5th-7th best roster in the SEC we're called "star-gazers" and we're reminded of some obscure 2* player that made it big in the NFL. But after a loss to UGA then we're reminded how much more talent UGA has than us.

Recruiting is part of coaching.
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I was pointing out that coaching is the only reason we were in the game. The team was as well-prepared to play as any TN team in a while. There were a couple spots where I was puzzled by the calls, but they still put the team in position to win with 7 seconds.

Recruiting sure is part of coaching and TN's staff will always have to be 3X better than GA's staff, and travel 3X harder than GA to source that talent. And that may understate the issue.

In 2025 for example, GA produced 460% more elite in-state talent than TN and more than any other state. SEC states TX and FL are typically in the top 3-4 of talent. AL produces more talent. MD produces slightly more elite talent. We're along the lines of MS/SC in elite HS talent.
In-state talent is considerably easier to retain, so you don't have to keep working the same guys multiple times.

The 2026 class is shaping up to be elite. After the program hitting rock bottom, sanctions and working its way out of reductions. After 15 years of essentially being Maryland or South Carolina. Josh Heupel is doing that with 4th QB in four years, a journeyman guy. It's nothing sort of remarkable.

When no coach of note wanted to even come here and we took the guy with a mid-tier resume and 3 years HC experience. I submit that decision is working out well for TN.
 
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#129
#129
What I learned:

- we can win every game left on our schedule. Not saying we will, but we absolutely can with solid play.
- missing our top two DB’s was a difference maker. Next man up and all, but that’s a handicap that’s hard for any team to overcome against a Top 5 team in the country.
- we might get a rematch — but we better be prepared. Playoffs are certainly a possibility, but by no means a guarantee.
 
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#130
#130
MurphyVol said:
Well you have two choices. We've shown we can't out coach Georgia .

So we can continue to recruit behind Georgia or we can out recruit them (or at least get to the same level).

When some of is bemoan the fact the we often recruit around the 5th-7th best roster in the SEC we're called "star-gazers" and we're reminded of some obscure 2* player that made it big in the NFL. But after a loss to UGA then we're reminded how much more talent UGA has than us.

Recruiting is part of coaching.
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So fire Heupel then?
 
#134
#134
Hulavol said:
We went toe to toe with a far superior -talent wise- heavyweight and lost on a missed FG.

We came back when it looked bleakest and it took a miracle bomb on 4th down from them to even get it to that point.

I am VERY impressed with where this program has come from. Please remember this is a rebuilding year with a QB that’s been on campus but a few months and no D Line and both corners out.

Future bright !!

Again, don’t be a dumbass.
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They are not far superior. We are right there with UGA talent wise.
 
#135
#135
If Heupel hadn't "iced" his kicker and he missed anyway a huge contingent would say "you've got a young kicker in a massive moment and you rush him out there for the biggest kick of his life? You call a timeout and let him gather himself and prepare mentally so he gets the gravity of the situation and is fully prepared to execute the kick." Just sayin. Heup doesn't win no matter what he decides on this one.
 
#136
#136
theFallGuy said:
They are not far superior. We are right there with UGA talent wise.
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No, we simply aren't as the 247 talent composite - and every other rating service - tells us. Thirteen 5* to our four. Fifty-seven 4* to our forth-three.
GA produced 460% more elite, in-state talent than TN for the 2025 class. They do that every year.

Our 2026 class could be elite, so TN seems to be trending that direction. That's for the class generally; our in-state talent will never match GA.

I recall not long ago, VN posters annually saying "Kirby can't win the big one".

RankSchoolTalent Composite Score5-Stars4-Stars3-Stars
1Georgia1002.98135723
2Alabama993.55145017
3Ohio State973.69115618
4Texas973.54144420
5Oregon941.2265227
6LSU920.0545823
7Clemson918.4374037
8Texas A&M917.2955723
9Notre Dame912.1125631
10Penn State910.4245834
11Michigan907.2244933
12Florida898.5844832
13Auburn891.8434338
14Oklahoma882.5954630
15Miami (FL)874.5754036
16Tennessee866.5744329
 
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#137
#137
PalmettoStateVol said:
It's year 5 of the Heupel era....He has to start winning these types of games against our biggest opponents. Continuing to lose these types of games will eventually be his downfall in Knoxville if he doesn't. Inventing ways to lose close games is his MO right now. Depth, more talented, blah, blah, blah....nothing but excuses in year 5. How many years do we get to use the same tired excuses? Are you still going to be using them in year 7 or 8?

Heupel is a good coach....he's just not a great coach, and in this league, that's a problem.
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"he has to start winning these types of games against our biggest opponents"

Huh? He's won like 6-7 of these type games in 5 years...
 
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#139
#139
First Qtr. 21 -7 super! Rest of the game we were outscored 31 to 17. What hapened qtr. 2 3 4? Conservative play calling not to win? You have to keep the medal to the metal
against really good teams. Last 6 or 7 minutes looked like a high school coach calling the plays.
 
#140
#140
Havent read all these response but most I read on other sites and even here…complaining about the play calling at the end. I have not seen one person mention the CLOCK! All things change when the clock is factored in in the closing minutes of a game. CLEARLY …we did not want to stop the clock and give Georgia the ball with much time on the clock…even if we do score. WE MISSED A REASONABLY MAKEABLE FIELD GOAL FOR PROB THE WIN. No amount of second guessing can change that fact. JMO.
 
#142
#142
RockyTop140 said:
You don’t have to be a dumbass to at least question some of the decisions. I agree that they are far more talented. But we had this game wrapped just about. We had gained late momentum and Georgia was on their heels. What do we do with that. Run 3 times up the middle after a turnover. Kick on 3rd down when we had 7 seconds left. It was by no means a shoe in. It was a long one.
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Woulda coulda shoulda: I can think of about a dozen game losing mistakes or questionable calls, any of which could have changed the outcome. Start with the blown coverage on 2 point conversion, motion before FG, several drive extending penalties to help out UGA, WR slipping resulting in Int, etc.

And yet despite this we were in it until the final play.
 
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#146
#146
djohnnyg said:
If Heupel hadn't "iced" his kicker and he missed anyway a huge contingent would say "you've got a young kicker in a massive moment and you rush him out there for the biggest kick of his life? You call a timeout and let him gather himself and prepare mentally so he gets the gravity of the situation and is fully prepared to execute the kick." Just sayin. Heup doesn't win no matter what he decides on this one.
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Wow. Most opposing coaches call a time out to ice the kicker. Your take is 180°. Heupel can't satisfy everyone.
 
#147
#147
Helpful hint from an old guy - try to avoid self inflicted mistakes. Next time you get heated over something meaningless, ask someone before you create a thread calling your fellow fans names. I get that you’re emotional. Your frontal lobe will be fully formed in your mid thirties. How do I know you’re young? Grown folks don’t do things like that. Learn from it and move on.
 
#149
#149
Hulavol said:
We went toe to toe with a far superior -talent wise- heavyweight and lost on a missed FG.

We came back when it looked bleakest and it took a miracle bomb on 4th down from them to even get it to that point.

I am VERY impressed with where this program has come from. Please remember this is a rebuilding year with a QB that’s been on campus but a few months and no D Line and both corners out.

Future bright !!

Again, don’t be a dumbass.
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.
You forgot what neighborhood you were in...

1757883361207.png
 
#150
#150
PalmettoStateVol said:
The same superior talent wise heavyweight that AUSTIN PEAY held to 28 points?

There's a TON to bitch about....
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Let’s not play the relative association game. The Uga team that played AP wasn’t the same Uga team that played yesterday. I hope you’re making this point out of emotion and don’t logically believe it.
 
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