Busting a Myth: Prohibitive Favorites in 2016

#26
#26
TNnative said:
It's easy to bust a mythological prediction after the myth is proven false. Where were you this time last year?
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There was ZERO brake pumping going on last summer. Anyone that showed the least bit of concern to asked to go cheer for Bama, UF, or Vandy.
 
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#27
#27
BeardedVol said:
So, you're saying that in order for UT to have been capable of winning the SECe in 2016, they needed to be the "prohibitive favorite" for it to have been possible?:unsure:
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I hope you forgot the blue font 'cause that's a s-t-r-e-t-c-h
 
#28
#28
TNnative said:
It's easy to bust a mythological prediction after the myth is proven false. Where were you this time last year?
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As far as I know, no one was calling us a "prohibitive favorite" a year ago.

This is a phenomenon that has only cropped up in the past few weeks.

Happens from time to time, the past gets rewritten accidentally or on purpose.

Just keeping us anchored to what things were really like a year ago.

p.s. If you think this is about busting a prediction, you completely misread the OP.
 
#29
#29
VFL-82-JP said:
As far as I know, no one was calling us a "prohibitive favorite" a year ago.

This is a phenomenon that has only cropped up in the past few weeks.

Happens from time to time, the past gets rewritten accidentally or on purpose.

Just keeping us anchored to what things were really like a year ago.

p.s. If you think this is about busting a prediction, you completely misread the OP.
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I'm still not understanding your point in the OP. So you're splitting hairs over the word prohibitive to prove what?
 
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#30
#30
Boca Vol said:
There was ZERO brake pumping going on last summer. Anyone that showed the least bit of concern to asked to go cheer for Bama, UF, or Vandy.
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Last year's results validated all the Brake Pumpers.

If anything we can agree we are all Pumpers, some pump shine while others pump brakes.
 
#31
#31
Boca Vol said:
I'm still not understanding your point in the OP. So you're splitting hairs over the word prohibitive to prove what?
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Heh, Boca, one gets the impression that it's really bugging you that you don't "get it" yet.

Sometimes there's no secret message, no hidden agenda.

Group think can change the past. Powerfully change the past, like rewrite memories of the folks involved.

So it's worth keeping our collective memory straight about how things really were. I mean, we talk about the past all the time here; wouldn't be good if we veered too far from reality.

Tennessee was favored by most of the talking heads, blogs, and football web sites to win the East in 2016. But it was a close thing. Even among all those who picked us, there were doubts about breaking the 11-game FL streak, getting past Bama, heck, getting past the West in general. We were the media darling, but we were no behemoth.

That's all the OP was about, was keeping it real as we look back.
 
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#32
#32
UT had the best roster when considering experience and talent. It is likely that most of those who didn't choose UT as their favorite... did so because of coaching.
 
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#33
#33
sjt18 said:
UT had the best roster when considering experience and talent. It is likely that most of those who didn't choose UT as their favorite... did so because of coaching.
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Quite possibly true, though I don't remember many who didn't pick the Vols to lead the East.

And yet, that has nothing to do with this conversation.
 
#35
#35
VFL-82-JP said:
Heh, Boca, one gets the impression that it's really bugging you that you don't "get it" yet.

Sometimes there's no secret message, no hidden agenda.

Group think can change the past. Powerfully change the past, like rewrite memories of the folks involved.

So it's worth keeping our collective memory straight about how things really were. I mean, we talk about the past all the time here; wouldn't be good if we veered too far from reality.

Tennessee was favored by most of the talking heads, blogs, and football web sites to win the East in 2016. But it was a close thing. Even among all those who picked us, there were doubts about breaking the 11-game FL streak, getting past Bama, heck, getting past the West in general. We were the media darling, but we were no behemoth.

That's all the OP was about, was keeping it real as we look back.
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OK. Whatever helps you feel better about last season. :good!:

Time to move on '17 where UT isn't the prohibitive favorite...again.
 
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#36
#36
Boca Vol said:
OK. Whatever helps you feel better about last season. :good!:

Time to move on '17 where UT isn't the prohibitive favorite...again.
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Heh, you keep trying to find hidden angles or agendas under my words. There are none.

This isn't about "feeling better" about last season. It's about keeping ourselves grounded in the reality of how things were. Period.

Gotta stop reading between the lines all the time, Boca. :)
 
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#37
#37
VFL-82-JP said:
Heh, you keep trying to find hidden angles or agendas under my words. There are none.

This isn't about "feeling better" about last season. It's about keeping ourselves grounded in the reality of how things were. Period.

Gotta stop reading between the lines all the time, Boca. :)
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So how is being a prohibitive favorite or not, relevant to winning your division or conference? Since Alabama is literally the only team in 2016 who fits your criteria, then pretty much every other team who won their division, were just like UT, and weren't the prohibitive favorites.
 
#38
#38
VFL-82-JP said:
Heh, you keep trying to find hidden angles or agendas under my words. There are none.

This isn't about "feeling better" about last season. It's about keeping ourselves grounded in the reality of how things were. Period.

Gotta stop reading between the lines all the time, Boca. :)
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Well using the word prohibitive in sports is kind of hard to do unless you're talking about the Globetrotters vs. the Generals.
 
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#40
#40
Boca Vol said:
Well using the word prohibitive in sports is kind of hard to do unless you're talking about the Globetrotters vs. the Generals.
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Actually, I named a few prohibitive favorites. Bama in football currently. UConn women in basketball today, and our Lady Vols in basketball when Pat was on top of the game. Yankees in MLB from '98 to '06.

It happens. It's just rare.
 
#41
#41
BeardedVol said:
So how is being a prohibitive favorite or not, relevant to winning your division or conference? Since Alabama is literally the only team in 2016 who fits your criteria, then pretty much every other team who won their division, were just like UT, and weren't the prohibitive favorites.
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Who said it has to be relevant to winning a division or conference? This thread isn't about who won a division or conference; it is not results-focused at all. It is purely about the expectations most folks had of the Vols leading into the 2016 season.

VolNation has become so fraught with schisms and camps that too many people can't read a simple post without looking for the hidden angles or agendas.

There are none here.
 
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#42
#42
VFL-82-JP said:
Who said it has to be relevant to winning a division or conference? This thread isn't about who won a division or conference; it is not results-focused at all. It is purely about the expectations most folks had of the Vols leading into the 2016 season.

VolNation has become so fraught with schisms and camps that too many people can't read a simple post without looking for the hidden angles or agendas.

There are none here.
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So why start a thread talking about prohibitive favorites in relation to being picked to win the conference, if the concept has no actual relevance?:unsure:
 
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#43
#43
BeardedVol said:
So why start a thread talking about prohibitive favorites in relation to being picked to win the conference, if the concept has no actual relevance?:unsure:
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Maybe JP is really George Costanza and this thread is about nothing.
 
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#46
#46
The term didn't bother me JP but your message was perfectly clear. I have no idea how anyone couldn't get it as plainly as you stated.

'The favorite' means 1 thing.
' the prohibitive favorite' means a little different. Seems simple enough.


But that never bothered me. People who recall us as the favorites for 2015?
Including media members? That irks me for some reason.
 
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#47
#47
Yeah, Charger, I find it odd that folks mis-remember the situation going into the 2015 season, too. I suppose this thread could easily have been about that instead, if I'd happened to have seen it while the bee was in my bonnet. :)


p.s. Rewatching the Battle at Bristol now ... I'd forgotten how hella fun that game was. Entertaining from the national anthem on!
 
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#48
#48
VFL-82-JP said:
p.s. Rewatching the Battle at Bristol now ... I'd forgotten how hella fun that game was. Entertaining from the national anthem on!
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Absolutely.
My wife isn't much of a sports fan so she actually prefers the close games and momentum swings. She understands why I want to be dominant but finds those games boring.
Honestly, I can understand her perspective. But she always wants Tennessee to win in the end. Not sure if it's because of her version of fandom or just because she knows I'll be in a much better mood :)
 
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#50
#50
VFL-82-JP said:
The phrase, "prohibitive favorite" is being thrown around more and more often in these boards to describe the college football world's expectations for the Vols in 2016 in the SEC East race.

We probably should bust that myth now.

We weren't.

Favorites, yes. Widely selected to win the division, sure. Prohibitive favorites, not even close.

Prohibitive favorite means a team that is "so likely to win as to discourage competition." To. discourage. competition. Let those three words sink in.

Alabama is a prohibitive favorite in the SEC these days (look at the sadly numerous minority of Vols fans willing to give up the TSIO...that is "discouraged competition"). The Lady Vols were the prohibitive favorite in the SEC during Pat's tenure (and nationwide until UConn joined our ladies at the summit of the sport). The Yankees were the prohibitive favorites in MLB from 1998 to 2006. Few other teams achieve such an extreme level of dominance that they earn the descriptor "prohibitive favorite."

Tennessee was not even close to "prohibitive favorite" status in 2016 in the East.

Don't take my word for it--look at what the sports writers were actually saying before the season started:

  • Saturday Down South said the SEC East race has been "hard to predict" in recent years, and went on to say "that may not change in 2016." They did say that we seemed "to be the popular choice," but added the caveat that we would have to "battle through a tough early schedule," with FL, UGa, A&M, and Bama "on successive Saturdays."
  • Bleacher Report said "the hype is real" and predicted we'd win the East, going 11-1 in the regular season. But that's not saying "prohibitive favorite." Look at these qualifier statements: "If Tennessee can...get over the psychological hurdle by finally beating Florida...the season sets up well for the Vols." "Difficult games at Georgia and Texas A&M also appear daunting...." "Dobbs has to show he can pass the ball vertically...." "The defense needs to take a step forward under new coordinator Bob Shoop." Closing with, "But man, they sure do look tantalizing on paper, throughout the depth chart and when they step out on the field. Now they just have to perform." Favorites to win the East? Yes. "Prohibitive" favorites? Far from it.
  • SEC Country called the 24 Sept Vols-Gators game "a de facto SEC East title game," and then referenced the hump we faced in the then-11-game losing streak.
I could go on, but I think the point is made.

We were the media darlings, yes. We were the trendy pick. But we were not a prohibitive favorite.

Here's hoping we become just that in the not too distant future. Go Vols!






References:

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/sec-football/way-early-sec-east-predictions-2016/

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ecord-projections-for-every-sec-football-team

https://www.seccountry.com/sec/predicting-every-sec-teams-first-loss-of-2016
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Some evaluations predicted a win over UF and finishing about second on the east.

Those are much like the predictions for next year.
 
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