Can A Fanbase Hurt A Team?

[AstonRoyal]

Now I realize that this doesn't apply to the entire fan base, but I wonder if our expectations makes the team perform a certain way. My thought is that that while we have all of the talent in the world, it's inhibited by their fear of letting others down which doesn't allow them to harness their full potential. Here's my reasoning:

-We talk about improving the passing game all offseason and in the first game, Dobbs overcompensates by forcing throws and choosing not to run, which is what he does best.

-Even when you think about last year where a large part of the fanbase had high expectations and it was evident that the team felt it with their "play not to lose" mentality. It was only when they were down against Georgia where they pretty much had nothing to lose when we started playing out best.

And I get it, when you play for a school like Tennessee, you need to be able to handle high expectations. And I also feel the same frustrations everyone else feels when we struggle. But instead of expressing our frustrations which could possibly be contributing to the poor play, wouldn't we be helping the team by showing more support and avoiding the negativity? Think about it, would you perform better at your job in a supportive environment, or in an environment where you're always criticized and you never live up to their expectations?

All I've seen on this board and on Twitter after the Appalachian State game is anger and criticism, and it's been the same theme for the past few years every time something bad happens. Maybe we as a fanbase can help the team succeed by being more positive and minimizing the pressure, because the negative mentality has yet to yield a championship.

 

[LittleCat]

If it does, then it's a mentally weak team imo. Players can't go around letting the outside get in their head.

 

[Catbone]

If it does, then it's a mentally weak team imo. Players can't go around letting the outside get in their head.

Exactly

 

[jbr82]

Can a staff and team hurt a fanbase?

 

[leon]

I think all the fan hype before games hurts a team. Especially if the team hasn't proved anything on the field yet. All the hoopla, vol walks etc. Actually just fires up the other team. Lets take our hype to the playing field and prove something there !

 

[vols-1]

Coaches get paid $4M a year to teach players how to handle expectations. I heard Saban say he practically has a sports psychologist on staff.

 

[Tennessee Waltz]

It is amazing the number of folks that come out of the woodwork to pile on the negativity at times like these. I'm on this forum nearly every day of the year and get accustomed to seeing the "regular" posters on this forum as well those like myself that may mostly "lurk". At the muff of a punt and a swing of momentum this place explodes like a mutating virus ready to devour any semblance of positivity and reason. That is as poorly as this team has played in a while. They were flat, likely bought into too much of their own hype, and apparently overlooked their opponent. We were lucky to win. However, luck notwithstanding, we did win. It was ugly and a little deflating but we are 1-0. My question is this: why do you (the miserable legionnaire) watch these games?

 

[volfanhill]

Every fanbase has thousands of idiots. We are no exception.

 

[Iam4utalways]

I'm so glad we won.

Go Vols!

 

[kiddiedoc]

It is amazing the number of folks that come out of the woodwork to pile on the negativity at times like these. I'm on this forum nearly every day of the year and get accustomed to seeing the "regular" posters on this forum as well those like myself that may mostly "lurk". At the muff of a punt and a swing of momentum this place explodes like a mutating virus ready to devour any semblance of positivity and reason. That is as poorly as this team has played in a while. They were flat, likely bought into too much of their own hype, and apparently overlooked their opponent. We were lucky to win. However, luck notwithstanding, we did win. It was ugly and a little deflating but we are 1-0. My question is this: why do (the miserable legionnaire) you watch these games?

While there are certainly some overreactions and moronic posts, this is a forum to discuss Tennessee sports. There were a number of very concerning issues last night. What exactly would you expect from a passionate fan base given the circumstances?

 

[P.O.T.S. VOL]

Coaches get paid $4M a year to teach players how to handle expectations. I heard Saban say he practically has a sports psychologist on staff.

The Tennessee volleyball team has access to the universities sports psychologist!

 

[montanatenn]

While there are certainly some overreactions and moronic posts, this is a forum to discuss Tennessee sports. There were a number of very concerning issues last night. What exactly would you expect from a passionate fan base given the circumstances?

Just love man.

 

[RDU VOL#14]

It is amazing the number of folks that come out of the woodwork to pile on the negativity at times like these. I'm on this forum nearly every day of the year and get accustomed to seeing the "regular" posters on this forum as well those like myself that may mostly "lurk". At the muff of a punt and a swing of momentum this place explodes like a mutating virus ready to devour any semblance of positivity and reason. That is as poorly as this team has played in a while. They were flat, likely bought into too much of their own hype, and apparently overlooked their opponent. We were lucky to win. However, luck notwithstanding, we did win. It was ugly and a little deflating but we are 1-0. My question is this: why do (the miserable legionnaire) you watch these games?

1-0 that's all that matters. We played bad, doesn't mean we are bad.

 

[P.O.T.S. VOL]

If it does, then it's a mentally weak team imo. Players can't go around letting the outside get in their head.

I doubt our VOLS are affected by a group of delusional fans on a discussion board that routinely or consistently sing the same old song about how the sky is falling...light bulbs and nihilism come to mind.

I don't think it affects them as much as some posters like to think! I mean, I don't think a group of strong, well built young men give a crap about what a bunch of posters think about them.....they are only concerned about their peers......IMO!

 

[VolinMC]

I get and understand getting upset and some criticism. It's a message board and all views are welcome. It's the ALL negativity and NO positivity that gets said over and over in every post that I don't get. There in no problem saying you don't like this or that in a a post but when you are posting it in every thread and never mentioning when good things happen(and they do happen) it gets old. We gotcha,you don't like it but move on.

 

[UT_Dutchman]

The most important non-mportant thing in the world

https://youtu.be/zZuNmeo22oY

 

[pismonque]

I think you have to blame Freak. While every fan base has an online presence, we're blessed with one of the best free forums in the country for discussing college sports, which gives a very accessible voice to all the reactionary and overly emotional thinkers in our fanbase. But it also makes them available for the whole nation (and the team) to see.

We just can't have nice things.

 

[chuck0303]

The Tennessee volleyball team has access to the universities sports psychologist!

Can we use them for some of the fans? I think we have a greater need to send more fans to the psychiatrist, not psychologist. It might work wonders.

 

[gerryladon]

Now I realize that this doesn't apply to the entire fan base, but I wonder if our expectations makes the team perform a certain way. My thought is that that while we have all of the talent in the world, it's inhibited by their fear of letting others down which doesn't allow them to harness their full potential. Here's my reasoning:

-We talk about improving the passing game all offseason and in the first game, Dobbs overcompensates by forcing throws and choosing not to run, which is what he does best.

-Even when you think about last year where a large part of the fanbase had high expectations and it was evident that the team felt it with their "play not to lose" mentality. It was only when they were down against Georgia where they pretty much had nothing to lose when we started playing out best.

And I get it, when you play for a school like Tennessee, you need to be able to handle high expectations. And I also feel the same frustrations everyone else feels when we struggle. But instead of expressing our frustrations which could possibly be contributing to the poor play, wouldn't we be helping the team by showing more support and avoiding the negativity? Think about it, would you perform better at your job in a supportive environment, or in an environment where you're always criticized and you never live up to their expectations?

All I've seen on this board and on Twitter after the Appalachian State game is anger and criticism, and it's been the same theme for the past few years every time something bad happens. Maybe we as a fanbase can help the team succeed by being more positive and minimizing the pressure, because the negative mentality has yet to yield a championship.

It should P them off and make them want to play decent Tennessee football

 

[TNnative]

Can a staff and team hurt a fanbase?

If so, then those fans need to a life change; get a dog or spouse. Try a few hobbies where you actually build something. Learn to play a musical instrument, travel, get religion.

Ifa fan can be hurt by the actions of a group of men he/she has no control over, they need to own their life and focus more on things they can control.

 

[JohnMarxism]

I would hope the players don't give a F*** how disappointed or embarrassed their fans feel about them

 

[ice]

and did not execute well. It is that simple. At this point and time, the fans expected better.

 

[savannahfan]

My goodness so mental.

 

[savannahfan]

I think all the fan hype before games hurts a team. Especially if the team hasn't proved anything on the field yet. All the hoopla, vol walks etc. Actually just fires up the other team. Lets take our hype to the playing field and prove something there !

We can't take our hype to the field. We're are just fans that know nothing about football.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

I doubt our VOLS are affected by a group of delusional fans on a discussion board that routinely or consistently sing the same old song about how the sky is falling...light bulbs and nihilism come to mind.

I don't think it affects them as much as some posters like to think! I mean, I don't think a group of strong, well built young men give a crap about what a bunch of posters think about them.....they are only concerned about their peers......IMO!

Exactly.