Can the Vols be relevant while Saban is at the helm in Alabama?

#1
gr82batnvol

gr82batnvol

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2011
Messages
1,224
Likes
954
#1
Personally, I think the day Saban retires is when the Vols will have a chance to once again be relevant in SEC play. His recruiting year after year, and his production on the football field is very hard to overcome. The more I think about it, I’m glad Georgia lost. They need to lose momentum in recruiting. Alabama may indeed be on top for another 5-10 years but once Saban leaves, they won’t have the same kind of dominant success. Not that I think Smart is in the same league, but we don’t need a young Saban disciple creating his own legacy just because he’s the student of one of the best coaches in the game today (unless it’s Pruitt at UT) but I just don’t see that happening with either team. At some point, the Saban bubble is going to burst.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Sarms58 and BucksnortVol
#4
#4
When he retires Tennessee will immediately leapfrog the other 7 or 8 (on average) teams in the league that outrecruit the Vols and establish a dominance heretofore never seen in nature. Why? Because all of those Bama recruits have been itching to come to Knoxville all these years. but for Saban's congenial attitude towards them.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GulfCoasterVol, ursaminotaur, vegasvolfan and 6 others
#5
#5
Yes. While getting to Atlanta and/or the playoffs would be nice, I'd be happy if the team can get up to 9 or 10 regular season games. We would probably be a yearly lock for the Outback or Citrus Bowl, and possibly a decent chance to play in one of the NY6 non playoff bowl games.
 
  • Like
Reactions: UTwild82
#6
#6
We are one of only two conference teams that have to play Bama and UGA every year. Winning championships ain’t happening any time soon, if ever, as long as Saban is there. Even 10 win seasons would be rare because it would require being flawless on the other 10 games.

We are at best a perennial 9 win team until there is some sort of power shift in the SEC.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gog1, rusty11, 08Vol and 9 others
#7
#7
rjd970 said:
We are one of only two conference teams that have to play Bama and UGA every year. Winning championships ain’t happening any time soon, if ever, as long as Saban is there. Even 10 win seasons would be rare because it would require being flawless on the other 10 games.

We are at best a perennial 9 win team until there is some sort of power shift in the SEC.
Click to expand...
Pretty much facts.
 
  • Like
Reactions: gog1, windrider and savannahfan
#10
#10
I think yes we can win with the right coach and It is looking like we have our man. I've never been one to run from an opponent and I hope we continue the game with Alabama.
 
#12
#12
Recruit and develop like they do and you certainly can win. Georgia is getting close no reason we couldn't do it if we ever get the right combination of coaches and recruiting plus player development.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Volatility, 08Vol and Neo41
#13
#13
The bama faithful seem to think Freeze will be joining their team in a few days so I guess saban's has a lock on all things football.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 08Vol
#14
#14
chuckb1448 said:
The bama faithful seem to think Freeze will be joining their team in a few days so I guess saban's has a loc on all things football.
Click to expand...
Going against Saban in recruiting is like the popular kid going against the unpopular kid where they're picking their teams from the guys standing around and the popular guy gets to pick his whole team first and the unpopular guy gets what's left. His team s are stupid good. Even when they're bad.
 
  • Like
Reactions: onevol74, chuckb1448 and gisman
#16
#16
photovol said:
Can the Vols ever be relevant again, losing 5 out of 7 to Vandy should answer the question for the time being
Click to expand...




The Vols will never be relevant again as long as Vandy is in the same state, forget Sabin and Bama
 
  • Like
Reactions: KBVol
#17
#17
TennesseeTarheel said:
Going against Saban in recruiting is like the popular kid going against the unpopular kid where they're picking their teams from the guys standing around and the popular guy gets to pick his whole team first and the unpopular guy gets what's left. His team s are stupid good. Even when they're bad.
Click to expand...

This is how it looks to me. So little parity in college football. It is all but ruined. I guess I would be happy if the Vols were the ones who were so dominant, but man something isn't right when a team like Alabama can have a game like last night and play about the worst that they can and still win against what I would call the second best team in the country.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: 70EEVol and TennesseeTarheel
#18
#18
Other coaches and players put on their pants on one leg at a time just like us. They are not somehow supernatural. Bama should have lost yesterday. The Ga coaches had a great plan, we didn't.
 
#19
#19
That's a big leap. Right now, we're the 3rd best team in the state (thank goodness we beat ETSU).

Teams not named Bama can be relevant in the SEC (UGA just played for the NC). Not sure Saban will coach long enough for us to get to that level. Something tells me that when he's done he'll just unexpectedly announce it and nobody will see it coming.
 
  • Like
Reactions: eroller1141@gmail
#20
#20
VolTexas said:
Yes. Pruitt can beat Saban.
Click to expand...



fan-cosplays-as-the-joker-from-batman-suicide-squad-and-the-dc-2017-picture-id858455060
 
#21
#21
gr82batnvol said:
Personally, I think the day Saban retires is when the Vols will have a chance to once again be relevant in SEC play. His recruiting year after year, and his production on the football field is very hard to overcome. The more I think about it, I’m glad Georgia lost. They need to lose momentum in recruiting. Alabama may indeed be on top for another 5-10 years but once Saban leaves, they won’t have the same kind of dominant success. Not that I think Smartt is in the same league, but we don’t need a young Saban disciple creating his own legacy just because he’s the student of one of the best coaches in the game today (unless it’s Pruitt at UT) but I just don’t see that happening with either team. At some point, the Saban bubble is going to burst.
Click to expand...
Georgia is relevant. Florida is relevant. At times, Auburn has been relevant while Saban has been at Alabama and so has TAM and Ole Miss and Miss State.
 
#23
#23
peaygolf said:
10 wins relevant ? Yes. NC relevant? No
Click to expand...
Yeah I don’t see TN winning another title in my lifetime and it sucks. Major issues would need to be addressed and fixed before this program wins titles again but yes I could easily see 10 win seasons again no doubt....will TN ever challenge for the CFP? MAYBE in 10 years if they get lucky....
 
  • Like
Reactions: Orangeslice13
#25
#25
Wishbone said:
Other coaches and players put on their pants on one leg at a time just like us. They are not somehow supernatural. Bama should have lost yesterday. The Ga coaches had a great plan, we didn't.
Click to expand...
They have something better than supernaturaal -the perception of supernaturality (is that even a word?). It exists in nature's playground - their opponent's mind.
It's sort of like this exchange in Catch Me If You Can" -

Frank Abagnale Sr.:
You know why the Yankees always win, Frank?

Frank Abagnale, Jr.:
'Cause they have Mickey Mantle?

Frank Abagnale Sr.:
No, it's 'cause the other teams can't stop staring at those damn pinstripes.

Of course, Alabama is seriously good. But, we expect them to win. Everyone (especially Gary) expects them to win. And they do.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 08Vol
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top