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

#152
#152
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 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.
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Is GA relevant now? Is FL becoming relevant? Is LSU relevant?
 
#153
#153
MAUSERWERKE said:
Yes I guess I am a bit fatalistic, just by disposition. Still, I think being the only SEC east team that plays bama every season is a significant competitive disadvantage for TN relative to its eastern division foes. Some day, the wheel will turn and perhaps it won’t be. But I am not sure I will live to see it. How’s that for fatalism?!!
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BEat everyone in the East and lose to Bama we still go to Atlanta, every year.
 
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#154
#154
99gator said:
Ok, first of all, if I had my way, you wouldn’t be playing Alabama every year.

Auburn would be in the East and Missouri would be in the West and a rivalry that a lot of you don’t want and generates no buzz or resonates nationally with anyone outside of the two fan bases would be no more. It’s part of what upsets me about the whining in the first place. The situation only exists because Tennessee wants it.

Secondly, yes, Florida would be getting their rear handed to them every year. But, no, i wouldn’t be crying about it while Florida is finishing last in the division and getting owned all over the league. I would not be worried about the premier program in America while my school is incapable of competing with Vandy.

Another poster had it correct and the mentality has to change among fans, not just players and coaches. There’s always an excuse. We play Florida in September. We have to play Alabama. CBS hates us. Kramer/Slive/Sankey hates us. Espn hates us. Knoxville media hates Tennessee. The SEC is in Birmingham. Etc, etc, etc.

The goal for Tennessee is to win championships. They don’t give you championships for beating a bunch of trash.
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Good post. I just think the SEC should do away with permanent cross division opponents. It would put all the teams in a level playing field in that regard. JMHO.
 
#155
#155
Somehow, Old Miss, who was mired in mediocrity for YEARS got it turned around again. Just took the right coach at the helm (and bags of cash)
 
#156
#156
82_VOL_83 said:
BEat everyone in the East and lose to Bama we still go to Atlanta, every year.
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Well, sure. That's "all" we have to do. Well, unless there is a second loss to the other rotating western division opponent, and then maybe not?

Plus, I don't think a lot of folks appreciate the impact of playing Bama every year has on the ability to attract and retain top flight coaches. Any professional is going to look at a job and try to forecast how successful they can be in the job. Knowing you could be coach of they year and still have an automatic conference loss against an opponent none of your divisional rivals have to play (except on a rotating basis)? And a fan base that is notoriously impatient? I think it has an impact. I certainly hope Pruitt will be the coach for many years, because hiring a new coach under these circumstances and in this competitive environment will be every bit the challenge it has proven to be in the past.

This is an academic debate anyway, for the time being. We need to first get competitive with Vandy, KY etc. for any of these concerns to matter much.
 
#159
#159
MAUSERWERKE said:
Well, sure. That's "all" we have to do. Well, unless there is a second loss to the other rotating western division opponent, and then maybe not?

Plus, I don't think a lot of folks appreciate the impact of playing Bama every year has on the ability to attract and retain top flight coaches. Any professional is going to look at a job and try to forecast how successful they can be in the job. Knowing you could be coach of they year and still have an automatic conference loss against an opponent none of your divisional rivals have to play (except on a rotating basis)? And a fan base that is notoriously impatient? I think it has an impact. I certainly hope Pruitt will be the coach for many years, because hiring a new coach under these circumstances and in this competitive environment will be every bit the challenge it has proven to be in the past.

This is an academic debate anyway, for the time being. We need to first get competitive with Vandy, KY etc. for any of these concerns to matter much.
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So we target coaches and players that shy away from competition? Sweet
 
#161
#161
unfrozencvmanvol said:
I consider a team relevant when they are consistently able to beat good teams, basically where you are not just widely assumed to be a win for another good team, particularly when you are at home. We haven't been more than flash in the pan relevant since Fulmer was fired.
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Well Butch wasn't the answer, but we did beat some good teams in 2015-16 for about a span of a season. I'd say that was more than a flash in the pan. I'd say we were relevant for those two years because we beat good teams and were one of the major contenders for the East title. And I think that's a good definition of relevant.

It wasn't enough though. But maybe Pruitt can do that consistently.
 
#162
#162
peaygolf said:
10 wins relevant ? Yes. NC relevant? No
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GA, Auburn, LSU have all been in NC contention at one point or another while Saban has been there. LSU and Auburn have won one.

so yeah, it's possible. we just gotta get much, much closer to being even talent wise.

until then, it's a hard "no", regardless of the coach. we're not releveant in the East for that reason.
 
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#165
#165
Bama could run into trouble if they get too thin at key positions. If Tua can’t play Bama is in trouble for the playoff. Herts may not be good enough to get the job done this year. The Bama defense is not nearly what it has been In past years. Georgia had them beat and then gave the game away with that fake field goal.
Bama has constant turnover in coaching. Sooner or later Saben Will hire the wrong guy.
 
#166
#166
Can the Vols become relevant again with Derek Mason at Vanderbilt, is perhaps a better question than that of Alabama and Sabin
 
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#167
#167
Rudy123 said:
Butch had a good roster in 2015 & 2016 & 2017 but we ended up at 9 -4, 9 -4 & 4 - 8. Having Jimmy's & Joe's are good but you need to have competent coaches also and avoid major injuries on the roster.
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Bad coaching can bring teams to under perform, good coaching can maximize players on hand, but cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear....
 
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