Can you Imagine if this board was around in the late 70s early 80s

[lukeneyland]

Half of y’all on here would have been demanding we fire Johnny Majors. Some of y’alls opinions shift way too fast. Butch Jones got more grace out of this fanbase in his first 3 years than Josh has. Growth is not always linear in College Football. Climb off the chair and put the rope away. Things are going to be ok

 

[Smokey7]

Social media is not helping matters at all. I think for one that's why guys back then played harder. They didn't hear as much of the noise.

 

[Volnbeers]

imagine comparing heupel to Johnny majors

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Most stuff I scoff at "old man yelling at the sky" type stuff.

But I will say one thing that I miss about me watching the game as a kid in the late 80s is each game seeemd like more "contained". Of course this was when I was young and innocent and there was no social media or heck even that much sports radio. But like we'd play a team, we'd win and it was like.....we celebrate we won. We didn't go into "Oh it was just Marshall" or "We didn't cover the spread", or anything like that. We won. If we lost....yeah that stunk but it was like next week play again.

I'm sure those older will tell me in reality the "nega Vol" talk was there just not as amplified because of the times, but some of that mindset I wish I could get back.

 

[lukeneyland]

imagine comparing heupel to Johnny majors

How long did it take Johnny to win 10 games at Tennessee? Johnny is my favorite Tennessee coach of all time but he had his ups and downs. Especially early on

 

[Zues1]

Half of y’all on here would have been demanding we fire Johnny Majors. Some of y’alls opinions shift way too fast. Butch Jones got more grace out of this fanbase in his first 3 years than Josh has. Growth is not always linear in College Football. Climb off the chair and put the rope away. Things are going to be ok

Half the " fans" in Knoxville wanted Johnny gone.
So did half the admin and boosters

 

[lukeneyland]

Most stuff I scoff at "old man yelling at the sky" type stuff.

But I will say one thing that I miss about me watching the game as a kid in the late 80s is each game seeemd like more "contained". Of course this was when I was young and innocent and there was no social media or heck even that much sports radio. But like we'd play a team, we'd win and it was like.....we celebrate we won. We didn't go into "Oh it was just Marshall" or "We didn't cover the spread", or anything like that. We won. If we lost....yeah that stunk but it was like next week play again.

I'm sure those older will tell me in reality the "nega Vol" talk was there just not as amplified because of the times, but some of that mindset I wish I could get back.

I agree people used to savor the wins more back then. It was a better way. I wish it was like that today

 

[lukeneyland]

Half the " fans" in Knoxville wanted Johnny gone.
So did half the admin and boosters

I wouldn’t know. It was well before my time. I guess we’ve been stupid for longer than I expected

 

[DiderotsGhost]

The sad reality is that Butch and Pruitt have also played into a lot of fans' inaccurate beliefs. The whole idea if you don't win big by Year 3, you're a trash coach. There's just not much evidence to support that.

Sure, coaches that inherit loaded rosters and good situations tend to win by Year 3. But Heupel didn't inherit that --- he inherited a team with an NCAA investigation overhanging it, didn't start till almost February (coaches normally hired in December), so we had already booked most of our '21 class already (which was a bust in general). He was also behind the 8-ball on the '22 class. '23 was the first class he really got a full year to work on and we landed Nico.

As far as things go, Heupel is well ahead of where most coaches would be right now. The '21 class has been a huge drag on us. We won't fully move past that till '25.

I'd consider Heupel's situation more similar to Johnny Majors' or Dabo Swinney's than Saban's or Kirby's. Or even Spurrier at South Carolina. Both Saban and Kirby inherited pretty loaded rosters (especially Kirby --- Richt consistently recruited in the top 5 and underachieved with the talent).

'25 and '26 are going to be key indicators of Heupel's skill. I said this when he was hired: 2023 was going to be his toughest year. Just such a huge talent dropoff from that '21 class. The fact that we have a decent shot to finish 8-4 is actually quite impressive given that "talent dropoff" this year.

 

[lukeneyland]

The sad reality is that Butch and Pruitt have also played into a lot of fans' inaccurate beliefs. The whole idea if you don't win big by Year 3, you're a trash coach. There's just not much evidence to support that.

Sure, coaches that inherit loaded rosters and good situations tend to win by Year 3. But Heupel didn't inherit that --- he inherited a team with an NCAA investigation overhanging it, didn't start till almost February (coaches normally hired in December), so we had already booked most of our '21 class already (which was a bust in general). He was also behind the 8-ball on the '22 class. '23 was the first class he really got a full year to work on and we landed Nico.

As far as things go, Heupel is well ahead of where most coaches would be right now. The '21 class has been a huge drag on us. We won't fully move past that till '25.

I'd consider Heupel's situation more similar to Johnny Majors' or Dabo Swinney's than Saban's or Kirby's. Or even Spurrier at South Carolina. Both Saban and Kirby inherited pretty loaded rosters (especially Kirby --- Richt consistently recruited in the top 5 and underachieved with the talent).

'25 and '26 are going to be key indicators of Heupel's skill. I said this when he was hired: 2023 was going to be his toughest year. Just such a huge talent dropoff from that '21 class.

I remember you saying that and thought it was a little wild but the more I thought about it the more reasonable and eventually correct I thought you were

 

[EastTNVol6240]

The sad reality is that Butch and Pruitt have also played into a lot of fans' inaccurate beliefs. The whole idea if you don't win big by Year 3, you're a trash coach. There's just not much evidence to support that.

Sure, coaches that inherit loaded rosters and good situations tend to win by Year 3. But Heupel didn't inherit that --- he inherited a team with an NCAA investigation overhanging it, didn't start till almost February (coaches normally hired in December), so we had already booked most of our '21 class already (which was a bust in general). He was also behind the 8-ball on the '22 class. '23 was the first class he really got a full year to work on and we landed Nico.

As far as things go, Heupel is well ahead of where most coaches would be right now. The '21 class has been a huge drag on us. We won't fully move past that till '25.

I'd consider Heupel's situation more similar to Johnny Majors' or Dabo Swinney's than Saban's or Kirby's. Or even Spurrier at South Carolina. Both Saban and Kirby inherited pretty loaded rosters (especially Kirby --- Richt consistently recruited in the top 5 and underachieved with the talent).

'25 and '26 are going to be key indicators of Heupel's skill. I said this when he was hired: 2023 was going to be his toughest year. Just such a huge talent dropoff from that '21 class. The fact that we have a decent shot to finish 8-4 is actually quite impressive given that "talent dropoff" this year.

I don’t know that people are screaming fire Heup as the sunshine pumpers are trying to paint it. There are just some questions as this season has unfolded. It fell apart I should say. We **** the bed against every meaningful team on the schedule. Our offense regressed abd Heup is supposed to be a mastermind. And yes I know losing HH plays into that. My biggest concern is that the team exhibited 0 leadership, 0 fight, 0 grit, 0 discipline down the stretch. All if that starts at the top and trickles down.

 

[BeardedVol]

Half of y’all on here would have been demanding we fire Johnny Majors. Some of y’alls opinions shift way too fast. Butch Jones got more grace out of this fanbase in his first 3 years than Josh has. Growth is not always linear in College Football. Climb off the chair and put the rope away. Things are going to be ok

Imagine believing that college football in the 2020s is the same as college football in the 1980s.

 

[Volizona]

Majors down period was about 8 years. Our current down period is almost 20 years and counting with the exception of last year. This is the worst era of the last 120 years.

 

[Volizona]

Majors down period was about 8 years. Our current down period is almost 20 years and counting with the exception of last year. This is the worst era of the last 120 years.

Meant Battle + Majors down period was 8 years.

 

[vol94]

I don’t hear or read any “fire Heup” chants. Yes the boo birds were out in force @ Neyland, deservingly so in some cases.

It’s not just TN. Ohio State is a blue blood in playoff contention every year. Their fans are growing restless b/c they’ve lost to Michigan the past two years. Bama fans were upset after losing earlier in the year. Some fans said the game “has passed by Saban.” Dabo is receiving a ton of criticism and all he’s done is being a couple of national titles in recent years.

TN fans are passionate and starving for a winner. The majority understand UGA has more talent. However, losing to FL and the way we lost to Mizz is embarrassing.

With that said, just hope Heup can bring in a top 8-10 class this yr as Nico’s jr year will tell us a lot.

 

[vol94]

I don’t know that people are screaming fire Heup as the sunshine pumpers are trying to paint it. There are just some questions as this season has unfolded. It fell apart I should say. We **** the bed against every meaningful team on the schedule. Our offense regressed abd Heup is supposed to be a mastermind. And yes I know losing HH plays into that. My biggest concern is that the team exhibited 0 leadership, 0 fight, 0 grit, 0 discipline down the stretch. All if that starts at the top and trickles down.

This

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

How long did it take Johnny to win 10 games at Tennessee? Johnny is my favorite Tennessee coach of all time but he had his ups and downs. Especially early on

12 years

 

[05_never_again]

imagine comparing heupel to Johnny majors

In the modern era, Johnny wouldn't have been given a chance to become the UT coach he became. He would have almost certainly been fired after the 1980 season, maybe even 1979. He came in with high expectations because he had just won a title at Pitt, and it took him 5 seasons just to get to 8 wins. He never would have been afforded that kind of time today.

 

[Zues1]

I wouldn’t know. It was well before my time. I guess we’ve been stupid for longer than I expected

I really liked Majors but his record as a coach in "Knoxville" was similar to Mark Stoops.
National Championship at Pittsburgh, coached Heisman winner ( Tony Dorsett)....
Came marching home and brought some wonderful wins to the big Orange but never could match expectations.
Lastly Majors finished second in Heisman voting to Paul Horning. . Tennessee got jabbed again.
Being a Vol Fan is not for the faint of heart.

 

[volbound1700]

Social media is not helping matters at all. I think for one that's why guys back then played harder. They didn't hear as much of the noise.

That and the Saban/Smart effect. Sure, Alabama had Bear Bryant but he wasn't going 8-0 in the SEC most years and beating people by 5-6 TDs. He was winning big but you at least felt like programs could catch him some years.

Alabama and Georgia will be once again 8-0 against the SEC. No one is catching them, not just Tennessee.

Their fans are all over the internet (like Uncle Lou) saying our program is trash and we should just give up (frankly they are also saying the same thing to Auburn, Florida, LSU, Arkansas, etc... this is why those programs are doing the same thing we are right now on forums).

To be honest, College Football has great atmosphere but it is a kind of ****** sport in that their isn't balance. Put yourself in the shoes of a Vandy fan, for example, where they have 0 hope of ever making it to Atlanta and struggled to even win 3-4 games.

In the NFL, you at least have a good team every 6-7 years due to salary cap and you have hope as a fan. There really isn't much in CFB.

SEC is boring as crap right now, you might as well just not play the season and have Alabama and Georgia play in Atlanta every year because they are the only programs that matter.

You want real change, TURN IT OFF and let SEC wallow in the fact that they only have two programs they keep beefing up. If the other 12 teams and their fanbases dial out, the league would lose a ton of $$$$ and perhaps put incentive to make actual parity.

 

[05_never_again]

That and the Saban/Smart effect. Sure, Alabama had Bear Bryant but he wasn't going 8-0 in the SEC most years and beating people by 5-6 TDs. He was winning big but you at least felt like programs could catch him some years.

Alabama and Georgia will be once again 8-0 against the SEC. No one is catching them, not just Tennessee.

Their fans are all over the internet (like Uncle Lou) saying our program is trash and we should just give up (frankly they are also saying the same thing to Auburn, Florida, LSU, Arkansas, etc... this is why those programs are doing the same thing we are right now on forums).

To be honest, College Football has great atmosphere but it is a kind of ****** sport in that their isn't balance. Put yourself in the shoes of a Vandy fan, for example, where they have 0 hope of ever making it to Atlanta and struggled to even win 3-4 games.

In the NFL, you at least have a good team every 6-7 years due to salary cap and you have hope as a fan. There really isn't much in CFB.

SEC is boring as crap right now, you might as well just not play the season and have Alabama and Georgia play in Atlanta every year because they are the only programs that matter.

You want real change, TURN IT OFF and let SEC wallow in the fact that they only have two programs they keep beefing up. If the other 12 teams and their fanbases dial out, the league would lose a ton of $$$$ and perhaps put incentive to make actual parity.

CFB has always been this way. 2 teams dominated the SEC in the 90s too. The only reason we didn't complain is we were one of the 2 teams doing the dominating.

CFB isn't designed to have, and never has had, much parity. It isn't set up like the NFL or professional leagues.

 

[volbound1700]

CFB has always been this way. 2 teams dominated the SEC in the 90s too. The only reason we didn't complain is we were one of the 2 teams doing the dominating.

CFB isn't designed to have, and never has had, much parity. It isn't set up like the NFL or professional leagues.

Not really, I remember Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin, Northwestern, etc. winning the B1G.

Miss State went to Atlanta in 1998, Missouri 2 seasons, Tennessee was competitive, LSU was competitive, Auburn was competitive.

Take 2000-2010 which saw over 8 teams appear in Atlanta, 4 different SEC teams win National Titles, etc. It was a great decade.

Since 2010, outside of a couple of seasons, it has all been Alabama and Georgia.

Michigan and Ohio State in B1G as well.

Sport just sucks now. Rich keep getting richer and the other 90% of the teams just take it year in and year out...

Why have teams like Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky, the two Mississippis, Vanderbilt, etc. in the SEC when they can't win it?

 

[05_never_again]

Not really, I remember Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin, Northwestern, etc. winning the B1G.

Miss State went to Atlanta in 1998, Missouri 2 seasons, Tennessee was competitive, LSU was competitive, Auburn was competitive.

Take 2000-2010 which saw over 8 teams appear in Atlanta, 4 different SEC teams win National Titles, etc. It was a great decade.

Since 2010, outside of a couple of seasons, it has all been Alabama and Georgia.

Michigan and Ohio State in B1G as well.

Sport just sucks now. Rich keep getting richer and the other 90% of the teams just take it year in and year out...

Why have teams like Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Kentucky, the two Mississippis, Vanderbilt, etc. in the SEC when they can't win it?

Oh come on. The Big 10 has been a 2-team league basically since it was founded. The teams you mentioned winning titles are complete one-offs.

Miss St went to Atlanta in 1998. Who won that game? Mizzou, UF, and USCjr have also made it to Atlanta within the last decade or so. Who won those games? When was this era when Vandy, the 2 Miss schools, UK, USCjr, and Arkansas had runs of dominance in the SEC?

You 100% are not saying what you're saying if Tennessee was one of the teams doing the dominating.

 

[volbound1700]

Oh come on. The Big 10 has been a 2-team league basically since it was founded. The teams you mentioned winning titles are complete one-offs.

Miss St went to Atlanta in 1998. Who won that game? Mizzou, UF, and USCjr have also made it to Atlanta within the last decade or so. Who won those games? When was this era when Vandy, the 2 Miss schools, UK, USCjr, and Arkansas had runs of dominance in the SEC?

You 100% are not saying what you're saying if Tennessee was one of the teams doing the dominating.

Tennessee never dominated like Alabama. They weren't going 8-0 in SEC play most year, winning 20-straight games, etc. Also Tennessee's run was basically 5-6 years.

Alabama has been doing it going on almost 20 years now. Every year is the same ****, anger, frustration, no fun. CFB isn't a fun sport to watch anymore. Let's be honest with ourselves. It is going to be the same **** next year, the year after, etc.

 

[Voljayton]

The sad reality is that Butch and Pruitt have also played into a lot of fans' inaccurate beliefs. The whole idea if you don't win big by Year 3, you're a trash coach. There's just not much evidence to support that.

Sure, coaches that inherit loaded rosters and good situations tend to win by Year 3. But Heupel didn't inherit that --- he inherited a team with an NCAA investigation overhanging it, didn't start till almost February (coaches normally hired in December), so we had already booked most of our '21 class already (which was a bust in general). He was also behind the 8-ball on the '22 class. '23 was the first class he really got a full year to work on and we landed Nico.

As far as things go, Heupel is well ahead of where most coaches would be right now. The '21 class has been a huge drag on us. We won't fully move past that till '25.

I'd consider Heupel's situation more similar to Johnny Majors' or Dabo Swinney's than Saban's or Kirby's. Or even Spurrier at South Carolina. Both Saban and Kirby inherited pretty loaded rosters (especially Kirby --- Richt consistently recruited in the top 5 and underachieved with the talent).

'25 and '26 are going to be key indicators of Heupel's skill. I said this when he was hired: 2023 was going to be his toughest year. Just such a huge talent dropoff from that '21 class. The fact that we have a decent shot to finish 8-4 is actually quite impressive given that "talent dropoff" this year.

Right? We were the badnews bears when Heupel came in. I mean it was ugly, real ugly. You can't give a man only 3 years when you inherit that dumpster fire.