David Climer: Finally, Tennessee is back!

#1
ChattaTNVol

ChattaTNVol

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 13, 2011
Messages
4,922
Likes
28,176
#1
Enjoy The Hype, Vol Fans. It’s Been A Long Time,

The temptation here is to throw a couple of buckets of cold water on the great expectations for the Tennessee Vols this season.

But you know what? Enjoy the hype, UT fans. Any fan base that was subjected to three years of Derek Dooley deserves this moment.

Are expectations too high? Probably. While you can make a very solid case that the Vols are the best team in the SEC East and should represent the division in Atlanta on Dec. 3, this talk about contending for a national championship is a bit of a stretch.

Get back to me after you get through that four-week gauntlet of Florida, Georgia, Texas A&M and Alabama. If you’re 6-1 – or, heavens to Neyland, 7-0 – exiting the Alabama game, you’re definitely in the hunt for one of four spots in the College Football playoff.

For now, though, it’s encouraging to have Tennessee in the conversation as a potential playoff team.

It’s been awhile.

it’s important to remember the Tennessee program is only three years removed from a run of four straight losing seasons. For all the repair work Jones has done on the roster via remarkable recruiting, this still is not a finished product.

That being said, Jones privately targeted 2016 as the year UT could be a true contender for the SEC championship. Given that state of the program he took over, he knew it was a four-year rebuild – at least.

In his previous three seasons as Vols coach, Jones has spoken often about having a young, inexperienced team. And it was true, for the most part. The roster he inherited from Dooley in 2013 was lacking across the board.

Granted, UT currently has only 11 seniors but there are 27 juniors, including 10 fourth-year juniors.

On top of that, it’s an even-number year. That means the Florida and Alabama games are at Neyland Stadium. Never overlook home-field advantage.

Finally, Tennessee is back in the business of contending for SEC championships.

It’s been awhile.
Click to expand...


https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2016/aug/26/enjoy-the-hype-vol-fans-its-been-a-long-time/
 
  • Like
Reactions: 14 people
#3
#3
I live in Bama land now, and I have talked some serious "trash", come on guys and have my BACK! I love this time of year, I love our Big Orange!
 
#6
#6
He makes a good point, and made me think about something:

If Tennessee is 6-0 going into Bama (and let's be honest...they should be...) that game doesn't really matter all that much if UT loses it. If they go 11-1, all they'd have to do is win the SEC championship game and they'll make it into the playoff. On the other hand, if they go 12-0 and then lose the SEC championship game, they might not get into the playoff.

I'm not saying they definitely will go 11-1 or 12-0, but on paper they are better than 11 teams on their schedule. Anything can happen any given Saturday, though. Let's just hope our boys come to play for 60 minutes every week.
 
#8
#8
Don't tell Climer, but contending for a SEC Title also means contending for a mythical national title.

But, he should know that being a college football writer.
 
Last edited:
#10
#10
KoachKrab127 said:
He makes a good point, and made me think about something:

If Tennessee is 6-0 going into Bama (and let's be honest...they should be...) that game doesn't really matter all that much if UT loses it. If they go 11-1, all they'd have to do is win the SEC championship game and they'll make it into the playoff. On the other hand, if they go 12-0 and then lose the SEC championship game, they might not get into the playoff.

I'm not saying they definitely will go 11-1 or 12-0, but on paper they are better than 11 teams on their schedule. Anything can happen any given Saturday, though. Let's just hope our boys come to play for 60 minutes every week.
Click to expand...


We're going 15-0...ain't got time to talk about no losses!
 
#11
#11
I think he is accurate in his assessment of the Vols. Like it, or not, he isn't anti Tennessee. Yes, we are back, but we need to once again learn how to close and win. Jones has done a remarkable job rebuilding the Vols.
 
New posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

VN Store



Back
Top