Fan Fatigue

[JOEY'S ALL VOL !!!]

I love TN VOLS football, I love college football in general ! To me it's the greatest game played in sports. The pageantry and coming together of fans from all over the country to The Hill and Neyland Stadium clad in orange on game day still stirs my blood like no other sporting event. The beers and food and music at the tailgate before the game, the spirited and heated yet mostly friendly banter and jawwing with rival fans all along the walk to the stadium, the greetings and conversation between friends made over the years when we get to our seats, the ****** tasting hot dogs I for some reason still insist on getting, the Pride Of The Southland Band playing and forming the T, the Big Orange taking the field with fireworks blasting and Rocky Top playing ! I love it ! I love it all and it still makes the hair on my neck stand up !
That being said ... I don't know if it's just aging and prioritizing or the fact that we have just not been very good for the last decade, (I imagine it's a combination of both), but I just don't live and die by the outcomes anymore. I don't let a TN loss consume me for weeks on end like I used to, I won't be unapproachable the next day after a loss like I used to. I am still passionate about TN football and always will be I'm sure, I've just somehow learned how to lose without questioning the righteousness of the world. So yeah ... I am certain I suffer from "Fan Fatigue" because although still passionate and hopeful, the TN football seasons and College football seasons in general were and still are a lot more fun when we are winning that's for certain !

Good thread ... Go Vols !

 

[HuntinVol]

I still love the Vols and bleed orange...but I haven't been as excited the last few years. Even this year with a new coach, the excitement wasn't there. I only went to 2 games, Florida and Alabama. I have watched less TN football this year than I ever have. I used to watch every down, listen to the radio shows after every game for hours, win or lose. The last 2 years, not so much. I think I completely missed 2 or 3 games this year, just spent more time doing differnt family stuff. I even spent the whole second half of GA game working in the yard. I hope TN comes back and I regain my previous excitement. I used to go to all the home games. I hope they get this horrible slide turned around. You can only stay at rock bottom for so long, right?

Go Vols

 

[photovol]

 

[photovol]

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Go Vowels

 

[G8rh8r]

Apathy set in for me after we hired Butch. It was starting around the end of the Dools, but after Butch, it wasn’t the same level of excitement for me on Saturdays. It has affected my purchasing of UT attire and such. I buy way less now than I did 15-20 years ago.

I will always love my Vols. I always DVR the game but I won’t rearrange my Saturday’s to watch it live anymore. More often than not, I delete the dvr before watching based on the score.

UT sports is a business. It makes quite a bit of money and people aren’t willing to spend top dollar on a product that fails to provide the anticipated level of entertainment or enjoyment. I don’t think that is shocking to anyone. Or it shouldn’t be.

 

[solivols]

I didn't even bother watching the Vandy game. Just listened to Bob and shook my head while working out in the garage. Too painful to see and hear. I've regressed to hearing. Eventually I won't be able to take that.

Watched about the first 10 minutes and knew the outcome, especially considering Shurmur owns UT. Went outside and hung Christmas lights and had some family time instead. No regrets. High blood pressure already runs in my family.

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

Im much like every other fan I guess. I get excited when I think we have a shot, but I still love watching. My main issue is UT admin is not dedicated to winning football. The more that sinks in and becomes reality, the worse it will get for me.

But yeah, I definitely think more about spending 1000-1200 to go to a game.

I believe the problem with UT admin is they are not intelligent enough rather than it being a dedication issue.

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

Watched about the first 10 minutes and knew the outcome, especially considering Shurmur owns UT. Went outside and hung Christmas lights and had some family time instead. No regrets. High blood pressure already runs in my family.

Wish I had done the same thing. I waited until the 4th Qtr before I lost interest. I really could not believe the effort I was looking at on TV especially with a bowl game on the line.

 

[jarnol32]

Fans of almost every other team that plays AL regularly probably have sons and daughters who have never seen their team beat AL either. Bama has probably destroyed more coaching careers than any other team ... certainly in recent history. Target fixation at beating the top teams when they were at a peak was what put us in the position of failing to beat the mediocre teams because we (and others) fired good coaches and filled the position with a series of losers - even Bama did that before Saban. One of my greatest hopes is that some day people will realize that changing coaches is a risky proposition and that there are no sure things.

Alabama is Tennessee’s #1 rival, so I don’t think it’s “target fixation” of beating top teams, it’s wanting to see Tennessee beat their most hated rival. I couldn’t agree more about changing coaches though.

 

[overseasorange2]

Watched the BB game last night. It was nice to see a GOOD VOL team. I might give up on VOLS football. Tired of being frustrated. I am getting too old for that. Glad I have the Saints and the Texans to actually enjoy a football game again.

 

[HooahVol]

I realized I had fan fatigue this season. I mentioned earlier in the season I catch myself turning down game day tickets more and more just because it is a lot of trouble getting downtown, parking, fighting the crowds, burning up or freezing, etc. I have a lovely large screen tv and it is much more comfortable at home. I just figured I was getting old at 43. Then we beat Kentucky and the next thing I knew I was looking everywhere for tickets to the Missouri game. I am not getting old I am just no longer willing to go to a game to watch a team suck. Call me a fair weather fan if you want but it took me over a decade to get here. Oh, and going to the Mizzou game was a kick in the nuts as well. Thanks for that my wonderful University.

 

[photovol]

Apathy set in for me after we hired Butch. It was starting around the end of the Dools, but after Butch, it wasn’t the same level of excitement for me on Saturdays. It has affected my purchasing of UT attire and such. I buy way less now than I did 15-20 years ago.

I will always love my Vols. I always DVR the game but I won’t rearrange my Saturday’s to watch it live anymore. More often than not, I delete the dvr before watching based on the score.

UT sports is a business. It makes quite a bit of money and people aren’t willing to spend top dollar on a product that fails to provide the anticipated level of entertainment or enjoyment. I don’t think that is shocking to anyone. Or it shouldn’t be.

I'm sure many other long time Vol fans feel the very same as you

 

[Big Al Orange]

I'm sure many other long time Vol fans feel the very same as you

I’m a fan since mid 60s. Holding out hope that PF and JP can turn this thing around. I’m getting old and my grip is getting weak. I think if we can’t at least compete for the east in a couple more years Tn football will be broken beyond repair.

 

[MAUSERWERKE]

Why? What has Pruitt done to deserve our patience? The name is different but the record is the same. When people are investing their time and money then the program needs to show they deserve our attention.

I have learned from the NFL that there are other things to do on Sunday afternoons. The Vols are not far behind.

Well, I am not sure he has done anything to this point to "deserve" our patience. But i don't know what alternative we have. UT certainly is not going to fire him after one year, or probably not even 3 years, unless the wheels come completely off.

All I am suggesting is this: despite what the bulk of our fan base may believe, the head coaching job at TN is not an attractive position to any well proven "big name" football coaches. It just isn't. So, we can either be patient and hope Pruitt rights the ship, builds the roster back up and stabilizes the program, or we can wait a couple of years, fire him, start over, and do this all over again. I would submit that is exactly what we have been doing for the last 15 years. So I don't expect the outcome of that approach to be any different than it has been to this point. So, I am prepared to be patient.

 

[BanditVol]

Anyone else kind of burnt out after the last freaking decade. I still watch and care but with each passing year of subpar on the field performance it is terribly hard to get excited. I use to follow recruiting like a mad man, my 10 year old daughter has never seen TN beat Alabama. She has only seen the Gators go down once. She has seen a team at or below the level of the bottom tier of the SEC. A decade ago South Carolina, Kentucky, Vandy were all wins every year. I know it has gotten more competitive but how about you all.....Do you care as much as you use to?

Nope. It's hard to care given the product on the field, but then again, I cared less even in 2003-04 than I did the previous decade. Like anything else, hobbies come and go. I graduated in 1990 and it's a lot easier to be a big fan and follow every little nuance in your 20s and early 30s. Later in life other things just take priority.

I will always bleed orange, but my lack of interest pre-dated our decline.

 

[BanditVol]

I’m a fan since mid 60s. Holding out hope that PF and JP can turn this thing around. I’m getting old and my grip is getting weak. I think if we can’t at least compete for the east in a couple more years Tn football will be broken beyond repair.

We should be able to with JG a senior, if he hopefully continues to improve. Right now, we have plenty of skill players on offense, but need an OL. Hopefully the two 5-star (one verbally committed and one a strong lean) both come this year and hit their stride in 2020, and if we are really lucky maybe Trey gets healthy also.

Defense needs a lot of work too, but I have faith that CJP can handle the D. I am already impressed with the development of Thompson and A. Taylor, and hope/expect it to continue.

 

[Cartervol]

Nope. It's hard to care given the product on the field, but then again, I cared less even in 2003-04 than I did the previous decade. Like anything else, hobbies come and go. I graduated in 1990 and it's a lot easier to be a big fan and follow every little nuance in your 20s and early 30s. Later in life other things just take priority.

I will always bleed orange, but my lack of interest pre-dated our decline.

Yep. In my 20's and 30's i paid much more attention to it than i do now. It's hard to not be pessimistic anymore about it, a little bit of apathy too. It's hard to watch the Bama game anymore knowing we're going to get beat, just by how much. Florida, always trip over over own ..... in that one every year. Georgia is now recruiting up there with Bama. It's really Tennessee's fault for being complacent over the years and making some really stupid hires.

 

[Iam4utalways]

It’s hard to admit that we are sad that the Vols aren’t winning like we expect.

Call it what you will, but it’s sadness. An emotion that is hard to handle.

After the loss to LSU in the SECCG my Dad offered for me to cry, maybe it would help. Ever since then my Son has told the story that we, my Dad and I, were crying as he looked over. Even tho we weren’t crying we never denied the charges.

Sports fandom is tough.

Expect to win every game and cry it out when you don’t. Why are so many embarrassed for being sad about the Vols losing games?

We are all sick and tired of being sad. Stop caring if you can.

For me I’m moving on to 2019 season. The year of the Vol. I can’t wait.

I wooo when I sing Rocky Top.

GO Vols!

 

[stevenrich2003]

Care just as much....that will never change.

My investments in other areas have dwindled, however. Meaning time and cash spent.

Well said.
Same here.

 

[The Tall Gguy]

The UT athletic department has basically flipped the fan base a big fat middle finger over the past decade for sure.

I'm proud of all of you for hanging in there ...even by a thread. Being on here shows you are a true fan... despite what the "super" fans will say.

 

[volfannbama]

It’s hard to admit that we are sad that the Vols aren’t winning like we expect.

Call it what you will, but it’s sadness. An emotion that is hard to handle.

After the loss to LSU in the SECCG my Dad offered for me to cry, maybe it would help. Ever since then my Son has told the story that we, my Dad and I, were crying as he looked over. Even tho we weren’t crying we never denied the charges.

Sports fandom is tough.

Expect to win every game and cry it out when you don’t. Why are so many embarrassed for being sad about the Vols losing games?

We are all sick and tired of being sad. Stop caring if you can.

For me I’m moving on to 2019 season. The year of the Vol. I can’t wait.

I wooo when I sing Rocky Top.

GO Vols!

The administration of the University of Tennessee approves of this message.

 

[MAUSERWERKE]

Ive only seen one guy start a thread saying pruitt should be fired. Almost all the replies said he was stupid.

I don’t disagree, but I have seen a number of posts suggesting 3 years to prove himself or he’s out. I am afraid it may take longer than that. It’s a dilemma.

 

[volfannbama]

I don’t disagree, but I have seen a number of posts suggesting 3 years to prove himself or he’s out. I am afraid it may take longer than that. It’s a dilemma.

Well, hes on a 6 year contract. But history shows that if major improvement isnt achieved in the first.3 years its probably not coming. I think whats important is to keep that in scale. Is it reasonable that we win a nc in 3 years? No. Is it reasoable that we are winning 7-9 games and being competative in most all games? Absolutely.
If after 3 years, we are still routinely getting blown out by 26 and winning 6-7 games, he isnt the answer.

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

Dang it guy... the carpet in my skybox is flat wore out.

Man...sell some stock off and make a donation so they'll name it the NEVolFan Concourse or something lol.

 

[SoFlaVOL22]

Anyone else kind of burnt out after the last freaking decade. I still watch and care but with each passing year of subpar on the field performance it is terribly hard to get excited. I use to follow recruiting like a mad man, my 10 year old daughter has never seen TN beat Alabama. She has only seen the Gators go down once. She has seen a team at or below the level of the bottom tier of the SEC. A decade ago South Carolina, Kentucky, Vandy were all wins every year. I know it has gotten more competitive but how about you all.....Do you care as much as you use to?

My wife thought it was funny when I told her we traveled to Knoxville for the for the UK game growing up with a guaranteed win. Unfortunately, we met 3 years ago so she’s still learning the history. If only I met her in the 90’s.. when I was still in elementary school.