Fear of Failure

[TNinOR]

With regard to our Vols' big win against Florida, I think Trevor Sikkema, writing for SEC Country ("SEC Film Room: The second-half series that doomed Florida") hit the nail on the head with this statement:

"In the end, it was McElwain’s fear of failure that did the Gators in — which is very unlike McElwain. The only safe lead is the one that keeps growing. McElwain forgot that in the second half, and his team paid for it."

And, imo, the opposite holds true as well. Unlike our big 4th quarter melt downs last year, in this game when we finally got the lead, coaches Jones and DeBord stayed aggressive and didn't let Florida come up for air, OOH RAH!

Imo, if we can stay that aggressive the rest of the season, even with a lead, the sky is the limit.

Yes, a pounding, power running game is our bread and butter, but that doesn't mean we have to camp on the ball once we get a lead.

 

[checkerboards09]

I'd say winning 10 straight games makes the Vols afraid of failure. All of these articles that are making excuses for Florida are ridiculous. Football is 60 minutes and a team can turn it on anytime. UT wanted it more and there wasn't a damn thing Florida was gonna do about it. Florida getting "conservative" is bs because you know they wanted to beat us as badly as possible, that's why I don't buy that horse s***.

 

[FlyFishnVol]

I think the biggest concern is the inconsistent execution of plays and performances this team seems to demonstrate in the first half. I think fans and media are all in agree that there appears be a common denominator here with this team or the coaches start slow or making mental mistakes. The frustration is not the based on a bad team, its based on a great team playing bad. What is wrong with fans and media scratching their heads and saying this team should be playing like this every quarter? UT is playing tight and once the get loose.......they cut loose. How long will this continue to happen? It one thing to support a team that has so so talent, but fans know this team has elite talent and that is the sole source of frustration. We love this team and coaches, but are baffled at the performance in certain quarters. There isn't one person that didn't think UT was going to come out and hold Florida to <110 yards of offense and destroy that great defense and score 38 unanswered points. I know what Butch said, but that was a tall order based solely on the first half. Now, I am glad UT won, but there are teams down the road that might not allow this team to come back.

Go Vols!!

 

[UT-Rex]

There isn't one person that didn't think UT was going to come out and hold Florida to <110 yards of offense and destroy that great defense and score 38 unanswered points. Go Vols!!

Hang on, now I'm really confused about this -- DID WE think it, or DID WE NOT think it?

I know wildasamink thought it, because he posted it during halftime -- that we were going to come out of the locker room and light them up.

 

[LA vol7]

I'd say winning 10 straight games makes the Vols afraid of failure. All of these articles that are making excuses for Florida are ridiculous. Football is 60 minutes and a team can turn it on anytime. UT wanted it more and there wasn't a damn thing Florida was gonna do about it. Florida getting "conservative" is bs because you know they wanted to beat us as badly as possible, that's why I don't buy that horse s***.

you are dead on my man, and Dobbs was throwing that ball around like he just didn't care! He needs to play the same way against Georgia! Will he throw an interception? Probably, but if he keeps playing loose and the WRs keep playing loose, we will not lose more than one game the rest of the way!

 

[terrypedigo]

you are dead on my man, and Dobbs was throwing that ball around like he just didn't care! He needs to play the same way against Georgia! Will he throw an interception? Probably, but if he keeps playing loose and the WRs keep playing loose, we will not lose more than one game the rest of the way!

any QB will throw a int every now and then but on the first one it looked like the gator was the wr and our wr was the DB sometimes just throw the ball in the stands and take the 3 you take our dropped balls and int out we blow them out by 28, not complaining after 11 years take the victory and move on to the dawgs. GO VOLS BUCK bama and little lanny moma's boy kiff.:banghead2:

 

[FlyFishnVol]

Hang on, now I'm really confused about this -- DID WE think it, or DID WE NOT think it?

I know wildasamink thought it, because he posted it during halftime -- that we were going to come out of the locker room and light them up.

I don't believe anyone thought that UT would come out and dominate.........thanks for pointing that out.

 

[jctenn1]

IMO.. second half we wanted it more..not sure what was said at halftime but whatever it was we need to bottle it up and use it to start the game..Our defense took over.front line took over...NOT A DAMN THING florida could do about it..when you have less than 2 secs to run a play you are busted..we gave them no time..frustration set in and we went for the throat...we beat them like a onel legged man in an ass kicking contest...I just want second half VOLS to be the 60 minute VOLS from now on...GBO :rock::clapping:eace2:

 

[Boca Vol]

I'd say winning 10 straight games makes the Vols afraid of failure. All of these articles that are making excuses for Florida are ridiculous. Football is 60 minutes and a team can turn it on anytime. UT wanted it more and there wasn't a damn thing Florida was gonna do about it. Florida getting "conservative" is bs because you know they wanted to beat us as badly as possible, that's why I don't buy that horse s***.

I agree with everything but the 1st sentence. Winning 9 games in a row was great, and all. But it was that 10th game that had the star around it. Beating VT & UN are fine, but beating UF was something of a different animal.

Glad to see the staff continue to be aggressive in the 4th!

 

[Crazy Ivan]

I'd say winning 10 straight games makes the Vols afraid of failure. All of these articles that are making excuses for Florida are ridiculous. Football is 60 minutes and a team can turn it on anytime. UT wanted it more and there wasn't a damn thing Florida was gonna do about it. Florida getting "conservative" is bs because you know they wanted to beat us as badly as possible, that's why I don't buy that horse s***.

I agree. It's not like McIlwein was not trying to throw the ball; their offense's problem was that Barnett & Co. weren't going to give them time to stand back there and do so.

 

[livefaith]

I don't believe anyone thought that UT would come out and dominate.........thanks for pointing that out.

Only, and I mean only, wildasamink called it. Everyone else who made the mistake of posting at the 1/2 was jumping off ledges.

Gotta give credit where it's due.

 

[livefaith]

It's easy to be "conservative" when that D just went straight to punching them in the mouth. However the writer wants to spin it.

 

[apevol]

Only, and I mean only, wildasamink called it. Everyone else who made the mistake of posting at the 1/2 was jumping off ledges.

Gotta give credit where it's due.

I saw a few people remain positive. Mink decided to use it as an excuse to be a jackass.

 

[OrangeDog]

If the polls were based on 1st half play we would ranked be about 50 and missississippippi would be at #1.

Thank the Lord for the 2nd half!

 

[BigOrangeTrain]

I'd say winning 10 straight games makes the Vols afraid of failure. All of these articles that are making excuses for Florida are ridiculous. Football is 60 minutes and a team can turn it on anytime. UT wanted it more and there wasn't a damn thing Florida was gonna do about it. Florida getting "conservative" is bs because you know they wanted to beat us as badly as possible, that's why I don't buy that horse s***.

Totally agree I am getting sick of this BS. Here Tennessee comes out in the second half and just owns UF and people want to make it sound like UF lost the game instead of UT winning it.

I swear Tennessee is the Rodney Dangerfield of CF it seems. Cant get no respect.

 

[Alto1]

I agree. It's not like McIlwein was not trying to throw the ball; their offense's problem was that Barnett & Co. weren't going to give them time to stand back there and do so.

^This.

 

[OrangeDog]

Totally agree I am getting sick of this BS. Here Tennessee comes out in the second half and just owns UF and people want to make it sound like UF lost the game instead of UT winning it.

I swear Tennessee is the Rodney Dangerfield of CF it seems. Cant get no respect.

so if I can rephrase that without offending you:



ESPN Hates US!!

actually I sort of like it.

I posted Friday that I hope that what's his name (he can't remember it either) picked the gators.... and he put the lizard hat on!!!!

Life is Good! (we should start a company)

 

[volfan102455]

I personally view this as the standard response anytime a team with a lead ends up losing. Let us be honest - the same thing was said of Tennessee last year when they lost after having leads - remember play calling went conservative.

The truth then and the truth on Saturday is that the other teams defense generally is the reason why an offense stops scoring. When you keep running the plays that have been working and all of a sudden they don't work - that is typically because the other teams defense has figured our how to stop the play.

We all know that Tennessee dominated Florida in the second half and if Tennessee had not dropped passes in the first half, Tennessee would have dominated Florida in the first half as well.