Food For Thought

#1
SalVolinus

SalVolinus

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#1
I realize some people are just going to constantly be negative, and we certainly have every reason to be if that's how you choose to live. Lost in the fact that our team isn't very good is the fact that Knoxville remains one of the best gameday experiences in college football. Neyland is one of the best venues in all of sports. I brought a couple of fans of another P5 school to the Florida game. He was overwhelmed. I apologized for the lack of competition we gave him to watch. His reply was "who cares when you have this gameday experience. Wins and losses have never effected my personal life, but the food, sights, and energy around Knoxville is something I'd trade multiple wins per year to be able to experience." Despite the Vols performance, we gained two great, level-headed fans this weekend.

Additionally, quit being all "woe is me". It's a bad look. Fans and positive energy are most needed when the program is hurting. Let's put on more steam. Sure, our last 4 years are 9-4, 9-4, 4-8, and realistically 3-9 this year. Many schools in the current Top 10 have gone through similar and worse.

Alabama
2000: 3-9
2001: 7-5
2003: 4-9
2004: 6-6
2006: 6-6

LSU
1992: 2-9
1993: 5-7
1994: 4-7
1997: 4-7
1998: 3-8

Stanford:
2002: 2-9
2003-2006: 4-8 each year
2006: 1-11
2007: 4-8
2008: 5-7

Penn State:
2001: 5-7
2002: 5-7
2003: 3-9
2004: 4-7

Washington:
2002-2012 combined for 32 wins. 3.2 wins per year.
 
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#3
#3
VeeOhElEsYes said:
The negativity is killing me. This team needs our positive support. Im not sure why Vols fans think these players owe them something and we don't owe them our support and respect. They chose to come here we should support them no matter what.
Click to expand...
Agreed. I think a lot of losers just feel the need to be associated with a winner instead of appreciating what gameday is all about . A city wide party and time with friends. I had a blast Saturday. As did everyone I was with.
 
#5
#5
All I could picture was Don Dare saying "Food For Thought" when I read the thread title.
 
#6
#6
It's quiet comical that many folks believe just because someone takes realisitc views of the current state of the program and doesnt buy into all these little fluffy excuses made to make things look better than what they really are, that they are a loser or miserable etc. Newsflash.....the fans are the ones that create that awesome gameday environment. Ill rant and rave about the team here, but still very much enjoy the gameday experience. Can we please just shut up about fellow fans? This is a message board and as such, will have varying opinions.
Nevertheless, we are one of the top programs for profit, we flooded Jacksonville and Tampa for mid level bowls, opposing fans such as Oklahoma, utah st montant and many others were very complimentary of their visits, recruits are always impressed by the fans, constantly fill a 100k stadium and one game drew nearly 140k fans.

Fans are not the problem with this football team. If it makes you feel better or superior or whatever, then continue on with these foolish ideas of blaming fans. If negativity is killing your, its pretty simple, tune out. Or have freak create you a Gruden type safe space so you feeling arent hurt from discussion of the top notch product on the field.
 
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#8
#8
volfannbama said:
It's quiet comical that many folks believe just because someone takes realisitc views of the current state of the program and doesnt buy into all these little fluffy excuses made to make things look better than what they really are, that they are a loser or miserable etc. Newsflash.....the fans are the ones that create that awesome gameday environment. Ill rant and rave about the team here, but still very much enjoy the gameday experience. Can we please just shut up about fellow fans? This is a message board and as such, will have varying opinions.
Nevertheless, we are one of the top programs for profit, we flooded Jacksonville and Tampa for mid level bowls, opposing fans such as Oklahoma, utah st montant and many others were very complimentary of their visits, recruits are always impressed by the fans, constantly fill a 100k stadium and one game drew nearly 140k fans.

Fans are not the problem with this football team. If it makes you feel better or superior or whatever, then continue on with these foolish ideas of blaming fans. If negativity is killing your, its pretty simple, tune out. Or have freak create you a Gruden type safe space so you feeling arent hurt from discussion of the top notch product on the field.
Click to expand...
You completely missed the point.

Essentially people can keep harping on the negatives. But that doesn't make the fix come any sooner. It may actually do the opposite as recruits sense toxicity around the program.
I just prefer to accept that we are terrible this year and try to be extra supportive when something does go right.
I think Pruitts attitude has reflected this same sentiment and I'm so proud to have him in charge. An adult for a change.
 
#9
#9
Neyland Stadium on an Autum afternoon represents a true spectacle to behold, few college venues can compete.
We have the fans, now we need something to cheer about, Go Vols
 
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#11
#11
SalVolinus said:
Alabama
2000: 3-9 Mike Dubose Fired
2001: 7-5
2002: 10-3 Dennis Franchione Skips town
2003: 4-9
2004: 6-6
2005: 10-2
2006: 6-6 Mike Shula Fired

LSU
1992: 2-9
1993: 5-7
1994: 4-7 Curley Hallman Resigns
1995 7-4-1
1996 10-2
1997: 4-7 9-3
1998: 3-8 4-7
1999: Gerry Dinardo Fired

Stanford:
2002: 2-9
2003-2006: 4-8 each year,
2004 Buddy Teevens Fired
2006: 1-11 Walt Harris Fired
2007: 4-8
2008: 5-7

Penn State:
2001: 5-7
2002: 5-7 9-4
2003: 3-9
2004: 4-7
2005: 11-1

Washington:
2002-2012 combined for 32 wins. 3.2 wins per year.
2002: Rick Neuheisel Fired
2004: Keith Gilbertson Fired
2008: Tyrone Willingham Fired
Click to expand...

Some nice cherry-picking you've done there, but let me fill in some of the details, and correct your mistakes.
 
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#12
#12
SalVolinus said:
I realize some people are just going to constantly be negative, and we certainly have every reason to be if that's how you choose to live. Lost in the fact that our team isn't very good is the fact that Knoxville remains one of the best gameday experiences in college football. Neyland is one of the best venues in all of sports. I brought a couple of fans of another P5 school to the Florida game. He was overwhelmed. I apologized for the lack of competition we gave him to watch. His reply was "who cares when you have this gameday experience. Wins and losses have never effected my personal life, but the food, sights, and energy around Knoxville is something I'd trade multiple wins per year to be able to experience." Despite the Vols performance, we gained two great, level-headed fans this weekend.

Additionally, quit being all "woe is me". It's a bad look. Fans and positive energy are most needed when the program is hurting. Let's put on more steam. Sure, our last 4 years are 9-4, 9-4, 4-8, and realistically 3-9 this year. Many schools in the current Top 10 have gone through similar and worse.

Alabama
2000: 3-9
2001: 7-5
2003: 4-9
2004: 6-6
2006: 6-6

LSU
1992: 2-9
1993: 5-7
1994: 4-7
1997: 4-7
1998: 3-8

Stanford:
2002: 2-9
2003-2006: 4-8 each year
2006: 1-11
2007: 4-8
2008: 5-7

Penn State:
2001: 5-7
2002: 5-7
2003: 3-9
2004: 4-7

Washington:
2002-2012 combined for 32 wins. 3.2 wins per year.
Click to expand...

Who would have not fired the coach with this record in today’s world?
It took Majors 9 years to win SEC. First year was 4-7. If memory serves, scholarship reductions just started and Majors could not recruit 100 players like at Pitt. However once he got a backlog of linemen he set the table for Fulmer to reap the benefits. Tn is not and has never been easy to recruit to. Tn has historically been 8-9 wins per year with occasional flashes of excellence. Trying to rewrite history is counterproductive. I am Tn, bad times as well as good. The kids that come here need to play their guts out, win or lose and fans need to do the same.
 
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#13
#13
SalVolinus said:
You completely missed the point.

Essentially people can keep harping on the negatives. But that doesn't make the fix come any sooner. It may actually do the opposite as recruits sense toxicity around the program.
I just prefer to accept that we are terrible this year and try to be extra supportive when something does go right.
I think Pruitts attitude has reflected this same sentiment and I'm so proud to have him in charge. An adult for a change.
Click to expand...
If every thread on here was littered with roses it wouldnt make not one bit of difference. That mess on the field is what isnt good for recruiting, blaming fans on message board is just the lazy come out in an effort to be positive with the team. Be positive all you want, but dont call folks that dont see it your way losers and whatnot.
I like how you added an adult in charge at the end. Seems he has lost his composure several times the last two games, even getting hit with a penalty.
 
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#14
#14
SalVolinus said:
Agreed. I think a lot of losers just feel the need to be associated with a winner instead of appreciating what gameday is all about . A city wide party and time with friends. I had a blast Saturday. As did everyone I was with.
Click to expand...
Food for thought: I think a lot of the "fans" who are complaining on here are younger "fans" who have an instant gratification attitude. They see Alabama, Ohio State, some of the other successful teams win consistently and don't understand why Tennessee doesn't. Everything runs in cycles, and we are in a down period right now, just like the afore mentioned teams have gone through. I believe Pruitt knows what it takes to have a winning program, and given a couple or three recruiting classes, he will have those guys on board. Now I know some on here are like me and getting a little long in the tooth, and maybe are longtime season ticket holders, (I am not) and wonder if it's worth it. I will never have a different favorite team. I will not bash the players, I will support the coaches until they prove to not be deserving of it. Pruitt and staff have been here less than a year. A little early to be bringing out the negativity.
 
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#15
#15
VeeOhElEsYes said:
The negativity is killing me. This team needs our positive support. Im not sure why Vols fans think these players owe them something and we don't owe them our support and respect. They chose to come here we should support them no matter what.
Click to expand...

Yes they came here. But since the start of the 3rd qtr. of the UCLA game (under kif) they have given less than 100%. Don't know what started to change, but it did. I thought it peaked during the Bowling Green game in Nashville (embarrassing effort), but now I don't know, effort last half of last season was non existent. Now to this year, guys that got little or no playing time last year and the newcomers look to be giving it all they have. Just hope the continual beat downs don't get them down. (notice I said nothing about the holdover players with all or most playing time last year)
 
#16
#16
SalVolinus said:
You completely missed the point.

Essentially people can keep harping on the negatives. But that doesn't make the fix come any sooner. It may actually do the opposite as recruits sense toxicity around the program.
I just prefer to accept that we are terrible this year and try to be extra supportive when something does go right.
I think Pruitts attitude has reflected this same sentiment and I'm so proud to have him in charge. An adult for a change.
Click to expand...
then your point was not very well explained. As I thought the guy with the Vandy helmet ( dam- I wish he would change that) gave a very good answer to your post.
 
#17
#17
SalVolinus said:
I realize some people are just going to constantly be negative, and we certainly have every reason to be if that's how you choose to live. Lost in the fact that our team isn't very good is the fact that Knoxville remains one of the best gameday experiences in college football. Neyland is one of the best venues in all of sports. I brought a couple of fans of another P5 school to the Florida game. He was overwhelmed. I apologized for the lack of competition we gave him to watch. His reply was "who cares when you have this gameday experience. Wins and losses have never effected my personal life, but the food, sights, and energy around Knoxville is something I'd trade multiple wins per year to be able to experience." Despite the Vols performance, we gained two great, level-headed fans this weekend.

Additionally, quit being all "woe is me". It's a bad look. Fans and positive energy are most needed when the program is hurting. Let's put on more steam. Sure, our last 4 years are 9-4, 9-4, 4-8, and realistically 3-9 this year. Many schools in the current Top 10 have gone through similar and worse.

Alabama
2000: 3-9
2001: 7-5
2003: 4-9
2004: 6-6
2006: 6-6

LSU
1992: 2-9
1993: 5-7
1994: 4-7
1997: 4-7
1998: 3-8

Stanford:
2002: 2-9
2003-2006: 4-8 each year
2006: 1-11
2007: 4-8
2008: 5-7

Penn State:
2001: 5-7
2002: 5-7
2003: 3-9
2004: 4-7

Washington:
2002-2012 combined for 32 wins. 3.2 wins per year.
Click to expand...

While your list is certainly factual, I'm just at a point where I'm tired of trying to find silver linings. I have stopped having expectations. I'll always be a fan and support the team but I don't have a shred of optimism left in me. I'll just simply take each game, each season as they come good or bad.
 
#18
#18
This is a good example of our different approaches as fans. Some feel the need to rant and rave. If they don’t call out the problems they feel like they won’t be addressed. After the last decade it’s perfectly understandable.

Others think ANY negativity hurts the program, current players, future recruits etc. If you say something bad it will set us back.

The truth lies in between probably. We need to vent but not be too harsh. If some recruits are scared off then that’s OK. We need talent with heart rather than just talent. We need to question the coaches or play calling when it’s bad too.
 
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#19
#19
savannahfan said:
then your point was not very well explained. As I thought the guy with the Vandy helmet ( dam- I wish he would change that) gave a very good answer to your post.
Click to expand...
That's fair. It's possible to draw multiple conclusions from the same statement. Different people are able to see things at different levels.

But nowhere did I say people didn't have the right to be negative, nor did I ever blame the fans for the product on the field, and I certainly didn't offer any rosy excuses for the team's play. Zilch. Those are the key aspects of his post and none of those were even remotely inferred by my op.
So yes, I could have communicated the point poorly. It's also possible that people have varying levels of ability in reading comprehension.
 
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#20
#20
SalVolinus said:
That's fair. It's possible to draw multiple conclusions from the same statement. Different people are able to see things at different levels.

But nowhere did I say people didn't have the right to be negative, nor did I ever blame the fans for the product on the field, and I certainly didn't offer and rosy excuses. Zilch. Those are the key aspects of his post and none of those were even remotely inferred by my op.
So yes, I could have communicated the point poorly. Its also possible that people have varying levels of ability in reading comprehension.
Click to expand...
I understand your response. AND I will say that sometimes (many times) my comprehension just doesn't agree with the writers. To say a person doesn't comprehend is not necessarily the case. It just doesn't lead to the same conclusion as the witters.
 
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#22
#22
bigorangepoppa said:
Food for thought: I think a lot of the "fans" who are complaining on here are younger "fans" who have an instant gratification attitude. They see Alabama, Ohio State, some of the other successful teams win consistently and don't understand why Tennessee doesn't. Everything runs in cycles, and we are in a down period right now, just like the afore mentioned teams have gone through. I believe Pruitt knows what it takes to have a winning program, and given a couple or three recruiting classes, he will have those guys on board. Now I know some on here are like me and getting a little long in the tooth, and maybe are longtime season ticket holders, (I am not) and wonder if it's worth it. I will never have a different favorite team. I will not bash the players, I will support the coaches until they prove to not be deserving of it. Pruitt and staff have been here less than a year. A little early to be bringing out the negativity.
Click to expand...
I highly doubt its younger folks with an instant gratification attitude. Thats just an old folks lazy way of excusing something they dont like or disagree with. IMO im not expecting many wins, but at least look like a competent football team. We do not and that is the problem. So while its all noble or whatever to be positive all the time or whatever, whether people admit it or not....you see the product on the field and somewhere in the back of your mind the thoughts of oh no here we go again are there. Some people dont have a problem saying it others dont want to mention it and would rather say positive things. Nothing wrong with either way.
 
#23
#23
VeeOhElEsYes said:
The negativity is killing me. This team needs our positive support. Im not sure why Vols fans think these players owe them something and we don't owe them our support and respect. They chose to come here we should support them no matter what.
Click to expand...


So 100k showing up for the game that the staff and players stunk up and fan's are to blame for not showing enough support?
 
#24
#24
SalVolinus said:
Agreed. I think a lot of losers just feel the need to be associated with a winner instead of appreciating what gameday is all about . A city wide party and time with friends. I had a blast Saturday. As did everyone I was with.
Click to expand...


You can have a party in the backyard with friends. You can even have the soccer game on and stil have fun.
Most fans of sports teams however prefer their team win.
 
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