For those predicting doom and gloom...

#1
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VolonTyne

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#1
I'll reserve my judgement for another 1-2 years. On Doug Matthew's show Big Orange Sunday he noted that the Vols have 32 freshmen or redshirt freshmen on the roster. Many have played, played a lot this year and have very promising futures. Let's see how they develop over the next couple of years. Also the transfer portal complicates things in terms of roster stability/development. The portal allows immediate improvement in areas of weakness and really changes the college landscape. Is Heupel the second coming of Neyland...probably not. But can he continue to improve the football program to a consistent strong team that competes for one of the TWELVE playoff spots. I sure hope so--let's see how 24 and 25 go.
 
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#2
#2
IMHO this roster is light years ahead of, talent-wise, the one CJH inherited as I'm sure most Vol fans would agree..NIL is such a weapon now and it seems like this staff recognized it almost immediately..The depth chart now is incredible and the future is brighter because this staff has built a team talented enough to challenge the top of the SEC and finally become a legitimate threat when the playoffs expand to 12 teams..As disappointing as 2023 has been, I still feel like this season has been a big step forward for this program...SEC champs are always developed with recruiting and relationships..And CJH, IMHO, has already established himself by building both.....
 
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#3
#3
Heupel deserves plenty of time. Not hating on Milton, but we all know he’s a big step back from Hooker. He’s done most of what’s asked of him, but he’s not the guy that’s going to go out and just win games. I say that only to say I think Nico will prove to be an excellent, very smart and capable QB. Hype needs that kind of QB. People need to also understand how young we are going to be next year at a LOT of positions. Not sure our record will be all that much better next year. I’m not worried about that. Taking the long view of looking toward 2025 and 2026 as break out years and really gaining the momentum in recruiting.
 
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#5
#5
VolonTyne said:
I'll reserve my judgement for another 1-2 years. On Doug Matthew's show Big Orange Sunday he noted that the Vols have 32 freshmen or redshirt freshmen on the roster. Many have played, played a lot this year and have very promising futures. Let's see how they develop over the next couple of years. Also the transfer portal complicates things in terms of roster stability/development. The portal allows immediate improvement in areas of weakness and really changes the college landscape. Is Heupel the second coming of Neyland...probably not. But can he continue to improve the football program to a consistent strong team that competes for one of the TWELVE playoff spots. I sure hope so--let's see how 24 and 25 go.
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Matthews always spins the positive on things regardless of the situation. He did the same when Dooley and Butch coached TN.

Many of the players he referred to have not played meaningful downs. So next yr he will say “it’s because we are young.” At some point, one has to change the narrative without making the same excuses as other programs find a way to overcome the challenges.

With that said, I enjoy listening to Matthews and hope he is correct.
 
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#6
#6
We are complaining about an 8-4 or possible 9-4 season being a disappointment. Tell me when the last time we have had this kind of mentality? There is absolutely plenty we can criticize Heupel about. But the bottom line is this program is in the best shape it’s been since prime Fulmer. And nobody could have expected us being where we are this quickly.
 
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#7
#7
vol94 said:
Matthews always spins the positive on things regardless of the situation. He did the same when Dooley and Butch coached TN.

Many of the players he referred to have not played meaningful downs. So next yr he will say “it’s because we are young.” At some point, one has to change the narrative without making the same excuses as other programs find a way to overcome the challenges.

With that said, I enjoy listening to Matthews and hope he is correct.
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I have heard him criticize coaches and players quite a bit over the years. Don’t know what you are talking about.
 
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#8
#8
I've been hunting and mostly avoiding this place because the idiots come out of the wood work when there's a bump in the road.

Milton's job was to keep the seat warm so Nico didn't get thrown to the wolves... on a team that has some significant gaps. The O will start to get back to norm next fall. The real question is what will be done about the D staff and particularly the DC. He has some really good games but you can't have a guy who so frequently lays eggs like he did vs MU.
 
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#9
#9
Vol737 said:
Heupel deserves plenty of time. Not hating on Milton, but we all know he’s a big step back from Hooker. He’s done most of what’s asked of him, but he’s not the guy that’s going to go out and just win games. I say that only to say I think Nico will prove to be an excellent, very smart and capable QB. Hype needs that kind of QB. People need to also understand how young we are going to be next year at a LOT of positions. Not sure our record will be all that much better next year. I’m not worried about that. Taking the long view of looking toward 2025 and 2026 as break out years and really gaining the momentum in recruiting.
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Hope so as that’s my thinking, too. Nico’s Jr year will tell us if Heup is the guy.
 
#10
#10
BigOrangeTrain said:
We are complaining about an 8-4 or possible 9-4 season being a disappointment. Tell me when the last time we have had this kind of mentality? There is absolutely plenty we can criticize Heupel about. But the bottom line is this program is in the best shape it’s been since prime Fulmer. And nobody could have expected us being where we are this quickly.
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Heupel went from an all time low for UT football to 11 wins in 2 seasons. Drinkwitz who is in his 4th year is about to post his first winning season.

Heupel is 10 times the coach Drink is... I've never been an advocate for "more time" for coaches. But Heupel has proven that he can do it. He needs players and a little time.
 
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#11
#11
BigOrangeTrain said:
I have heard him criticize coaches and players quite a bit over the years. Don’t know what you are talking about.
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He will make subtle comments from time to time but again, he always thinks everything is okay. Lane was the only coach he disliked.
 
#13
#13
TnScooby said:
As disappointing as 2023 has been, I still feel like this season has been a big step forward for this program...
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This is the moral victory I'm claiming this year. This disappointing result is still miles ahead of what pruitt or jones accomplished on all but the miracle 2016 season that butch stumbled into
 
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#15
#15
sjt18 said:
I've been hunting and mostly avoiding this place because the idiots come out of the wood work when there's a bump in the road.

Milton's job was to keep the seat warm so Nico didn't get thrown to the wolves... on a team that has some significant gaps. The O will start to get back to norm next fall. The real question is what will be done about the D staff and particularly the DC. He has some really good games but you can't have a guy who so frequently lays eggs like he did vs MU.
Click to expand...
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
 
#19
#19
Remy said:
Out of 3 seasons we have played nine games against our Big3, UF, Bama, and UGA. Heupel has won 2 out of the 9 games. My point is he very well may NOT be the guy. If he goes 2 out of 15, you still going to come here and claim he's still the guy?
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If your 2A high school team loses to a 3A high school team and (2) 4A high school teams over three years, you’re going to question him?

It’s a relevant analogy here. We had how many guys in the portal 3 years ago? Heupel has gone 2-9 vs the 3 with a leftover roster. The previous coaches were worse with their rosters. We all need to relax.
 
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#20
#20
For 20 years I’ve been waiting 1-2 years for a turnaround. Last year was a flash in the pan. Hope CJH has the mettle to let some folks go on coaching staff end of season and have some upgrades. Mizzou does not have the talent in their roster we do and neither does Florida. You can’t win the Kentucky Derby riding a mule, but you got to have solid coaching and play calling.
 
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#21
#21
vol72 said:
Need to develop superior line talent. The team that controls the LOS generally wins the game.
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I think this is what so many fail to actually realize. Some fans will give lip servicento it and in the next breath blame or praise the "skill" players.

No doubt talent at any position is better than not having it. But if i were recruiting, i would focus my "star gazing" on both the offensive and defensive lines.

Im excited to.see what our 5 star qb can do next year. But if he is running for his life regularly l, it may be a long season. And if our opponents have a mediocre qb who has all day to find open receivers, his stats will look more like a 5 star than Nico's.

Idk what will happen next season, but am hopeful to at least equal this years outcome and possibly improve it by a game.
 
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#23
#23
VolonTyne said:
I'll reserve my judgement for another 1-2 years. On Doug Matthew's show Big Orange Sunday he noted that the Vols have 32 freshmen or redshirt freshmen on the roster. Many have played, played a lot this year and have very promising futures. Let's see how they develop over the next couple of years. Also the transfer portal complicates things in terms of roster stability/development. The portal allows immediate improvement in areas of weakness and really changes the college landscape. Is Heupel the second coming of Neyland...probably not. But can he continue to improve the football program to a consistent strong team that competes for one of the TWELVE playoff spots. I sure hope so--let's see how 24 and 25 go.
Click to expand...
Ahh yes… Here come the excuses for things that should not happen.
 
#24
#24
VolonTyne said:
I'll reserve my judgement for another 1-2 years. On Doug Matthew's show Big Orange Sunday he noted that the Vols have 32 freshmen or redshirt freshmen on the roster. Many have played, played a lot this year and have very promising futures. Let's see how they develop over the next couple of years. Also the transfer portal complicates things in terms of roster stability/development. The portal allows immediate improvement in areas of weakness and really changes the college landscape. Is Heupel the second coming of Neyland...probably not. But can he continue to improve the football program to a consistent strong team that competes for one of the TWELVE playoff spots. I sure hope so--let's see how 24 and 25 go.
Click to expand...
I’m not predicting doom and gloom however I can look at the body of work we have seen and speculate , I hope for the best but also prepare for the worst , we could improve more collectively as a team and have a worse record that’s just being realistic .
 
#25
#25
Vol737 said:
Heupel deserves plenty of time. Not hating on Milton, but we all know he’s a big step back from Hooker. He’s done most of what’s asked of him, but he’s not the guy that’s going to go out and just win games. I say that only to say I think Nico will prove to be an excellent, very smart and capable QB. Hype needs that kind of QB. People need to also understand how young we are going to be next year at a LOT of positions. Not sure our record will be all that much better next year. I’m not worried about that. Taking the long view of looking toward 2025 and 2026 as break out years and really gaining the momentum in recruiting.
Click to expand...

The immediate gratification crowd won't like that answer, but it's the truth. This is the last year of mostly Pruitt recruits in key positions - next year's team will be very young, but will be the core of the next few seasons. Last year was wonderful, but it was always going to be 2024-26 before we could honestly appraise the job CJH is doing, and where the program is headed.

As you said, QB is the key spot on a Heupel team, and from this point it will be his guys, trained for his system running the show. Will we compete for natty's? Who knows, but we finally have a solid direction, and I'm ready to enjoy the ride
 
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