Gloom, despair and agony on us... (merged)

[Lady_Vol]

I’m not a Nega-Vol or a bandwagon fan or any of that. I’ve been a Vol fan my whole life. I’ll always be a Vol fan. I have a shared history with my Dad and my family as we’ve watched the games over the years. BUT, it’s just not fun anymore.

You remember how everything kind of revolved around football Saturday? You wouldn’t plan a wedding on a home game. You went to the game, tailgated or cooked out with the family. If you met a stranger on Monday, you could say “how about that game” and they knew exactly what you were talking about.

I used to watch every second of every game. Now I flip the channels. I’ll miss a little here or there. I’ve even turned off the game. I never used to do that. I don’t follow sports radio and stuff like a used to. It just doesn’t matter. We’re irrelevant. And we’ve been that way for 15 years. It’s sad. I hate it. And you’ve lost an entire generation of fans. Young people don’t watch the Vols.

I don’t know what it will take. But this isn’t fun anymore. I’m not giving up. The Vols will always have my heart. But, it’s tough to be a Tennessee Vol.

 

[Vol#17]

I now know what being a Vandy fan must feel like. We are the punching bag of the SEC.

 

[The Tall Gguy]

It just isn't the same.

 

[valoisvol]

I just use my phone to check score don’t watch anymore

 

[joevol33]

I now get the same feeling on Saturday that I do when my wife says the inlaws are coming over. I kid, kinda

 

[dougvolfan]

It hasn’t really been fun for years. Even the wins are like pulling teeth.

 

[Tnman1]

The only enjoyment I get from Tennessee football is coaching searches. They inevitably go horribly wrong, but they are fun for awhile. Soon.

 

[Boston Vol]

It hasn’t been fun for at least a decade.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Tony Basilio's 5th Quarter Fan Reaction call in show is more entertaining than the games are.

 

[Voljerm98]

I’m not a Nega-Vol or a bandwagon fan or any of that. I’ve been a Vol fan my whole life. I’ll always be a Vol fan. I have a shared history with my Dad and my family as we’ve watched the games over the years. BUT, it’s just not fun anymore.

You remember how everything kind of revolved around football Saturday? You wouldn’t plan a wedding on a home game. You went to the game, tailgated or cooked out with the family. If you met a stranger on Monday, you could say “how about that game” and they knew exactly what you were talking about.

I used to watch every second of every game. Now I flip the channels. I’ll miss a little here or there. I’ve even turned off the game. I never used to do that. I don’t follow sports radio and stuff like a used to. It just doesn’t matter. We’re irrelevant. And we’ve been that way for 15 years. It’s sad. I hate it. And you’ve lost an entire generation of fans. Young people don’t watch the Vols.

I don’t know what it will take. But this isn’t fun anymore. I’m not giving up. The Vols will always have my heart. But, it’s tough to be a Tennessee Vol.

Very well said.

 

[MAD]

I remember the excitement of playing Rocky Top before and after every game.
Haven’t done that for awhile.

 

[orangerush]

We keep doing the same things and expect it will lead to something better. It’s a hard watch for sure. It will take something significant to change the course of this program. What I am sure of is the current Admin, AD, and coaching staff won’t be the catalyst that prioritizes winning as the only objective.

 

[JBVolunteer]

Johnny Majors wasn’t perfect but he brought a level of grit and determination to Tennessee football that was incredible. His players went to battle for him. Phil Fulmer was able to continue that mentality and build on it. We didn’t win every game but the team expected to compete with anyone, any place, any time. That is the Tennessee I would give anything to have back.

It’s not about wins and losses. It’s how they play the game.

 

[Rocky Top Raby]

I've never disliked a team more than the one we are putting on the field this season. only player I have hope for is Hyatt.

 

[MAD]

Johnny Majors wasn’t perfect but he brought a level of grit and determination to Tennessee football that was incredible. His players went to battle for him. Phil Fulmer was able to continue that mentality and build on it. We didn’t win every game but the team expected to compete with anyone, any place, any time. That is the Tennessee I would give anything to have back.

It’s not about wins and losses. It’s how they play the game.

This is a very good point.
Even Dooley and Butch Jones tried to bring some enthusiasm to the program until they became dead man walking.
I feel nothing from Pruitt. It’s as if he just doesn’t care.

 

[ButchPlz]

I've never disliked a team more than the one we are putting on the field this season. only player I have hope for is Hyatt.

Man that about sums it up.

We've sucked for a while but this is the first time I've just hated the whole damn team.

 

[ChattaVolMD]

I’m not a Nega-Vol or a bandwagon fan or any of that. I’ve been a Vol fan my whole life. I’ll always be a Vol fan. I have a shared history with my Dad and my family as we’ve watched the games over the years. BUT, it’s just not fun anymore.

You remember how everything kind of revolved around football Saturday? You wouldn’t plan a wedding on a home game. You went to the game, tailgated or cooked out with the family. If you met a stranger on Monday, you could say “how about that game” and they knew exactly what you were talking about.

I used to watch every second of every game. Now I flip the channels. I’ll miss a little here or there. I’ve even turned off the game. I never used to do that. I don’t follow sports radio and stuff like a used to. It just doesn’t matter. We’re irrelevant. And we’ve been that way for 15 years. It’s sad. I hate it. And you’ve lost an entire generation of fans. Young people don’t watch the Vols.

I don’t know what it will take. But this isn’t fun anymore. I’m not giving up. The Vols will always have my heart. But, it’s tough to be a Tennessee Vol.

I watched zero college football yesterday.

 

[OrangeWave2]

I’m not a Nega-Vol or a bandwagon fan or any of that. I’ve been a Vol fan my whole life. I’ll always be a Vol fan. I have a shared history with my Dad and my family as we’ve watched the games over the years. BUT, it’s just not fun anymore.

You remember how everything kind of revolved around football Saturday? You wouldn’t plan a wedding on a home game. You went to the game, tailgated or cooked out with the family. If you met a stranger on Monday, you could say “how about that game” and they knew exactly what you were talking about.

I used to watch every second of every game. Now I flip the channels. I’ll miss a little here or there. I’ve even turned off the game. I never used to do that. I don’t follow sports radio and stuff like a used to. It just doesn’t matter. We’re irrelevant. And we’ve been that way for 15 years. It’s sad. I hate it. And you’ve lost an entire generation of fans. Young people don’t watch the Vols.

I don’t know what it will take. But this isn’t fun anymore. I’m not giving up. The Vols will always have my heart. But, it’s tough to be a Tennessee Vol.

This is how programs die. You lose the fanbase.

When your team is winning, everyone is high from it. I'm even more inclined to buy more hats, shirts, hoodies, trips to games, etc. Not that my money makes that much of a difference (and outside of COVID), but you multiply that across the tens of thousands in Neyland, that all adds up. With every loss it becomes more and more unhealthy to watch UT football. The fans won't care, why should boosters and admins? Over time the hype goes away and programs die. Nebraska used to run things. So did Florida State, and even Michigan at times. Not anymore though. I count Tennessee among them now.

 

[MAD]

This is how programs die. You lose the fanbase.

When your team is winning, everyone is high from it. I'm even more inclined to buy more hats, shirts, hoodies, trips to games, etc. Not that my money makes that much of a difference (and outside of COVID), but you multiply that across the tens of thousands in Neyland, that all adds up. With every loss it becomes more and more unhealthy to watch UT football. The fans won't care, why should boosters and admins? Overtime the hype goes away and programs die. Nebraska used to run things. So did Florida State, and even Michigan at times. Not anymore though. I count Tennessee among them now.

I can’t even find Tennessee gear outside the state anymore.
I remember the days it didn’t matter if I was in Ohio or Florida, I could buy Vols gear anywhere.

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

It hasn’t been fun for at least a decade.

Dobbs was fun.

 

[OrangeWave2]

I can’t even find Tennessee gear outside the state anymore.
I remember the days it didn’t matter if I was in Ohio or Florida, I could buy Vols gear anywhere.

I swear walking into Academy Sports it's mostly Georgia/Alabama swag in there.

 

[Voltopia]

I remember in the 90s they used to ask folks to weigh in on the FSU question. You know, the one that went "would you rather be FSU and win 10-11 games every year but always whiff on a title, or would you rather win a title but then suffer 2-4 years of losing during rebuilding?" I always said I'd take being 10-2 or 11-1 and being consistently great every time. I always wanted to be a team that you just knew was dangerous when it got off the bus. If anything, the last ten years have only shown me that I was right. I say this because I can't remember the last time I had trouble going to sleep before a "big game," with the exception of Oklahoma in 2015. I would love for Tennessee to be a champion, but much more than that, I would love to just know that Tennessee is relevant. I would give a lot to know that Tennessee is circled on everyone's calendars again.

 

[JonGrudensAgent]

Pruitt and his "brand" of football has sucked every ounce of enjoyment out the games the last 3 years.

You literally watch every game waiting for the implosion. Even during the winning streak it was like waiting for them to screw up, they just managed not to do it as much against weaker competition.

 

[ptcarter]

Man that about sums it up.

We've sucked for a while but this is the first time I've just hated the whole damn team.

Number 3 is carrying the load. Don't forget him.

 

[vols 30]

I only watched in hopes of HB playing. He didn't disappoint. I guess I'll just start tuning in during the 4th Qtr