Honestly, we needed this

[VOL 4 Life 83]

Humility is a great attribute. All the hype surrounding this team and we came out flat.

But truthfully with the way we handled ourselves in the 3rd and 4th quarters last year, it's nice to show some true balls and come back and win, even if it is App State (who by the way is a damn good football team).

We needed someone to punch us in the mouth and get back up, and we showed we could do it.

 

[Orange_Crush]

I was tHinking the same thing. This may have been the best thing that could have happened to them.

 

[gsb0824]

I agree, Appy State came out with vim and vigor. UT came out lazy and clueless. That is on the coaches. I think the entire team looked way past Appy State, assumed they were good enough to win without trying, and learned a valuable lesson. I have seen these types of games before. Some learn from it, some don't.

 

[McDad]

Could not agree more. Coaches and players get the lucky win over an inferior team. Get humbled and de-hyped. Perfect for us.

 

[tallvolball98]

Humility is a great attribute. All the hype surrounding this team and we came out flat.

But truthfully with the way we handled ourselves in the 3rd and 4th quarters last year, it's nice to show some true balls and come back and win, even if it is App State (who by the way is a damn good football team).

We needed someone to punch us in the mouth and get back up, and we showed we could do it.

We had all this last year. Tonight was absolutely unacceptable! Embarrassing!

 

[VOL 4 Life 83]

I agree, Appy State came out with vim and vigor. UT came out lazy and clueless. That is on the coaches. I think the entire team looked way past Appy State, assumed they were good enough to win without trying, and learned a valuable lesson. I have seen these types of games before. Some learn from it, some don't.

I know the whole thing was that we weren't looking past App state, but honestly with Battle at Bristol next week how could the team NOT be. The VT game may have actually been the culprit of our poor play.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

Seems I heard this in 2005.

 

[KoachKrab127]

I agree, Appy State came out with vim and vigor. UT came out lazy and clueless. That is on the coaches. I think the entire team looked way past Appy State, assumed they were good enough to win without trying, and learned a valuable lesson. I have seen these types of games before. Some learn from it, some don't.

Unfortunately, it looks like our coaching staff has learned nothing from last year, based on what I saw tonight. Still in shotgun formation on the 1 yard line, instead of under the center, and it nearly cost us in overtime. Still running the ridiculous "hurry up and snap the ball for a 1 yard run" on 1st and 10. The defense looked confused on many plays, much like they did under Sunseri (but that might have to do with the fact that JRM wasn't in the game).

I was also really worried about how we called a timeout right before the 4th down play in overtime. That didn't work at all against Florida. Luckily, it worked tonight.

 

[gsb0824]

I know the whole thing was that we weren't looking past App state, but honestly with Battle at Bristol next week how could the team NOT be. The VT game may have actually been the culprit of our poor play.

You could physically see the dejection in the team with the TD call, and it got worse with the JRM call. Then the gravy was the called back pass completion. They eventually overcame it and for that I am proud. But they in know way should trot out onto any field assuming they are going to win just for being there. And DeBord's conservative play calling was horrendous.

 

[McDad]

I know the whole thing was that we weren't looking past App state, but honestly with Battle at Bristol next week how could the team NOT be. The VT game may have actually been the culprit of our poor play.

Disagree. We have 2 coaches who were coaching Michigan when app st beat them. If we overlooked, we've got big issues.

 

[TNsnyper20]

Disagree. We have 2 coaches who were coaching Michigan when app st beat them. If we overlooked, we've got big issues.

Yup. I think this is nothing more than a reality check.

 

[VOL 4 Life 83]

Disagree. We have 2 coaches who were coaching Michigan when app st beat them. If we overlooked, we've got big issues.

Not that we were game planning for VT during App State week, but that psychologically the hype that has surrounded the VT game has clouded the teams ability to effectively prepare for THIS game, just a thought

 

[McDad]

Biggest concern is have is App St gave McElwain the blueprint to kick our teeth in 2 weeks from now.

 

[VolunteerAlumni]

What the **** was dobbs thinking on some of those throws where he should've thrown it away?? Not concerning to anyone else????

 

[VolunteerAlumni]

Biggest concern is have is App St gave McElwain the blueprint to kick our teeth in 2 weeks from now.

lol @ overlooking VT at this point

 

[DemocratVol]

App State is a damn good football team. It wasn't going to be a cupcake and no one should have thought otherwise. It was a trap game and we are lucky to win and get the wake up. How many times last year did we not finish? Tonight we finished. We kept looking last year for the game that taught us to win. This may be the one we needed. Don't give me the Second year FBS crap. That's an 11 win team last year that lost very few players. Yes, we were supposed to win but it was laughable to think we were going to smoke them. We took every shot they had, we got through every worst case scenario you could think of and we won. Pretty? No. The warm up we drew up before the marquee matchup? No. Worthy of a #9 rank? We shall see. The sky is not falling. The sun will rise in the morning and we will wake up to see another day.

 

[McDad]

Not that we were game planning for VT during App State week, but that psychologically the hype that has surrounded the VT game has clouded the teams ability to effectively prepare for THIS game, just a thought

I understand. Just happen to disagree. We were even told how Debord and Strip were talking about the Michigan upset to the team.

 

[UTK]

Well the offensive of line better get their **** together or it's going to be a long season.

 

[Brave Volunteer]

Humility is a great attribute. All the hype surrounding this team and we came out flat.

But truthfully with the way we handled ourselves in the 3rd and 4th quarters last year, it's nice to show some true balls and come back and win, even if it is App State (who by the way is a damn good football team).

We needed someone to punch us in the mouth and get back up, and we showed we could do it.

Thats how Im going to look at it.

 

[chargervol]

I was hoping it wouldn't be this close!
But I absolutely agree. I've been worried for a couple of months now about all the hype. I was hoping we would get a small wake-up call, but this was heart attack level.
Games aren't won on paper, or in hype videos.

 

[McDad]

Well the offensive of line better get their **** together or it's going to be a long season.

3 man rush is too much for our 5 starters. I cannot understand that at all.

 

[Stoked]

Better now to get this out of the way now. They overlooked App State and it showed early. This does better than what a blow out would have done imo

 

[sona]

They may have needed it but my ticker didn't. We've seen the ugly and the bad all in one game. Ready to see the good now.

 

[87Vol]

We had all this last year. Tonight was absolutely unacceptable! Embarrassing!

Amen brother!!! Tonight was totally unacceptable and extremely embarrassing. Championship contending teams don't struggle with 2nd rate conference teams. Botch and his lame coaching staff have no excuses this year. The game plan, play calling and in game offensive adjustments were a despicable display of coaching. If we had lost this game Botch should have been fired on the spot.

 

[99gator]

I would agree with this sentiment if Tennessee ever came up with an answer for Appy.

They never did. At no point did Tennessee impose their will on an inferior opponent. And there were plenty of moments where momentum swung their way where I expected the tables to turn and it never happened.

If they had slapped them around in the 2nd half or began dominating at some point in the game, I'd be more inclined to agree.