How do you feel about a mulligan/throw away year?

[vegasvolfan]

This is not a throw away year, nor a mulligan year. They are counting wins and losses just like every year. There is plans to crown an SEC Champion and National Champion just like every year. Bowl games are being planned, assuming there will be enough teams to fill the slots. The players are on the field playing. The coaches are getting paid just like every year.

There is nothing about this year that is throw away, except no one loses a year of eligibility.

Case in point ... if we lose the rest of the games this year, and finish 2-8 ... will that not influence the fan base? Will we not doubt that Pruitt is the guy moving forward? Will we just chalk it up to C19, and say it's all good? If we win out, including a win over Bama and UF, and finish 9-1, and possibly play for the SEC Title, will we not be super stoked going into next season? Will we the fans, and the media, not praise what CJP has done at UT, especially as evidenced by such success in an all SEC conference schedule?

If this year doesn't matter, why were so many fans so angry and upset at what happened vs UGA?

Look, I'm not calling anybody out, for I've saw this mulligan/throw away thing posted way too many times on this board the past couple of weeks to be able to single anyone out. I'm just wondering if anyone else sees it the way I do.

That is all.
Not looking to argue or pick fights or get flamed.
I really do love this board, and I thoroughly enjoy being a part of it.
And more importantly, I love the Vols!

Not to dismiss your post, but I guess I would rather not think about losing every game from here on out. I will, though.

Our defense:
We were punching Georgia in the mouth until we lost DJ. His absence was immediately noticeable. Not only because he was one less body, but because he is clearly our best pass rusher. It is a good thing they face Trask and co at the end of the year, because we need to improve in the middle of the field. I think our defense is going to get better as the season progresses. They are already plenty good enough to match most of the offenses we will see the rest of the year. So, we should win more games this year if we stay healthy and keep our best defensive players on the field, and we will have something to build on throughout the future on D.

Our offense:
What is mostly suspect is our offense. I still believe what happened in the second half of the Georgia game is on at least two offensive coaches and one boneheaded decision on JG. Our O didn’t play very well in the first half either. I was satisfied to a degree, but we did not really earn all of the points in the first half. Georgia gifted us a short field and a defensive TD. When when we did score, we scored fast. So, our O left our D on the field most of the game and they eventually ran out of gas. You cannot do that.

While there is plenty of blame to go around, we still have to consider who our opponent was. I do not see this being the case the rest of the year if we play like we did on O the first two games. Our offense is plenty good enough to match the rest of these defenses ahead of us—including Alabama if Bama continues to play like they have been. Considering what I have said about our D, I think it is fair to expect to win more ballgames this year as long as our O plays like it can against the middle of the road teams. Not to mention the majority of our tougher remaining games are at home. I think Bama is winnable actually if our entire D plays like it can.

Long term? Well if we lose every remaining game, no. I think most of us will count Pruitt out until he proves us wrong. I never expected to be at the top of the SEC until Pruitt’s 5th year, but I also would not expect to have won 2 ballgames in our conference his 3rd year. Again, I don’t believe that is going to happen. So, if I am right, this gives us visibility towards the future. In doing so, I think Bailey and company will give us a better product on the field by Pruitt’s 5th year and we will be asking different questions at that point. We may even see something really special by next year if our Defense returns some of the guys who could go pro if they want.

I am not sure Chaney’s offenses will get us to an NC, but the best years in Tennessee football in my lifetime had us at the top of the SEC East mainly—not as constant NC challengers. So, yes, I think Pruitt and his staff are the guys to get us there at this juncture. I think Friend is under the microscope, but he can still rebound from the Georgia game and reserve his seat throughout the future if he and his line play better.

 

[ksgovols]

What about next year? Are teams going carry 120 players on scholarship? Are they going to not sign recuits? What is going to happen with all these extra players? Hopefully most will not opt for an extra season.

The upper limit for scholarships will be increased and/or players will be released, not signed, etc. Scholarships are only 1 year agreements anyway. NCAA is not going to give everybody a free year and tell the freshmen to just hold on and wait their turn and most guys that have been in the program for 4 or 5 years already are going to know where they stand and make a decision accordingly.