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

[TennesseeTarheel]

Tennessee mulligan!

 

[BigOrangeMojo]

Absent a huge COVID issue, if we lose 8 in a row to end the season including losses to UK, Vandy, and Arky, then Pruitt should be fired...

Conversely, if we win 8 in a row, then Fulmer better open up the checkbook..

 

[rikberry31]

Granting the extra year of eligibility was almost a given. The NCAA has to reach out with a message that if these kids dont feel safe playing this year then it's their prerogative to sit out and not lose a year. This isnt their fault nor should they be penalized.

The eligibility has to be extended to all players and not just those who are sick. Lets say you're playing on a team and on any given week you are missing key players for each game. You lose a lot of games, well tough tittie you dont get to keep your eligibility while the guy that was sick does. That wouldn't fly for an organization that is trying to prove that they arent using players as forced labor to make money. They have an image problem. They HAD to do this.

Good points, but I still think its going to cause problems.

 

[Doberman]

I’d like the benefit of hindsight before answering the question.

 

[OldandStillaVol]

At my age, I can’t be throwing away any more years. Fine with me if others feel differently however.

 

[VFLifer]

Maybe they could have Freshman football games next year with the expanded rosters. Play them on Mondays?

 

[Seattle Hillbilly]

Preacher gets an “Amen” from this corner. If they keep score it counts.

 

[Sarms58]

I want a mulligan on the last decade...worst decade in UT history

 

[Wylo]

Year Zero!!!!

 

[GetYouSomeofThat]

We have games being cancelled and schedules around the NCAA are so off even the national championship from this year will be forever seen as diminished. It's a throw away year in that regard. You want to win if playing but if we finish 2-8 it won't hurt Pruitt's job security with the administration at all.

Which is a sad state if affairs...very sad

 

[Iam4utalways]

Too much money involved to cancel College Football. Not counting towards player eligibility is a way for the folks that get paid to show the players they care just as much about them as they do the money they are about to make.

As for the football itself. It’s as real as it gets.

I expect JP and staff to figure out a way to run the table and win it all. No matter what covid is doing or politics.

Figure it out.

 

[SteveG]

Not a throw away year.

 

[Elhanan]

Call it whatever you want. Just beat Florida.

 

[Firebirdparts]

Makes more sense in the NFL, where the crummy teams get better picks.

 

[TennesseeFan07]

Tennessee threw away five with Lyle and three with Dooley before that. I just call it par for the course.

 

[MyVolsDropped]

Every year I see JG under center tells me it's a throw away year.

 

[unfrozencvmanvol]

With 10 SEC games, arguably this is the most serious year of play ever, I know it has made for more intriguing matchups week in and week out. No cupcake games is definitely something I could get used to.

 

[Raebo]

It is my understanding that scholarships are year to year so I imagine schools will not renew scholarships to seniors that are not productive.

 

[tennesseeduke]

We have games being cancelled and schedules around the NCAA are so off even the national championship from this year will be forever seen as diminished. It's a throw away year in that regard. You want to win if playing but if we finish 2-8 it won't hurt Pruitt's job security with the administration at all.

Win today and we are 3-1 with only a bad half at #3 GA. I’m not throwing $h!t awAy!

 

[VolFanNC09]

I am in between....This year matters, but at the same time you don't have control of who is playing week after week. I don't see us winning the SEC and would like to see us getting a new QB ready for next year. I want to see us build depth. I am not going to lose my mind if we go anywhere from 4-6 to 7-3. because of not having the practices, having people out for covid, etc...

For a coach I wouldn't base a decision on their performance unless they perform way below expectations or way above. Our expectation was about 6-4 or 5-5. 2 wins total is way below and 8 wins is way above to me. Anything in between is where I see a Mulligan.

 

[rikberry31]

We have games being cancelled and schedules around the NCAA are so off even the national championship from this year will be forever seen as diminished. It's a throw away year in that regard. You want to win if playing but if we finish 2-8 it won't hurt Pruitt's job security with the administration at all.

I think the schedule is the best in the history of football. Every week multiple big games. The playoffs will be better than ever I believe.

 

[m1al]

So many ways to answer this question, and almost all of them agree with you, Preacher. No such thing as a mulligan in college football, this year or any other. In most ways, at least.

• Record books: it all counts. Every W, every L, every streak, every record broken. No such thing as a mulligan here.
• Championships (division, conference, national): they'll count. No mulligans.
• Recruiting: the season will affect recruits. No mulligans.
• NFL scouting: it counts. No mulligans.
• Eligibility: nope, doesn't count. Free year for everyone. Here it is, the only place the "mulligan" crowd are actually 100% correct.
• Coaching hires and fires: maybe a bit of a mulligan, in some places for some reasons. But far form uniform. There WILL be coaches fired this year. Maybe just not quite as many as would otherwise happen, particularly at schools where games got postponed/cancelled/lost because of isolating and quarantining.

So there we go. I'm sure there are another half dozen ways to look at the season, as well, and most of those will be "no mulligans" too.

So, generally speaking, Preacher, you're dead-on right.

Go Vols! Let's make it count!

Agree.. I used the mulligan term previously, mainly regarding coaches. I doubt any coach that was in 'reasonably good standing' with his employer(s) prior to the season will get fired this year due to a bad season. Not that they can just say the hell with it, but IMO, it gives them a little more leeway to 'experiment', especially in rebuild mode.

 

[clt_tiger]

Not a throw away year.

Agree. It’s an actual opportunity to play young talent some meaningful reps without losing a year.

 

[rikberry31]

With 10 SEC games, arguably this is the most serious year of play ever, I know it has made for more intriguing matchups week in and week out. No cupcake games is definitely something I could get used to.

I agree totally. No cupcake Big12 or PAC12 teams in the playoffs either. I think it is going to be an epic season that will change the future of college football.

 

[Sudden Impact]

Let's see how the Season Plays out for all the Teams and Conferences...3 games into a 10 game season that could come to a screeching Halt for all teams. Not Sure we will even get 10 Games in but who knows. There may not be a SEC Championship Game or a National Championship Game. Who knows. How many Games postponed so far? 3 4 5