If it looks clunky this fall...

#1
orange+white=heaven

orange+white=heaven

VN GURU
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Feb 16, 2005
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#1
on the field.... If Lane and staff are merely human after all, and success is not immediate, will you have the patience to wait out a three year talent rebuild?

Coaches like to say football is football, no matter where you are. Southeastern Conference game has entirely different levels beyond Xs and Os though, and success doesn't come from 'want to' alone.

An honest assessment of the state of Tennessee's talent level should lead a person not to expect greatness to come from simply installing new blood in the coaching offices.

Today's internet football fan world is not inclined to patience though, and I wonder if a mediocre W/L record will hold back the masses.

For myself, I can wait so long as I can see the ingredients... the building blocks.. for future success.

Some of those ingedients I have already seen. The staff... the recruiting vigor... the attitude adjustment with the players.

The majority remains to be seen though. You know, stuff like actually playing the game.

I usually write towards the positive, but it is a grey day, and I find myself wondering if we have the collective stomach for what just might be an early negative?...
 
#2
#2
I would disagree, the talent is there it jsut wasn't coached. Fulmer thought if he put players on the field that they would win. They might not win every game but things will be competive.

TN will be feared, if not this year, then next!
 
#3
#3
If I see improvement in the execution of plays from last year, and if I see a player developing to a better player than he was last year, and if I see a team effort and four quarters of football...I'll be completely satisfied.
 
#4
#4
I have the the patience for a full recruiting cycle, 4-5 years to evaluate the state of the program.

Obviously 2-10 won't cut it, but 7-5 for one or 2 years isn't bad if we see the talent coming in.
 
#5
#5
orange+white=heaven said:
For myself, I can wait so long as I can see the ingredients... the building blocks.. for future success.

Some of those ingedients I have already seen. The staff... the recruiting vigor... the attitude adjustment with the players.
Click to expand...

You make a great point, it's easy to get real excited about 2009 because there's so much hope and potential right now. I hope that doesn't backfire IF we lose to teams like UCLA and UGA at home, both of which seem very winable right now. Even Auburn is struggling so we could beat them in Knoxville too.

But let's say we don't win any of those games. It will be disappointing but I've already prepared myself for that and expect to give Kiffin and crew at least 3 years. It won't be easy to tolerate, but it's necessary to give them time no matter how they perform initially.

I just don't want to hear the talk shows berating the staff come October when we aren't locked into the SEC east bid. We have to support, not blindly, but very passionately for the first few seasons.
 
#6
#6
vollygirl said:
If I see improvement in the execution of plays from last year, and if I see a player developing to a better player than he was last year, and if I see a team effort and four quarters of football...I'll be completely satisfied.
Click to expand...

:good!: well said
 
#7
#7
I have lived through a number of bleak periods, watching Dickey come and go, Bill Battle, CJM (and buddy those were some rough early times...no pun intended) so I can get through an adjustment period. I just want to see the VOLS play hard and with discipline. If they get beat I do not want to see players on the sideline joking and laughing and coaches putting up with that crap (of course Coach O would probably kill someone who laughed during a loss, hell he might beat someone's butt for joking during a victory if it is during the game). That is what I am looking forward to seeing again the TENNESSEE effort and grit. I love the VOLS and Indiana basketball, and I can tell you watching this group of IU players compete has been more rewarding than watching last years squad with all of the drama win! I think, from all I have heard and read, that CLK is on the right track.
Oh yeah one interesting note...in the paperback version of Meat Market Coach Crean is quoted in the blurbs , "As close as you canget to the real world of recruiting without being recruited yourself, It's full of energy, passion, and knowledge that I have never read anywhere else...Our entire staff read and learned from Meat Market."
Apparently he made it required reading.
GO VOLS! GO CLK! GO HOOSIERS and COACH CREAN! I am anxiously awaiting football in 09 and basketball in 10.
 
#8
#8
I'll be fine with better execution, better discipline, and being physical. Just play hard and run the damn ball.

We will be better next year than 2010. I'm worried next years team will create unreal expectations for 2010, when the talent level really gets taxed.
 
#9
#9
vollygirl said:
If I see improvement in the execution of plays from last year, and if I see a player developing to a better player than he was last year, and if I see a team effort and four quarters of football...I'll be completely satisfied.
Click to expand...

I agree with this statement to. If the players are going all out for 4 quaters and not making a bunch of dumb mental mistakes, then I can live with a mediocre win/loss tally. To be honest, outside of 'bama and Gators, I think we have a real shot at winning the rest, IMO.
 
#13
#13
vollygirl said:
If I see improvement in the execution of plays from last year, and if I see a player developing to a better player than he was last year, and if I see a team effort and four quarters of football...I'll be completely satisfied.
Click to expand...

If that's all you need for complete satisfaction you should follow Army football.

I'm pretty sure Kiffin and Co. will be judged solely on Wins and Loses.
 
#14
#14
cd12 said:
Clunky?
Click to expand...

I think you are smart enough to figure out what he meant, j@ck@$$

As long as somebody gets chewed out for a blatant screw up, (ala: Demetrice Morley jumping off sides on a field goal attempt that results in 1st down and he stays in the game without a word said to him) I think I will be happy.

In all honesty, I'm going with vollygirl. Discipline and player development will be key for me next year and possibly the year after.
 
#16
#16
Yes, I will give them a few years. However, I will be shocked if we don't see improvement this year. In fact, I think we will see a great deal of improvement this year.
 
#18
#18
I will be patient as long as I can see improvement. Our offense last year seemed to get worse as the season went on. I can even live with a 7-5 record next year as long as the team gets better as the year goes on and we don't get totally blown out by other SEC competition. The blowout losses by Bama and Florida the last two season were unacceptable. As long as we are competitive I can wait.
 
#20
#20
With our talent level, especially at QB, 9 wins next season would be a great first year. But even if it is less as long as I see improvment throughout the year, intensity, competativness, emotion, and mainly disipline I will be more than happy. For too many years I have watched Tenn teams go on the field and lose and it be purely because of a lack of effort and discipline. I have no doubts that this coaching staff can put together the X's and O's and get the great Jimmies and Joes. We just need the intangibles.
 
#21
#21
I thought they'd pickup clawson's system, they didn't. Might be some growing pains, i really don't know what we can expect next year. I hope a team that competes their rears off, i expect we'll see that. I'd hope we can be better than 114 or whatever we finished on offense. Favorable schedule, even if marginally better offense and solid defense we go bowling next year.
 
#22
#22
I will give my final assessment after the 2011 season. If we've not gotten back on the competitive level with Florida by then I will have concerns. Anything between now and then is just an added bonus to me.
Posted via VolNation Mobile
 
#23
#23
vollygirl said:
If I see improvement in the execution of plays from last year, and if I see a player developing to a better player than he was last year, and if I see a team effort and four quarters of football...I'll be completely satisfied.
Click to expand...
That is a great post, vollygirl
 
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