Lessons We Can Learn From 1998...

#1
Crazy Ivan

Crazy Ivan

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#1
SIAP, but I was googling the '98 depth chart and came across this April 2016 article which was attempting to draw some comparisons between '98 and '16.

The article notes that based on talent alone that the Vols were the 4th best team on paper behind OSU, FSU, and KSU. So there were other intangibles that factored in to UT winning it all.

Obviously there is a comparison between Tee and Dobbs. The article shows a table of Tee's numbers in games against top 50 teams that season, and notes that his numbers (comp/att pct.) were 'horrible' (the author's word) in the big games. But what that '98 team had going for it offensively was the ability to hit the homerun plays fairly regularly, both in the passing game and the running game.

And we had a stingy defense. Plus a 'lead by example' leader in Al Wilson. Anyhow, thought it was interesting. Again, SIAP.

What 1998 Can Teach Tennessee in 2016 - Rocky Top Talk
 
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#2
#2
Great article, sums it up pretty much just how I remember it. Very opportunistic team that could overcome some deficiencies with the big play....Tee exemplified this best. Also, a team with a lot of talent and some great leadership. Everything fell right into place for a team that honestly, IMHO, wasn't as talented as either the 1997 or 1999 teams. Special group of guys.
 
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#3
#3
Leaders on both sides of the ball? Check
Depth at almost every position? Check
Dominant running game? Check

Championship Defense? ________

^That is what we are missing before we can make those kind of comparisons. The 97 defense gave up way too many points to FL and Nebraska. Almost lost to AU because of giving up too many points. Still only lost 2 games that year. so it could be very similar to 98 if we can shore up the D.
 
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#6
#6
orangeluvr said:
We won the close games in'98.
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Yep. Last 2nd FG against Cuse. The 'Fumble' against Ark. Gators missed tying FG in OT. Big 4th quarter comeback against MSU in Atlanta after offense was pretty ineffective for most of the game. Pretty much everything has to go right in a championship run.

Edited to add in prefix to effective.
 
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#8
#8
The lesson I take away is:

you gotta have talent PLUS a little luck.

If the cosmic scales of karma balance over time, we are way overdue for some good luck.
 
#11
#11
VOLfrombama said:
Leaders on both sides of the ball? Check
Depth at almost every position? Check
Dominant running game? Check

Championship Defense? ________

^That is what we are missing before we can make those kind of comparisons. The 97 defense gave up way too many points to FL and Nebraska. Almost lost to AU because of giving up too many points. Still only lost 2 games that year. so it could be very similar to 98 if we can shore up the D.
Click to expand...

We should remember that Butch made the tough decision to fire a long time assistant to hire someone whom he thinks gives a better chance to have a championship defense. Either he reads VN or he knows what he is doing. GBO
 
#13
#13
Crazy Ivan said:
The article notes that based on talent alone that the Vols were the 4th best team on paper behind OSU, FSU, and KSU. So there were other intangibles that factored in to UT winning it all.

What 1998 Can Teach Tennessee in 2016 - Rocky Top Talk
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While we may have been the 4th best team based on talent, we were the best SEC team based on talent. This year that won't be true. We will need to beat UA, UGA, UF, and aTm on more of than just talent cause their recruiting averages are higher than ours
 
#14
#14
08Vol said:
While we may have been the 4th best team based on talent, we were the best SEC team based on talent. This year that won't be true. We will need to beat UA, UGA, UF, and aTm on more of than just talent cause their recruiting averages are higher than ours
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Uh,OOOOOOOOOO, you have to bring in reality, don't you?
 
#15
#15
08Vol said:
While we may have been the 4th best team based on talent, we were the best SEC team based on talent. This year that won't be true. We will need to beat UA, UGA, UF, and aTm on more of than just talent cause their recruiting averages are higher than ours
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Lulz.

Would you trade squads with any of them ?
 
#17
#17
08Vol said:
While we may have been the 4th best team based on talent, we were the best SEC team based on talent. This year that won't be true. We will need to beat UA, UGA, UF, and aTm on more of than just talent cause their recruiting averages are higher than ours
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Historical recruiting ranks are a good factor in but, one determining current talent. But two things in our favor for 16' are ...

#1 We have a proven quality QB. The most important single position.

#2 We had 2 large classes that put large numbers of underclassmen on the field to take lumps the last 2 seasons. That may not be ideal long term, but it gives us an experience advantage this season.
 
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#19
#19
The 98' team was blessed with supernatural magic. I'm not sure the stars were ever quite aligned like that for any team.
 
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#20
#20
Bope said:
Lulz.

Would you trade squads with any of them ?
Click to expand...

Alabama in a heart beat. 5 straight #1 recruiting classes is insane. Bama has more 5 stars on the bench than we have on our team. Dooley could have won 9 games with the players on that team.
 
#21
#21
livefaith said:
Historical recruiting ranks are a good factor in but, one determining current talent. But two things in our favor for 16' are ...

#1 We have a proven quality QB. The most important single position.

#2 We had 2 large classes that put large numbers of underclassmen on the field to take lumps the last 2 seasons. That may not be ideal long term, but it gives us an experience advantage this season.
Click to expand...

#1. Last year 3 of the 4 games we lost were to new starting QBs and Daj has proven that a returning good QB isn't as important as people think and that a returning good kicker is the most important.

#2. Having the large # of players with experience will help us, but it was also those large class sizes that got us such a high ranking. Top 5 for total ranking, top 15 for avg star ranking
 
#23
#23
I wouldn't always call it "luck" when the opposing players fail to make plays, and our guy make more of them.
 
#24
#24
08Vol said:
Alabama in a heart beat. 5 straight #1 recruiting classes is insane. Bama has more 5 stars on the bench than we have on our team. Dooley could have won 9 games with the players on that team.
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lol. He could have lost 9 with that team (more easily than win 9) IMO. Just a terrible coach.

Thankfully he is disappearing from the rear view mirror and we are on the cusp of rock star status once again.
 
#25
#25
Crazy Ivan said:
The article notes that based on talent alone that the Vols were the 4th best team on paper behind OSU, FSU, and KSU. So there were other intangibles that factored in to UT winning it all.
Click to expand...

Not that it matters but looking at talent alone, there's no way KSU had anywhere near the NFL caliber talent on that team as Tennessee had on theirs. I would say with a fair degree of confidence that OSU, FSU, and UT were very close in number of drafted players of those rosters, but I wouldn't just concede that opinion.

No doubt we won some close, if not improbable, games that season. But there is also no doubt there were some serious studs on that roster too.
 
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