Looks like Lucy pulled the football out again....

[ClockworkOrange]

And gullible me keeps landing flat on my back.

Thank goodness for the basketball team. But every time the network played one of those SEC football promos during the game last night, it felt like watching something from a former life -- especially because the clip ends with Peyton celebrating while John Ward narrates. Are those kinds of dreams truly gone?

I've come to loathe the term "fair weather fan." I've been a UT fanatic since the days of Bobby Scott and Condrege, Hacksaw and Kiner. Bobby Majors. Jackie Walker, etc. "Fair weather" implies that you only root for your team when times are good. Hey, if I made it through the 70s intact when Bear was putting us through a meat grinder every year with his 3 yards and a cloud of dust wishbone, 4 or 5 interchangeable tailbacks lining up to get in the game, I can survive just about anything as a fan.

But fair weather also implies something else -- that "bad times" are a kind of "foul weather" every team goes through. Which is true, of course. Unless you carry the analogy too far -- because then it implies that one has no control at all over the bad times. You just have to shut up and suffer through them. Hey, it's foul weather, right? Nobody can control the weather! But some "foul weather" is self-inflicted, and believing there is nothing you can do about self-inflicted problems is a very limiting belief with respect to running an organization (or life in general). Standing pat and simply hoping against hope that things will somehow get better without substantial change is self-defeating.

But see, Lucy, it turns out, is ME. I'm the one who keeps setting myself up this way.

Since there is obviously nothing I can do except "root" and hope we somehow get off of this embarrassing, low-energy, apathetic merry-go-round. (Though I find "hope" to be one of the weakest verbs in the language).

 

[beachmaster]

You know, I've gone back and forth on this "firing" of CJP many times. But, I have come to the realization that it doesn't really matter who the coach is, as long as they are winning and not stinking up the program. I don't care who the coach is, as long as he is competing and winning some of those games, taking care of the kids and the University.


P.S. You and I are probably close to the same age as I remember those players as well.

 

[SmokeyDog1973]

As long as Fulmer is our AD then Tennessee football is dead.

 

[njvols]

And gullible me keeps landing flat on my back.

Thank goodness for the basketball team. But every time the network played one of those SEC football promos during the game last night, it felt like watching something from a former life -- especially because the clip ends with Peyton celebrating while John Ward narrates. Are those kinds of dreams truly gone?

I've come to loathe the term "fair weather fan." I've been a UT fanatic since the days of Bobby Scott and Condrege, Hacksaw and Kiner. Bobby Majors. Jackie Walker, etc. "Fair weather" implies that you only root for your team when times are good. Hey, if I made it through the 70s intact when Bear was putting us through a meat grinder every year with his 3 yards and a cloud of dust wishbone, 4 or 5 interchangeable tailbacks lining up to get in the game, I can survive just about anything as a fan.

But fair weather also implies something else -- that "bad times" are a kind of "foul weather" every team goes through. Which is true, of course. Unless you carry the analogy too far -- because then it implies that one has no control at all over the bad times. You just have to shut up and suffer through them. Hey, it's foul weather, right? Nobody can control the weather! But some "foul weather" is self-inflicted, and believing there is nothing you can do about self-inflicted problems is a very limiting belief with respect to running an organization. Standing pat and simply hoping against hope that things will somehow get better without substantial change is self-defeating.

But see, Lucy, it turns out, is ME. I'm the one who keeps setting myself up this way.

Since there is obviously nothing I can do except "root" and hope we somehow get off of this embarrassing, low-energy, apathetic merry-go-round. (Though I find "hope" to be one of the weakest verbs in the language).

I can't agree more. I came up a vol fan not much after...remember the moving van at Bill Battle's house...the annual beating by Bama...the back to back lopsided losses to USC and UGA in 81, losing to Rutgers then beating ND in 79. The thing about Majors teams is they'd lose to a Rutgers or Duke, but then they'd pull out an unforseen upset. Seriously, when's the last time we scored an upset of any nature...all we get is either uninspired effort or players/coaches making critical mistakes at critical times during games. To quote the not-so-great Derek Dooley...everyone's got freedom of choice, but no one's got freedom from consequences. When you run a program from the top w/o excellence, you get what we got. Thought Fulmer was going to steady everything...he's calmed the circus somewhat, but W's need to start showing, or it's clean house time from AD on down.

 

[Sarms58]

I try to practice healthy detachment when it comes to my vols...

 

[carpbc]

And gullible me keeps landing flat on my back.

Thank goodness for the basketball team. But every time the network played one of those SEC football promos during the game last night, it felt like watching something from a former life -- especially because the clip ends with Peyton celebrating while John Ward narrates. Are those kinds of dreams truly gone?

I've come to loathe the term "fair weather fan." I've been a UT fanatic since the days of Bobby Scott and Condrege, Hacksaw and Kiner. Bobby Majors. Jackie Walker, etc. "Fair weather" implies that you only root for your team when times are good. Hey, if I made it through the 70s intact when Bear was putting us through a meat grinder every year with his 3 yards and a cloud of dust wishbone, 4 or 5 interchangeable tailbacks lining up to get in the game, I can survive just about anything as a fan.

But fair weather also implies something else -- that "bad times" are a kind of "foul weather" every team goes through. Which is true, of course. Unless you carry the analogy too far -- because then it implies that one has no control at all over the bad times. You just have to shut up and suffer through them. Hey, it's foul weather, right? Nobody can control the weather! But some "foul weather" is self-inflicted, and believing there is nothing you can do about self-inflicted problems is a very limiting belief with respect to running an organization. Standing pat and simply hoping against hope that things will somehow get better without substantial change is self-defeating.

But see, Lucy, it turns out, is ME. I'm the one who keeps setting myself up this way.

Since there is obviously nothing I can do except "root" and hope we somehow get off of this embarrassing, low-energy, apathetic merry-go-round. (Though I find "hope" to be one of the weakest verbs in the language).

Yep, there are many "fans" who only wear the "team colors" while the team is willing and in the top ten or whatever.

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

Like you, I have been a fan of Volunteer Football since the days of Coach Bill Battle. I have been an ardent Big Orange fan even since the days when the Braves went to Atlanta... and have been a Braves fan since then, as well... when they were winning pennants... and even when they stunk! Same with the Atlanta Falcons, I've been a fan since the days of Coach Norm Van Brocklyn. Our Vols are in a tailspin right now, and it is a terrible thing to watch... But I still wear my ORANGE with pride. I was hoping that CJP would be the right guy for the HC job, but with the things I hear about him ( IF true ) not allowing coordinators and assistant coaches to do their jobs, so many players hitting the portal, etc., perhaps it is time for ADPF to pull the plug to stop the hemorrhaging. But regardless who the AD, HC Coordinators, AC's, QB or other players are... I am and always will be a Big Orange fan and will promote UT in any way possible.

GBO

 

[NATHAN05]

I try to practice healthy detachment when it comes to my vols...

I've realized I've done the same. I have a bunch of guys that I hang out with on my street. Several of us cracked open a nice bottle of whiskey and at 9 pm im like "I gotta go, games on.".......they looked perplexed when I explained it was basketball, and not football as I've only really ever promoted football. I always watched basketball games, but its more of a "oh there's a game on tonight" instead of my "all week Saturday build-up and GameDay rituals."...........as they looked at me like I had 3 eyes, it hit me.....I have VOL football apathy and I truly am latching on to VOL basketball as my new drug of choice. Our mens Bible study groups are about to turn into Vol rehab for me. As such, let me just say......My name is Nathan, and I'm a Vol apathist.....

 

[robby487]

It has been dead before Fulmer took over.

 

[onevol74]

My freshman year at UT was the 1970 season. I enjoyed many ups and downs. There was always hope in the past but now this is no longer a quality SEC program. The mismanagement is astounding. We were in a free fall while other programs were ascending to solid programs. Fulmer had an opportunity to take over the SEC with Spurrier bolting in 2001 and he messed that up.

When Saban showed up on the scene in 2007 he took our recruiting territory of middle and west Tennessee. VT started getting the kids in Virginia and UGA started getting our North Carolina kids. The only way to get the attention back is to name a big name coach that is a headliner to push the competition back to where they once were. Nothing is going to change until this happens. This program will remain on Vandy’s level. Look at the basketball program. Big name equals a resurrection. UT football is on the respirator with a poor prognosis.

The good news is that next summer and fall we can plan leisure travel we have continuously put off because of our obsession with UT football.

 

[SpookyAction]

I envy you boys a bit. I don't enjoy modern basketball.

 

[VolsSportsFan]

I envy you boys a bit. I don't enjoy modern basketball.

I enjoy it but the officiating in college is the worst in any organized sport and at times it ruins it.

 

[Hacksaw11]

Good post and explanation as to what it takes and has taken to be a Vol. Grew up in Alabama in an Auburn family but used to go to games i Jordan Hare with my father. My allegiance began early as a kid when UT came to town running from the single wing. Something about that orange. Mallon Faircloth was the tailback (later became a judge). To the dismay of my dad, I lined up with UT and have followed them sever since. UT's success has been inconsistent to say the least. Doug Dickey had some good teams and I was disappointed when he bolted for his alma mater (UF). Bill Battle inherited Dickey's roster and had initial success until the well ran dry and success began to fade. Battle was the youngest head coach in the country (29). Johnny came marching home after a NC at Pitt. What we thought was salvation was anything but. JM thought he could field a team from the best the State of Tennessee had to offer. Boy was he wrong. Bear had his number like Spurrier had Fulmer. JM had a few years of success against Bama but they were few and far between. UT never sustained any extended success under JM and I remember the season that started 0-6. Being a Vol during the Major's years was frustrating. I remember one of the Bama players saying they paid property taxes on Neyland because they owned the Vols. JM's health declined and we all know the soap opera that evolved with PF sliding into the position. The success he had was due not to his coaching acumen but more so on Bama and UG being in down years and having Rodney Garner as a lead recruiter exploiting GA with recruits. When PF was forced out there were no teams clamoring for his services which says a lot about how the outside world viewed PF's ability as a head coach. From this point on, the doors came off and we have been in free fall ever since. As much as I hate to admit it, UT football and the administration has never been one you could hang your hat on. Power struggles from within and without, as well as the fighting between the scholastics and athetics undermined any real chance for success. Our program was completrely disfunctional. Realistically we are what we are and as the old adage goes, you are what your record says you are. Stability as a program is something we simply have not achieved and judging from the past, will probably never be able to accomplish. So, if you are going to be a Vol, you might as well buckle up and get ready for a very rocky ride.

 

[N.ohio vol]

Living in ohio isnt easy being a Tennessee fan. Especially with Ohio States last few decades. But i still wear my orange anywhere i go and still have my power T flag out front. Go Vols!

 

[OrangeBeachVol]

I became a fan during the B. Battle yrs. He was only a good coach until all of Dickey's players graduated he was left with. I always thought Majors had teams that could beat AL but he seemed to pucker up against them and played to lose rather than win and he lost most of the time. He would open up the offense on everyone else but go conservative against AL, Never understood that and it totally frustrated me.

 

[DULL_BOY]

It has been dead before Fulmer took over.

It died with Fulmer to start with.

 

[ABINGDON VOL FAN]

I envy you boys a bit. I don't enjoy modern basketball.

I’m with you there. I only know a half dozen of the big name players out there now. I see guys scoring 25 points in a half for Boston last night and I thought Who the f*** is that guy?, never heard of him. They just swing the ball around the perimeter and shoot threes now. Boring IMO. They need to move the 3 point line back 5 ft. minimum.

 

[TJVol95]

As long as Fulmer is our AD then Tennessee football is dead.

Looking like this is right.

 

[CAVPUT]

And gullible me keeps landing flat on my back.

Thank goodness for the basketball team. But every time the network played one of those SEC football promos during the game last night, it felt like watching something from a former life -- especially because the clip ends with Peyton celebrating while John Ward narrates. Are those kinds of dreams truly gone?

I've come to loathe the term "fair weather fan." I've been a UT fanatic since the days of Bobby Scott and Condrege, Hacksaw and Kiner. Bobby Majors. Jackie Walker, etc. "Fair weather" implies that you only root for your team when times are good. Hey, if I made it through the 70s intact when Bear was putting us through a meat grinder every year with his 3 yards and a cloud of dust wishbone, 4 or 5 interchangeable tailbacks lining up to get in the game, I can survive just about anything as a fan.

But fair weather also implies something else -- that "bad times" are a kind of "foul weather" every team goes through. Which is true, of course. Unless you carry the analogy too far -- because then it implies that one has no control at all over the bad times. You just have to shut up and suffer through them. Hey, it's foul weather, right? Nobody can control the weather! But some "foul weather" is self-inflicted, and believing there is nothing you can do about self-inflicted problems is a very limiting belief with respect to running an organization (or life in general). Standing pat and simply hoping against hope that things will somehow get better without substantial change is self-defeating.

But see, Lucy, it turns out, is ME. I'm the one who keeps setting myself up this way.

Since there is obviously nothing I can do except "root" and hope we somehow get off of this embarrassing, low-energy, apathetic merry-go-round. (Though I find "hope" to be one of the weakest verbs in the language).

Same history as you. Same favorite players,.too. I'm more the gullible fool charlie brown who keeps believing Lucy won't pull the ball away again and I actually got to kick the ball this time. Always end up flat on my back, too.

 

[onevol74]

Good post and explanation as to what it takes and has taken to be a Vol. Grew up in Alabama in an Auburn family but used to go to games i Jordan Hare with my father. My allegiance began early as a kid when UT came to town running from the single wing. Something about that orange. Mallon Faircloth was the tailback (later became a judge). To the dismay of my dad, I lined up with UT and have followed them sever since. UT's success has been inconsistent to say the least. Doug Dickey had some good teams and I was disappointed when he bolted for his alma mater (UF). Bill Battle inherited Dickey's roster and had initial success until the well ran dry and success began to fade. Battle was the youngest head coach in the country (29). Johnny came marching home after a NC at Pitt. What we thought was salvation was anything but. JM thought he could field a team from the best the State of Tennessee had to offer. Boy was he wrong. Bear had his number like Spurrier had Fulmer. JM had a few years of success against Bama but they were few and far between. UT never sustained any extended success under JM and I remember the season that started 0-6. Being a Vol during the Major's years was frustrating. I remember one of the Bama players saying they paid property taxes on Neyland because they owned the Vols. JM's health declined and we all know the soap opera that evolved with PF sliding into the position. The success he had was due not to his coaching acumen but more so on Bama and UG being in down years and having Rodney Garner as a lead recruiter exploiting GA with recruits. When PF was forced out there were no teams clamoring for his services which says a lot about how the outside world viewed PF's ability as a head coach. From this point on, the doors came off and we have been in free fall ever since. As much as I hate to admit it, UT football and the administration has never been one you could hang your hat on. Power struggles from within and without, as well as the fighting between the scholastics and athetics undermined any real chance for success. Our program was completrely disfunctional. Realistically we are what we are and as the old adage goes, you are what your record says you are. Stability as a program is something we simply have not achieved and judging from the past, will probably never be able to accomplish. So, if you are going to be a Vol, you might as well buckle up and get ready for a very rocky ride.

Speaking of Auburn, my Dad was stationed in Montgomery and my brother and I would watch the Auburn Football Review with Coach Shug and Carl Williams on WSFA. We became fans of Jimmy Siddle and Tucker Fredrickson and later the McClendon kid at safety. Shug saying, “You are so right, Carl,” always reminded me of J. Bazzel saying, “You are so right Mrs. Mull.” As kids it was always fun watching the drunk on the Bear Bryant Show afterwards.

 

[ArdentVol]

And gullible me keeps landing flat on my back.

Thank goodness for the basketball team. But every time the network played one of those SEC football promos during the game last night, it felt like watching something from a former life -- especially because the clip ends with Peyton celebrating while John Ward narrates. Are those kinds of dreams truly gone?

I've come to loathe the term "fair weather fan." I've been a UT fanatic since the days of Bobby Scott and Condrege, Hacksaw and Kiner. Bobby Majors. Jackie Walker, etc. "Fair weather" implies that you only root for your team when times are good. Hey, if I made it through the 70s intact when Bear was putting us through a meat grinder every year with his 3 yards and a cloud of dust wishbone, 4 or 5 interchangeable tailbacks lining up to get in the game, I can survive just about anything as a fan.

But fair weather also implies something else -- that "bad times" are a kind of "foul weather" every team goes through. Which is true, of course. Unless you carry the analogy too far -- because then it implies that one has no control at all over the bad times. You just have to shut up and suffer through them. Hey, it's foul weather, right? Nobody can control the weather! But some "foul weather" is self-inflicted, and believing there is nothing you can do about self-inflicted problems is a very limiting belief with respect to running an organization (or life in general). Standing pat and simply hoping against hope that things will somehow get better without substantial change is self-defeating.

But see, Lucy, it turns out, is ME. I'm the one who keeps setting myself up this way.

Since there is obviously nothing I can do except "root" and hope we somehow get off of this embarrassing, low-energy, apathetic merry-go-round. (Though I find "hope" to be one of the weakest verbs in the language).

we're closein age
know well what you're saying

somehow there will be a FG before the kickoff

 

[Hacksaw11]

Speaking of Auburn, my Dad was stationed in Montgomery and my brother and I would watch the Auburn Football Review with Coach Shug and Carl Williams on WSFA. We became fans of Jimmy Siddle and Tucker Fredrickson and later the McClendon kid at safety. Shug saying, “You are so right, Carl,” always reminded me of J. Bazzel saying, “You are so right Mrs. Mull.” As kids it was always fun watching the drunk on the Bear Bryant Show afterwards.

Sidle and Frederickson were two of my favorites as well. Tucker was one of the best all round players of the era. Remember- "Great pair says the Bear" (Golden Flake and coca cola)

 

[number1volfanfrom76]

i remember the 1st upper deck and we filled it up! And then all the additions. and we filled them up! I remember those early 60's teams, Coach Jim McDonald too for the year after Wyatt. Was an exciting time watching Dickey start to build up the program. Then the heartbreak when he left got florida immediately after the Gator Bowl. As a TN fan, we know heartache

 

[VOL_Lyfe]

I try to practice healthy detachment when it comes to my vols...

 

[Lemme_axya_this]

It died with Fulmer to start with.

It died with Mike Hamilton at the helm.

 

[Pickinhick]

I never became a UT fan. I was born into a UT household in Winchester, TN. I never thought about who I would root for, UT was the only option. I first remember Condredge. My childhood room was orange and white striped. I am definitely not a fair weather fan and I suffer from BVS. All in all I still believe in gnome!