Loss to ETSU: beware Nicholls State/ La Monroe

#1
Neyland Law Vol

Neyland Law Vol

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#1
The Saban / Kirby Smart model that Pruitt is likely following seems to be sacrifice things in the short term the first year in order to make changes that will pay off big in year 2 and onward. We could be going through that this season.

Saban’s First Bama team was 6-6 regular season with a loss to La Monroe! Kirby’s first team came within a whisker of losing to FCS Nicholls State in their second game in 2016, on their way to a 7-5 season that included a loss to Vandy with a loaded roster.

Thus get your jock strap ready for a rough season that may include a painful loss to an untalented opponent.

That said the good news is this program building model also has included an upset win over a major rival. Saban’s 2007 6-6 squad couldn’t beat anyone good all year, but found a way to upset ranked east division champs TN. Kirby’s 2016 7-5 UGA team found a way to upset a ranked Auburn team.

So we may have a poor year record wise but upset one of our major rivals along the way (I.e. UF).

Anyone have any thoughts on the similarities and why the Saban/ Kirby model would yield such poor results in year 1 at both places then a sharp improvement in year 2?
 
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#4
#4
For GA, I will chalk that up to starting a true freshman QB. GAwas up 9pts late, NS scored with 3:42 left. That team still went 4-4 in conference...but had a 1pt win vs Mizzou and s 3pt win vs KY...both on the road. We are never that lucky. That Bama team had a -4 TO ratio in that game. Out gained ULM by 120 yds. So as long as we don't have a -4TO ratio, chalk up a 30pt win on Saturday. Same for UTEP next week.
 
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#6
#6
Neyland Law Vol said:
Anyone have any thoughts on the similarities and why the Saban/ Kirby model would yield such poor results in year 1 at both places then a sharp improvement in year 2?
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I wouldn't exactly say it's unique to Saban and Smart. Virtually every "great coach" in the history of college football has had mediocre or poor 1st year results unless they took over a program that was already in great shape.

Saban (both Mich State + Bama), Smart, Pete Carroll, Bob Stoops, Bobby Bowden, Don James, Bear Bryant, Lou Holtz (at Notre Dame), Barry Alvarez, Dabo Swinney, Jim Harbaugh (at Stanford) ... the list goes on and on.

1st year turnarounds are rare. And 1st year turnarounds that stick are even rarer.

That said, I don't think we're losing to ETSU or UTEP. People are getting carried away after 1 loss.
 
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#8
#8
Neyland Law Vol said:
The Saban / Kirby Smart model that Pruitt is likely following seems to be sacrifice things in the short term the first year in order to make changes that will pay off big in year 2 and onward. We could be going through that this season.

Saban’s First Bama team was 6-6 regular season with a loss to La Monroe! Kirby’s first team came within a whisker of losing to FCS Nicholls State in their second game in 2016, on their way to a 7-5 season that included a loss to Vandy with a loaded roster.

Thus get your jock strap ready for a rough season that may include a painful loss to an untalented opponent.

That said the good news is this program building model also has included an upset win over a major rival. Saban’s 2007 6-6 squad couldn’t beat anyone good all year, but found a way to upset ranked east division champs TN. Kirby’s 2016 7-5 UGA team found a way to upset a ranked Auburn team.

So we may have a poor year record wise but upset one of our major rivals along the way (I.e. UF).

Anyone have any thoughts on the similarities and why the Saban/ Kirby model would yield such poor results in year 1 at both places then a sharp improvement in year 2?
Click to expand...
Bama beat 16th ranked Arkansas and was ranked early on in the season before ending the season terribly. Georgia beat Auburn and TCU in their bowl game, so there was signs of life from those squads.
 
#11
#11
bigorangecrush89 said:
Sanders will have his troops ready. You know he would love to beat UT in Neyland. I expect a close game.
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Lol game will not be close in 1st quarter. We are not the good ol Tennessee team yet but in live 20 minutes from Johnson City and know there is no way that ETSU can win or even be close unless we give it to them and is still a long shot. If we lose to ETSU in will give up my season tickets and get ETSU football season tickets... that’s how confident I am. I just hope we are up 35-0 or 42-0 at half to get more young players in for game time experience.
 
#12
#12
landscapingvol said:
Considering they were losing to Mars Hill much of the 1st half, if this game is anywhere near close we may need to consider filing a waver to be exempted from Varsity play the rest of the season
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I am pretty certain Mars Hill is a performing arts school. I would have no words to describe the level of stink that would drop us to
 
#14
#14
landscapingvol said:
I am pretty certain Mars Hill is a performing arts school. I would have no words to describe the level of stink that would drop us to
Click to expand...

I think we win both. That being said, which would cause the better meltdown on these boards? Losing to Randy Sanders's ETSU squad at home, or losing to UTEP at home, who lost to the mighty Northern Arizona Lumberjacks to open their season?

Edit: I looked it up, Mars Hill is a "private, coed, liberal arts college" granted they do have nursing, education, and criminal justice programs. Apparently, they're a relatively good institution and are listed among the top 20 value schools in the South and top 25 Southern regional colleges for 2018. Thanks, Wikipedia.
 
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#15
#15
WilliamDuVOL said:
I think we win both. That being said, which would cause the better meltdown on these boards? Losing to Randy Sanders's ETSU squad at home, or losing to UTEP at home, who lost to the mighty Northern Arizona Lumberjacks to open their season?
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If we make it past ETSU, Vols will have their hands full with the fighting Mike Canaleses. He finna light up the scoreboard.
 
#17
#17
6-6 should be the basement for this team. If Pruitt manages that, I think it bodes well for the future. Sub-.500 and there are doubts whether the right hire was made.
 
#20
#20
Neyland Law Vol said:
The Saban / Kirby Smart model that Pruitt is likely following seems to be sacrifice things in the short term the first year in order to make changes that will pay off big in year 2 and onward. We could be going through that this season.

Saban’s First Bama team was 6-6 regular season with a loss to La Monroe! Kirby’s first team came within a whisker of losing to FCS Nicholls State in their second game in 2016, on their way to a 7-5 season that included a loss to Vandy with a loaded roster.

Thus get your jock strap ready for a rough season that may include a painful loss to an untalented opponent.

That said the good news is this program building model also has included an upset win over a major rival. Saban’s 2007 6-6 squad couldn’t beat anyone good all year, but found a way to upset ranked east division champs TN. Kirby’s 2016 7-5 UGA team found a way to upset a ranked Auburn team.

So we may have a poor year record wise but upset one of our major rivals along the way (I.e. UF).

Anyone have any thoughts on the similarities and why the Saban/ Kirby model would yield such poor results in year 1 at both places then a sharp improvement in year 2?
Click to expand...
The thing is that Mike Shula left Nick Saban a whole hell of a lot more talent that Botch Jones left for Jeremy Pruitt.
 
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#22
#22
ETSU lost to Western Carolina by 39 last year and the program didn't even exist a few years ago. It won't be close. The goal should be to get your backups in before halftime
 
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#24
#24
If Eric Locke still has eligibility, he is probably still catching WR screens under Sanders.

Anything short of complete dominantion the next two weeks should be concerning to everyone.
 
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#25
#25
So to the people who say the games with ETSU and UTEP will be close or that UT could lose. Do you really feel that way or are you trying to stir people up? Would you bet that the games are going to be close? If someone gave you 21 points would you bet for or against UT? How about 28 points?

Lets hear from you BOC89, YankeeVol and others who feel the same way.
 
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