Max Gilbert appreciation thread

#76
#76
adam.vol said:
You don’t work? You get paid to do a job and when you screw up, someone eats the cost. If you’re not the one eating the loss, then you’re the one getting your ass chewed or fired.

Some of you must not have real jobs?
Click to expand...
I'm surprised at how many just dont seem to get it. I cant speak for everyone but I can for me and a few others.

I don't question anyone criticizing Max and I'm not defending him as in being fine with his performance. I only question the few that feel the need to trash the guy by calling him trash, garbage, bum saying gtfo, he sucks etc. Just seems to be unnecessary.

He was being trashed in another thread and some decided to start this one to offset it is the way I took it.

Just seems stable grown men would be glad hes leaving and just say Good luck dude". Or nothing at all.

But here we are. Lol.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Al Orange, OrangeBeachVol, GordonC and 7 others
#77
#77
I think we as a community should try harder to be supportive of our players when they fall short. All the noise from our fanbase definitely played a role in his struggles this year. This is a new thing for college football. Max has the physical skillset to be a great kicker and I hope he figures out what he needs to do to take the next step in his game.
 
  • Like
Reactions: titansvolsfaninga and HalfullVol
#78
#78
volfan2024 said:
Just to be fair to him there were a whole lot of players that contributed a lot more to losing than winning at last you made a lot of relevant kicks. Thank you fella sorry for the immaturity from different boards.
Click to expand...
Ok dumplin. He had one f’n job that he got paid to do. Whoopdee doo that he makes field goals when the game is not in doubt, gotta make them when they count.
 
#79
#79
UTFranklinVol said:
having an offensive line play 50 snaps and occasionally they let the defense get a sack or fumble is much easier to swallow. having a QB throw 50 times in a game and on occasion he throws a pick is much easier to swallow because their jobs are much much harder. you simply cannot miss high leverage kicks. you can't because the effort-to-reward ratio is way lower.

just like in basketball you cannot be caught losing because you can't hit free throws. if you lose, it better be because of something way harder (like hitting defended 3 pointers). in football you cannot be caught losing because you can't kick field goals.

It is what it is and it seems like Heupel understands that he can't get caught hanging in the breeze with a bad kicker. there are certain things teams just need to have and a reliable kicker is one of them.

Tennessee has lots of issues outside of kicker, but those issues are much more explanable and also much much harder to fix. and when you can directly do the math and point out missed field goals as being the difference in the score it's impossible to ignore that because as the kicker you have the easiest way to score points on the field.
Click to expand...
I understand all that but “acceptable” doesn’t equal “impact”. It’s “simple math” that a 7 point scoop and score is more impactful than a 3 point missed FG. Missing 9 FTs OR 3 tightly guarded 3s has the EXACT same impact on the game. Beat is beat. Whether you find the reason you lost “easier to swallow” after the game doesn’t change the outcome.

I’m saying a 7 point scoop and score had more IMPACT on us losing the game than the 3 point FG. You are saying the scoop and score is more “acceptable” and placing more value on the FG because of the final margin and the “ease” of the play.

Also simply doing the math on the score and saying a FG is the difference is disingenuous. Illinois won by 2 because that’s what they needed to win by. They quit trying to score a TD. Take away the scoop and score and they have to score a TD on the final drive (which they likely do). Add on the missed FG and they have to score a TD on the final drive (which they likely do). There are zero scenarios where the game ends with us winning 31-30.
 
#80
#80
Tenacjim said:
I understand all that but “acceptable” doesn’t equal “impact”. It’s “simple math” that a 7 point scoop and score is more impactful than a 3 point missed FG. Missing 9 FTs OR 3 tightly guarded 3s has the EXACT same impact on the game. Beat is beat. Whether you find the reason you lost “easier to swallow” after the game doesn’t change the outcome.

I’m saying a 7 point scoop and score had more IMPACT on us losing the game than the 3 point FG. You are saying the scoop and score is more “acceptable” and placing more value on the FG because of the final margin and the “ease” of the play.

Also simply doing the math on the score and saying a FG is the difference is disingenuous. Illinois won by 2 because that’s what they needed to win by. They quit trying to score a TD. Take away the scoop and score and they have to score a TD on the final drive (which they likely do). Add on the missed FG and they have to score a TD on the final drive (which they likely do). There are zero scenarios where the game ends with us winning 31-30.
Click to expand...
nah nah nah. you can't just assume Illinois automatically scores a TD on the final drive. sorry that's a no-go for me. If we get an interception or recover a fumble or stop them on 4th down which we did multiple times in that game then Tennessee wins the game.

If Gilbert hit his FG and Illinois was down by 4 points it was FAR from a gimme that they would have scores and TD.

but please let's not walk past the fact that Illinois didn't have to score a TD because they weren't down by 4 points.

Illinois won that game because their kicker executed a game winning field goal and our kicker didn't.

the scoop and score cost us 7 points BUT BUT it didn't HAVE to matter. we had a very easy chance for it not to matter one bit.

if Tennessee never got close enough to kick a field goal, then the scoop and score would have been a back breaker and completely change the outcome of the game but that's not what happened.
 
#81
#81
Behr said:
I'm surprised at how many just dont seem to get it. I cant speak for everyone but I can for me and a few others.

I don't question anyone criticizing Max and I'm not defending him as in being fine with his performance. I only question the few that feel the need to trash the guy by calling him trash, garbage, bum saying gtfo, he sucks etc. Just seems to be unnecessary.

He was being trashed in another thread and some decided to start this one to offset it is the way I took it.

Just seems stable grown men would be glad hes leaving and just say Good luck dude". Or nothing at all.

But here we are. Lol.
Click to expand...
I agree.

That’s the problem with internet mobs. The stragglers keep bringing their fresh anger, long after others have already vented and calmed down.

He’s gone though, so I’m ready for everyone to move on. Just please don’t pretend to not understand how pay for play works and who the customers are.

Food for thought: How many negative reviews does it take to convince anyone to pass on an Amazon product? One usually isn’t enough to convince me that the product is generally unreliable.
 
Last edited:
#82
#82
In 2024, Max did go through the yips in middle section of the year (to be fair, he overcame it by the end of the year).

Coaching staff made the choice to roll with him in 2025 with that data point. They misevaluated.

Blame, if any, should rest with those earning 7 and 8 figures, not those earning 5 or 6...
 
#85
#85
UTFranklinVol said:
nah nah nah. you can't just assume Illinois automatically scores a TD on the final drive. sorry that's a no-go for me. If we get an interception or recover a fumble or stop them on 4th down which we did multiple times in that game then Tennessee wins the game.

If Gilbert hit his FG and Illinois was down by 4 points it was FAR from a gimme that they would have scores and TD.

but please let's not walk past the fact that Illinois didn't have to score a TD because they weren't down by 4 points.

Illinois won that game because their kicker executed a game winning field goal and our kicker didn't.

the scoop and score cost us 7 points BUT BUT it didn't HAVE to matter. we had a very easy chance for it not to matter one bit.

if Tennessee never got close enough to kick a field goal, then the scoop and score would have been a back breaker and completely change the outcome of the game but that's not what happened.
Click to expand...
I’m just assuming the game played out the way it did because if you say “we lost by 2, therefore the missed FG lost us the game” that’s basically what you are assuming. TN didn’t get an interception, didn’t get a 4th down stop and Illinois DID have the ball 1st and goal at the 6 with 1:30 and TO. They “could” have done any of those things and prevented the GW FG drive. They didn’t.

If TN hits the FG, do we assume the game plays out exactly the same? Likely not. Maybe we never return the kick and never get that 4 point lead. But when you say that the missed FG cost us the game because we lost by 2, you ARE assuming all the things turned out the same that led us to the 4 point lead. So NOW you magically insert the interception or 4th down stop that DIDN'T happen?

Also, the scoop and score happened AFTER the missed FG. So whether we never got close enough to start with or missed the FG, the IMPACT of the scoop and score is EXACTLY the same. We didn’t have those 3 points either way. Take away those 7 points and everything else plays out the same, we are up 28-20 instead of 28-27 in the 4th quarter. Totally different game. Even with the missed FG. I think that DOES matter one bit. You say the TD isn’t a “given” with a 4 point lead. A TD AND a 2 point conversion is MUCH harder. In fact, take away the scoop and score and it’s IMPOSSIBLE to lose on the last drive. The worst that can happen is a tie. So we hit the FG and the scoop and score still happens a TD beats us. We miss the FG and the scoop and score never happens, it takes a TD and 2 point conversion just to tie. Scoop and score is more impactful.

So whether the FG was missed, or we never got to attempt it, the impact of the scoop and score is the same. A back breaker that completely changed the outcome of the game.

I can’t imagine a very likely outcome based on what DID happen but you can imagine one based on what didn’t?

IMO the scoop and score was the critical “one play. What ultimately “lost” the game was our defense getting pushed all over the field. They held the ball the last11:40 of the game. I don’t think we had a stop in us whether it was 1 point, 4 points or even 8 points. You’re going to blame a first half missed FG and all the “butterfly effects” from that.

Max is gone, Lance is gone Joey is gone and we have a bunch of new defensive coaches. Beat is beat. You’re not changing your mind and I’m not changing mine.

Let’s go watch basketball and hope we aren’t debating FTs, missed threes, missed layups or shoddy defense. I’d rather celebrate a win than pump more bullets into football’s dead corpse.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: titansvolsfaninga
#86
#86
adam.vol said:
You don’t work? You get paid to do a job and when you screw up, someone eats the cost. If you’re not the one eating the loss, then you’re the one getting your ass chewed or fired.

Some of you must not have real jobs?
Click to expand...
No random person starts a post saying I suck at life. What part of work is that?
 
#88
#88
barney said:
I think we as a community should try harder to be supportive of our players when they fall short. All the noise from our fanbase definitely played a role in his struggles this year. This is a new thing for college football. Max has the physical skillset to be a great kicker and I hope he figures out what he needs to do to take the next step in his game.
Click to expand...
Thank you sir. You are a wordsmith. That's all that I've been trying to say.
 
#90
#90
Volholic said:
That’s literally his only job. To make field goals—not miss them.
Click to expand...
In the history of football, has there ever been a 100% field goal kicker. Has there been athlete that's done 100% of anything? Let's be a serious and rational adult.
I know that it's cute to say that, but be serious. There are no perfect people on earth, why hang that albatross of unrealistic expectations around his neck? He's made more than he missed.
 
#91
#91
utvolpj said:
Saw his family before the bowl game and it makes you realize they're still young humans out there playing a game. My kids play sports I can't imagine what it's like to sit in the stands and hear some of the things said about your child by fans of the same team. He had a rough season and it's probably a good time to move on but I wish him no ill will
Click to expand...
Agree...and on top of it, he looks like he's 15. Rough season, but plenty of ability. He'll prob go on to have a fine college career.

Here's the thing though... look at Ole Miss, or Vols in the past, or Bama, who always seems to have a good FG kicker...they're a weapon. And now, in the SEC, where all games are so tight, you've got to have a guy who's going to make the kicks.
 
  • Like
Reactions: titansvolsfaninga
#92
#92
Tenacjim said:
I’m just assuming the game played out the way it did because if you say “we lost by 2, therefore the missed FG lost us the game” that’s basically what you are assuming. TN didn’t get an interception, didn’t get a 4th down stop and Illinois DID have the ball 1st and goal at the 6 with 1:30 and TO. They “could” have done any of those things and prevented the GW FG drive. They didn’t.

If TN hits the FG, do we assume the game plays out exactly the same? Likely not. Maybe we never return the kick and never get that 4 point lead. But when you say that the missed FG cost us the game because we lost by 2, you ARE assuming all the things turned out the same that led us to the 4 point lead. So NOW you magically insert the interception or 4th down stop that DIDN'T happen?

Also, the scoop and score happened AFTER the missed FG. So whether we never got close enough to start with or missed the FG, the IMPACT of the scoop and score is EXACTLY the same. We didn’t have those 3 points either way. Take away those 7 points and everything else plays out the same, we are up 28-20 instead of 28-27 in the 4th quarter. Totally different game. Even with the missed FG. I think that DOES matter one bit.

So whether the FG was missed, or we never got to attempt it, the impact of the scoop and score is the same. A back breaker that completely changed the outcome of the game.

I can’t imagine a very likely outcome based on what DID happen but you can imagine one based on what didn’t?

IMO the scoop and score was the critical “one play. What ultimately “lost” the game was our defense getting pushed all over the field. They held the ball the last11:40 of the game. I don’t think we had a stop in us whether it was 1 point, 4 points or even 8 points. You’re going to blame a first half missed FG and all the “butterfly effects” from that.

Max is gone, Lance is gone Joey is gone and we have a bunch of new defensive coaches. Beat is beat. You’re not changing your mind and I’m not changing mine.

Let’s go watch basketball and hope we aren’t debating FTs, missed threes, missed layups or shoddy defense. I’d rather celebrate a win than pump more bullets into football’s dead corpse.
Click to expand...
The way the UT defense played all game, I have no doubt that Illinois would have scored a TD at the end if they had needed one.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Orange Captain, Big Al Orange, Hoggervol and 3 others
#93
#93
titansvolsfaninga said:
In the history of football, has there ever been a 100% field goal kicker. Has there been athlete that's done 100% of anything? Let's be a serious and rational adult.
I know that it's cute to say that, but be serious. There are no perfect people on earth, why hang that albatross of unrealistic expectations around his neck? He's made more than he missed.
Click to expand...
None of them make 100%. But Max missed in critical moments that could have meant a key win. I watched the Ole Miss PK drill a 56, a 55 and the game winner from 46 under intense pressure. Some can and some can’t. Max needs a change of scenery for sure. Maybe it will turn him around but Heupel can’t take that chance again.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Big Orange Captain, JustFunnN'Orange and TrumpedUpVol
#94
#94
End of the day... Defense and Offensive Turnovers cost TN all 5 of their losses.

Max had a chance to erase some of that with his kicks and sadly missed. But shouldn't have been in that spot to begin with. He needs to improve but let's not say he is the reason TN lost.

Wish the young kid well. Hope he improves
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tenacjim, BernardKingGOAT and Vol2B
#95
#95
barney said:
I think we as a community should try harder to be supportive of our players when they fall short. All the noise from our fanbase definitely played a role in his struggles this year. This is a new thing for college football. Max has the physical skillset to be a great kicker and I hope he figures out what he needs to do to take the next step in his game.
Click to expand...
Bottom line you nailed it. Backed up by a guy named Danny White..,,,, From his intro presser.

“If you're upset or you're negative, text your buddy, don't put it on social media. Let's build some positive momentum.”

Pretty clear…..,
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: titansvolsfaninga
#100
#100
utvolpj said:
Saw his family before the bowl game and it makes you realize they're still young humans out there playing a game. My kids play sports I can't imagine what it's like to sit in the stands and hear some of the things said about your child by fans of the same team. He had a rough season and it's probably a good time to move on but I wish him no ill will
Click to expand...
I wonder if the Ohio St fans are hammering their FG kicker, who missed a game tying Fg against Indiana and again missed one in the loss to Miami ? I'm not saying a separation would not be the best for both Max and the Vols, but no reason to be vicious like the fans have been
 
  • Like
Reactions: titansvolsfaninga
New Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

Advertisement



Back
Top