No turning this program around.

It will unfortunately take three to four yrs- IF we give Pruitt time. We have three automatic losses each yr- Fl, UGA, Bama. Add Oklahoma for next season .

I’m tired of waiting as well as I am 48 yrs old and graduated from UT in 94. But I’m afraid the success we had in the 90s will not be seen until Bama, UGA, etc have a downward spiral.

I don't see any of them as automatic losses. It depends on the will of the players. I know they have been more highly regarded than the Vols over the past few years, but that doesn't mean next season can't be a serious turnaround. I am not hoping for Bama or Georgia or anybody else to go into a downward spiral. I am waiting for the Vols to cause it.
 
We were ranked #9 after wins against Florida and Georgia Butchs next to last season. Then yes...we did fall apart...but DID dominate our bowl game.
Yes. I was there. But I was referring to end of season rank as a legit top 10.
 
Bowl games, yes Bowl games is where it is at, the championships, such as the SEC championship, or the NATY, are all well a good, but Bowl Games are the ticket. Our W vs L record is important, but as I've heard so many say, "I just want to make a bowl game", this seems to be more important. I'm old fashion when it comes to winning the SEC and the NATY, for me, being conference champions means a lot-and the SEC Championship is still the best Championship to win (other than the NATY). All this discussion regarding coaches, recruiting UTs recruiting class ranking, our facilities vs others etc. sounds important now, but when players will be allowed to "earn" unlimited money for the use of their likeness-I believe much of what has been important in the developing and keeping a top program is going to change. The change will not take decades, more like months. As we all want the VOLs to be a top 10 team, we had better start figuring out which Tennessee based businesses are willing to pony up long$$$$ to compete with other likeness purchasing school supporters.....just saying.
 
This is as good a place as any.

My wife and I attended the UAB game and I happened to put an old set of UT Pom poms in the back rear of my truck, just so drivers on I40 knew that I was and am with our boys on rocky top coming from Nashville. Tennessee wins. 4-0 since. 5-0 total, 6 of the last 7 since I bought my tickets.The rest is history. Keeping those Pom poms there and I think That move by me proved to be pretty crucial GBO 😂 🍊. I’ll check back in late Jan 2
 
::: remembers that he was pretty deflated during the time of the OP :::

::: reviews posts to see if he posted supporting the OP :::

::: breathes a sigh of relief that he did not ::::

::: decides to jump on bandwagon flaming OP :::

Well, THIS thread aged well, huh???

::: walks away feeling pretty darn smug with himself :::

:cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool::cool:
 
Bowl games, yes Bowl games is where it is at, the championships, such as the SEC championship, or the NATY, are all well a good, but Bowl Games are the ticket. Our W vs L record is important, but as I've heard so many say, "I just want to make a bowl game", this seems to be more important. I'm old fashion when it comes to winning the SEC and the NATY, for me, being conference champions means a lot-and the SEC Championship is still the best Championship to win (other than the NATY). All this discussion regarding coaches, recruiting UTs recruiting class ranking, our facilities vs others etc. sounds important now, but when players will be allowed to "earn" unlimited money for the use of their likeness-I believe much of what has been important in the developing and keeping a top program is going to change. The change will not take decades, more like months. As we all want the VOLs to be a top 10 team, we had better start figuring out which Tennessee based businesses are willing to pony up long$$$$ to compete with other likeness purchasing school supporters.....just saying.

Fans need to learn to enjoy the journey. Nowadays, it's natty or bust for many more than before. I get Vols fans have been disappointed with the years of falling below the mark. We want sustained success. Especially moreso because our biggest historical rival has had that. We want all our outgoing guys to win out, become NFL legends, and the new guys coming in to be even better. We want to have a resurgence that rival the days of the General. And we haven't gotten it. And as time passes, those who witnessed that are becoming fewer and fewer. Most are probably now in graveyards and urns.

Most have want that so bad and for so long, it makes them a little crazy. But over the years, some fans have forgotten to truly enjoy the moments. Learn to do that, boys. Hopefully, you will live longer.

For me, I hope they bring in guys who give their All for Tennessee. And really stupid things stop happening. Adversity is going to happen. It happened in 98. Just try to inspire the players as best we can, and hope for the best.

As to the Tennessee based businesses willing to pony up, WE don't need to figure that out. Unless you own one of those businesses. The university has someone on the payroll to do that. Just hope they figure it out.
 
This is as good a place as any.

My wife and I attended the UAB game and I happened to put an old set of UT Pom poms in the back rear of my truck, just so drivers on I40 knew that I was and am with our boys on rocky top coming from Nashville. Tennessee wins. 4-0 since. 5-0 total, 6 of the last 7 since I bought my tickets.The rest is history. Keeping those Pom poms there and I think That move by me proved to be pretty crucial GBO 😂 🍊. I’ll check back in late Jan 2

Good luck pom poms? Whatever works. Just don't get fitted for one of those cheerleader dresses. I imagine that wouldn't be pretty.
 
Kids don’t care about state loyalty, but it is easier to recruit when the school is closer to home.

If UT was able to lock down the state they could be a good program, but UT is not able to hold onto the instate talent because it’s all in central/west TN.

Geographically, Knoxville is the worst possible location in the state. Where does the state of Tennessee rank if you eliminate Memphis? You have got to treat Memphis as part of your national recruiting instead of local.

Swing and a miss
 
I acknowledge, I was wrong. Pruitt did a very good job holding onto instate talent. But I was also wrong in saying holding onto instate talent would make for a good program. 7th best class in the conference is not getting it done. I don’t know if I’m more or less optimistic about the future after this recruiting cycle.
 
There have been bad stretches in the past, but nothing like this.

I remember a 15 year stretch where we didn't win at least 10 games. 12 years ago we went 10-4 and whipped Wisconsin in the Outback Bowl.

From 53 to 66 (14 seasons and before my time) we won 6 games, then 4, then 6, then 10, then 8, then 4, then 5, then 6, then 6, then 4, then 5, then 4 and then 8. Besides the ten win season and the two average 8-win'rs, that was a pretty sucky period.

From 1903 to 1915 we only had three winning seasons.

The point is, this crap has happened before. Depending on your criteria, this is one of the worst stretches, but not by much. If it goes on another two or three years, then I would say it's inarguably the worst.
 
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Just heard Peyton Manning committed to UT. You guys think he can beat out Branndon Stewart as UT’s QB of the future and turn this thing around?
 
This is as good a place as any.

My wife and I attended the UAB game and I happened to put an old set of UT Pom poms in the back rear of my truck, just so drivers on I40 knew that I was and am with our boys on rocky top coming from Nashville. Tennessee wins. 4-0 since. 5-0 total, 6 of the last 7 since I bought my tickets.The rest is history. Keeping those Pom poms there and I think That move by me proved to be pretty crucial GBO 😂 🍊. I’ll check back in late Jan 2
LOL, During the SC game, I was wearing my Tennessee jersey with my ETSU shirt under it. When things started bad I took the jersey off, thinking it was bad luck. After we won, I've worn my ETSU shirt for every game, and will continue to do so until we lose. Like @TNnative said "whatever works".
 
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I acknowledge, I was wrong. Pruitt did a very good job holding onto instate talent. But I was also wrong in saying holding onto instate talent would make for a good program. 7th best class in the conference is not getting it done. I don’t know if I’m more or less optimistic about the future after this recruiting cycle.
We are going to have to win a game against the big three before we beat them in recruiting. That will happen. I think next season we get one of them. Had to get a couple recruiting classes under their belt, change the team makeup and a couple years in strength and conditioning. We had to get over the hurdle of beating up on the ones we are supposed to. Now we have cleared that hurdle. Onto the next.
 
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It means its been almost 20 years. To quote the United States Air Force...hurry up and wait..longer.
Maybe in The Chairforce, but grunts get it on, adapt, and overcome. We gotta bunch of grunts running this outfit. Well maybe Chaney is USAF material.
 
I don't see any of them as automatic losses. It depends on the will of the players. I know they have been more highly regarded than the Vols over the past few years, but that doesn't mean next season can't be a serious turnaround. I am not hoping for Bama or Georgia or anybody else to go into a downward spiral. I am waiting for the Vols to cause it.
Attitude is a very important factor in winning any sport. Good coaching is also very important. However, the most important factor is comparable talent, especially at certain positions. For the last 10 or so years we have not had any of those factors. We have greatly improved our coaching resources and the attitude seems to also be improving. For the last 2 recruiting classes, it appears we have greatly improved the talent level at most positions. Having a top talented QB or two will give us the opportunity to compete with all teams in the SEC within the next 2 years. We will, for the fist time in 10 years have offensive and defensive linemen who can get the job done. We are recruiting beasts in these areas. The O-line will allow RBs to show their talent and give the QBs time to scan the field for receivers who are open. The D-line will allow the LBs and defensive secondary to make plays because they will stop the run and pressure the other teams QB to release the ball earlier or they will be sacked. The days of the late 1990s and early 2000s is just around the corner. Happy days will return to BIG Orange Country.
 
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Attitude is a very important factor in winning any sport. Good coaching is also very important. However, the most important factor is comparable talent, especially at certain positions. For the last 10 or so years we have not had any of those factors. We have greatly improved our coaching resources and the attitude seems to also be improving. For the last 2 recruiting classes, it appears we have greatly improved the talent level at most positions. Having a top talented QB or two will give us the opportunity to compete with all teams in the SEC within the next 2 years. We will, for the fist time in 10 years have offensive and defensive linemen who can get the job done. We are recruiting beasts in these areas. The O-line will allow RBs to show their talent and give the QBs time to scan the field for receivers who are open. The D-line will allow the LBs and defensive secondary to make plays because they will stop the run and pressure the other teams QB to release the ball earlier or they will be sacked. The days of the late 1990s and early 2000s is just around the corner. Happy days will return to BIG Orange Country.

Much should be learned from the last few years. From this entire century. And much of where the Vols have been through these beginning years of this century have been from poor choices by administrators, coaches, players and in a few cases, fans as well. Where we have been and where we want to be is miles apart. Personally, I hope we don't return to the late 90's or 2000s. I would rather the win loss record be closer to 1936 to 1940 and 1946 to 1952.
 
Much should be learned from the last few years. From this entire century. And much of where the Vols have been through these beginning years of this century have been from poor choices by administrators, coaches, players and in a few cases, fans as well. Where we have been and where we want to be is miles apart. Personally, I hope we don't return to the late 90's or 2000s. I would rather the win loss record be closer to 1936 to 1940 and 1946 to 1952.
Well, I would like to have another season where we go unbeaten, untied, and unescorted on. That might turn a few heads. I also remember that it was only a few years after 1952 when we lost at home to Chattanooga. I try to dismember that game, but it keeps showing up I’m my memories when we go through the rough years. I also remember and saw the games when we lost to Weak Forest and Florida State when they could hardly beat anyone. I think it was Bill Peterson who finally got them rolling.
 

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