Overall feeling about the season to this point????

#26
#26
I think the definition of a good season in a rebuilding year under a new coach would be to give every team a good game. With the exception of Ole Miss, we did that. We lost a few we shouldn't have, played a few closer than anyone expected and skated past a few that should have been blowouts, but overall, we stood tall and sent a message: "We're back."

If we had more depth and didn't have the calamity of the Pilot 3, Ole Miss would have been anybody's game. It was the Perfect Storm for us, and McCluster took full advantage of our weakness that day. Despite all that, CLK has built a team on a mission, and I think we'll see a championship under his watch. I like our chances... but first, we have to dig deep and get past Kentucky.
 
#27
#27
ucla and auburn really upset me.. but, i feel like the whole season together was very good. seeing how we only lost to the gators and bama by 12.. and we did have a whole new coaching staff. i can see kiffin pulling out a bowl win at the end of this season and then a 10 game winning season next year.
 
#28
#28
Our coaching staff can definitely coach, develop a good game plan, and put our guys in a position to win ballgames. Once they have 3-4 recruiting classes under their belt we will be contenders for championships. Until then, I will continue to enjoy watching the staff develop players and put a squad on the field that overachieves.

Regardless of our finishing record, they've done a great job. You have to work with what you've got... and at this point especially, with all the injuries, we don't have much to play with.

8-5 would be an outstanding result for the year. I think 7-6 is more likely however.
 
#29
#29
khoward61 said:
I was wondering how everyone feels to this point with the season???
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exactly where I thought we would be..
except I had us beating Auburn, and losing to GA.

I would have liked to see us pull the win against Bama
That was a heartbreaker
 
#31
#31
lawgator1 said:
5) Those predicting 8-4 or better were as drunk as the rest of us thought they were because, once again, no matter how motivating your coach, over the course of a season if you have only a handful of top level prospects, and then you have injuries to deal with on top of that, you are going to be limping to the finish line. Its the nature of the beast.
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I'm not so sure about that. I thought 8-4 was attainable. We are just a field goal against Alabama or a TD at the goal line against UCLA away from playing for that this weekend. If the margin of error on that prediction turns out to be one game, then it was pretty accurate.
 
#32
#32
How could you not be pleased, despite the UCLA, and Auburn game? Good recruiting, going bowling, Coaching staff doing what they need to inorder to turn it all around. Its all good.
 
#33
#33
72 KPT VOL said:
The verdict is still out on Coach K's on the field performance. We have played very well at times with much better performances against our 4 biggest rivals (Fla, Bama, Ga and SC), but the end of game play calling was very questionable in both UCLA (17 straight runs) and Bama (not trying to get closer than a 44 yd FG attempt after two straight previous failures) shows a potential lack of experience that will hopefully improve. We desparately need to beat Ky to have a good ending to our season and at least win one game on the road.
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I don't agree. Did you see him hit CrompDaddy the other night? :eek:lol::eek:lol:

In all seriousness, I am very pleased. I too, as another poster stated, am less disgusted with a 5 loss(or 6) TN team than I have been with a few 3 or 4 loss teams of the past. This may be due, in part, to the fact that I went into this year knowing it was a rebuilding season. However, I am very proud of the passion and fight our team has shown throughout this year. I am also extremely impressed with what CLK and his dream team staff have done with the talent they were left with. If we continue a steady progress along the path we are currently on, we will be champions again and I believe it will be quicker than most expect.
 
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#34
#34
Coming off of a 5-7 outing last year, I expected us to finish the regular season 6-6, best case scenario. I really had very little confidence in the ability of our players (excepting Berry) before the season started, and no idea of the staff's ability to coach our team up for gameday. We all expected recruiting greatness from the new staff, and they delivered on that front quickly. I was not certain how our staff would fare teaching our players fundamental, winning football.

I'm certain now. Our players look like different guys on the field from last year. They have played, with only a very few exceptions, hungry, determined, hard-nose football. Once mediocre players have stepped up to a whole other level of performance. Individual showboating has been replaced by a total team-first mentality. Excellence is being demanded of all players by these coaches, and most of the players have responded with their very best. Those who have not, have been shown the door. Group discipline and cohesion is not something that you can achieve by mashing together a group of 5 star athletes. It is something that MUST be imposed from the outside, by the coaches. This staff has done that. I applaud them for it, and it makes me excited about what is yet to come.

This Thanksgiving week, let me just say that I am thankful for Coach Kiffin and the entire staff for restoring to our team a sense of pride, unity, and focus. I am thankful that they have taken a group of players who had been largely written off and helped them be the very best they could be. I am thankful that our staff appreciates the relentless pursuit of excellence. I am thankful that our staff is never satisfied with less than perfection, and is instilling the same drive in our team.

I'm thankful that I am able to say once again, "It's great to be a Tennessee Vol!"
 
#35
#35
I agree with the poster that said they were finally excited to watch Tennessee play again. The difference I see is in attitude. The team finally shows up ready and excited to play EVERY Saturday.

I was disappointed with the early losses, too, but feel like that was a purging period -- purging the losing mentality that Fulmer ahd slowly allowed to seep into the program.

I will say that I am concerned about next year. I was looking through the Senior day photos on another website, and I was taken aback at how many of our best players are seniors this year (especially on the OL and DL). Fulmer's failures on the recruiting front will be even more apparent next season.

However, I believe the program will still show signs of improvement (even if not reflected in the record), and 2011 is the year I think the Vols will really start making strides to comete for the conference.
 
#36
#36
UTVolinExile said:
Coming off of a 5-7 outing last year, I expected us to finish the regular season 6-6, best case scenario. I really had very little confidence in the ability of our players (excepting Berry) before the season started, and no idea of the staff's ability to coach our team up for gameday. We all expected recruiting greatness from the new staff, and they delivered on that front quickly. I was not certain how our staff would fare teaching our players fundamental, winning football.

I'm certain now. Our players look like different guys on the field from last year. They have played, with only a very few exceptions, hungry, determined, hard-nose football. Once mediocre players have stepped up to a whole other level of performance. Individual showboating has been replaced by a total team-first mentality. Excellence is being demanded of all players by these coaches, and most of the players have responded with their very best. Those who have not, have been shown the door. Group discipline and cohesion is not something that you can achieve by mashing together a group of 5 star athletes. It is something that MUST be imposed from the outside, by the coaches. This staff has done that. I applaud them for it, and it makes me excited about what is yet to come.

This Thanksgiving week, let me just say that I am thankful for Coach Kiffin and the entire staff for restoring to our team a sense of pride, unity, and focus. I am thankful that they have taken a group of players who had been largely written off and helped them be the very best they could be. I am thankful that our staff appreciates the relentless pursuit of excellence. I am thankful that our staff is never satisfied with less than perfection, and is instilling the same drive in our team.

I'm thankful that I am able to say once again, "It's great to be a Tennessee Vol!"
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Very well said!!!!
 
#38
#38
BearCat204 said:
Just saying that this season has gone pretty much as I expected it to with the rebuilding. I expect a good improvement next year
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I don't know if you should expect too much better next year. Have you looked at the seniors (and more than likely one superstar of a junior) we are losing and the schedule for next year?
 
#39
#39
Players often rise to the level of expectation. Kiffin expects a lot and gives them the chance to not just meet his expectations, but to exceed them. Fans should do the same!
 
#40
#40
Started out as a pretty weak team. Then, guys started learning the system (especially Crompton). We probably peaked sometime in the UGA - South Carolina timeframe. After that, injuries started to take their toll and I feel like the team dropped off against Ole Miss and Vandy. We'll see if we can rally and finish strong.

Overall, finishing second in our division to a possible National Champ doesn't seem that bad.
 
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#41
#41
manfromtn said:
I don't know if you should expect too much better next year. Have you looked at the seniors (and more than likely one superstar of a junior) we are losing and the schedule for next year?
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I, by no means, expect us to win the East or anything like that next year, but I do expect a good improvement from this year. It all depends on how our young guys develop over the summer and if they can step up and take on bigger roles.
 
#42
#42
The close calls with Bama and UF were a double-edged sword. On the one hand, inspiring confidence in our abilities and the outlook for next season, but on the other hand, so heartbreaking because they really were within reach. Just one of those W's would have been so sweet.

I watched the UF game with a bunch of rabid fans in a sports bar in London. At half-time they had a lot more respect for our team. This was a 180 from their attitude when they came in -- saying that they didn't see UT as a viable competitor, that they didn't see this game as a rivalry at all because it was basically an annual "gimme." Fans supporting other teams were all rooting for UT. They nearly cried with me at the end when we lost and I couldn't stop the tears.

Yes, I cry over football. Sue me (at your own risk, of course)!
 
#43
#43
Very optimistic going forward
JC, who was left for dead, obviously has been "coached up" which is very exciting for the new-comers.
Terrible lack of depth, which is no fault of this staff, it's the position we were left in, as well as a few defections, which happens with every program during a change.
I think the streak will end against KY this weekend, too many injuries/ no depth.
Wish this group had another year with the staff, could have been VERY good under them next year.
Aubie and UCLA...ugh!!!

Give him time, hopefully we keep CLK, MK, and CEO together for 2 more yrs, they'll clear a path for us.
 
#44
#44
for a rebuilding year i'm content. the ucla and auburn losses should have obviously never happened, and it was discouraging to see the ole miss game turn out the way it did......but as long as we win our next two games i'll be mostly satisfied. we're headed in the right direction
 
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#45
#45
LA Vol said:
Players often rise to the level of expectation. Kiffin expects a lot and gives them the chance to not just meet his expectations, but to exceed them. Fans should do the same!
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I suppose you are right. I will have to amend my previous statement. I expect us to win every game every time we play, but I know in my heart we are probably not going to. If you look at all the folks UF is losing this year coupled with the upcoaching attained by our staff this year and the fact that anyone can win on any given Saturday in the SEC, the Eastern Division is not impossible(unlikely, but not impossible) next year. Thanks for pointing out one of the many errors in my thinking. V,B
 
#46
#46
I have not been this excited about UT football in a long time. Of course, I wish we could have gotten one more yd against UCLA or wish that our kicker didn't have bum leg against Bama.

What they've dome with Crompton is remarkable and every game the team plays with heart and purpose. As a fan you can't ask for anything more. I'm just sad the season is coming to a close. Just a couple of months to NSD and then the spring game a couple months after that. Not that I'm looking ahead.
 
#47
#47
manfromtn said:
I don't know if you should expect too much better next year. Have you looked at the seniors (and more than likely one superstar of a junior) we are losing and the schedule for next year?
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The schedule is a beast next year. We may very well end up with the same record but I have confidence in the coaches. I think next year we will have even more freshman come in and make an impact like Janzen & Bryce did. Plus there shouldn't be the anchor of selfish players like we had this year. Finally, the SEC hires some competent officials. Well that last one is a stretch.
 
#48
#48
This staff has done a good job with the lack of Dept and talent. I still think we should of beat UCLA and Auburn and We should be 8-3 so far, and if we could of pulled the upset on Alabama we could very well be 9-2 rite now and looking at a Cotton Bowl berth.
 
#49
#49
I predicted a 7-5 record before the season started. I didn't think there was any way in Hell we could compete with Florida or Alabama, much less play Florida within 10 or have the chance for a game-winning FG against Bama.

It's really hard for me to gauge how bad the losses to UCLA and Auburn really were. The majority opinion seems to be that both were bad losses, but I'm not 100% sure about that. UCLA started the season 3-0, then lost its next 5 games, but is now on another 3-game winning streak to become bowl eligible at 6-5. I really wouldn't be surprised to see them give USC a close game this Saturday. As for Auburn, they throttled a good Ole Miss team but lost to UK at home and to a bad UGA team on the road. AU has been the epitome of a Jekyll and Hyde team this year. Two of the losses have come on the road to #1-ranked teams, and the other loss is to a team who should go into bowl season 9-3. I didn't expect to beat Florida, Alabama, or Ole Miss this year, and I had us losing to UGA.

All 5 of our losses this year are to bowl-eligible teams. Last year, we had 7 losses, including 3 losses to teams who had losing seasons (UCLA, Auburn, Wyoming). That alone marks a good improvement. Also, the transformation of Crompton under this staff is simply amazing to me.
 
#50
#50
My assessment: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

Good:
CLK Hired!
Great recruiting Class in a short amount of time!
Reenergized fan base!
Monte Kiffin Defense!
The Johnathan Crompton Turnaround!
The Team's heart!
Black Uni's!
Eric Berry!

The Bad:
UCLA and Auburn game.
Injuries depleting defense.
CLK's negative press regarding NUKE!

The Ugly:
Fulmer's departure.
Player Arrests.
Ole Miss game.
Fans leaving early, complaining about uniform's, and people standing up during the game.

Overall Opinion:
This staff can coach!
The recruits are coming!
CLK should get coach of the year or consideration!
I am excited about the future!

Let's hope for a 7-5 record, bowl victory, and a possible TOP 25 ranking!
Go VOLS!!!!
 
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