Tin Man
Dirt's Childhood Playmate
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Periscope Depth
- Thread starter SubVet676
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Up Scope…
If VN was a nuclear power plant, this week is Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima all rolled into one out-of-control, self-destructive, core-melting mass of uncontrolled chain reactions and system failures. I haven’t seen this level of implosion since my attempt to build a 3-level jungle gym in the backyard for my boys. And that was many years ago, so…
And yes, I was right there in the thick of it. Passions run deep here, and the loss to OU uncorked an emotional champagne bottle roughly the size of Neyland Stadium. Been a tough week to be a Vol fan. "Dark Mode" led to many a dark mood on VN. Even the media has picked up on it. Never a good sign.
So now what?
Well, the CFP is no longer an achievable goal, nor an SEC title, or a Natty. And while I thought…way back in September…that we had a fair shot at #1, I also knew that #2 and #3 likely hinged on UT getting a few breaks along the way. We got ‘em, but they broke the wrong way. And so the 2025 season, for most of us, will be filed in the category of “what might have been”. But now, "what might have been" needs to be replaced with "what needs to be done". You don't get better by hoping, but by doing.
UT is 6-3, and if you’ll forgive me for being a bit on the skeptical side at this point, staring 7-5 in the face. I’ll trust UT in Gainesville when they finally win there, and even though I believe UT is a better team than Vandy, they might come into Neyland for their final game with an outside shot at the CFP. I’ve never drank an entire bottle of Elijah Craig in one sitting, but that just might be the day I have to do it.
Meanwhile, back at the Ranch…Josh Heupel has some tough decisions to make at seasons end. He is, in my opinion, among the top offensive minds in the sport, and a good head coach. But if he’s going to win consistently in the SEC, and compete for conference and national titles, he has to make some adjustments, and some changes. I’m on record as to where I stand on those, so no need to rehash it all here. But Josh clearly needs to find his inner Nick.
I think Heupel would benefit from having a GM on staff. A solid GM can handle the NIL and portal issues, and let Josh spend more time being the head coach. That, coupled with the changes I think he needs to make on the staff, would possibly push UT into the upper tier of the SEC, at which point those more lofty goals are now within reach.
What is clear to me at this point, and to anyone with an unbiased eye, is that what he is doing right now, and throughout the ’25 season, is not working. We can agree to disagree on what needs to be done, but clearly something must be done. This team is actually less than the sum of its’ parts, injured parts included. There’s a chemistry issue here.
UT has been here before. Let’s learn from our previous mistakes and missteps. Fix what needs to be fixed, and trust that which does not. Heupel could be at UT for 15 more years if he wants.
Or 2. It’s up to him.
Y’all be safe out there.
If VN was a nuclear power plant, this week is Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima all rolled into one out-of-control, self-destructive, core-melting mass of uncontrolled chain reactions and system failures. I haven’t seen this level of implosion since my attempt to build a 3-level jungle gym in the backyard for my boys. And that was many years ago, so…
And yes, I was right there in the thick of it. Passions run deep here, and the loss to OU uncorked an emotional champagne bottle roughly the size of Neyland Stadium. Been a tough week to be a Vol fan. "Dark Mode" led to many a dark mood on VN. Even the media has picked up on it. Never a good sign.
So now what?
Well, the CFP is no longer an achievable goal, nor an SEC title, or a Natty. And while I thought…way back in September…that we had a fair shot at #1, I also knew that #2 and #3 likely hinged on UT getting a few breaks along the way. We got ‘em, but they broke the wrong way. And so the 2025 season, for most of us, will be filed in the category of “what might have been”. But now, "what might have been" needs to be replaced with "what needs to be done". You don't get better by hoping, but by doing.
UT is 6-3, and if you’ll forgive me for being a bit on the skeptical side at this point, staring 7-5 in the face. I’ll trust UT in Gainesville when they finally win there, and even though I believe UT is a better team than Vandy, they might come into Neyland for their final game with an outside shot at the CFP. I’ve never drank an entire bottle of Elijah Craig in one sitting, but that just might be the day I have to do it.
Meanwhile, back at the Ranch…Josh Heupel has some tough decisions to make at seasons end. He is, in my opinion, among the top offensive minds in the sport, and a good head coach. But if he’s going to win consistently in the SEC, and compete for conference and national titles, he has to make some adjustments, and some changes. I’m on record as to where I stand on those, so no need to rehash it all here. But Josh clearly needs to find his inner Nick.
I think Heupel would benefit from having a GM on staff. A solid GM can handle the NIL and portal issues, and let Josh spend more time being the head coach. That, coupled with the changes I think he needs to make on the staff, would possibly push UT into the upper tier of the SEC, at which point those more lofty goals are now within reach.
What is clear to me at this point, and to anyone with an unbiased eye, is that what he is doing right now, and throughout the ’25 season, is not working. We can agree to disagree on what needs to be done, but clearly something must be done. This team is actually less than the sum of its’ parts, injured parts included. There’s a chemistry issue here.
UT has been here before. Let’s learn from our previous mistakes and missteps. Fix what needs to be fixed, and trust that which does not. Heupel could be at UT for 15 more years if he wants.
Or 2. It’s up to him.
Y’all be safe out there.
Tin Man
Dirt's Childhood Playmate
- Joined
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We can agree to disagree. At the outset of the season, most of those now growling about “necessary changes” were predicting an 8-4 or 7-5 record for these Vols (with everyone healthy). The consensus was that 2025 was a throw away year.
Now, nine games into the season, with the Vols being the only 3-loss team in the CFP rankings, it’s “self-evident” that there must be changes to the coaching staff for the Vols to meet the expectations of the fans. Nodding in agreement with each other, the self-anointed poobahs proclaim that, with the money being spent, the Vols should be competing for the national title every year. The fevered few seek to infect the many.
All around you is evidence of programs imploding due to this kind of thinking. How many P4 head coaches have been fired? How many of those programs are going to improve with their next coaching hire? How many will be competing for the national championship every year? None. Oh, but there will be chaos…
Hope? CFB is hope eternal. If you lose that aspect of it, it will become soulless.
Danny White and Josh Heupel are the best AD and head football coach that Tennessee has had in a very long time. Their decision making may not be perfect, but it’s better than that of any of the spoiled fans grumbling for changes. I pray that no one in the administration gives any heed to the lot of you. I pray that you snap out of it, have an epiphany, or whatever brings you back to being a true fan of the Tennessee Volunteers with the perspective to find fulfillment and joy in doing so, even when our teams lose a tough one.
Now, nine games into the season, with the Vols being the only 3-loss team in the CFP rankings, it’s “self-evident” that there must be changes to the coaching staff for the Vols to meet the expectations of the fans. Nodding in agreement with each other, the self-anointed poobahs proclaim that, with the money being spent, the Vols should be competing for the national title every year. The fevered few seek to infect the many.
All around you is evidence of programs imploding due to this kind of thinking. How many P4 head coaches have been fired? How many of those programs are going to improve with their next coaching hire? How many will be competing for the national championship every year? None. Oh, but there will be chaos…
Hope? CFB is hope eternal. If you lose that aspect of it, it will become soulless.
Danny White and Josh Heupel are the best AD and head football coach that Tennessee has had in a very long time. Their decision making may not be perfect, but it’s better than that of any of the spoiled fans grumbling for changes. I pray that no one in the administration gives any heed to the lot of you. I pray that you snap out of it, have an epiphany, or whatever brings you back to being a true fan of the Tennessee Volunteers with the perspective to find fulfillment and joy in doing so, even when our teams lose a tough one.
Tin Man
Dirt's Childhood Playmate
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Either I wrote it wrong or you read it wrong. I’m not out on Josh Heupel. I think he is one of the best offensive minds in the game. I think he is a good head coach. But I think there are some details that come along with being a head coach that Josh needs to work on. This is why I think a GM would help quite a bit. I also think Josh needs to replace his defensive coordinator and let that defensive coordinator pick his assistants.
The difference between good and great is attention to detail. The devil, as we know, lies in the details. Josh needs to get better at those details. And he needs to learn how to make hard decisions when hard decisions need to be made.
That’s what I meant.
Tin Man
Dirt's Childhood Playmate
- Joined
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