PROGRESS and Entitlement

#1
D

Dewey

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#1
I am proud as hell about the game today. I absolutely loved it. We walked into a place that is the Mecca of College Football and battled with arguably the best team of the last 4 weeks. Tennessee was a double digit underdog, yet, had the lead with 5 mins left to go. I saw the progress and the character of a team that was given no chance. They were not intimidated. They did not shy away from the scene. They did not get punched in the mouth and stay down. This team showed heart. They showed the makeup of a championship football team.

Over the last 9 years (save the Kiffin year), Alabama has beaten Tennessee religiously. And we aren't talking close games. We are talking 20 pt + demolitions that often made us want to hide out gear in the closet for a day. Today, we faced an Alabama team that had "maybe the greatest defense Saban has had at Alabama." Yet, we were the ones who will give Alabama their best game all year. The 15 pt underdog. The team that is considered an "automatic" win by most Alabama fans. We were able to strike a little fear in their hearts, and Alabama fans know the fear of Tennessee. Alabama fears one team historically. That team has beaten Alabama more than any other team in history...and the sleeping giant is starting to awake.

The tide is turning.


Cold hard facts for the Negavols and moral victories. No, I am not big on moral victories. No, I don't believe every kid that plays on a Rec team deserves a participation trophy.

But if you don't take with you some sense of belief after the past 3 weeks, then you need a gut check. Coming down from 21 to beat Georgia, and then going toe to toe with Alabama is something to hang your hat on. This is not the Tennessee of old. Plain and simple. But that does not mean we settle for Vandy expectations. The cold hard facts are that UT led in the 4th Q vs Alabama for the first time since 2006 today. UT has not beaten FL since 2004. Not won an SEC champ in over 10 years. Not been to an SEC champ game since 2007. Lost to Vandy twice in 5 years. No 9 win season since Fulmer left.

But where was Alabama 15 years ago when they were coming over 3-9 and 4-8 seasons regularly? Football is a cyclical sport and UT is on the upswing. There is no need to live in the past and act like we are entitled to anything. Championships are earned, not given. Just because we wear the Power T on our helmet does not mean that we deserve to win anymore than another team. Hard work and perseverance make the champion, and UT is instilling that in the program after it was forgotten many years ago.

Go VOLS!!!
 
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#2
#2
Right on. We don't have ant high hatted players on the team. They seem to have bought in to the tradition and they give it the respect it deserves. The culture has changed before our eyes. These players don't put themselves above the team. They give their all for the program and it showed today. Damn refreshing in this day and age.
 
#3
#3
That's all great and good. No way we lose to Kentucky right? But let's just say for arguments sake that we do, do you think you'll feel the same way? Do you think all these super passionate fans that feel so good after a loss will be brimming with all this pride and optimism about the future?
 
#4
#4
Yes I am so pumped about a loss. I get the whole, "Im so happy we competed" but to say I'm happy about a loss is asinine. Not to say that I'm calling for Butch's head but anyone who's happy is an ass. We've improved but Palardy.... I'm sorry; old habits, Medley screwed us out of that game.
 
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#5
#5
FLSTF-VOL said:
That's all great and good. No way we lose to Kentucky right? But let's just say for arguments sake that we do, do you think you'll feel the same way? Do you think all these super passionate fans that feel so good after a loss will be brimming with all this pride and optimism about the future?
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I don't think the OP was talking about losing to KY!!!! Why would you even go there? That is the problem for christs sake. Enjoy the progress and we will worry about KY when we play them. What if?????? What if????? What if?????? Geez get a grip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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#6
#6
torchpowers said:
I don't think the OP was talking about losing to KY!!!! Why would you even go there? That is the problem for christs sake. Enjoy the progress and we will worry about KY when we play them. What if?????? What if????? What if?????? Geez get a grip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Enjoy the progress of losing? WTF? Your all acting like we won something! We didn't, we lost, we are 3-4, have lost 9 in a row to Alabama and something like 20 in a row to top ten teams! Your brimming with pride over a loss? Your celebrating progress in a loss? That's the freaking problem for Christ Sake! Most on here already have us winning out based on a freaking loss! If anyone needs to get a grip it's those of you that are "feeling good" about this loss.

"But at the University of Tennessee there are no moral victories,” Jones said.
 
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#7
#7
FLSTF-VOL said:
Enjoy the progress of losing? WTF? Your all acting like we won something! We didn't, we lost, we are 3-4, have lost 9 in a row to Alabama and something like 20 in a row to top ten teams! Your brimming with pride over a loss? Your celebrating progress in a loss? That's the freaking problem for Christ Sake! Most on here already have us winning out based on a freaking loss! If anyone needs to get a grip it's those of you that are "feeling good" about this loss.


"But at the University of Tennessee there are no moral victories,” Jones said.
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You are upset by people who are encouraged by visible progress on the field and no in the W/L column. Like it or not, as of this moment, Tennessee would be favored in the rest of our games. And those games are against teams that are not all that good.

But why in the world do you bring out the "if we lose to Kentucky" line? It seems that you are wishing for a loss somewhere along the next five games just to prove you were right. That's pretty pathetic.
 
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#9
#9
FLSTF-VOL said:
That's all great and good. No way we lose to Kentucky right? But let's just say for arguments sake that we do, do you think you'll feel the same way? Do you think all these super passionate fans that feel so good after a loss will be brimming with all this pride and optimism about the future?
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We better not lose another game this year. We are the better team than the rest on our schedule and the boys know how to win now. I will be extremely disappointed if we drop another game this year.

We are getting better and the coaches did a good job yesterday. We have to get touchdowns because Medley is not going to help us much this year.
 
#10
#10
dhb92 said:
Yes I am so pumped about a loss. I get the whole, "Im so happy we competed" but to say I'm happy about a loss is asinine. Not to say that I'm calling for Butch's head but anyone who's happy is an ass. We've improved but Palardy.... I'm sorry; old habits, Medley screwed us out of that game.
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Agree. Medley is just plain horrible and disappointing. I hope he pulls his head out of his a## before next season. Butch may need to recruit another kicker this year.
 
#11
#11
There is a reason most people said Jones should get 5 years minimum when he was hired. This rebuilding project takes a long time and if you cannot see progress you probably are an idiot.

Just keep recruiting and letting these kids mature in the weight room. The wins are coming.
 
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#12
#12
I think it caught the announcers off guard when we constantly drove the field on them with ease. Passing or running we seemed to have something that worked until the end when the line forgot to block which sucks because they were doing so good before that.
 
#13
#13
led0321 said:
There is a reason most people said Jones should get 5 years minimum when he was hired. This rebuilding project takes a long time and if you cannot see progress you probably are an idiot.

Just keep recruiting and letting these kids mature in the weight room. The wins are coming.
Click to expand...

This is also the SEC. The other rebuilds came in leagues that don't have powerhouses just a different hot team each year.
 
#14
#14
It was such a close game, that was ours for the taking, we covered, but for me this is not about competing, or keeping it close, it's all about the wins, we lost that sucks, no true Vol fan is happy, enjoyed, or is lovin that part of it, but to see the Bama crowd sitting and sad after we took the lead, that's why I went to the game(and to see some elite football). The only problem was that it was short lived, they scored and then won, and that sucked, and then I was sitting and sad, I hope our team is mad, and are back to work, all days off are cancelled till after the bowl, get to work, it's time to pour on more steam.

Go Vols!
 
#15
#15
Entitlement? Where is this entitlement you speak of after the last decade of Tennessee football? We have fans now that get giddy over a close loss. If anything we're becoming more like the pansies out West.. Happy to get a participation trophy.

Tennessee- Moral victory U.. Home of the "Next Year" slogan.. Need to get some shirts made up that says. Next Year.. Should get some mileage out of those.
 
#16
#16
This game was definitely ours for the taking. We had opportunity after opportunity to win this game! 4th qtr crunch time has killed our Vols this year!
 
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