albedo33
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2007
- Messages
- 665
- Likes
- 212
As a Vol fan since the 1950s, I've seen teams in orange that didn't have the talent, speed, or experience of the opponent. We all know that this happens. You can't win 'em all.
But what I will never accept is a team in orange that quits playing. And this is the most disturbing trend in the Dooley tenure at UT. We saw it against Oregon. We saw it last year against Arkansas and Kentucky (although the Vols technically didn't quit during the KY game - they never wanted to play in the first place).
And last night, before 100K home fans; before a national TV audience; in the most important game in recent years at Tennessee, we saw the Vols quit again. Bray the QB quit playing; so did many others. Players don't quit playing their best because they lack talent; nor do they quit because of inexperience.
They quit because the HC and his staff lets them quit. Quitting is in the mentality of the team and its coaches. Napoleon once said to the effect, "I don't need to know the general opposing me in battle. When I see his army, then I know the general."
So when we see a Vol team that quits in the second half or when the game turns against them, then we know the coach. The sunshine-pumpers have a list of excuses for Dooley's failures as long as my arm: the boys are inexperienced; we lack talent at position X. But what excuse can one make for a coach whose team quits on him time and again?
Florida isn't the last good team UT will face this season, or even the best. No one knows what will be the score when UT plays UGA, Bama, USC, MSU, or Mizzou. But based on recent history, if UT falls behind in any of those games in the 2nd half, the Vols will almost certainly give up. They will quit playing for Derek Dooley.
The team is, in essence, delivering the most damning indictment of all against its coaches and especially Derek Dooley. We fans always whine and complain. But when the players themselves quit playing; when they give up before the game is over, then everyone (including AD Dave Hart), knows all they need to know about the leadership of Derek Dooley.
But what I will never accept is a team in orange that quits playing. And this is the most disturbing trend in the Dooley tenure at UT. We saw it against Oregon. We saw it last year against Arkansas and Kentucky (although the Vols technically didn't quit during the KY game - they never wanted to play in the first place).
And last night, before 100K home fans; before a national TV audience; in the most important game in recent years at Tennessee, we saw the Vols quit again. Bray the QB quit playing; so did many others. Players don't quit playing their best because they lack talent; nor do they quit because of inexperience.
They quit because the HC and his staff lets them quit. Quitting is in the mentality of the team and its coaches. Napoleon once said to the effect, "I don't need to know the general opposing me in battle. When I see his army, then I know the general."
So when we see a Vol team that quits in the second half or when the game turns against them, then we know the coach. The sunshine-pumpers have a list of excuses for Dooley's failures as long as my arm: the boys are inexperienced; we lack talent at position X. But what excuse can one make for a coach whose team quits on him time and again?
Florida isn't the last good team UT will face this season, or even the best. No one knows what will be the score when UT plays UGA, Bama, USC, MSU, or Mizzou. But based on recent history, if UT falls behind in any of those games in the 2nd half, the Vols will almost certainly give up. They will quit playing for Derek Dooley.
The team is, in essence, delivering the most damning indictment of all against its coaches and especially Derek Dooley. We fans always whine and complain. But when the players themselves quit playing; when they give up before the game is over, then everyone (including AD Dave Hart), knows all they need to know about the leadership of Derek Dooley.
