Realistic Review and Expectations for next year.

[Vol Mayyne]

I won't be happy if we get less than 9 wins.

 

[Govols16]

go vols, that is all

 

[TGVol]

I think one of the two things will happen. Either Dooley will be gone at the end of next year (I think critical game will be Florida - if we win that game confidence will go up and assuming we don't have crazy injuries like this year we will have a great year - 9:3 or even 10:2 is possible). However, if we loose to Florida I think this coaching staff is done - the noise level will become too much to handle and the rest of the year will probably spiral out of control - similar to this year - and then this staff will be out).
Having said this I hope Dooley makes it - he has done a lot of great things to re-establish the credibility of this program and it would be a shame to watch someone else walk in and get credit for what this staff has been building.
I recently watched an interview with Duke's coach K and he seemed to have been in a very similar position early on at Duke (no big resume and first couple of years at Duke around .500 - he said the support and patience university had with him early on was the key for eventually building the Duke dynasty). I believe if Dooley makes it through the next year and goes 8:4 or better he will be at UT for a very long time - similar to his father at UGA - and this is a fantastic scenario we should all hope will take place).

 

[VolinDawgland]

I am not writing this to try to defend or call for Dooley’s head. This season my predictions was 8-4 winning 2 out of 4 with UF, UGA, USCe, Ark and of course winning UK, and Vandy and 3 or 4th in the SECe.

Totally unrealistic even if without the injuries. This year's team was still just too young and thin particularly on the lines to expect to beat 2 of the 4 teams above. We probably get 1 of those and beat Kentucky with a full squad to finish with 7 wins. But 7 was absolute reasonable ceiling for this team.

 

[VolinDawgland]

Good post. I personally think that even with a 9-3 season we could be entering his last year here, personally.

If I had to give a pre-2012 prediction though, I'd blindly say we go 7-5

9-3 gaurantees he stays through his contract and probably gets him an extension.

 

[LazhilUT]

Dooley needs the following 3 scenarios to get fan base support and to keep his job, in my opinion:

1. 8-4 Regular Season, Bowl Win with Overall Record of 9-4
2. 9-3 Regular Season, Bowl Win with Overall Record of 10-3
3. 9-3 Regular Season, Bowl Loss with Overall Record 9-4

The maybes:
1. 7-5 Regular Season, Bowl Win with Overall Record of 8-5 --- If we don't win big games and beat a crappy team at the Bowl Game, I think he's gone and should be gone.
2. 8-4 Regular Season, Bowl Loss with Overall Record of 8-5 --- If we go to a somewhat decent bowl game and then do not show up, I think he's gone and should be gone.

The goodbyes:

1. 7-5 Regular Season Record, Bowl Loss with Overall Record of 7-6 --- Unacceptable
2. 6-6 Regular Season Record, Bowl Win with Overall Record of 7-6 --- Unacceptable
3. 6-6 Regular Season Record, Bowl Loss with Overall Record of 6-7 --- Unacceptable
4. Anything worst than the 3 above are also unacceptable.

That's how I think it should all play out;
I do not expect our top play-makers to get hurt next year...our luck can't be that bad two years in a row.

 

[VolinDawgland]

10-2, possibly 9-3. Is there an echo in here?

Nope...still too thin and unproven on the d-line next year and have significant questions in the secondary and running game to justify that type of record. My over/under for next year's roster is 7.5

 

[VolinDawgland]

Dooley needs the following 3 scenarios to get fan base support and to keep his job, in my opinion:

1. 8-4 Regular Season, Bowl Win with Overall Record of 9-4
2. 9-3 Regular Season, Bowl Win with Overall Record of 10-3
3. 9-3 Regular Season, Bowl Loss with Overall Record 9-4

The maybes:
1. 7-5 Regular Season, Bowl Win with Overall Record of 8-5 --- If we don't win big games and beat a crappy team at the Bowl Game, I think he's gone and should be gone.
2. 8-4 Regular Season, Bowl Loss with Overall Record of 8-5 --- If we go to a somewhat decent bowl game and then do not show up, I think he's gone and should be gone.

The goodbyes:

1. 7-5 Regular Season Record, Bowl Loss with Overall Record of 7-6 --- Unacceptable
2. 6-6 Regular Season Record, Bowl Win with Overall Record of 7-6 --- Unacceptable
3. 6-6 Regular Season Record, Bowl Loss with Overall Record of 6-7 --- Unacceptable
4. Anything worst than the 3 above are also unacceptable.

That's how I think it should all play out;
I do not expect our top play-makers to get hurt next year...our luck can't be that bad two years in a row.

That's pretty close to my thinking. I doubt he survives anything less than 7 wins.

 

[Emvols3]

6-6 probable, 7-5 at best, 4-8 at worse. All riding on the 1st game in ATL and the Mizzou game. All in all we will be looking for a new coach after next season. If not we have def hit rock bottom