Return to Excellence

#1
Freiwillige

Freiwillige

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#1
Can anyone recall a program that 1) were great to, 2) regressed to mediocre/bad for a decade, and 3) later returned to excellence (consistent top-20, New Year's Day Bowl games and/or Playoffs).

The only school that I can think of is Notre Dame, which has advantages as an independent, its history, etc.

And my jury is still out on whether Notre Dame is really back or not.

Texas might become another example, although they were not really down except for the three years of Coach Strong.

Maybe Nebraska IF Frost works out, although I don't think they regressed like we have.

Penn State was down briefly but back very quickly.

I would appreciate any examples that you can think of.
 
#5
#5
In terms of major teams that won a national title around the time frame we did, but haven't since:

Oklahoma
Nebraska
Michigan
Notre Dame
Miami
Texas
Penn State
Washington

I feel better about our situation than Miami, Penn State, Washington, and Nebraska. I think we have distinct program advantages and an easier path to #1 in the future.
Texas, Michigan, Notre Dame, and obviously Oklahoma have all shown a couple flashes of returning to the top sooner than later, and I feel they have quite a leg up on us right now.

In the grand scheme of things, 4-8 vs. 7-5 doesn't really mean much. File that all in the middling category. I enjoyed our 2 recent 9 win seasons. Perhaps because the surrounding years were so bad, but I considered both the 2015 and 2016 Tennessee teams to be pretty good. I think we may have peaked around the Top 5 one of those years.


Anyway, it can be done. I'll cheer regardless of where we end up.
 
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#7
#7
Freiwillige said:
Can anyone recall a program that 1) were great to, 2) regressed to mediocre/bad for a decade, and 3) later returned to excellence (consistent top-20, New Year's Day Bowl games and/or Playoffs).

The only school that I can think of is Notre Dame, which has advantages as an independent, its history, etc.

And my jury is still out on whether Notre Dame is really back or not.

Texas might become another example, although they were not really down except for the three years of Coach Strong.

Maybe Nebraska IF Frost works out, although I don't think they regressed like we have.

Penn State was down briefly but back very quickly.

I would appreciate any examples that you can think of.
Click to expand...
Alabama absolutely was.
 
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#8
#8
SalVolinus said:
In terms of major teams that won a national title around the time frame we did, but haven't since:

Oklahoma
Nebraska
Michigan
Notre Dame
Miami
Texas
Penn State
Washington

I feel better about our situation than Miami, Penn State, Washington, and Nebraska. I think we have distinct program advantages and an easier path to #1 in the future.
Texas, Michigan, Notre Dame, and obviously Oklahoma have all shown a couple flashes of returning to the top sooner than later, and I feel they have quite a leg up on us right now.

In the grand scheme of things, 4-8 vs. 7-5 doesn't really mean much. File that all in the middling category. I enjoyed our 2 recent 9 win seasons. Perhaps because the surrounding years were so bad, but I considered both the 2015 and 2016 Tennessee teams to be pretty good. I think we may have peaked around the Top 5 one of those years.


Anyway, it can be done. I'll cheer regardless of where we end up.
Click to expand...

I appreciate your optimism and positive outlook, and I’m with you in cheering for my beloved Vols until I’m gone.

That being said, I beg to differ regarding the 4-8 vs. 7-5 position. 7-5 is a winning record, and usually means an invitation to a bowl game. That’s more practice, more exposure, and more money for the University. Two or three more losing seasons in a row doesn’t bode well for a team that is competing with Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Auburn, and even South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt for top tier recruits.

We need 9,10, and 11 wins per season and at least an occasional appearance in the Conference Championship game to get back where we once were, and where we desperately want to be. I hate to think that we’ll all settle for mediocrity for a once proud football program. My four grandkids never even remember a good Tennessee football team, yet they boldly wear the Orange and carry on in the midst of this current storm. I hope they are rewarded for their loyalty before I’m gone...
 
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#11
#11
The hardest thing to figure honestly because we dont know the players mindset. Last year did the players quit vs Missouri and Vanderbilt? Or did they just get out coached and out played? How do they beat Auburn and Kentucky but not give a rat's tail about the last 2? Unless your a player in the locker room or know someone that is we will never know for sure.
 
#13
#13
Alabama 10-year record after finishing 1st in the West in 1996

1997 4-7
1998 7-5
1999 10-3 (Conference Champions)
2000 3-8
2001 7-5
2002 10-3
2003 4-9
2004 6-6
2005 10-2
2006 6-7
2007 7-6

Total: 74-61

Tennessee 10-year record after finishing 1st in the East in 2004

2005 5-6
2006 9-4
2007 10-4 (Division Champions)
2008 5-7
2009 7-6
2010 6-7
2011 5-7
2012 5-7
2013 5-7
2014 7-6
2015 9-4


Total: 73-65
 
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#14
#14
Mr. Orange said:
Alabama 10-year record after finishing 1st in the West in 1996

1997 4-7
1998 7-5
1999 10-3 (Conference Champions)
2000 3-8
2001 7-5
2002 10-3
2003 4-9
2004 6-6
2005 10-2
2006 6-7
2007 7-6

Total: 74-61

Tennessee 10-year record after finishing 1st in the East in 2004

2005 5-6
2006 9-4
2007 10-4 (Division Champions)
2008 5-7
2009 7-6
2010 6-7
2011 5-7
2012 5-7
2013 5-7
2014 7-6
2015 9-4


Total: 73-65
Click to expand...

Interesting.
 
#15
#15
Mr. Orange said:
Alabama 10-year record after finishing 1st in the West in 1996

1997 4-7
1998 7-5
1999 10-3 (Conference Champions)
2000 3-8
2001 7-5
2002 10-3
2003 4-9
2004 6-6
2005 10-2
2006 6-7
2007 7-6

Total: 74-61

Tennessee 10-year record after finishing 1st in the East in 2004

2005 5-6
2006 9-4
2007 10-4 (Division Champions)
2008 5-7
2009 7-6
2010 6-7
2011 5-7
2012 5-7
2013 5-7
2014 7-6
2015 9-4


Total: 73-65
Click to expand...

That is some nice perspective but unfortunately we didn’t improve after 2015. In fact, we’ve continued to regress (with the exception of 2016).
 
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#16
#16
Let's hope we're not Pitt or GT. I do think Fl St has the potential to have some real issues in our realm of being bad...except for the fact that their conference schedule is much easier than UT. My opinion is UT has too much money, support and resources to truly disappear permanently off the relevant college football landscape.
Pittsburgh 5 national titles
From 1915 through 1938, under the legendary Pop Warner and under Jock Sutherland -- a coach Gen. Robert Neyland thought to be the best ever -- the Panthers walked among the college football elite. In 1937, they won the second AP title despite a tie with Fordham; they might have won the first, in 1936, if not for a tie with Fordham. (The teams tied in 1935 too, but there was no AP poll.) But Sutherland resigned in a dispute with the university after the 1938 season. And save for a decade under Johnny Majors and Jackie Sherrill from the mid-1970s to mid-1980s, the Panthers have been just another program. It's hard to win in the shadow of an NFL team; Pitt is a tenant at the Steelers' Heinz Field.

Georgia Tech 3 national titles
From 1904 through 1966, Georgia Tech employed only three coaches, each of whom won at least 100 games and ended up in the College Football Hall of Fame. After John Heisman, Bill Alexander and Bobby Dodd, which is also after Tech left the SEC in 1964, the Ramblin' Wreck's fortunes have been more wreck than ramblin'. Bobby Ross won a share of the 1991 national title, and under George O'Leary, Georgia Tech made Florida State sweat to win the ACC in the late 1990s. Now it's Geoff Collins' turn to live up to a storied legacy.
 
#18
#18
Mr. Orange said:
Alabama 10-year record after finishing 1st in the West in 1996

1997 4-7
1998 7-5
1999 10-3 (Conference Champions)
2000 3-8
2001 7-5
2002 10-3
2003 4-9
2004 6-6
2005 10-2
2006 6-7
2007 7-6

Total: 74-61

Tennessee 10-year record after finishing 1st in the East in 2004

2005 5-6
2006 9-4
2007 10-4 (Division Champions)
2008 5-7
2009 7-6
2010 6-7
2011 5-7
2012 5-7
2013 5-7
2014 7-6
2015 9-4


Total: 73-65
Click to expand...
actually pretty good point. And, I suppose, I'd be able to stomach a less than stellar Pruitt year 2, if we can see the team getting better and Frosh gaining steam, and playing with effort and fundamentals. I really do like Pruitt and staff and their abilities just seem alot more grounded in success that is required to be top level successful, and as a whole, his first two recruit classes. Guess it could be we are just "that weak" in the trenches, and it's just going to take more time...but need to see the effort and improvement. I just can't get that Ga St total dysfunction out of my head...if we're a "no show" in fundamentals and effort again Sat (didn't say win/lose), Pruitt may not be the guy.
 
#19
#19
BOB in GA said:
I appreciate your optimism and positive outlook, and I’m with you in cheering for my beloved Vols until I’m gone.

That being said, I beg to differ regarding the 4-8 vs. 7-5 position. 7-5 is a winning record, and usually means an invitation to a bowl game. That’s more practice, more exposure, and more money for the University. Two or three more losing seasons in a row doesn’t bode well for a team that is competing with Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Auburn, and even South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt for top tier recruits.

We need 9,10, and 11 wins per season and at least an occasional appearance in the Conference Championship game to get back where we once were, and where we desperately want to be. I hate to think that we’ll all settle for mediocrity for a once proud football program. My four grandkids never even remember a good Tennessee football team, yet they boldly wear the Orange and carry on in the midst of this current storm. I hope they are rewarded for their loyalty before I’m gone...
Click to expand...

I agree completely. I'd like to just get back to considering Kentucky and Vanderbilt gimmes. That alone will feel great.
 
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#21
#21
maotai said:
Tennessee mid 70's to mid 80's.
Click to expand...
True...and maybe it's just that it's when I grew up being a UT fan in the 70's. But, even those bad teams all seemed to have some stars who I followed with passion...Jimmy Streater, Stanley Morgan, Hubert Simpson, Anthony Hancock, Willie Gault, Reggie, Bill Bates, Jonnie Jones, Roland James, Larry Seivers...all of which had some really bad seasons. Problem is, I could put any of the mentioned players on this year's team, and they're better than who we have on our squad this year. Johnny built energy around stars. I remember buying a getting a tear away cotton Anthony Hancock number jersey which, in my mind made me a back yard football star. If we're selling UT jerseys of current vol players, who's jersey is the 10 year old kid going to want to wear?
 
#22
#22
Mr. Orange said:
Alabama 10-year record after finishing 1st in the West in 1996

1997 4-7
1998 7-5
1999 10-3 (Conference Champions)
2000 3-8
2001 7-5
2002 10-3
2003 4-9
2004 6-6
2005 10-2
2006 6-7
2007 7-6

Total: 74-61

Tennessee 10-year record after finishing 1st in the East in 2004

2005 5-6
2006 9-4
2007 10-4 (Division Champions)
2008 5-7
2009 7-6
2010 6-7
2011 5-7
2012 5-7
2013 5-7
2014 7-6
2015 9-4


Total: 73-65
Click to expand...
We just decided to keep on losing
 
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#24
#24
A lot of the success from 92 to 2001 was due to rare, once a generation type players. Namely Heath Shuler and Peyton Manning. One led to the other, then Peyton's brilliance carried over for a few more recruiting cycles. I'm afraid the further we get away from Manning the worse it's going to get until we hit the lottery again. We need our version of a Tim Tebow or Cam Newton before this thing turns back around, and I don't see them on this squad.
 
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