Speaking honest about TN football (long read)

[volfan51128]

Alright guys, I know to some; this thread will go over as well as a fart in church. I'll probably get flamed to hell and back over this, but it has to be said.

We were way over hyped coming into this season. I was thinking this all off-season while watching the SEC network, ESPN, the Paul Finebaum show, etc.

I don't know where the media got all its facts from prior to the season starting, but they were way off. I honestly thought, maybe at best an 8-4 season (my $$$ was on 7-5). Now I will admit, the losses thus far have surprised me, but the season isn't over yet. (I'm not thinking 8-4 anymore. lol, we will be lucky to make a bowl game right now) But its not the end of the world!

For those calling for Butch Jones to get fired. This isn't going to happen this year! He WILL be here for at least 1more season. There's no way in hell the University of Tennessee will fork out that much $$$ right now to buy him out. Also, let me ask this...Who would be his replacement? If you say Gruden, you absolutely need to drop the crack pipe right now, and go check into rehab!

Who would the hire be? Who is available right now? Better yet, who would be a potential quality hire at season's end? I don't see anyone out there right now whom would be better at the moment. Further, I don't see a quality coach from any other school willing to drop what they have built to come coach for us. Now we all know this can all change by the end of the season, but calling for his (Butch's) head right now. Kinda crazy! If any of you say Peyton Manning, place the pipe down on the table in front of you, and go check into rehab!

Peyton may become a coach someday, but he is a player right now...not a head coach. I think he may need to be a position coach first, then make the steps sooner or later to being a head coach. So please, rehab NOW! lol

Let's look at the knee jerk reactions on coaching hires thus far. The changes we have made over the last several hires has put us in this dumpster fire where we live today.

I personally feel next season is the potential break out season for us. Do I think in the long run Butch Jones is the answer? maybe/maybe not, but he will be the coach next year. Like it or not! We will have better depth next season, especially if we can haul in another good recruiting class.

As VOL fans, we deserve the wins. God knows, the last several years being a VOL fan have contributed to my drinking, lol.

With the tradition, facilities, etc. we will be back, but building a championship team takes time. Rome was not built in a day people!

I have heard the excuses from Butch about not having enough depth. I do agree with that. Its not so much that we don't have the depth, its we don't have a talented depth chart right now. on the surface, beginning this season, we looked good, but look at our second and third string teams. not good! This all takes time.

Jones will be here next season. Like it or not. The best thing we can do is support our school, our team our coach, and most of all the student athlete who is out there putting it all on the line. This blasting the coach, in which a lot of us are doing, really needs to stop.

I know we all have freedom of speech, but a 17-19 year old seeing this stuff is absolutely not conducive to recruiting. Tell me 1 positive thing that comes out of blasting the team and coaches on these forums and social media? There is nothing positive about it. (it may make you feel better, but it doesn't help the situation).

Let me finish with this; a lot of you don't understand how well you have it. I have lived in the state of TN for 3 years in the last 20+ years of my life. I cannot go to the games regularly, I cant just go down the street to the local sports store and get me some orange, I cant even get Bristol tix yet! lol but by-God IF I WERE IN TN, I WOULD BE AT THE STADIUM!!!! WIN OR LOSE!!!! Why? Because its my team, its where I'm from and by-God, I'm proud to be from Tennessee! And tailgating at a VOLS game is freaking awesome! Pass the apple pie please! lol

Anyhow, I just wanted to share my thoughts. Go ahead...Flame away! I WILL be there next season. Win or lose, I'll be back in east TN, and I will support my team regardless of who the coach is, depth chart, win/lose record etc. Why? Because I'm all VOL til I die!

 

[Vol logic]

Good post but won't go over well. People don't want to hear youth and depth issues but they are absolutely valid. Critical costly plays made by freshman which is what happens with youth but the instant gratification world we live in combined with the past decade of mediocrity adds more fuel to the fire. Yes, we are at 2-3 with a combined point loss of 12 but in the recent past that number would be 50. Yes, Arky lost to Toledo but look in the AP at 22 and who do you see? Who else do you see in the top 10? Winning is the only way to fix this and unfortunately these next two games are going to be very difficult. Kicking another coach to the curb at this point would be a major setback to say the least. Let's get some players healthy and see what happens.

 

[Chilmonty]

Too Tall.....I mean long! :blink:



.

 

[bellevue]

The internet is an outlet for me to get this crap out of my system. My friends and my SO do not want to hear it from me, and this is how I deal with the disappointment. Stop telling me how to act.

 

[tennvols77]

Truth is we have been an average to above mediocre football program for over a decade.

 

[Volunteer_Kirby]

The idea is that if Jones gets fired this year then he would be terminated for cause. It's all behind the idea that we can avoid the absolutely freaking ridiculous 12 million buyout that we've put on our head coach. Until those rumors get squashed I have no problem talking about potential replacements.

 

[gasguy98]

Jim McElwain and Jim Harbaugh say hello.

 

[1allvol]

Guess what, we don't have Mclewain or Harbaugh, or Saban or Gruden, we have Butch. If some of you would have gotten your way 3 years ago, we would have Charlie Strong. Many of us got our way with dreams of instant championships when we all drew our pitchforks and demanded Coach Fulmer be fired. It is what it is. Mclewain is in one of the most talent rich areas in the country, Harbaugh is a proven coach, Saban is proven and took over (arguably) one of the best jobs in the country...Butch is our Coach. Like it or not. UT Football is better now than it was 3 or 4 years ago, its not where we all want it to be, and maybe it will take a lot longer than we hoped, but not every program turns around on a dime, most don't. Im not a sunshine pumper, Im just a Tennessee Fan and see the reality of the situation. Is it better for me to moan and complain and demand that heads begin to roll, or is it just as productive to get behind this team and try to remain positive and support them? Believe it or not, Cheek doesn't care what you think, and Hart cant write the buyout check...and even if he did, do you think they are gonna go spend $7 million a year on someone that's proven? Nope. They would take another chance on a low budget "diamond in the rough". I like our chances better right now. Its 5 games in to year 3...and odds are we will be 2-5 in a couple of weeks, but there remains a 5 game stretch of games that we have a better chance of winning, and finishing this thing at 7-5, which is where most knowledgable people had us to begin with. If we finish below 500, then its time to light the fire, but for now, it doesn't do anything but hurt our team. Also, call it an excuse, but it is legitimate, losing Magitt, losing North, Pig, McNeil, and Croom hurt a lot more than we realized it would. You don't like the youth and injury excuse but they are valid. Also turnover at OC didn't help, especially with the replacement. Flame away but hear the truth.

 

[gasguy98]

"UT Football is better now than it was 3 or 4 years ago"

The win loss record disagrees with you.

 

[RollerVol]

Good post OP and I appreciate it ,as I believe many on here will, but, truthfully, it's still about wins and losses though...don't you agree, but, no pressure.

GO VOLS!

 

[howie]

"UT Football is better now than it was 3 or 4 years ago"

The win loss record disagrees with you.

We also bought out a few harder matchups in those years so same record more difficult schedule. Plus Dooley actually had upperclassmen to lean on. Our depth on this team is mostly sophmores and freshman.