Tennessee Football - At A Turning Point

[KingNick865]

While I've never been a big Dooley fan, I've always at least attempted to give him the benefit of the doubt, even if I didn't think he deserved it.

Needless to say, his first two years on Rocky Top have tested my patience in ways I never thought a Tennessee team could.

This team is young. This team has virtually no senior leadership. Those are the reasons (or excuses, depending on your viewpoint) that Tennessee has struggled this year. It's incredibly frustrating to watch us get blown away by our rivals, and I've given Dooley the benefit in those situations.

However, I think this team, and this coach, is at a crossroads right now. We line up against Vanderbilt tonight. By most accounts, this should be a pretty even matchup. Vanderbilt isn't as purely talented as we are, but they have more experience.

If Tennessee loses this game, a few things will start to happen. First off, VolNation will go on full meltdown mode, and the servers will end up being on full overload for the rest of the weekend.

Secondly, I think you start to see even the most ardent of Dooley supporters start to question his ability to lead this team. The ones that have soured on him will go on "I told you so" mode for the rest of the season, and will probably last throughout the spring and summer months.

If UT wins, they most likely end up beating Kentucky and head to some bowl game. A win in a bowl game would give Tennessee a winning record, and would lead the fanbase to believe that this program is finally turning the corner towards where it used to be.

This game will either represent a nadir that Tennessee football hasn't experienced since the pre-Dickey era, or a turning point that could lead Tennessee to some momentum into the off-season and lead the fans to being hopeful in the 2012 pre-season.

And to think, all of this over a game versus Vanderbilt. Crazy times. Crazy times.

 

[General Jack]

I agree, if we win, we most likely win again next week and play in a bowl game, might even salvage a winning season.

We lose.... and its just plain bad. We hit rock bottom again, for the 4th time in the past 6 years.

 

[ncvol17]

with our current societal wishy washiness in most all matters I have to agree with you. The waves run high or low depending on the shallowness of the bottom.

 

[Dagreek1998]

As long as we hold on to everyone we have and give these freshmen another 5 to 6 years to develop, we will be great again.

I mean if we have gotten to the point that Vandy is a better team than us with our history, facilites, and players, then the only thing they have better than us is coaches.

I know, pour another cup of Dool-Aid and get ready to start puking out excuses.

GO VANDY, PUT US OUT OF OUR MISERY:good!:

 

[VolMaster14]

As long as we hold on to everyone we have and give these freshmen another 5 to 6 years to develop, we will be great again.

I mean if we have gotten to the point that Vandy is a better team than us with our history, facilites, and players, then the only thing they have better than us is coaches.

I know, pour another cup of Dool-Aid and get ready to start puking out excuses.

GO VANDY, PUT US OUT OF OUR MISERY:good!:

Proves you're not a Tennessee fan, be gone troll!!

 

[TENNFATZ]

No No No we have to use youth, inexperince and a new coach as excuses we dont win. The excuse didnt work to well for Ok State last night however!!!

 

[duckman777]

As long as we hold on to everyone we have and give these freshmen another 5 to 6 years to develop, we will be great again.

I mean if we have gotten to the point that Vandy is a better team than us with our history, facilites, and players, then the only thing they have better than us is coaches.

I know, pour another cup of Dool-Aid and get ready to start puking out excuses.

GO VANDY, PUT US OUT OF OUR MISERY:good!:

Step 1
Unwad panties

Step 2
Log off Volnation

Step 3
Look at the BCS standings so you can find a current top team to root for and hop on their bandwagon.

 

[Cheese Donkey]

I am pro-Dooley, but I will be severely disappointed if we lose to Vandy today. I will still be pro-Dooley, but with more doubts than optimism. Either way, he still gets next year to show us a glimmer of what is expected of a UT coach.

These past two years the cards were stacked against him to the point where what is usually expected around here was practically impossible.

 

[Dagreek1998]

Proves you're not a Tennessee fan, be gone troll!!

Swallowing the same load of crap every game so we dont ruffle the feathers of a coach that cannot be anyone but SunBelt teams. Yes, that just spells true fan.

Your a joke, everyone, keep supporting Dooley so we dont ever hit rock bottom.

You are offically classified as idiots. Hey anyone remember Ron Zook. I think he needed more time. He recruited well and even had winning records. Still, being ok was not good enough for some teams.

We have a fan base that watches this team get worse ever week and is OK with being horrible.

WAKE UP

 

[TracyR1]

After the way KY. played GA. today, well... I just hope this team has some understanding of what they're playing for the next 2 weeks.

 

[General Jack]

There is no excuse for us to lose to Vandy tonight, none.

Vandy has less talent. Vandy has a first year coach. Vandy may have more experienced players, but they are in year 1.

Most of our guys have almost 2 full seasons of experience at this point. I don't think that the "inexperience" card has much value at this point. Even our freshman have 10 games under their belts. They've been in the battles, they have the scars.

No excuses.

 

[TENNFATZ]

+1

 

[Crew]

Win or lose, my opinion on Dooley really won't change.

I like him and he's a good recruiter. ....but the odds of him being here long term are not in his favor.

Having said that, I'm willing to give him more than two seasons to do the job.

 

[tenn_opie]

i still can't figure out how so many people have been down on CDD in his 2nd yr and he's been without 2 of the best players in the SEC for most of the year. If we stay fairly healthy next year, and limp to another 6-6 record, i, a pro dooley man, will also be calling for his head. But you have to cut him some slack for this year. Take Weeden and blackmon out of Ok. ST's roster. What's their record then?

 

[duckman777]

Swallowing the same load of crap every game so we dont ruffle the feathers of a coach that cannot be anyone but SunBelt teams. Yes, that just spells true fan.

Your a joke, everyone, keep supporting Dooley so we dont ever hit rock bottom.

You are offically classified as idiots. Hey anyone remember Ron Zook. I think he needed more time. He recruited well and even had winning records. Still, being ok was not good enough for some teams.

We have a fan base that watches this team get worse ever week and is OK with being horrible.

WAKE UP

We also have a small group of our "fan base" that somehow ignores the situation we are currently in, and somehow thinks that we should competing for an SEC title this year. Get real.

 

[Daloth]

What about the most likely outcome? We win out, and then lose the bowl game?

 

[Cheese Donkey]

We also have a small group of our "fan base" that somehow ignores the situation we are currently in, and somehow thinks that we should competing for an SEC title this year. Get real.

More like troll base. There are always fans from other schools going on other teams message boards posing as one of them, then trying to stir up trouble. This board is no different.

 

[VolMaster14]

Swallowing the same load of crap every game so we dont ruffle the feathers of a coach that cannot be anyone but SunBelt teams. Yes, that just spells true fan.

Your a joke, everyone, keep supporting Dooley so we dont ever hit rock bottom.

You are offically classified as idiots. Hey anyone remember Ron Zook. I think he needed more time. He recruited well and even had winning records. Still, being ok was not good enough for some teams.

We have a fan base that watches this team get worse ever week and is OK with being horrible.

WAKE UP

You're the joke you idiot! I dont care how much you hate a coach, when you pull for the other team to win, you're not a fan, you're a tool!

 

[General Jack]

Win or lose, my opinion on Dooley really won't change.

I like him and he's a good recruiter. ....but the odds of him being here long term are not in his favor.

Having said that, I'm willing to give him more than two seasons to do the job.

I agree with the exception of 2 more seasons. I think that he's got to show us something next year to stick around. Schedule eases up, our lineup will be dominated with juniors, including multiple 3 year starters on the o-line.

I really want Dooley to succeed but he hasn't shown me anything to suggest that he will.

At this point next year, fulmer will be off our payroll. We will be in a position to hire a proven coach.

 

[VolFootballlover]

There is no excuse for us to lose to Vandy tonight, none.

Vandy has less talent. Vandy has a first year coach. Vandy may have more experienced players, but they are in year 1.

Most of our guys have almost 2 full seasons of experience at this point. I don't think that the "inexperience" card has much value at this point. Even our freshman have 10 games under their belts. They've been in the battles, they have the scars.

No excuses.

I can promise the same 10 guys will be on here laying it on thick how it's not Dooleys fault, we are young ,no depth if we had hunter back etc. There comes a time when this man is gona have to frigging out coach someone

 

[BeecherVol]

Im not sure if it will be a turning point or more of the same.

Dooley's tenure so far has been on the house. He has not lost any games (that on paper) he should have won. He also has not out schemed a better team and coached up a win that he was not expected to.

Year 3 is rapidly approaching and will tell you which way we are really going. So far its been about improving what you have, and recruiting better players. Next year Ws and Ls will the measuring stick.

Tonight is the start of a spring board. UT is not head and shoulders above Vandy, but should still beat them on their home field. KY is not very good, but UT will get their best punch. None the less, UT should win that games as well. That gives UT another month of practice and a chance to finish a rough year with 3 wins. Of course springboards work both ways. Tonight could knock out a bunch of what is listed above and going into 2012 on a bad note.

From tonight on, Dooley is gonna prove whether he belongs here or not.

Good luck coach.

 

[General Jack]

I can promise the same 10 guys will be on here laying it on thick how it's not Dooleys fault, we are young ,no depth if we had hunter back etc. There comes a time when this man is gona have to frigging out coach someone

Dooley has the opportunity tonight, I hope that he seizes it.

 

[arkyvol]

i expect dooley to live down to his resume.

 

[StoVol]

I really dug the use of nadir in the op

 

[DjCrenshaw]

No No No we have to use youth, inexperince and a new coach as excuses we dont win. The excuse didnt work to well for Ok State last night however!!!

Ok State sucks quit using them as the measuring stick. Unless you want to point out we could choke like they did.