Tennessee Football is done

[volsfan24018]

It hurts me to say this, but it's time we face the facts as a fanbase. This program will never be relevant in the SEC again. At least not any time soon. Bama and Georgia are getting too many elite athletes at too quick of a pace and Florida is about to be dominant again with Florida State and Miami falling apart along with them having the 2nd best coach in the SEC at the helm. Combine that with having to play 1 other team out of the west every year and a decent South Carolina program that seems to be improving, and it doesn't make for a promising outcome. There's no reason to think recruiting will pick up any time soon either. 7-5 doesn't sell any better than 5-7 when you're going up against Florida, Georgia, Bama, Auburn, and LSU for talent. Not to mention very few proven coaches want to coach in Knoxville. There may be years where an 9-3 finish happens, but there's no possibility of us going to Atlanta over the next 5-10 years unless it's for a kickoff game

Your posting abilities should be done.

 

[Orange defense]

Tennessee football is not dead! I see us winning the SEC again sometime in the near future. As soon as 2046 to be exact.

 

[Orange defense]

 

[VolforFootball]

Our only hope is a Pruitt / Kiffin combo. They can get it done.

I wish. Kiffin already did the co-ordinator thing, and he nailed it. He's a HC now, and is doing well where he is. The next move for him should only be for a better HC gig. And he knows this.

 

[Behr]

I wish. Kiffin already did the co-ordinator thing, and he nailed it. He's a HC now, and is doing well where he is. The next move for him should only be for a better HC gig. And he knows this.

He had a great year in 2018. Knock'em dead Kiffin.

 

[VolforFootball]

He had a great year in 2018. Knock'em dead Kiffin.

Yeah I like Kiffin. From Kiffin-Dooley-Butch-Pruitt, I believe he would have done the best in Knoxville. Shame for us that his dream job opened up, but most of us would have done the same if we had been hired at USC and then our dream job at Tennessee came calling. Then again, who knows, maybe he would have flopped. But I doubt it.

 

[508mikey]

 

[Rudy123]

We can certainly get back to being elite. It's just not likely to happen in the next year or two. It'll take a great coach and some inconsistency by our main rivals (Georgia and bama). As long as hey are in top it's going to be exponentially more difficult.
But yes it really all started at the top. He fan base wanted the administration to throw 6mlion plus at a huge name. Hats what bama, Michigan, Texas, Ohio state, penn state, etc have done. It's by far the most proven way to rebuilding quickly. Going he value route with a first time head coach (or a coach from a smaller division) is risky and usually and usually isn't successful. We'll see what happens

You don't have to put 6 million on a hire. A coach who is quiet and moves things in the right direction can produce a winner. Look at David Cutcliffe or Chris Peterson for example.

 

[Jack Burton]

I am friends with a guy who is close to the Alabama program, and has been for years. He does some radio work and drives Coach Saban around when he is recruiting in our neck of the woods. He knows enough to be dangerous. His quote to me on New Year's Eve..."Jeremy Pruitt will be the first Saban assistant to beat him." I hope that rings true, but this guy says Coach Pruitt knows his football AND will bring the talent in to accomplish the task.

Pruitt will have to do a lot like Barnes has done. Get the best “fit” guys who will take coaching and work hard. Some will be high rated but many won’t be. That’s fine but it takes a lot of patience to get there.

 

[peaygolf]

The history of UT football has always been up and down.
‘38-‘52. Good
‘67-‘73 Good
‘85-‘08. Good

Approx 15 yrs of mediocrity between “relevant” yrs (a season or two good yrs sprinkled in)
UT will be back. Move away from the ledge OP!

 

[VAVolsFan2009]

I agree that the state of the program is difficult to watch, but I will never ever give up hope that we will be back. Never. Ever. I will believe in CJP and his staff until he proves that he doesn't deserve it. He will get a good OC just like he is recruiting good players -- working non-stop. He just needs to find the right guy. I believe!!! VFL forever.

 

[508mikey]

The history of UT football has always been up and down.
‘38-‘52. Good
‘67-‘73 Good
‘87-‘08. Good

Approx 15 yrs of mediocrity between “relevant” yrs (a season or two good yrs sprinkled in)
UT will be back. Move away from the ledge OP!

maybe the OP is in his 70s/80s and not much time left to wait

 

[Crazy Ivan]

It hurts me to say this, but it's time we face the facts as a fanbase. This program will never be relevant in the SEC again. At least not any time soon. Bama and Georgia are getting too many elite athletes at too quick of a pace and Florida is about to be dominant again with Florida State and Miami falling apart along with them having the 2nd best coach in the SEC at the helm. Combine that with having to play 1 other team out of the west every year and a decent South Carolina program that seems to be improving, and it doesn't make for a promising outcome. There's no reason to think recruiting will pick up any time soon either. 7-5 doesn't sell any better than 5-7 when you're going up against Florida, Georgia, Bama, Auburn, and LSU for talent. Not to mention very few proven coaches want to coach in Knoxville. There may be years where an 9-3 finish happens, but there's no possibility of us going to Atlanta over the next 5-10 years unless it's for a kickoff game

That was codyg's Neville Chamberlain pep talk.

 

[DERELICK_MY_VOLS]

It hurts me to say this, but it's time we face the facts as a fanbase. This program will never be relevant in the SEC again. At least not any time soon. Bama and Georgia are getting too many elite athletes at too quick of a pace and Florida is about to be dominant again with Florida State and Miami falling apart along with them having the 2nd best coach in the SEC at the helm. Combine that with having to play 1 other team out of the west every year and a decent South Carolina program that seems to be improving, and it doesn't make for a promising outcome. There's no reason to think recruiting will pick up any time soon either. 7-5 doesn't sell any better than 5-7 when you're going up against Florida, Georgia, Bama, Auburn, and LSU for talent. Not to mention very few proven coaches want to coach in Knoxville. There may be years where an 9-3 finish happens, but there's no possibility of us going to Atlanta over the next 5-10 years unless it's for a kickoff game

We were in the Georgia game this season with the Butch Bunch of players....the Chandler TD gave us momentum....but TO’s broke it open in the 4th. We beat the hell out of Kentucky...ruined Auburn’s season in their house.....this staff has coached and recruited those types of athletes and has them coming. But in the meantime find a cliff edge and take a step forward.

 

[MR_VOL]

It hurts me to say this, but it's time we face the facts as a fanbase. This program will never be relevant in the SEC again. At least not any time soon. Bama and Georgia are getting too many elite athletes at too quick of a pace and Florida is about to be dominant again with Florida State and Miami falling apart along with them having the 2nd best coach in the SEC at the helm. Combine that with having to play 1 other team out of the west every year and a decent South Carolina program that seems to be improving, and it doesn't make for a promising outcome. There's no reason to think recruiting will pick up any time soon either. 7-5 doesn't sell any better than 5-7 when you're going up against Florida, Georgia, Bama, Auburn, and LSU for talent. Not to mention very few proven coaches want to coach in Knoxville. There may be years where an 9-3 finish happens, but there's no possibility of us going to Atlanta over the next 5-10 years unless it's for a kickoff game

This is the sign I have been waiting for......Monday morning I am going to have my electric, water, and gas disconnected, take all my clothes to goodwill, and air-up my bicycle tires. From that point forward I will live in a tent, use leaves for clothing, eat only berries, and patiently wait for the world to end. Damn, I'm glad I read this post!

 

[82_VOL_83]

Yeah I like Kiffin. From Kiffin-Dooley-Butch-Pruitt, I believe he would have done the best in Knoxville. Shame for us that his dream job opened up, but most of us would have done the same if we had been hired at USC and then our dream job at Tennessee came calling. Then again, who knows, maybe he would have flopped. But I doubt it.

I think he needed to experience running out on a good job and then getting fired to actually grow up. Some career mistakes you can't fix.

 

[82_VOL_83]

This is the sign I have been waiting for......Monday morning I am going to have my electric, water, and gas disconnected, take all my clothes to goodwill, and air-up my bicycle tires. From that point forward I will live in a tent, use leaves for clothing, eat only berries, and patiently wait for the world to end. Damn, I'm glad I read this post!

Damn dude, riding a bike necked???

 

[Cobb-Webb 1989]

The history of UT football has always been up and down.
‘38-‘52. Good
‘67-‘73 Good
‘87-‘08. Good

Approx 15 yrs of mediocrity between “relevant” yrs (a season or two good yrs sprinkled in)
UT will be back. Move away from the ledge OP!

Lol

I'll take the 85 season going into the 86 Sugar Bowl all day long.
That Sugar Bowl was just about the best game plan that I've ever seen.

88 was the dumper season before Butch came along.

There's no excuse ever to loose to UK and or Vandy.

 

[Mightyvol]

They are awesome. I feel embarrassed for Georgia.

Gosh Georgia is a very bad basketball team. UT could have beaten them by 60 if they wanted to.

 

[Volitourt]

It hurts me to say this, but it's time we face the facts as a fanbase. This program will never be relevant in the SEC again. At least not any time soon. Bama and Georgia are getting too many elite athletes at too quick of a pace and Florida is about to be dominant again with Florida State and Miami falling apart along with them having the 2nd best coach in the SEC at the helm. Combine that with having to play 1 other team out of the west every year and a decent South Carolina program that seems to be improving, and it doesn't make for a promising outcome. There's no reason to think recruiting will pick up any time soon either. 7-5 doesn't sell any better than 5-7 when you're going up against Florida, Georgia, Bama, Auburn, and LSU for talent. Not to mention very few proven coaches want to coach in Knoxville. There may be years where an 9-3 finish happens, but there's no possibility of us going to Atlanta over the next 5-10 years unless it's for a kickoff game

Only 11 players are allowed to play at a time -right?

 

[SpookyAction]

Dabo Swinney's rebuild at Clemson was in three stages and the first stage was not painless.

Stage 1
2008 4-3
2009 9-5 #36 recruiting class
2010 6-7 #27 recruiting class
UT is similar presently

Stage 2
2011 10-4 #10 recruiting class
2012 11-2 #20 recruiting class
2013 11-2 #15 recruiting class
2014 10-3 #16 recruiting class

Stage 3 - present
2015 14-1 #9 recruiting class
2016 14-1 #11 recruiting class
2017 12-2 #16 recruiting class
2018 14-0 #7 recruiting class

Look at those recruiting classes. Stage 2 was built with similar talent that UT fields and signs. UT can compete if Clemson is any guide. Both programs sign talent. And I have better faith in the Pruitt staff to evaluate realistic players for their schemes. The wild card is strength and conditioning and player development. Both of those are headed in the right direction. We need a capable OC and the pieces will be in place for success. I am cautiously optimistic. I only have to look at men's B-ball to see what coaching can do.

 

[82_VOL_83]

Dabo Swinney's rebuild at Clemson was in three stages and the first stage was not painless.

Stage 1
2008 4-3
2009 9-5 #36 recruiting class
2010 6-7 #27 recruiting class
UT is similar presently

Stage 2
2011 10-4 #10 recruiting class
2012 11-2 #20 recruiting class
2013 11-2 #15 recruiting class
2014 10-3 #16 recruiting class

Stage 3 - present
2015 14-1 #9 recruiting class
2016 14-1 #11 recruiting class
2017 12-2 #16 recruiting class
2018 14-0 #7 recruiting class

Look at those recruiting classes. Stage 2 was built with similar talent that UT fields and signs. UT can compete if Clemson is any guide. Both programs sign talent. And I have better faith in the Pruitt staff to evaluate realistic players for their schemes. The wild card is strength and conditioning and player development. Both of those are headed in the right direction. We need a capable OC and the pieces will be in place for success. I am cautiously optimistic. I only have to look at men's B-ball to see what coaching can do.

Thanks for that. Very good post. However, ACC vs. SEC.

 

[SpookyAction]

Thanks for that. Very good post. However, ACC vs. SEC.

They have also successfully stood toe to toe with Bama with those young men. ( with several years of great coaching and instilling confidence and swagger)

 

[MR_VOL]

Damn dude, riding a bike necked???

Hell yeah......just got to be careful.

 

[Mightyvol]

It hurts me to say this, but it's time we face the facts as a fanbase. This program will never be relevant in the SEC again. At least not any time soon. Bama and Georgia are getting too many elite athletes at too quick of a pace and Florida is about to be dominant again with Florida State and Miami falling apart along with them having the 2nd best coach in the SEC at the helm. Combine that with having to play 1 other team out of the west every year and a decent South Carolina program that seems to be improving, and it doesn't make for a promising outcome. There's no reason to think recruiting will pick up any time soon either. 7-5 doesn't sell any better than 5-7 when you're going up against Florida, Georgia, Bama, Auburn, and LSU for talent. Not to mention very few proven coaches want to coach in Knoxville. There may be years where an 9-3 finish happens, but there's no possibility of us going to Atlanta over the next 5-10 years unless it's for a kickoff game

Do you think it's possible you wrote this because of hemorrhoidal pain?