The Official #19 Tennessee Volunteers @ #8 UGA Bulldogs Series Thread (Fri. 3/13 6PM ET SECN+) (Sat. 3/14 5PM ET SECN) (Sun. 3/15 1PM ET SECN+ )

[chuckiepoo]

I see @preacherman20 liked this. Is our bullpen a problem and the reason why we've seen starters stay in a bit too long?

I imagine it may simply be he holds those two particular pitchers close to his heart and dearly in his prayers.

 

[a vol n tears]

There was no “proven coach” that was going to try to step into the long shadow cast by Vitello.

Such strange theories on Tenn sports
Tenn football in the toilet and nobody wants to take the job. Tenn baseball 1 year removed from a NC and nobody wants to take the job.
If you think there were not any excellent head coaches around the country, that would jump at the Tenn head job, you don’t appreciate what TV had built.

 

[taylorvol]

Saw every game in person in Athens. All in all, the BaseVols showed great grit and determination against a top 10 program on the road. They punched, took the blows, and counter punched all weekend however an epic SEC Series and Sunday win proved to be elusive yet again. UT’s last SEC Series win was 4/13/25—almost a year ago at Ole Miss.

When the ball left Stone Lawless’ bat in the 9th inning on Sunday, it looked like a “no doubter” over the trees. Instead, I heard grown men barking like the simpletons that they are. GA’s Coach Johnson didn’t suffer poor pitching performances. Hopefully, Coach E learns from this. He left Krenzel out to dry in the pouring rain in Athens.

 

[taylorvol]

Last thing, it was amazing how even these teams played over the course of the weekend:

Offensive Stats:
Home Runs. Hits. Errors. Strikeouts Walks. Doubles Hit by Pitch
TN. 6. 27. 1. 34 9. 7 3
GA 5. 27. 1. 28 12. 1. 1

 

[NO SIR EEE]

Saw every game in person in Athens. All in all, the BaseVols showed great grit and determination against a top 10 program on the road. They punched, took the blows, and counter punched all weekend however an epic SEC Series and Sunday win proved to be elusive yet again. UT’s last SEC Series win was 4/13/25—almost a year ago at Ole Miss.

When the ball left Stone Lawless’ bat in the 9th inning on Sunday, it looked like a “no doubter” over the trees. Instead, I heard grown men barking like the simpletons that they are. GA’s Coach Johnson didn’t suffer poor pitching performances. Hopefully, Coach E learns from this. He left Krenzel out to dry in the pouring rain in Athens.

Sad I didn't get to meet you brother, but yeah their fans are horrible all around. Even had some talking crap all the way to the car.

 

[WaywardVol]

99% of the fanbase (myself included) would’ve been and was furious over Danny potentially not hiring Elander.

Elander is 20 games into his coaching career, y’all have got to give him some grace (even though I know the fanbase I’m talking to)

100%. I don’t think VolNation would have accepted anyone other than Josh. This is why we needed Frank back so badly. That’s a lot of experience as a HC and a pitching coach. We replaced him with a clip board holder, no offense.

 

[WallyBalls]

I have always agreed with this approach. I would throw in “sweep the crappy teams at home”. If you can average going 2-1 in series in the league (20-10) you have a great team, not just good.

I think all of us would “take” coming out of the weekend 1-2 and playing good ball overall. Georgia and TN appear to be VERY evenly matched from what I saw. Does that mean we’re both potential top 10 teams? Maybe. Time will tell.

The aggravating part is “they let a golden opportunity slip away”. Lack of timely hits & stranding runners, leaving pitchers in too long, free runners and serving up untimely “meatballs”. Even with all that, we’re maybe 5 feet from STILL winning that game (although BVS might say we still get walked off in the bottom of the 9th or extras).

For me, I’m “OK” with the 1-2 result. It’s really what I hoped for with an outside chance of winning the series. I am also extremely pissed at yesterday’s result and the path we took to getting to 1-2 instead of 2-1. Blowing a 5 run lead in baseball is somewhat analogous to blowing a double digit lead in basketball. We kept doing that in basketball. Hopefully, we learned from the mistakes in this one and won’t repeat them.

We have an opportunity to sweep a bad team this weekend in Mizzou (although they did show some fight against Auburn). Get ‘er done!

Very fair. That 1-2 Road/2-1 at home approach gets you in. Where you make your hay is doing exactly what you said- Sweep who you should at home, steal a couple on the road. 3 or 4 games over .500 in conference is a great place to be 99% of the time.

Where I land on the frustration is the learning from it part. As long as we see that, I'm fine with it. I have to remind myself the program went through a massive change in the off season.

 

[GSPVol]

Not sure where this idea that there would be zero growing pains for E and his staff. Are the “Fahr Josh” hoards already sharpening pitchforks?

Not if they're smart. Just saying...poorly I might add....that fans looking forward to Barnes retiring had best be careful what they wish for. That grass ain't always greener on the other side.

 

[GSPVol]

Such strange theories on Tenn sports
Tenn football in the toilet and nobody wants to take the job. Tenn baseball 1 year removed from a NC and nobody wants to take the job.
If you think there were not any excellent head coaches around the country, that would jump at the Tenn head job, you don’t appreciate what TV had built.

Probably a lot of really good coaches out there. Unfortunately, I'm not sure about White's ability to recognize and sign 'em.

 

[rockytop25]

Such strange theories on Tenn sports
Tenn football in the toilet and nobody wants to take the job. Tenn baseball 1 year removed from a NC and nobody wants to take the job.
If you think there were not any excellent head coaches around the country, that would jump at the Tenn head job, you don’t appreciate what TV had built.

This year would've been a complete wash, and we would've had players leave in the fall.

Elander was the best option to keep what we have going. It's only been 20 games

 

[a vol n tears]

99% of the fanbase (myself included) would’ve been and was furious over Danny potentially not hiring Elander.

Elander is 20 games into his coaching career, y’all have got to give him some grace (even though I know the fanbase I’m talking to)

I was part of the 1% that wanted a search. I like Elander. Seems like a great family guy and has been part of the Vol family for years. However a top 5 program with one of the top budgets in the country should have taken a minimum of a week before declaring the search closed. I don’t think LSU and Johnson were scared the players and recruits would abandon the program if an assistant wasn’t hired.
We now have Elander and I hope he is great. Anything less than a MCWS appearance every 2 or 3 years is going to be a disappointment to me. If he is ready to be a HC he shouldn’t need 20 or 30 grace games to make in game decisions. I will give him that 20 games to settle on rotations and lineups with so many new players.

 

[rockytop25]

I was part of the 1% that wanted a search. I like Elander. Seems like a great family guy and has been part of the Vol family for years. However a top 5 program with one of the top budgets in the country should have taken a minimum of a week before declaring the search closed. I don’t think LSU and Johnson were scared the players and recruits would abandon the program if an assistant wasn’t hired.
We now have Elander and I hope he is great. Anything less than a MCWS appearance every 2 or 3 years is going to be a disappointment to me. If he is ready to be a HC he shouldn’t need 20 or 30 grace games to make in game decisions. I will give him that 20 games to settle on rotations and lineups with so many new players.

LSU and Johnson? I'm failing to see your point there.

I get the "top 5 program" expectations, but even the best HCs in the country make questionable calls in February and March while they figure out their bullpen roles. Expecting a guy to have mid-season "feel" in his first 20 games as a HC is tough. It's less about him learning how to coach and more about him learning this specific team's heartbeat in live action. Let's see where we are in May before we measure him against the MCWS yardstick.

 

[a vol n tears]

LSU and Johnson? I'm failing to see your point there.

I get the "top 5 program" expectations, but even the best HCs in the country make questionable calls in February and March while they figure out their bullpen roles. Expecting a guy to have mid-season "feel" in his first 20 games as a HC is tough. It's less about him learning how to coach and more about him learning this specific team's heartbeat in live action. Let's see where we are in May before we measure him against the MCWS yardstick.

My point was LSU did not promote one of their assistants and actually did a national search. The team and recruits didn’t decide to leave. Results stand for themselves. On the other hand you have aTm, coming off a runner up MCWS, who decided to promote a beloved assistant without a national search. Following year a disaster for them.
I do not dislike Elander. Not too many years ago I would not have had any issue with him being hired. The program is now at top tier status. Hope he makes me look like a crazy fan. My dislike is, not at least having a search. Maybe one of the excellent coaches in the ACC might have taken a shot in the SEC. Maybe any number of coaches who regularly make it to Super Regionals and Omaha. Experienced.

 

[Bigvalley84]

I would have been all on board with a national search had the timing been different , with TV leaving in the middle of fall practice made it really difficult to hire a proven coach in the middle of their fall practice , I think Josh will be just fine if he can continue the recruiting success we’ve had the last 5 + years , everyone has kinda piled on E for some bad decisions in the bullpen but Tony made numerous bullpen and pitching blunders in his time here too , hopefully E can learn and get better but it doesn’t matter how many years one coaches going to the pen is a crap shoot , sometimes it works and you look like a genius and when it doesn’t you look silly

 

[whobethis16]

My point was LSU did not promote one of their assistants and actually did a national search. The team and recruits didn’t decide to leave. Results stand for themselves. On the other hand you have aTm, coming off a runner up MCWS, who decided to promote a beloved assistant without a national search. Following year a disaster for them.
I do not dislike Elander. Not too many years ago I would not have had any issue with him being hired. The program is now at top tier status. Hope he makes me look like a crazy fan. My dislike is, not at least having a search. Maybe one of the excellent coaches in the ACC might have taken a shot in the SEC. Maybe any number of coaches who regularly make it to Super Regionals and Omaha. Experienced.

There's a big difference in being hired in June like Johnson was and Elander being hired in October.

And DW did speak to the Coastal Carolina coach, and I believe the Oregon coach as well. How far into it both of those got, I don't know, but it's ridiculous to compare the two timelines.

 

[rockytop25]

My point was LSU did not promote one of their assistants and actually did a national search. The team and recruits didn’t decide to leave. Results stand for themselves. On the other hand you have aTm, coming off a runner up MCWS, who decided to promote a beloved assistant without a national search. Following year a disaster for them.
I do not dislike Elander. Not too many years ago I would not have had any issue with him being hired. The program is now at top tier status. Hope he makes me look like a crazy fan. My dislike is, not at least having a search. Maybe one of the excellent coaches in the ACC might have taken a shot in the SEC. Maybe any number of coaches who regularly make it to Super Regionals and Omaha. Experienced.

There is a huge difference between having a coaching search in June vs having one in October.

With the portal the way it is, our roster would’ve been gutted. I’m sure Danny talked to a couple different coaches and came back to the idea that Elander was the best option for this year and beyond

 

[WallyBalls]

My point was LSU did not promote one of their assistants and actually did a national search. The team and recruits didn’t decide to leave. Results stand for themselves. On the other hand you have aTm, coming off a runner up MCWS, who decided to promote a beloved assistant without a national search. Following year a disaster for them.
I do not dislike Elander. Not too many years ago I would not have had any issue with him being hired. The program is now at top tier status. Hope he makes me look like a crazy fan. My dislike is, not at least having a search. Maybe one of the excellent coaches in the ACC might have taken a shot in the SEC. Maybe any number of coaches who regularly make it to Super Regionals and Omaha. Experienced.

Edit: WBT16, RT25 beat me to it.

The two situations are in no way comparable.

LSU hired Johnson in June after Maineri announced he was retiring in May (and it was apparent that was coming much earlier). That's when you can have an actual search.

Even the A&M one isn't all that similar. Again, main thing- happened in June. Massive difference. Add to that the dynamics of A&M and Texas played a large role in how A&M reacted (they couldn't let the whole staff go over).

Vitello left the 3rd week of October. The market you're shopping in just based on who would actually leave is totally different.

 

[chuckiepoo]

There's a big difference in being hired in June like Johnson was and Elander being hired in October.

And DW did speak to the Coastal Carolina coach, and I believe the Oregon coach as well. How far into it both of those got, I don't know, but it's ridiculous to compare the two timelines.

It’s what some do… I wondered when some astute administrator would wander by and challenge the idgit…

 

[a vol n tears]

You can opine about an Oct non search if that is your opinion. I think D White is only concerned with football ( it does bring in the money) because he can raise tons of money with it. However if football stalls at 8-9 wins, it will be a huge fall, and money could dry up with donors. Look at women’s basketball and my baseball example. When Barnes retires I expect the same type search.
It’s just my opinion. NIL has just turned me off on football and basketball, so baseball was my last love of college sports. By the way, I think CJH has hit his ceiling at 8-9 wins. Tenn fans are as loyal as any. Always talking about the improvements in coaches, recruiting, and transfer, they ignore that all the other serious schools are also improving. They act like everyone else is standing pat.

 

[whobethis16]

You can opine about an Oct non search if that is your opinion. I think D White is only concerned with football ( it does bring in the money) because he can raise tons of money with it. However if football stalls at 8-9 wins, it will be a huge fall, and money could dry up with donors. Look at women’s basketball and my baseball example. When Barnes retires I expect the same type search.
It’s just my opinion. NIL has just turned me off on football and basketball, so baseball was my last love of college sports. By the way, I think CJH has hit his ceiling at 8-9 wins. Tenn fans are as loyal as any. Always talking about the improvements in coaches, recruiting, and transfer, they ignore that all the other serious schools are also improving. They act like everyone else is standing pat.

That's a whole lot of stuff that has no bearing on the topic you brought up. If you really don't think there's a difference in hiring a college coach in October vs hiring one in June, that's on you. But to put in the terms of other sports, it would be like trying to hire a football coach the week of the spring game. The odds of hiring one not from within are very slim.

 

[WaywardVol]

Good series win and bounce back from a very disappointing Friday. This year will be a constant struggle offensively. This team really lacks clutch hitting and you don’t see those alpha dogs at the plate. Particularly lack power. Elander will have to adjust and play more small ball.

Mack and Blanco were the two most valuable pick ups. Cam was the best high school signee. The biggest concern is our lack of development of our HS signees. Once again, your best offensive player and best pitcher are transfers, and it’s really not close.

Krenzel got his feet back under him. Got a very generous strike call. Pitch was low.